[i]26th Rain's Hand, 4E208, early afternoon-[/i]

It was a miracle to Meg that she had managed to evade the dwemer forces. Whether her prayers had helped her or whether it was her own sneakiness, she didn't know. However, as she kept herself hidden away quietly in the remains of an already destroyed shop. Her normal temperament may have been to scavenge, but right now that was the farther thing from her mind. In the distance she could still hear the screaming and the sobs, causing her to curl into herself even more than she already was. Eyes shut tightly, she pressed her chin against her raised knees. Arms clasped around herself, she fiddled with the amulet she had pulled from her neck, seeking some sort of comfort.

[i]Don' take this the wrong way, J'raij, but I'm not meanin' to meet you any time soon.[/i]

Death was never on her to do list and the same could be said for today, but the way things seemed to be going these days, it would seem death was enjoying seeing her run about like a frantic chicken.

The thought didn't give her any comfort, and she remained as she was for a time longer; it was hard to tell if had been mere minutes or hours or [i]days[/i] by the time she moved from her safe spot. Her hand loosened around the amulet, and when she made to wear it once more, the indentations could be seen on the palm of her hand. Taking a breath, she finally reached into her pocket and pulled out the map Judena had made her.

Opening it, she felt a lump in her throat. Was the Argonian alright? Did she manage to escape the disaster? What about the others? How was Brynja? What of Latro and Alim and Daro'Vasora? Where was Gaius and the three Altmer? For a moment her hand tightened around the map, causing the sides to crumple. Meg hastily loosened her hold, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Now wasn't the time to cloud her mind with such thoughts.

The map had been very helpful from the day it had been given to her, and she was going to put her faith in it once again. Judena had marked Rhea's house on it, and in Meg's opinion, it was probably the best place to go for someone not really familiar with the city. Hopefully the other non Natives thought the same... and if not, there was also the hope that Rhea was still there. Chewing industriously on her lip, Meg started tracing the way she had run from the inn when the attacks had commenced. Perhaps it was good luck from the gods above, but it seemed the way to Rhea's house wouldn't be too difficult for her to follow.

Sword in one hand and map in the other, Meg left her temporary haven. The sight that met her eyes was worse than before; bloodied bodies fallen here and there, shops and homes reduced to rubble and debris. It was difficult not to feel something as she quietly stepped over those who had been slaughtered, a sense of sorrow and hopelessness invading her. Was this how her father had felt when he had fought for the Imperial army? She didn't even know these people and this city; how would one feel if it was their friends and comrades?

The last thought caused her pace to quicken, though her paranoia forced her to periodically continue hiding as she followed the map, slowly but steadily inching closer and closer until at last she was standing before Rhea's mansion. Meg let out a soft sigh of relief. It was hard to ignore the temptation of racing to the door and entering, but she forced herself to remain calm, stealthily making her way until she finally reached the door. With one last uneasy look behind her, Meg fumbled with the handle before hurriedly opening the door and entering the mansion. Almost instantly she felt her shoulders droop- the immediate safety from the outside world was as sweet as a honey nut treat.