Within minutes, the sky had once again cleared but the Blood Moon still shone brightly, lighting up the whole mountain. The trail they found themselves upon slowly snaked off downwards, towards an old weathered, partially destroyed wall which rested towards the west of them. The moment Aela saw it in the distance, she pointed it out to Sotek.
“There it is, Helgen. That’s where the first dragon attack was. The dragon was a big black one, it singlehandedly destroyed the town. Now though, it’s overrun with bandits and murderers. We’ll have to go careful”.
As Sotek looked down at the town he felt queasy. It wasn’t a town at all but just ruins. Burnt out houses, destroyed stone defences, and rubble littered the streets. He couldn’t escape the thought that over a hundred Stormcloaks descended upon Whiterun, and it was relatively intact.
“All that damage from one single dragon?”
Sasha nodded her head at him.
“Yes, except it wasn’t just a dragon. It was the dragon. Alduin”.
“Who in Oblivion is Alduin?”
“The biggest, meanest dragon, you’ll ever have the misfortune to meet. He’s the world destroyer”. Sasha replied.
Sotek looked down at the ruined town once more then gulped.
“Great, I can’t wait to meet him”.
As they approached the east gate, they spotted a young girl sneak over to the gateway then try to pick the lock. Some sixth sense alerted her to their presence and she turned to face them while drawing her bow. They were still a good few hundred yards away but she still took aim at the group as a whole, but held her fire as she watched them come to a stop. Aela drew her bow in response then took aim herself. There was a light breeze blowing along the valley which carried the girl’s scent across towards them. Aela recognised it immediately.
“She’s a werewolf. What is she doing here?”
“Do you know her?” Sotek asked as he studied the young female.
Aela quickly glanced at Sotek, she shook her head as she answered sharply.
“Nope”.
The girl however recognised Aela, which wasn’t difficult as Aela was renowned in the whole of Skyrim. The girl lowered her bow then cautiously approached them.
“You’re Aela? Do you feel the call of the moon as well?”
Aela looked somewhat puzzled initially but she very quickly realised what the girl meant.
“Huh? You feel the call of the Blood Moon?”
She stowed her bow away on her back once more then approached the group, far friendlier than she had done initially.
“The great hunt? Yes. I was sleeping up there, in the mountainside. I’ve been hunting goats would you believe, until the Blood Moon woke me up. It felt like my very blood was boiling, it wouldn’t cease until I headed down here. But I don’t know why. Where do we need to go?”
Sotek casually walked over to the Nord. She was only in her early twenties, with thick blond hair, weathered skin, and old but well looked after leather armour.
“You’re an archer?”
“Yes, but I can handle a sword just as well”. The girl replied as she tapped the hilt of a steel sword that hung loosely by her side.
“Come with us, we’re heading to the hunt ourselves”. Sotek said, offering an outstretched arm towards the pack.
“I’ll make my own way. I mean no disrespect but... I’ve only been on one hunt before. There were several who turned on the others. It was a blood bath”.
Sotek rested his hand on her shoulder, he spoke softly but she felt compelled to listen.
“That’s the way of it. Hircine don’t care who lives or dies. As long as there is a hunt, a victor and a prey. He’ll make us all better hunters, but just so we’ll become better prey for him. I, myself, have laid waste to an entire hunt before, just to guarantee that it was me who killed the prey. This time though there won’t be any infighting, the Alpha won’t allow it. We’re against several enemies, and they all can fight extremely well. Join us, we’ll travel together”.
“How can you be so sure that the Alpha won’t allow infighting?”
Sotek smiled as his eyes fixed upon the gate.
“Simple, because he’s me. I’m the Alpha male, Aela’s the Alpha female. This is our hunt; our prey is the Dark Brotherhood sanctuary. Helgen is just a poor city of the damned that happens to be in our way”.
She looked startled at his response but, yet again felt obligated to do as he requested. She walked past Aela then stood several feet behind her. Sotek walked up to the gate then within moments he lock picked it. The girl looked over at Kul-et somewhat oddly. She sniffed at her then spoke.
“You’re not one of us are you? Are you after the gift?”
“Ermm, no I’m ermm... Sotek, why am I here?” Kul-et asked as she shuffled about nervously.
Sotek laughed as he looked across at her, he could see she was feeling nervous.
“Your here, because you had the misfortune to be nowhere else”
Kul-et sighed heavily.
“Oh great”.
