U.O.T.W. Chapter 79 A Change Of Fate

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    Something inside Sotek stirred. An invisible force pulled at his wits dragging him back to reality from wherever his sub consciousness had wandered. Realism struck as he remembered that he was in the form of a black wolf while the last few days events played through his tired mind. Even before he opened his eyes he was aware that the two moons had started their accent over the mountain range despite the fact that it was still light.

     

    Slowly his eyelids opened to see a bright orange glow from a fire. An imperial man in worn brown robes tied with a golden rope belt sat opposite him on a log and watched him closely. However instead of the usual brown flat sandals which Sotek expected to see, he actually wore a pair of steel plated boots. Alongside him on the ground rested a pair of steel gauntlets. He had in his hand an amulet although Sotek had no idea as to which deity it belonged to. A second man who was far stockier set about adding wood to the campfire. The black wolves vision was still blurry but he managed to recognize the silver armor to be of the man that had found him. Confusion set in as to why a Silverhand would refrain from their misguided path to actually save a half drowned wounded wolf. The first man stared at him as he pondered on his next move. He tested his hind legs to see if they would respond. Pain tore into him from his wounded leg, but it quickly lessoned. He realized it wasn’t hurting at all, he had just expected it to cause him pain.

     

    He made the mistake of lifting his head up slightly which drew both of the men’s attention. The one in the robe jumped up and screeched excitedly at him.

    “You’re alive... I knew you would be.. Arkay wasn’t so sure. Between you and me, I don’t think he expected you to make it. But not me, I knew all along”. The black wolf sprang to his feet in shock from the man’s reaction. His paws threw up debris from the ground as he hurtled forwards in pure adrenalin induced fear. In his haste his paws failed him and he tumbled to the ground no more than three feet away from where he had been previously laying down. His head hit the ground hard adding to his confusion and disorientation.

     

    The second man groaned as he shook his head. Sotek expected to feel the kick of his boot as he stood over him but instead he turned towards the priest and pointed to the wolf.

    “What are you doing? It’s a blasted wolf. You should have let me kill it like I was going to do. I need a new fur damn it”.

     

    Ignorant to the ‘Paladins’ temper the priest bound over to the wolf and knelt down beside it and stroked his side.

    “Fur oh no. He’s covered in scales. I told you that. Arkay told me. He’s an Argonian, don’t you see? Arkay insists he’s our ally or he will be...”

     

    Sotek’s eyes opened wide with fear when the Paladin drew his dagger. A sigh escaped his maw as he saw the dagger end up being flung towards a tree stump and embed itself three inches into the bark.

    “Arkay this, Arkay that... Florentius Baenius, you’re off your nut! Too much of that mead in your gut and not enough brains in your head... Arkay never steadied my hand. You did! Where we going again anyhow?” It was only then that Sotek took a second glance at the Paladin and that was when he realised his mistake. He wasn’t a Paladin at all. He was just a merc. It wasn’t silver armor he was clad in either, it was steel. Sotek reasoned that the water from the river he was pulled out from had given the armor that silvery sheen. A long drawn out breath marked his relief.

     

    He laid there almost as if he was sleeping all the while he could feel the priests hand rest on his side. Sotek glanced up at him questioningly then without even waiting for the priest to back away, he slowly straightened himself out to get to his paws but as he stood up his strength failed him and once again he fell to the floor.

     

    The priest’s face filled with concern as he grimaced at the sight of the wolf falling to the ground.

    “We’re heading towards Riften. There’s a rune axe there... Somewhere... Arkay will show us the way...” He the smiled warmly at the wolf and started talking to it. “You had a bit of a tumble. I saw you go over the waterfall... What? But I didn’t mean it like... What I meant was.. Oh very well... What I meant to say friend is Arkay watched you go over the water fall... He bought me to you. Or you to us, I’m not sure yet...”

     

    The Mercenary whined once again as he grabbed a cooked rabbit which was cooking on a stick and tore it in half.

    “When they asked me to escort you to gods know where they never said you were crazy. That is a wolf... it’s no god damned Argonian!”

     

    Florentius tutted sarcastically as he snatched the remaining rabbit from the skewer and simply tossed it to the ground in front of the wolf.

    “And when they told me at the Hall of the Vigilant that you were an able and willing warrior, they never said you had the manners of a pig. He isn’t a ‘god damned Argonian’ He’s a Sheogorath damned Argonian’. And I’ve already told you where we’re going... Riften”.

     

    Sotek’s nose twitched as he smelt the rabbit which was less than a foot from the tip of his nose. Before he stretched his neck out to pull it towards him with his maw, the merc pointed to him and laughed.

    “What if he’s a vegetarian?”

