2 The Executioners Block

"Look at him, General Tullius the Military Governor. And it looks like the Thalmor are with him. Damn elves. I bet they had something to do with this."

The blonde complained after seeing the elves. I wasn't particularly fond of the Thalmor either. I would just avoid them whenever I saw them as I knew that I wouldn't be able to control my anger if they were the ones that pissed me off. And it was very easy for them to piss me off.

"This is Helgen. I used to be sweet on a girl from here. Wonder if Vilod is still making that mead with juniper berries mixed in. Funny...when I was a boy, Imperial walls and towers used to make me feel so safe." The blonde said as looked at the various people scattered throughout the streets that hurriedly retreated upon seeing us and the carts.

"Who are they, daddy? Where are they going?" A child asked his father as he pointed at us.

"You need to go inside, little cub." His father said as he tried to pull him inside.

"Why? I want to watch the soldiers."

"Inside the house. Now."

They retreated into the house as our carts reached a wall and slowed to a stop.

"W-Why are we stopping!?" The brown-haired man asked with a shaky voice.

"Why do you think? End of the line. Let's go. Shouldn't keep the gods waiting for us." The blonde said back as if it was obvious.

I continued forward off the cart as well, I felt a slight bit of fear in my heart. I had thought at first that the empire wouldn't unjustly kill a man and that I would just sit in jail for a while. But now I know that I was wrong, this is my end.

"No! Wait! We're not rebels!" The brown-haired man said as even more panic entered his voice.

"Face your death with some courage, thief."

"You've got to tell them! We weren't with you! This is a mistake!" He pleaded to the blonde, however, he was ignored.

"Step toward the block when we call your name. One at a time!" The captain said as she stood next to a soldier that held a list.

"Empire loves their damn lists." The blonde grunted angrily.

"Ulfric Stormcloak. Jarl of Windhelm."

After his name was called, the gagged man, Ulfric Stormcloak walked away and lined up with the other rebels in front of the executioner's block.

"It has been an honor, Jarl Ulfric!"

"Ralof of Riverwood."

At that, the blonde walked forward, then away to the chopping block. So his name was Ralof then.

"Lokir of Rorikstead."

The brown-haired man walked forward as well.

"No, I'm not a rebel! You can't do this! I'm sorry for stealing the horse, do you really have to kill me? I just wanted to get out of the country before the war got too intense, but I'll stay if I have to!" He started pleading, but the captain just looked at him coldly.

I could see in his eyes that he was genuinely sorry and regretful for what he did. Maybe the empire wasn't as merciful as I thought it was.

But then, he broke free. Lokir jumped out of the way and ran for the gate as fast as he could.

"Halt!" The captain yelled as she was about to signal the archers.

"Ar-" Her words were interrupted as her nose squirted blood and she fell backward unconscious. All the soldiers around us including the one calling names readied their weapons and pointed them toward me.

I may not have liked Lokirs cowardly nature, but he was genuinely willing to change his ways, so I thought he deserved a chance. And I was about to be executed anyway, so headbutting the imperial captain wasn't going to change the outcome. Might as well right?

Thankfully I didn't do it for nothing as he managed to escape, looking back at me for a second with grateful eyes. The archers weren't focused on him as they all aimed at me. I just stood there and looked at them, with a smug smile.

"That was a foolish move prisoner. You should have at least tried to escape, too late now though." Said general Tullius as he walked up in front of me and pointed the tip of his blade at me.

"Why would I? I did that to help that other guy, not myself. I had always respected the empire and thought of it as fair, yet you decide to kill a man for mere theft? I see now that I was wrong. But, now that I have assaulted an officer, you have an actually good reason to kill me, so go ahead!" I said back to him with as much confidence as I could muster. But to be honest, I was currently shaking a little, luckily my fur hid it so nobody noticed. He did have a blade pointed at me after all.

"Fine, you can go first. Off to the chopping block with you now!" He said as he grabbed my shirt and nearly threw me forward.

I stumbled my way forward as I fell in front of the chopping block. I looked over at the other prisoners only to see a weirdly hesitant respect from them.

I laid my head down on the block and awaited my death. The executioner raised his axe and was about to swing down. But then I felt something in my spirit awaken. It was a feeling that I had never felt before, one that felt carnal, even more so than hunger or lust. I immediately tried to suppress it, but I couldn't.

My hair stood on its end, my claws came out as my muscles tensed. I felt my blood flow increase as my heart started pounding in my chest. My eyes dilated so quickly that I even felt it happen. My body itself seemed to grow slightly in size as every muscle was flexed. My body was in the best possible condition it could reach for a fight. But why?

But then I heard it.

*RRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR*