U.O.T.W. Chapter 125 The Master's Call

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    Red opened her eyes and all her senses kicked in as one. She could smell the crisp morning air; see the surrounding spirit wolves and their prey hiding in the forests. Hear the rustling of the leaves in the treetops. She didn’t look for land marks, she didn’t need them. She knew where she was, exactly where she was. This was where she longed to be, Hircine’s realm, the Hunting Grounds.

    Either side of her were other spirit wolves. Some gathered together in small packs, friends and families. Others, like her, stood alone with neither friends nor family, no Companions by her side.

    When she first dreamt of the Hunting Grounds she thought it was just a dream, a mixture of want and expectations but it all seemed so real. When Aela awoke all those years ago she understood, and obeyed. She heard the master’s call. Since then she had been here no less than seven times. So many occasions she had hoped one of her siblings would bow down to Hircine and accept his gift. Farkas was the most likely but he quickly followed his brother and turned from the glory of Hircine, the glory of the hunt. She had become used to being alone, used to the disappointment and the solitude of never sharing the experience of the hunt with a friend, a pack member, a mate.

    Even her mother wouldn’t meet her. She never came to see her, not once. As she looked around at the various groups she knew not all of them would take part in the upcoming hunt. Some were here to see relatives, sons, daughters, fathers and mothers. No one ever came to see her, not once.

    She hoped Sotek would change it all. She hoped Omega would be here but alas he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Red howled out a lonesome cry in the hope her mate would answer but inside she knew he wasn’t here. ‘Maybe one day he would be’ she thought; the same thoughts consumed her during the last ten years over Farkas and her siblings. One day she wouldn’t hunt here alone... one day.

    As she looked around at the other spirit wolves, one thing stood out which they all had in common. Everyone was fed up waiting; each one was restless and eager for the hunt to begin. A multitude of howls cried out sending a wave of excitement and apprehension of what was to come. As she looked up to the red hunter’s moon she felt a hunger, a thirst.

    A large wolf passed through the various packs. She didn’t recognise him at all, he was a large grey wolf, old yet powerful, experienced, the Alpha of the hunt. He howled out, then as one they all joined in; a chorus of wolves howling for all their worth.

    A single silhouette broke the skyline on the brow of a small hill overlooking the various spirit wolves. Red looked up at it in awe, the majesty of the creature struck every wolf around her. Each wolf gazed in wonder at the stag. It was white, almost glowing in purity. Red knew it was an aspect of Hircine, and she was fully aware of its meaning.

    There was a hunt, a great hunt and she was one of the chosen. To take part in a hunt was an honour for all werewolves, but to the victor and the others whom Hircine felt were worthy, oh they were surely touched by grace for they would be granted small boons. Whether it was sight, smell, speed, or even aggression, the boons marked you out as being one of Hircine’s own, one of his hounds. She herself had been on several great hunts; four times she stood out from the others. He had granted her such boons and they in turn served her well. She had chosen speed twice; she ran faster than what most other werewolves could only dream of. Only a select few could ever even dare to match her speed. Her agility had been supplemented as well; she was not only fast but dextrous on her paws, graceful, agile and fluid.

    Her senses were pushed beyond normal limits, even by werewolf standards. Aela learned from an early age to tap into Red, an ability which she used often and always to her advantage. All these stood Red out from the other spirit wolves. She was faster, more agile and she could smell her prey far more easily than an ordinary werewolf, even in human form.

    When Hircine spoke to Aela about Omega, Hircine said he was pleased with her, with Red. She felt choked with pride when he had said that. She knew he meant it and she had no intention of letting him down.

    By now all the spirit wolves who were taking part in the hunt had huddled together in one big pack. Red stepped forwards breaking out to the front. The pack leader, the Alpha growled at her, but she just snapped back at him defiantly. Her eyes were already fixed on her prey, her senses locked in.

    All the while the white stag watched the confrontation in fascination. Despite Red’s disobedience towards the Alpha, Hircine was happy. Red was fierce, she didn’t back down. She was one of his favourites, as long as she behaved.

    The Alpha moved into her face then growled even louder forcing her to disengage. Reluctantly she stepped back breaking the deadlock. Her frustration build up and she howled out for all her worth. There in the distance was the prey, her prey but the Alpha wanted to stand around and wait for the master’s call. A waste of time, all she wanted was to hunt and to kill. Why waste time when she knew the hunt was all Hircine cared about.

    At long last the huntsman’s horn sounded out, it echoed across the plains and the forests of the Hunting Grounds causing rabbits and elk to scatter. Deer drinking by the rivers which flowed there fled as if the very air hunted them.

    The whole pack ran as one. Gradually it separated as faster wolves took the lead but soon the leader, Red and three others were in the forefront, racing against each other; each one desperate to take point, to make the kill.

    Their target? Their prey? A man who was running for his life. It didn’t matter who, not to the others and certainly not to Red. She didn’t even care if he was a Nord or an Imperial, but he was certainly fast. He ran as quickly as he could the moment he heard the wolves closing in.

    That wouldn’t save him, Red was hungry, she needed it, she needed the kill. Her pace quickened, surprising the leader who started to drop back from her sudden burst of speed. She lowered her head, forming a tighter airstream; less resistance meant more speed. She was in the lead now, her prey ran as fast as he could but despite his efforts and the adrenalin running through his veins, the gap between them closed rapidly.

    Her prey howled out as he fell onto all fours. Black fur smothered his body. He ran even faster now, his paws equalling Red’s own pace. She felt a rage, a fury channelling her energy to every limb, every muscle, forcing them to work harder. She sped up even more; the ground passing underneath was nothing but a blur. Each of her paws pounded upon the earth. She was a perfect specimen. A pinnacle of fur, claws, fangs... death.

    Her prey was a werewolf, that didn’t matter to her. If he expected her to back away then he was mistaken but he ran as if he knew. There was no surrender; all he could hope for was a few more seconds of life to taste the sweetness of air. Red was seconds behind when the prey, her prey, ran into a cave.

    She ground to a halt as she heard Hircine’s voice thunder across the Hunting Grounds.

    “The prey has run into hiding in Bloated Man’s Grotto! As a bear climbs a tree to evade the hunter, he has trapped himself. Tear his skin from his body, return his gift to me!”

    Aela awoke to several sensations which flooded her body and soul. The air smelt so fresh and crisp and the dim glow of the fire seemed to burn like the setting sun causing her to blink heavily. She could hear her own heart pounding away in her chest, feel Sotek’s gaze as he watched her. The pupils in her eyes were fully open taking in every speck of light allowing her to see everything in clear precise detail as she scanned the room to get her bearings. She glanced up to see Sotek looking down at her. Each scale seemed so sharp and defined, every speck on his body, every flake of bone on his spikes, she could see it all as clear as crystal. She turned towards the doors so she could focus on the guard quietly walking around the Winds district on his patrol, every step seemed to echo around the hall.

    Despite her werewolf senses all firing off at once, she seemed dazed and disorientated, something which Sotek had easily noticed.

    “Are you ok? You were having one hell of a dream”.

    She pulled herself up to a sitting position and once again quickly took in her surroundings as she focused her mind.

    “A dream? Oh yea, it was... intense. It wasn’t a dream; it was real! Yes, a dream”. Aela closed her eyes and lain down on her back before she stretched out her arms and legs forming a human star. Only then did she fall still and silent, giving her body a chance to relax.

    All Sotek could hear was her heavy breathing. His eyes traced along her body and watched with fascination as her chest heaved due to the intensity of her emotions.

    “Was it a bad one? You were very restless”.

    She shook her head and her eyes snapped open as she answered him.

    “No, I like those dreams; I was Red, on a hunt”.

    Sotek rolled his eyes in understanding. He was initially worried but now Aela had said about Red, everything suddenly became clear.

    “You dreamt you were Red, hunting? Now why doesn’t that surprise me”.

    “And what do you mean by that?” She asked as a big smile filled her face.

    Sotek started chuckling and leaned away from her in a pathetic attempt to move out of her hands range. He knew he was well within strike range but he blurted out his answer regardless.

    “Red’s a renowned psycho, no wonder you were so restless”. As soon as he said it Aela flicked him on the nose causing his eyes to water. “Oww”

    Aela laughed; loudly. It wasn’t her usual half hearted laugh but a full blown one. She was full of life; her spirit seemed to soar way above the troubles of Whiterun. One moment she was sitting next to him and the next she was on her feet running barefoot across the hall.

    “Serves you right, I’ve got to go see the Harbinger”.

    Then Aela started to make her way downstairs to the Harbingers quarters. As Sotek called out to her, he could hear her feet almost skipping down the flight of stairs as she deliberately missed every other step.

    “What now? It’s like two in the morning!”

    “Yes, right now. I won’t be long”. Then she shoved the Undercroft door open and ran through.

