Jack watched in horror as the large black dragon flew high over the mountains and even higher into the sky, vanishing into the thick grey clouds above the mountains.  He could feel the wind starting to pick up as if it followed the Dragon, or came off from it... Jack had read about Dragons, but they were all killed centuries ago.  They were nothing, but legends now.  Yet, here this one was!  Why did it now decided to come out of hiding?  Jack heard the Captain call out to the men on the tower.  "Sentries! What do you see"?  A man answered, but it was unclear if the man was a sentry or not.  The man sounded worried and he damn well should be.  Jack had never heard of many people being able to take on a fully grown Dragon and live!  "It's in the clouds"!  Jack kept his eyes on the sky where he had last seen the Dragon.  He couldn't explain it... but he felt it.  Could he sense the magical energy in the Dragon?  Then he saw it.  The Dragon shot down from the clouds, steering right for the tower directly in front of Jack!  The creature was massive and angry!  At full speed it landed firmly atop of the tower.  The sheer weight of the beast sent tremors through the ground like an earthquake!  Bits of the stone tower crumbled under the Dragons feet and fell firmly to the ground below, crushing anything beneath them into dust!

A female Stormcloak soldier screamed out in terror.  "Dragon"!  While Jack could only stare at it.  The Dragon seemed to scan the area a moment like it was taking all this in for the first time.  Had it been asleep for the last few centuries?  If it had, he didn't envy the poor bastards who woke him up.  The Dragon arched it's head and Jack's eyes widened with horror.  It was going to blow fire and he was right in the line of if!  Only the Dragon seemed to yell out a single word in anger.  The Dragons voice was deep, but Jack swore it sounded like 'Jul'.  From this single word, everyone in the courtyard was blown off their feet!  Jack was pushed off the block like his body weighed nothing!  The clouds in the sky began to swirl and crackle with lightening as Jack sat up from the ground.  Somewhere General Tullius yelled out to his men.  "Don't just stand there! Kill that thing"!  The Dragon watched the men in the courtyard like rats, before uttering another word that Jack couldn't hear clearly.  His ears were still ringing a bit from the first word the Dragon had uttered.  This next word the Dragon had said however, sent balls of fire raining from the sky!  One landed just a foot or two away from Jack.  The heat from it was almost unbearable, making Jack's vision blur for a moment.  He barely heard or recognized General Tullius's voice as he cried out loudly over the whistling storm.  "Guards, get the towns people to safety"! 

Jack laid still trying to recover his vision, when a hand roughly shook his shoulder telling him.  "Hey, Wizard. Get up! The gods won't give us another chance"!  Jack forced himself onto his feet.  Blurry vison or not, he was not safe out in the open!  The Stormcloak he knew as Ralof, steadied him.  Taking his arm firmly and yelling over the loud crashing noises.  "This way"!  Jack didn't care who got him out of this mess.  Survival was all he cared about right now!  Ralof lead Jack into the nearest set of wooden doors and slammed them closed behind them.  The place muffled the noises from outside a bit, but Jack didn't feel like staying here long.  Nothing felt safe.  Ralof ran passed him when he noticed that Ulfric had retreated here as well.  Jack stayed flush against the stone wall, trying to keep a distance between himself and the Stormcloaks.  Something about Ulfric still really unsettled him.  Ralof kneeled before Ulfric, addressing him like some well trained pup seeking guidance.  "Jarl Ulfric. What is that thing? Could the legends be true"?  Jack understood formalities, but was now really the time to address him like a king? 

Jack figured now was as good a time as any.  He didn't want to get involved with their petty war and if he stayed with them, they'd think him one of them!  He didn't wait to hear anything more from them.  He was free and he was getting out of here!  Raising his hands, he turned his palms in as close to the rope around his wrists as he could.  Then focusing on the spell in his mind, he conjured Flames into the center of his palms.  The flames in his palms licked the ropes just enough to burn them loose enough for him to shake off.  Without looking at any of the Stormcloaks, Jack took off up the spiraled stone staircase.  He'd get to the top of this tower and think of a plan from there!  Behind him, Ralof called out to him.  "Wizard, wait"!  While another Stormcloak soldier yelled up after him.  "You can't go that way! There are rocks blocking the way"!  Jack didn't care nor listen to them.  He wasn't going to be dragged into anymore of their bloody politics!  Just as he reached the point that was blocked off by a wall of fallen stones, the wall beside him blasted apart revealing the large black head of the Dragon! 

