Warning: Adult Themes (the visuals more so than the writing)
Caylin's Monsters
Chapter 21: Born Anew
I remember it being such a strange sensation… I knew I was asleep and yet I could sense everything around me.
The smells… the sounds… they were all so vivid. There was so much detail it was almost like I could see them. What a strange idea… seeing scents and sounds.
Then one specific sound stood out. It was the sound of something approaching. Its steps were light, and it walked on two legs… it was a person, I thought. A woman most likely.
She stopped not more than ten feet away from me, but I remained asleep. From her scent, I knew she wasn’t an enemy.
She smelled good. It’s difficult to describe, but she smelled… friendly, like I knew her. But who was she? Where did I know her scent?
“Are you awake?” she asked gently.
I opened my eyes at the sound of her voice. It was Aela. Of course it was, I thought. Her scent was so unique it should have been obvious.
“I was starting to think I might never find you,” she said as I sat up. “Yours was not an easy transformation, but you’re still alive. So congratulations.”
I was fully alert now, but as I looked at my surroundings, I was still confused. “What happened?” I asked.
“You were born into the pack, sister,” she answered. “I almost envy you. That first time is always the most… intense. You gave us even more trouble than Farkas did in his first turning.”
“Farkas?” my mind was still reeling. “Turning?” And then the events of the last two days came flooding back to me, “Hold on…”
I bolted to my feet, too excited and nervous to stay seated. “Did it work? Am I cured?”
A hint of a smile touched Aela’s lips as she responded, “I think so, but let me see those pearly whites, and I’ll tell you for sure.”
Like an excited child I opened my mouth in a big, toothy grin.
Aela examined my teeth for a few moments, drawing out my anticipation. Then she chuckled and said, “Congratulations. You’re completely defanged.”
I laughed and collapsed back to the ground.
I was so elated, I could have cried. The last couple of days… well, next to the death of my parents and my sister, the last couple of days had been the most emotionally trying days of my life.
“Caylin…” Aela began in a more somber tone, “what can you remember from after you turned?”
My smile faded as I looked up at her.
I thought back, but it was all so hazy. I looked away from Aela, trying to concentrate… trying to remember.
Images started flashing through my mind… not complete memories, just disjointed moments.
I saw Whiterun, and there was someone yelling at me. I remember feeling… rage… and fear.
I was becoming nervous. What did I do while I was the wolf?
I slowly stood up and looked at Aela. I think she could see the worry on my face.
“I remember Whiterun… and I remember being… angry and afraid,” I told her.
More memories surfaced. Apart from the rage, there was also power… strength I had never imagined. It felt amazing, but also dangerous.
Then I saw the guard… What was I doing? Was I attacking him!?
I couldn’t speak. The intensity of the memories was increasing.
Why was I fighting with him? This wasn’t supposed to happen. Had I lost all control when I turned?
Blood… I remembered blood was everywhere, and I felt such… fury.
“Oh gods!” I exclaimed. “The guards…” I was panicking now. “There was so much blood! Did I…”
“No,” Aela cut me off. “The guards left with some cuts and bruises, but you didn’t kill anybody. Most of that blood was yours, I think. It seems like you just wanted to get out of the city, but the guards got in the way. Thankfully we heal-up pretty fast, except against silver weapons that is. You’ll need to watch out for those.”
Relieved by Aela’s words, my panic subsided, and I took a deep breath. “Will I… turn again?” I asked more calmly.
“Yes,” she said, simply. “You’re a werewolf now. You have the blood in you, but you’ll need to build up your strength before you’re able to call on it again. It can take time; a day or more sometimes.”
I was a werewolf now, I thought. I was still trying to wrap my head around it, but my thoughts kept turning to Farkas. He had become my rock through this whole ordeal. I really… needed him right now. “Where’s Farkas?” I asked. “Why didn’t he come find me?”
“Oh he wanted to,” Aela began, “but I asked him to sit this one out. Given your current state of… attire, I thought you might prefer if I found you instead.”
Confused, I looked down at myself.
To my horror, I was completely naked. How could I have not noticed!?
I looked up in shock as I feebly attempted to cover myself with my arms. Of course my clothes were gone, I thought. When I took the blood, I was already practically naked. Still, was there no end to my humiliation?
“Based on your reaction, I assume my instincts about Farkas were right,” Aela commented.
Oh yes, I thought. It was bad enough that Aela saw me like this, but if it had been Farkas… Thank the gods Aela asked him not to come. As much as I wanted to see him, if he had found me like this, the embarrassment may have been more than I could bear.
“Well, don’t worry,” Aela encouraged. “We tend to run rather hot, so it’s normal that you wouldn’t notice even in this cold weather. The same thing happened to me when I turned the first time. So I took the liberty of bringing your armor with me. You’re going to need it for where we’re going.”
My embarrassment gave way to puzzlement. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“We have a celebration planned for you,” Aela said, grinning. “There’s a pack of werewolf hunters camped nearby, at Gallows Rock. The Silver Hand. I think you’ve met them before.”
My response came slowly, “Yes. I remember them.” How could I forget? Their attack at the barrow is what prompted Farkas to change in front of me, exposing me to the true nature of The Circle.
“They always make such easy prey,” Aela said with a look of… what was that? Hunger? “We’re going to slaughter them… every last one. Skjor’s already scouting ahead.”
Slaughter…? This was Aela’s idea of a celebration? I could see the lust in her eyes, the lust of a hunter tracking its next meal, and it frightened me. Was murdering a group of human beings really something to be excited for?
Aela brought me to where she had left my horse and my armor. After I changed, we cautiously approached Gallows Rock.
Regardless how I felt about what we were about to do, it was so good to be in my armor again. It seemed like weeks had passed even though it had only been a couple of days. Finally, some semblance of normalcy had returned to my life.
I told Farkas I would stay true to myself and keep fighting for Skyrim. Tonight was a new beginning for me… another chance to honor my promise to protect this land and the people I love, and I was going to take it.
Previous Chapter/Next Chapter
Table of Contents
Comments