     

    Florentius rolled his eyes as he snapped back in response.

    “You don’t get vegetarian wolves”.

     

    The merc yelled out as if he had scored a personal victory. As he shouted he slapped the side of his leg with the palm of his hand.

    “Yes! Got you! See... It is a blasted wolf and you just admitted it”.

     

    Florentius muttered under his breath before waving his hand at the merc dismissively.

    “Oh go gather more wood”. For a second his face turned blank as if he was somewhere else. A strange smile smothered his face which he was quick to hide. “Arkay suggested that you go to the east. There’s plenty of wood there”.

     

    The merc mumbled as he changed direction. He complained bitterly as he headed off away from the sunset.

    “Then why don’t Arkay himself get the bloody woo... Ahhrgg!” Florentius started chuckling as he watched the merc fall to his hands and knees before pulling his leg out of an old abandoned rabbit hole.

     

    Sotek’s head darted around towards the cry but his attention soon turned back to the food in front of him. He crept forwards so he could pull the rabbit towards him. Once he had moved it closer, he picked up the rabbit in his maw and headed to a spot away from the others. Once he was satisfied that he was far enough away, Sotek dropped the rabbit which landed with a thud just a foot away from him. He tore away a rabbit leg with his teeth while his mistrustful eyes kept watching the merc who had only gathered a few logs for the fire. Moments later Sotek greedily fed on the small but welcoming carcass although his eyes were still everywhere.

     

    The black wolf started growling and howling quietly for several minutes at seemingly nothing. Throughout all this time Florentius just sat back on a long log and watched him with a quiet but fascinated interest. Once again Sheogorath’s high pitched deeply annoying voice spoke out loudly inside Sotek’s mind.

    “So you’re awake... I thought you had it there but you’re not... You’re here instead”.

     

    “Where the hell is here? Who in oblivion is he?” As Sotek and Sheogorath talked, Florentius remained silent but Sotek saw a glint in the corner of his eye almost as if he knew what was actually going on. “I’ve got to get out of here... My leg, he healed it? How?”

     

    “Oh you’ll have fun with him, he’s a priest of Arkay... Hunts red furred werewolves... Not that we know any do we... Hahahaha...” Sheogorath appeared on a second log and slapped his leg as he laughed. He pulled out a massive pocket watch from the tiniest pocket Sotek had ever seen then jumped to his feet. “Got to go. Need to see a dog about a man... Hriskar causes me so many problems but he’s a joy to have around. Play nice and don’t go pissing on the fire”.

     

    “That’s not funny... I got to get out of here.. Hey Sheogorath... Aww hell” His eyes once again fell on the merc’s sword as Sheogorath’s played through his mind. “Crap!”

     

    Sotek quickly glanced around the camp as he tried to figure out his next move. He clearly remembered being pulled along by the rapids and dragged over the water fall. That in itself placed him to the east of Valtheim towers. Instead of being closer to his destination he was actually further away. How much further though? That was the question and he knew Aela’s hot headedness and stubborn attitude wouldn’t let her walk away without confirming the kill. She was out there somewhere either searching at this very moment or laid low and waiting until dawn to proceed with her hunt somewhere in the mountains or the forests. One thing he knew for sure was that she was out there.

     

    His mind then switched to the new problem. The Imperial who sat there before him. Sotek considered him to be no threat but he was far from happy with the merc. Pushing back the fears which Sheogorath had tried to plant in his mind, the black wolf sat up and studied the priest properly for the first time. He seemed to be in control and he somehow knew who Sotek was. He cursed himself slightly for making an error. ‘He don’t know who I am. He knows what I am...’. Sotek hissed at himself for being distracted so easily by Sheogorath. ‘Weapons. Silver, potent... Silverhand? Moron...’

     

    It was at that moment that the black wolf actually relaxed. Sotek could tell that the merc had killed werewolves before and Vampires. One question Sotek asked himself was how many werewolves had he himself killed, and what of Aela. She don’t hesitate for a second when she faced them. If they weren’t members of her pack then they were enemies. 

    "The mercs is a Werewolf hunter? Oh Sheogorath... Who the hell isn’t?"

    The black wolf casually got up and trotted over towards the edge of the camp then scouted around keeping just in sight of the fire. He had no idea where he was and shooting off in the darkness was no plan except for a foolish one. And he was far from foolish. If he was to win the day the he would have to be smart, cleaver and use his wits. The priest, this Florentius was no threat, that he was sure of. Some inner instinct told him that he was safe. A sanctuary of sorts. So why needlessly head off into danger? Daylight was his ally now and he would have to wait for it because for all the lessons learnt, Sotek knew that the day wouldn’t be rushed. It will come to him, he just had to be patient.