    Sotek listened as her footsteps faded then the heavy ‘thump’ as the wooden Undercroft door closed. He had no idea why she had to see the Harbinger at this time of morning. While he pondered on such matters he sat up on the step and waited for her to return. Subconsciously he started scratching his chest. He began to feel hot and irritable, and itchy. Without thinking he started scratching his arms franticly.

    Aela made a beeline for the Harbinger’s quarters at the far end of the corridor. Ignoring every other room, including her own, she quickly homed in on the thick wooden door in question and banged on it with the flat of her fists while she yelled out at the same time making enough racket to wake the draugr. The trouble was it wasn’t the dead she was trying to rouse, it was the living.

    “Harbinger? Harbinger, wake up!! I need to talk to you. Wake up damn it all”.

    Farkas woke up instead. He threw the furs off himself and wrapped one around his midriff then angrily exited his room and yelled down the corridor at his ‘overzealous’ sibling.

    “Aela! What the hell is up with you? It’s early, go to sleep damn you”.

    Vilkas, who’s room was directly opposite Farkas’s, called out to her as well.

    “Shut the hell up! By the nines, it’s quieter when you’re howling your head off! At least there’s a door to your room!!”

    Aela twisted around and growled menacingly like a wolf at the two brothers. Whether she knew it or not her teeth were clenched in a display of wanton aggression.

    “Grrrrr!! Shut up the pair of you and go back to the pits you crawled out of”. She then banged on the door even louder. “Harbinger? Wake up”. She turned around and leaned her back to the door so she could kick it with the heel of her foot.

    She heard the inner door open. Aela’s hand tapped out the rhythm of the Harbinger’s slow lumbering footsteps as he walked across the floor while she waited impatiently for him.

    “What are you doing in there? Open the blasted door!”

    The moment the bolt slid across, Aela barged straight in then shut the door behind her. She blurted her words out; fast and rapidly, too quickly for the Harbinger to understand her.

    “I’ve been summoned. There’s a hunt on. I’ve got to go”.

    The Harbinger huffed at her impudence and sat on a chair. He poured out a glass of water and motioned to her to sit down. His first task was to curb her eagerness and slow her blazing spirit to a somewhat less intense flame.

    “Aela, calm down! Now, start from the beginning. What hunt?”

    She cried out despairingly and repeated herself just as quickly as she did the first time around. When she had finished a few seconds later she stared at the Harbinger who looked just as baffled as he was when she first entered his study.

    “Oh for the love of Hircine... Kodlak? Ohhhh! Aren’t you listening? Don’t you care?” She suddenly stopped as a different scent filled her nostrils. It was known to her but certainly not one she expected to smell. “Ermm is that?”

    Kodlak quickly tapped her on the forehead with his finger drawing her attention back to him. He waved her on with his hand in an attempt to get her to focus on her own situation rather than of his.

    “Aela! Start from the beginning. What is this about? What hunt?”

    She told him of her dream and it’s significance which he knew all too well. His elbow rested on the table so he could support his head in his hand. He knew what the dream meant to Aela. She all too easily fell under Hircine’s influence and not once did she ever try to fight it; she would rather fight him instead.

    “Aela, I have to admit I’m more than a little worried. Most werewolves only get the one summon; some don’t even get one. This would have been your third or fourth?”

    Aela groaned as she raised her hands up despairingly.

    “Harbinger!! Really? This would be my eighth hunt. I knew you bastards weren’t paying Red any attention. I’ve received four blessings now! Four! I’m wasting time, I’ve got to go”.

    Kodlak slowly rose up from his chair and nodded at her. He knew she would, it was inevitable. He had more chance stopping Farkas from eating the sweetrolls.

    “Yes, yes, I can see that. Just tell me for my own peace of mind; where are you going?”

    Aela sat there watching him as he stood over her expectantly.

    “Ermm, I don’t want to tell you.....”

    Kodlak had to look twice at the young Companion. He expected a few difficulties with her due to her temper and spirit but this time she was calm and timid yet the defiance remained.

    “Why ever not?”

    She lent forwards and held his hand while he stood in front of her. Aela knew she had to choose her words carefully, there was simply too much at stake.

    “With all due respect Harbinger, Sotek will want to follow me. I can’t allow him to, we can’t. He obviously hasn’t had the summoning; I don’t want him upsetting things now with Hircine. You know he will push you into telling him, this cannot happen, it must not happen. I’ll be safe, I swear it. I need your help; can you distract Sotek so I can sneak out? He’s upstairs”.