“Just stay near me and you’ll be fine. From here, I don’t know what to expect, so let’s take it steady. Aela, its best if we don’t go attacking any other werewolves until we know if they’re with us or not, just stick to bandits for now. Oh, feel free to change, go have some fun. All of you”. With that he opened the eastern gate to the sounds of battle.
Already two bandits, who were nearby, were firing towards the north gate where three werewolves were fighting in a massive melee comprising of them and four other bandits. Aela quickly transformed into Red then charged at the nearest archer while Quicksilver and the other werewolf joined in the attack. Sotek cast his familiar who joined in with Red as she fought the bandit but Sotek’s own attention was taken towards the nearest tower, where ice spikes flew out into the fighting by the north gate.
“Kul-et, stay with Red”.
Sotek transformed then charged into the inner courtyard, straight towards a bandit mage. He fired off several ice spikes, but they had negligible effect as Scarface managed to dodge most of them. Scarface leapt up in the air and landed just in front of his prey and with a massive swipe of his claws, the mage was torn asunder. A second later, Scarface fed off his corpse then eyed up his second target. By that time Red and the others were charging into the northern fight. One werewolf was stabbed repeatedly, several times in the chest by a bandit clad in steel armour. He turned towards his new targets just to see Red’s claws swipe along his chest and tear his armour to shreds. She pinned him to the ground as she proceeded to tear out chunks of flesh and bone from his chest while his last breath was taken by screams.
Kul-et couldn’t help herself, she bent over then threw up as she saw the blood and guts spill out along the ground. Red looked up at her, which only helped to make her feel worse as Red still had some flesh hanging from her jaw.
Within seconds, the other bandits were slain which left Red and the others facing the two remaining werewolves. One of them changed back. He was a large stocky Imperial, as tall as any Nord. He looked over to Red then gave his thanks.
“You answer the call of the blood as well?”
Red looked at him with an odd expression on her face. She transformed back to her Nordic form and then Aela slightly tilted her head to the side as she studied him.
“Indeed, we do”.
“I’ve answered many calls, but I haven’t met a creature such as you. My love, what would you say if I said that I’m an Alpha as well? I’ll claim this hunt for the honour of Hircine. Come, join me, be my Alpha female. I’ll give you the world”.
Aela stood there as he walked up to her and held her hand. She smiled at him then laughed.
“You’re an Alpha? And what is he?”
“He’s my blood brother, he turned me years ago. We fight for Hircine, and for you, if you wish. You’re Red, everyone knows you. You’ve been on nearly as many hunts as Hircine himself”.
Aela raised a single eyebrow and her hands moved to her hips as she puffed up her chest, showing off her womanly virtues. With a wicked glint in her eye, she spoke.
“And tell me, my dear, what would become of the Alpha?”
“I’ll kill him, and take the pack... And you”.
“And what if I said, the Alpha was my mate? Then what would you do?”
The imperial snarled at the thought.
“Kill him, then feast off his corpse. Whoever he is, he is unworthy of you. You know you are meant to be by my side. Hircine almost demands it”.
Aela turned around to see Sotek walk over towards them, she gave the Imperial a smile as she pointed Sotek out to him.
“Here he comes”.
The Imperial watched Sotek move towards them the he sniggered at his ally as he approached Sotek confidently.
“You’re an Argonian? With Aela? You’re the pack Alpha? Red’s mate?”
“Yes, yess, yes and no. I’m the pack Alpha, I’m with Aela, I think I’m an Argonian. I wasn’t overly sure but the tail gave it away. And… No, I'm not Red’s mate”.
Aela called out to them.
“He’s not, you know”.
The Imperial turned to face her, his face showed his obvious confusion.
“But you said he was Red’s mate?”
“Yes, but ermm that’s not entirely true. He’s my mate”. She brazenly walked over to Sotek and kissed him full on the lips. “Show him Red’s mate”. As she watched, she saw Sotek change form once again. “Now, however, he’s Red’s mate”.
The Imperials friend’s eyes opened wide as he saw Scarface silently stand up in front of the Imperial.
“Oh, by the Eight, it’s him”.
The Imperial looked over to the Nord, his voice showed clearly that he was unimpressed.
“It’s who? That was until he turned back to see Scarface standing before him.
Scarface lashed out with the back of his paw and sent the Imperial flying backwards, several feet, he slammed into the dust as Aela walked over to him.
“That’s Scarface, he’s Red’s mate. You take him out and I’m all yours baby”. With that she blew him a kiss then she approached Scarface. Her mood quickly changed from a feisty, red headed Nord to a raging storm of anger and hit Scarface in the chest with the palm of her hand. “And what the hell were you doing? You mangy dog!”
Scarface just snarled at her then looked off towards the closest tower. Aela followed his gaze and saw several bandit’s corpses littering the remnants of the street. Their armour and weapons laid scattered amongst the rubble. She smiled to herself as she saw various bandits had been fed upon, then her gaze turned towards the western part of the city.
“Fair enough. Archers over on the main tower, that’s your job. Fetch”.
Scarface turned around to where she was pointing then ran on all fours through the streets towards the tower. The remaining bandits became aware of his presence due to the loud, thundering of his paws on the ground.
Aela, Kul-et and Sasha all fired off their bows at another group of bandits as they poured out into the streets while the other werewolves joined in the fray. Red once more changed then charged into the main building, quickly followed by Sasha and Kul-et. Three bandits attacked Red as she ran through them and assaulted the bandit leader who stood behind his rank of fighters. Kul-et cast several fireball spells as Sasha fired off her bow towards the rank and file bandits. Within moments, the others joined in as arrows and werewolves poured through doorways and windows, and lethal claws tore their way through partly destroyed walls.
Scarface found himself outside the tower, he gripped the door which was half hanging off and simply tore it off its hinges then tossed it aside. The three bandits who resided inside, screamed. Two ran towards the circular stairwell while the other was overcome with bravery. He drew his sword as he stood his ground, but Scarface grabbed him then slammed him several times against the wall until he was just a broken mess of flesh and bloodied rags.
As Scarface headed up the stairwell, three arrows shot down towards him. One hit him in the arm, but he ignored it. There was a loud bang as a heavy wooden door was slammed then bolted from the other side, but Scarface pounded upon it with his paws. Every blow shook the tower as small pieces of rubble and dust fell from the door’s framework. Within several seconds it was obvious to the two remaining bandits that the door wouldn’t hold. Several blows later the door cracked as stone and mortar broke away. There was a loud ominous groan quickly followed by a large crack as the door’s hinges finally gave way. The bandit on the other side of the door found himself trapped. He drew his sword and prepared to face Scarface who peered menacingly through a gap in the doorway. A split second later, the bandit was slammed into the stone floor as the door spectacularly burst out of the frame work and crushed the bandit, pinning him helplessly underneath it. A second later the bandit screamed as blood oozed out from under the door as Scarface walked on top of it, his weight crushing the very blood out of the hapless foe like someone squeezing a blood, soaked sponge.
By now, Aela and the others had cleaned out the remaining bandits, but one archer was left. The one trapped at the top of the tower by Scarface. The bandit had let loose several arrows towards Aela and the others, but as of yet, he was unsuccessful at hitting any of his targets. Scarface howled out at him as he looked across the top of the tower. The bandit had nowhere to run, he took aim and fired at Scarface, then immediately tried to fire a second time. Scarface was struck in the chest, but the arrow did little to slow him down. He picked up the bandit then held him out over the edge of the tower and threw him straight at Aela.
Kul-et called out her warning as the bandit screamed as he plunged towards the group. Aela stood still as she watched him fall towards her. She stepped two paces sideways mere seconds before the bandit slammed into the ground. Blood spurted from his mouth as he was killed on impact. Aela just spat at him then looked up at Scarface. She pointed her finger at Scarface who still stood at the top of the tower and threatened him menacingly.
“You bastard, you did that deliberately. You just wait”.
Scarface stood at the edge of the tower and looked out towards the east. The sun had already started climbing in the sky. As Scarface stood there he could feel the warmth of the sun’s rays as they struck his fur. He then cast a quick glance down at the others who was all waiting for him. He climbed over the edge then slid down the tower. Chunks of debris and dust fell to the ground as his claws dug into the stone and rock, which controlled his descent.
Aela was the first to notice he had an arrow in his chest. She walked over to him then rested her hand against his cheek.
“Hey, you did good. Hold still”. She gripped tightly on the arrow shaft as Scarface growled at her. She cast him a quick smile then pulled hard on the arrow. Over the course of a few seconds, it gradually slid out of his chest. He howled out in agony, but his pain was short lived as the wound healed over.
Sotek changed back then looked across the ruins, various bandits laid in the dirt. Most of them were torn to shreds where the werewolves had fed, but a few remained intact. The Imperial seized his chance. He walked over to Sotek and held out a silver dagger in his outstretched hand.
“I found this on one of the bandits. Here, you have it”.
He tried to plunge the dagger into Sotek’s chest but Aela was far quicker. Within a second her dagger flashed in the sunlight as it slit his throat wide open. Blood poured out from his neck which spilled out over Aela’s boots. She gripped his hair then yanked his head back. Her fingertips sank into his throat and she wrenched out whatever she could grip in an open display of savagery. She threw the corpse onto the ground then wiped her hand across her stomach, leaving trails of blood on her soft skin.
“By Hircine, I love the smell of blood in the morning”.
Sotek sank his shoulders as he watched her change form then feast off the corpse.
“You’re an animal”. She growled out at him momentarily but then carried on with her feeding. Sotek cast a quick glance at the Nord who was with the now dead Imperial. “Are you going to be a problem?”
He just shook his head in response.
“Not any more”.
Sotek just smirked then tapped his foot as he waited for Red to transform back into Aela once more. As she stood there defiantly defending her actions with attitude, Sotek reached down and lifted up her hand. He looked at her fingernails which seemed to be more pointed and thicker, adding to their toughness and strength.
“They’re not nails, their bloody claws! Great… Thank you Hircine for that!”
Aela twiddled her finger tips as she gazed happily on her claw like nails.
“I like them… Can’t wait to try them out during sex!”
Sotek’s tail flapped about ominously and he blankly turned away and started heading towards the west gateway.
“Wonderful!”
The western gateway had no doors. They were totally destroyed, the beams used in its construction were flung about like matchsticks across the ground just outside. Sotek led the now six strong group along the winding stone pathway that led towards Falkreath. Aela came alongside him and smiled broadly at him. Her stomach was still smothered in blood. Sotek grinned at her then handed her a damp cloth and a small flask which she used to clean her torso up with.
“You are in control and not Red, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I was just trying out my new nails”.
“Trying them out or just proving a point?”
“Is there a difference?” Aela declared. Besides it’s good that they know. They fuck with one of us then they fuck with us both”.
“Ok, just remember Kul-et’s not one of us. She’s been vomiting three times now because of you”. Sotek said as he glanced behind his shoulder at the hapless Argonian girl.
She cast a quick glance at Kul-et. Only now did Aela realise that she did actually looked pale.
“Opps, I forgot. Sorry”.
Sotek laughed as he held her in his arm.
“Don’t be, it’s hard to remember. I’m just the same”.
“Yes, but you’re not though, are you? Now you got this gift, you can call the Blood Moon, your strength is unreal, let alone your speed. Oh, don’t worry, I’m fine with it I really am. Just don’t let me fall to the wayside”.
He held her tight then kissed the top of her head.
“No chance. Not with nails like those”.
Aela chuckled then felt her eyes drift off towards the mountains towards the south of them. Beyond them laid Cyrodiil, home of the Emperor.
“Wrap your arms around me, I got something to tell you”.
Sotek pulled her close then held her tightly, she leaned into his ear and whispered.
“We’re being watched”.
“Yes, two of them. Nord male and female. Werewolves?”
Aela shrugged.
“Maybe, can’t tell yet. Let’s move, we’ll soon find out if they follow”. She took point then headed further along the winding pathway.
Within five minutes they found themselves near a small camp which was situated near a small waterfall. A narrow stream flowed down the hillside and separated the camp from the path. Fortune favoured them though as it was not only narrow, but it was shallow as well. Aela halted the pack then investigated the camp by herself. One quick jump was all she needed to cross the stream. True enough, at the camp there were just two bedrolls set out and the typical signs of werewolves. Carcases of three wolves were cast upon some large rocks. The corpses were half chewed upon but then what ever meat was left over was roughly cut off with daggers. Now the scent of werewolves was strong. She had no doubt that the two in the treelines were werewolves and that they were now following Her and Sotek’s pack. She looked back at the pack and saw Sotek approach the camp. He threw a log on the fire then cast his flame spell, igniting the wood. Only then did he sit down at the fireside. He motioned Aela to join him, which she did but she kept her bow handy just in case.
The two Nords cautiously approached them both. But they too were aware that Aela and Sotek were also werewolves.
“You two, you're with them? The others down there on the path?”
Sotek turned to face them then cast a reassuring smile at the girl.
“Hi, nice camp”.
“Thanks, but ermm, you are with them are you not?”
“Not exactly, they’re with us. Tell me, do you feel it?” Aela asked as she examined the girl's bow.
“The call of the great hunt? Yes. But it feels different, like it’s almost overwhelming”.
Sotek nodded at them both.