     

    ‘No time like the present to say hello’ Sotek thought as he headed back to the camp. He blatantly walked towards Florentius who watched him with a peculiar interest while the merc clasped the hilt of his sword due to the close proximity of Sotek to the priest he was sworn to protect.

     

    The black wolf sat in front of the log the priest was sitting on and tilted his head to the side. He watched Florentius glance back at him then he growled for a second.

     

    A moment later he howled out as the merc called out to the priest.

    “What’s he doing that for?”

     

    Florentius’s eyes glazed over for a few moments as he spoke to Arkay. As far as the merc was concerned the priest was most likely just talking to himself.

    “Really? But I don’t talk wolf... He can? Are you sure? Sorry I don’t mean to question you... Yes I know but it’s a... Ok, ok if you insist...” He then looked down at the wolf and shrugged his shoulders. “He’s trying to tell he his name”.

     

    The merc started laughing as he walked over to the log and sat down besides the priest. He huffed slightly as he annoyingly nudged the priest with his elbow.

    “So what is it? Howl?”

     

    The black wolf’s answer to his question was a whine as he slumped down on the ground with his head laid out between his front paws. His eyes stayed fixed on the priest though then he lifted his head up and started growling and barking in a rapid flurry of wolf like noises. The merc shook his head at the wolf’s racket, clearly sensitive to the sound while Florentius listened as if he understood. The merc stamped his foot at the wolf to try to get it to stop but his only response was a threatening growl.

    “Oh for a flask of ale and a whore... Why won’t it shut up?”

     

    Florentius leaned towards the merc and sniffed at his armor before turning back to the wolf.

    “You’re right he does...”

     

    The merc huffed as he moved away slightly from the priest as he felt somewhat uncomfortable.

    “He’s right about what?”

     

    Florentius started chuckling as he pointed to the man.

    “He’s right about you... You need a bath”.

     

    Sotek growled softly almost like he was sniggering then he headed off away from the priest and laid out upon the ground near the fire to rest. As he settled down he heard the priest and the merc shuffle about. He lifted his head up to see they were following his example and laying down to sleep.

     

    In the morning, Florentius awoke to a strange smell. He sat up to find two rabbits laid out by his side. Excitedly he climbed to his feet but as he picked one up a thick wolfish slobber dripped from the hind leg of the rabbit. He dropped the rabbit then tapped the merc with his foot.

    “Have we any food left from yesterday?”

     

    Meanwhile Sotek who was still trapped in the wolf form thanks to Sheogorath, was making good headway once more. He had spent the last hour travelling along various hillsides but as he scrambled over one particular brow he smelt a burning on the wind. The sun had started to rise along with the temperature of the air. It made no difference to him though as he homed in upon a camp in the forest.

     

    A musky smell of a female werewolf filled his nostrils causing him to stop dead in his tracks.

    ‘Aela... You’re here!’

     

     

Comments

12 Comments
  • Aela The Huntress
    Aela The Huntress   ·  September 18, 2015
    Florentius was a great addition to the story. You portrayed him really well and his speech was great. I didn't expect him to be here yet he fits right in.
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  September 15, 2015
    The mudcrab part is necessary, but not the size. I love the talking mudcrab! He has 10,000, creeper the scamp has 5,000
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  September 15, 2015
    Thanks Lissette. You were a massive help with this chapter. I learned a lot here.
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  September 15, 2015
    I agree with Exuro, Florentius fits right into Sotek's world and that he can understand Sotek is awesome. Poor Merc, but not really. 
    I know how you struggled with this chapter. Turned out awesome, way better than it was before. Congratulations. 
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  September 15, 2015
    Before I saw the picture I was thinking about the mudcrab in Morrowind that has 10,000 Septims to buy items. (At least I think it was 10,000. It might have been 5,000)
    I can do this.... In fact I have an idea already. Won't be for a while though. Yo...  more
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  September 15, 2015
    Go for it... on one condition, a mudcrab needs to appear in the chapter.

  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  September 15, 2015
    Sheo's Shenanigans... Would you mind if I used that as a title. .
    Thanks for pointing out the error. fixed it.
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  September 15, 2015
    I can't believe I forgot about Florentius! He fits right in with Sheo's shenanigans.
    At least Aela/Red will be able to smell its him this time, unless Sheo messed that up too.
    Typo Nazi: The black wolf sat in front of the log eth priest was si...  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  September 15, 2015
    Glad you liked it Meli. A few re writes went into this and a sleepless night. I'm really pleased with the results though.
  • Meli
    Meli   ·  September 15, 2015
    Oh Sotek, you flippin' nutter, I love this :-D :-D
    Florentius is fabulous, now my arrowsworn really has to join the Dawnguard asap :-)