    Kodlak sighed as he turned around to face the door. He envisioned the conversation with Sotek and it was one he didn’t relish. The Harbinger glanced over his shoulders and stared in the expectant eyes of the Huntress. He silently cursed her as well as himself. He knew she was right, things between her and Sotek were dependant on Hircine and Sotek had a way of disregarding the rules. If he wasn’t called to the hunt then it would be all but fatal for them both. A final sigh marked the fact that he knew what had to be done, and he hated himself for it.

    “I’ll ask him to come out to the courtyard for five minutes; you had better sneak away then”

    Aela breathed a sigh of relief. She had hoped the Harbinger would play along, not that any of this was a game, she was under no illusion there. This was serious, deadly serious. To disrespect Hircine, to disobey him meant problems. He had numerous ways to deal with such followers and anarchists to his cause. He would call upon the Great Hunt and send out his werewolves to seek out their prey, his prey. One thing Aela didn’t want was to find Sotek at the end of a great hunt such as the one she was about to embark on.

    “Thank you Harbinger. I’ll sort it out with Sotek when I come back”.

    While Aela prepared herself for the upcoming hunt, Kodlak wearily headed upstairs to find Sotek sitting on the steps. He was wide awake just like the Harbinger. His mind fell blank as he tried to come up with any reason to get Sotek in the yard but each scenario he played through seemed pathetic and deeply flawed, especially to one such as the Argonian who was so used to mind games himself. The only thing in Kodlak’s favour was the fact that Sotek was preoccupied with his scratching to pay too much attention.

    “Ermm can we talk for a few minutes?”

    Sotek hissed in annoyance which the Harbinger mistakenly presumed was directed at him. At least he did until Sotek pulled up his shirt and started scratching again.

    “Aeeiii.... Harbinger this is driving me.... insane...”

    Kodlak’s eyes cast upon the courtyard doors as he pondered a way to get Sotek outside. He quickly thought back to the evening when Tilma seemed to stop Sotek’s scratching with ease. The Harbinger picked up a large jug of water and called out.

    “Sotek, look at me!”

    Sotek did as he was asked and turned to face the Harbinger. A second later a wave of water splashed in his face and dribbled down his shirt. Kodlak calmly placed the now empty jug on the table and smiled.

    “That better?”

    A reptilian tongue slipped across Sotek’s lips as he tasted the water. He looked down at his shirt which was now drenched and smiled.

    “Yesss. Thank you… I think”.

    Kodlak nodded and walked towards the doors.

    “Good, you’re welcome. Now, as you are paying attention; we need to talk”.

    Sotek eagerly followed him as he knew it had to do with Aela. As to what extent though, that was something he was determined to find out.

    “Yes? What is it? Is it about Aela’s dream?”

    Kodlak nodded as he pushed open the doors.

    “Yes, yes it is. Come outside for a minute, I can do with some fresh air”. At least he wasn’t lying, the hall felt stuffy and stank of deceit.

    Outside in the courtyard, the air was icy cold. Sotek noticed the Harbinger shiver slightly while he himself felt more at peace. The itching had stopped far beyond what the water had done to settle his scaly irritable skin. He lifted up his arm and noticed alarmingly that his scales had turned pitch black.

    Suddenly a bright unearthly red glare caused him to shield his eyes as the sky seemingly exploded.

    The clouds broke away at an alarming rate like time itself was speeded up beyond all normal means. As he looked up at the reddened sky he couldn’t help but look at the two moons. The smallest one Secunda was almost full, but it was quickly blotted out by Masser, the largest moon. Instead of its silvery glow, it was red, blood red.

    Sotek knew instinctively of the sign, the Bloodmoon.

    He slowly nodded to Masser.

    “Yesss!” He whispered. He would answer the Master’s call.

     

     

Comments

5 Comments   |   Hasir likes this.
  • Exuro
    Exuro   ·  April 28, 2016
    Ah, that song's sound always picks me up.
    Eight hunts and four boons (+2 speed, +1 agility, & +1 senses right?)! No wonder Red is such a badass. Looks like Kodlak's diversion isn't going to work
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  April 27, 2016
    LOL, *sings* I see the Blood Moon risin' I see that trouble's on the way... 

  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  April 27, 2016
    Switched mustn't for must not so it reads easier.
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  April 27, 2016
    In paragraph 72 I read 'mustn't', is that even a real word? It's a huge pain to pronounce too, a big problem for verbal readers like me.

    Black scales? That can't be good, unless it's just the moonlight.
  • ShyGuyWolf
    ShyGuyWolf   ·  April 27, 2016
    wow, this was a great chapter.