Screams pierced the stormy air, echoing over the loud rumbles of thunder, and the clashes of steel and iron, amidst other kinds of metals. Argonians were running through the streets, some screaming and fleeing from the attacking imperials, others holding weapons and makeshift shields and heading towards the attackers. Fork lightning pierced the night sky at odd and frightening intervals, sometimes hitting a tree and lighting it on fire, sending sparks and ash into the rainy air. One after another, the argonians were being struck down, creating pools of blood amongst the puddles and ditches filled with water. At the farther end of the street, a young looking argonian woman was pleading with her husband, asking him to flee instead of fight. “Len-Ka, please don’t! It will only end in ruin! Don’t you want to see your hatchling grow up?” She pleaded urgently, cradling a large, slightly blue-green egg wrapped in dirty sackcloth in her arms. But her husband wouldn’t listen. He shook his head quickly, and picked up his fur covered shield, and his small, rusty short sword, his blood red eyes looking panicked, yet hoping that he’d be able to survive the onslaught and protect his wife and his only child.

“No, Reenlay. Take the egg and go. Even if I don’t return, at least you’ll be able to escape with the hatchling.” And with that, Len-Ka gave his wife a small peck on the cheek, raised his sword, and joined his neighbours in a counterattack. Reenlay watched hopelessly after her husband, a large, glistening tear rolling down her scaly cheek. Another lightning bolt flashed across the sky, illuminating the battle before her. Len-Ka was already cut badly, blood staining his sackcloth shirt and pants, and making his glistening red scales gleam even brighter and more vibrantly red. The argonian didn’t give up however badly he was bleeding though. Several imperials were already on the ground in a pool of their own blood because of him and his best friend and neighbour, Mak-Dee. That’s when it happened. One of the imperials had stabbed Len-Ka’s left thigh, causing him to fall to his knees, his weapon and shield hitting the mud with a small splat. Reenlay screamed, and almost dropped her egg. Three imperial solders that were in the front noticed her standing there. The argonian woman looked around frantically, and finally set her cloth wrapped egg down behind a bush, preparing to defend herself as the imperial men headed towards her. Another lightning fork split the sky, reflecting light off of Reenlay’s blue and green scales as she raised her fists. She hit the first imperial’s face, knocking him backwards into the other two men and causing his nose to bleed heavily. She picked up her egg quickly and turned around to run, but another imperial was behind her. Reenlay clutched her egg tightly to her chest as the other three men got up and surrounded her, rain splatting against their armor and splashing against her scales. She could see the man’s face, and to her surprise, he looked amused, and somewhat sympathetic.

“Really now, did you think you’d be leaving?” He asked, his armor dripping wet. Fear gripped Reenlay as she clutched the wet bundle of sackcloth, the egg hardly visible, and a little too cold for her liking. The imperial noticed the egg quickly and his expression softened. “You have a child?” Reenlay paused and thought about the question a moment. She wasn’t used to hearing the term “child” used, especially not in Helmcrest, the completely argonian village four hours from Leyawiin. Finally, she said defensively.

“Yes, it’s mine. And if you don’t mind, it’s getting a little too cold for my liking.” The imperial raised an eyebrow, but didn’t reply. Reenlay decided that she could keep it a bit warmer if she tucked the little bundle into her shirt, so she loosened the laces on the bottom of her sackcloth shirt, tucked the egg inside, and tied the shirt back up again. It looked somewhat silly, but at least it would be warmer for the egg in there than in the rain. The imperial looked even more amused. He didn’t say anything for a while, and a look of slight concern appeared on his face. Reenlay decided to pipe in a bit about her husband. “M…My husband is out there trying to protect the rest of out village with our neighbour.” She said, shivering with cold. “P…Please, spare their lives.” The other three imperials laughed when she said this, but the one in front of her looked surprised that she was saying that instead of pleading for her own life instead.

“Which ones are they?” Reenlay looked shocked. She didn’t even know if her plea would be thought about. She turned around and looked out at the battle. Len-Ka and Mak-Dee were still out there, and they were both alive, Mak-Dee defending Len-Ka like he was a priceless treasure.

“It’s them.” Reenlay replied, pointing at the two red argonians. The imperials looked shocked. “Please don’t kill them. They’re the only family I have, and Mak-Dee isn’t even related to me.”

“Them?!” One of the other imperials exclaimed. “They’re probably the best two fighters out there! Not to mention the most ruthless. And you want us to save them?!” The first imperial however, nodded and said calmly.

“Very well, but don’t expect us to do much else about the other argonians out there. It looks like most of them are dead anyway. Gregory, Johnston, stay here with this one. McAllister, come with me. Let’s pull them out of there.” The other three imperials nodded, and split up. Reenlay watched with amazement as the one called McAllister pulled Mak-Dee away from another imperial, which was remarkable that he could even move the squat argonian, because Mak-Dee wasn’t known to be lightweight, or weak. The other imperial had pulled Len-Ka to his feet and was bringing him over to where Reenlay was, soon being followed by McAllister and Mak-Dee. “Now, I’m going to let you three off. But if our army ever comes across you again, then you’ll be dead. Now go before the others show up.” The three argonians nodded, thanked the imperials, and dashed away as fast as they could, shouts and screams still echoing from the ruins of Helmcrest. But as they ran, the laces on the bottom of Reenlay’s shirt slipped apart, and the sackcloth wrapped egg fell out. Reenlay stopped to try and pick it up, but Mak-Dee stopped her.

“Reenlay, we have to keep moving!”

“I’m not leaving my hatchling behind!” Reenlay hissed in annoyance, trying to pry her arm from Mak-Dee’s hand. But the squat argonian didn’t let her go.

“Listen to me, Reenlay. It probably cracked when it fell. We have to keep going. There will be other hatchlings. Please Reenlay, just leave it.”

“Did you leave your first egg in the middle of the street if it fell?!” The argonian woman asked, enraged at the idea of leaving her egg behind. Mak-Dee looked very angry.

“ My first hatchling? The only egg my wife was ever blessed with wasn’t even going to hatch! There wasn’t even a small voice on the inside! No squeaks, chirps, nothing! I never had a hatchling, and yet she held onto that egg like it was gold. Then it fell off the cushion she had set it on and it split open. Do you want to know what was inside?! The dead body of our should-have-been baby girl! Be lucky that yours could’ve lived! Now please, we have to keep moving!” Reenlay’s red eyes filled with tears as she looked back at the little muddy bundle in the street. It had been her prized possession. She took it with her everywhere she’d gone. But Mak-Dee was right. The egg was probably cracked. Finally, she stopped struggling, and continued towards the forest, looking back once more before she vanished into the stormy night with her husband, and Mak-Dee