“Yes, like you have little choice but to comply. Come with us on the hunt. It calls out to you, like it knows your very names”.
The man stood over him then looked down at his face.
“Do we have a choice?”
Aela cast a mocking grin at him and almost spoke with contempt.
“Do you want a choice?”
The girl smirked as she looked down the hillside towards the rest of the pack.
“No. We want to taste the blood of our foes as we feast on their corpses”.
Aela got up then started heading back to the path with the ‘new pack members’ in tow.
“By Hircine, we all know that feeling”.
As they all continued along the pathway, Aela pointed out an old mountain trail which was almost undetectable.
“There’s a trail here, Vilkas showed it to me once when Red was running somewhat wild. It avoids Falkreath entirely”.
Sotek cast a quick glance along the trail then nodded. He couldn’t help grin as he chuckled.
“When Red ran wild? She still does. Good, we’ll take it”.
Kul-et grumbled at him.
“What? I’ve had enough of bloody mountains to last a bloody lifetime”.
Aela laughed a little then headed over to her and took her hand.
“Come on, you can take point with me. You’ll soon see it’s a nice mountain passage, not like the ones that bloody slimy lizard took us on. No offence to any Argonians, except for him that is”.
Sotek hissed out at her.
“Why iss it that when ssomeone’ss called a sslimy lizard, that the particular ssomeone always me?”
Kul-et sniggered at him as she went passed him.
“Because we’re Argonians, and you’re a slimy lizard. We don’t do that hiss thing that you do. Ssee?” Aela laughed at him as they both walked on ahead. Sure enough, the path was a lot friendlier than the Seven Thousand Steps were.
As they followed the trail, they came across an old, long since abandoned tower. Aela stopped then called back to the group.
“Hey Sotek, get that bloody tail of yours up here”.
Sotek huffed as he made his way to the front.
“What? You're lost? There’s a stone in your boot? You want breakfast?”
Aela’s jaw dropped as she turned to face him.
“You sarcastic bastard, how bloody dare you? And you Kul-et, stop grinning. Now you listen to me you moron, that tower there, you see it or is the sun in your bloody eyes?”
“I see it. What about it?”
“It’s Peak’s Shade Tower. There’s usually bears around but sometimes a Spriggan”.
“Ah, ok… Ermm”.
Aela shook her head at him.
“You don’t know what a Spriggan is? Oh, bloody hell Sotek. What the hell am I supposed to do with you? Come on. Kul-et, fireballs work great against it”.
Sotek huffed at her once more then fell behind her slightly. She drew her bow just as Kul-et prepared to fire off a fire ball. However, both of them suddenly screamed as a giant fireball shot past them both and entered the disused entrance to the tower. A loud explosion echoed across the mountain as it erupted against the back of the tower, catching the Spriggan and igniting it. A second fireball, just as big as the first flew straight into the Spriggan. It screamed out in pain from the flames as they smothered the creature. Seconds later, three ethereal arrows flew past Aela. One hit the Spriggan, killing it while the other two missed. One of them struck the tower, but the third flew off in the distance, disappearing from sight as it dissipated into the air.
Aela slowly turned around to see Sotek standing there grinning.
“Oh, so that’s a Spriggan? Interesting”.
“You bloody... You made us bloody jump, you stupid bastard”. She gave him a playful shove but then she couldn’t help but laugh. “Come on, moron”.
A few hours later Aela and Kul-et stopped to allow Sotek to catch them both up. She pointed to a town, a good hundred feet below them.
“There, Falkreath. Do you see it?”
Sotek looked at the town below them.
“See it? You can’t bloody miss it. We’re close, once we get past is there a way down?”
Aela smiled wildly as she shrugged her shoulders.
“Nope, we jump. Oh, come on, we’re almost experts at that by now”.
Kul-et’s eyes flew wide open as she stared at her.
“You’re bloody joking”.
The moment Aela saw Kul-et’s face she burst out laughing.
“Oh, by the Nine, your face. Yes Sotek, there’s a path leading down. Come on”. She led the others along the trail then down the mountainside.
They came across the western Falkreath road, which meant that the town was well to the east of them by now.
“Right, let’s start looking for the entrance, it should be nearby”. Aela stated as she took charge once more.
A voice broke out from the treeline which stopped Aela dead in her tracks.
“I’d rather you gave me an explanation as to why I am here. I’d also like to know why everyone else is as well. If that’s not too much trouble”.
Comments
Looks like Sotek and Aela are building an army.