Jack stood in frozen fear as the Dragon's eyes narrowed on him.  Had the dragon sought him out?  Or was it just a mere coincidence that he was here?  The Dragon arched back it's neck and opened it's mouth to reveal the fire building in it's throat!  Jack jumped out of the way, rolling roughly a little back down the stone staircase just seconds before the Dragon yelled out "Toor Shul"!  Roaring flames shot out from the Dragon's mouth then engulfing the entire area above!  Even as he laid across the stairs, he could feel the heat from his flames scorching the stones.  Jack had read that Dragon fire was one of the hottest substances in the world... and he could honestly say from experience now that the old tales were right!  What confused him was the dragon seemed to be speaking in a strange tongue... Jack knew many languages all across Tamriel.  He had to study them.  Sadly, this one was foreign to him.  Could Dragons magic be so old and powerful that it required a stronger set of spells to use it?  He was fascinated... but terrified. 

The roaring flames lessened as the Dragon flew back away from the tower.  Jack could faintly hear the whizzing of arrows and guessed the Dragon had become distracted by them.  Climbing back up to his feet, Jack approached the edge of the hole the Dragon had made in the tower.  Not far below was a two story house.  The roof had broken away revealing the second floor and it seemed solid enough.  Taking a step back, Jack complied his courage and jumped for it!  Jack made the jump, but his legs buckled beneath him in pain.  The fall had been much farther than it had appeared.  His legs throbbed in pain, but he pushed himself back up.  He was not going to die here!  Dashing across the top floor, Jack found another caved in portion leading to the ground floor and an exit.  Rolling his eyes, Jack forced himself to jump down again.  The distance was much shorter this time, but his legs still weren't happy with him.  Limping a bit through the hole in the wall, Jack stepped out into the light of burning houses all around him. 

Thick black smoke filled the air, and all around imperial soldiers watched the skies with weapons drawn and fear in their eyes.  To Jack's surprise, the nord who had asked his name, stood out in the open just ahead.  He had his sword drawn and was yelling over the crackling fires.  "Haming, you need to get over here now"!  Jack followed the nord's gaze to see a small boy standing in the middle of the road.  The boy was staring up at the approaching dragon!  Jack rushed out to the nord's side, just as the Dragon landed a few feet from the boy!  The ground shook again like an earthquake, forcing everyone to try to regain their footing.  By the time the ground settled, the dragon roared out another burst of flames!  The flames didn't reach him or the nord beside him, but the boy had been consumed in it!  Jack felt a twinge of regret.  If he had only acted quicker, he might have saved him.  Then again... was his magic even strong enough to guard against Dragon fire?  A few archers began to pelt the Dragon with their arrows, and it took to the air again with such grace.  The current from his wings, knocking away anyone within a good distance from him! 

Jack seized the moment to move on.  He couldn't help these people.  He didn't know the first thing about fighting a Dragon and nothing these guards were doing appeared to be bringing him down.  The Dragon was just too strong.  Jack dashed off passed where the Dragon had been and into an alley.  Overhead the Dragon circled Helgen menacingly.  When the Dragon passed out of sight, Jack started moving again through the remnants of burning buildings.  All around him imperial soldiers yelled out to anyone that would listen.  "What in the eight divines is this thing"?!  "How does it move so damn fast"!  "These wounds are deep! We've got to stop the blood"!  Jack forced himself to ignore them all.  The city was done for.  The Dragon was cutting off every exit leading out of the city.  It was going to kill everyone!  Jack swiftly dashed down a road toward the main keep.  Main keeps had secret tunnels to get out, right?  It was as good a plan as any.  As he was racing off to the keep, he heard the nord who had asked his name yell out to an approaching Stormcloak.  "Ralof, you damned traitor! Get out of our way"!

Jack skidded to a halt for a moment.  The mans voice had come from behind him?  The imperial nord had been following him?  Ralof stopped short yelling back at the nord bitterly.  "We're escaping, Hadvar! You're not stopping us this time"!  Hadvar looked upset about this turn of events, but sharply spit back.  "Fine! I hope that Dragon takes all of you to Sovngarde"!  Jack thought it was a wise choice on Hadvar's part.  Survival was key.  Let the high borns hunt them down later... If they survived.  Ralof gestured for Jack to join him, but Jack stepped away.  He was already accused of being a Stormcloak when he wasn't one.  He sure as hell, wasn't going to side with them now.  Shaking his head, Jack ran after Hadvar.  Sure the imperials here were going to behead him... but that was because they had the rebel leader in custody.  He wasn't choosing a side.  He was taking a route that he felt was safer.  Ulfric unsettled him.  He didn't trust him.  He wasn't going to die following him... or his men.  To Be Continued...