"Arnbjorn, man up." Astrid glared at him from atop a shelf, which she compulsively mounted at the beginning of their argument. Arnbjorn had a theory that, like a cat, Astrid felt superior in higher places. "All you need to do is kill their leader. Use a spell, hit him with an arrow. You don't have to go near them."
"If it's so simple, why can't you do it?" He growled back. "You know why I can't go near them."
"I know." Astrid's voice softened, and she adjusted her position on her shelf. "They killed your brother, I know. But please. I wouldn't ask you if I knew you couldn't handle it. You're the only one here who can handle it."
Arnbjorn knew she was trying to flatter him. Fortunately for Astrid, it worked every time. "I... But what if they do the same to me?"
"They won't." Astrid jumped down from the shelf, landing perfectly on her feet. She's a cat all right, Arnbjorn briefly mused. Astrid placed her hand on his shoulder. "I believe in you."
"Can't believe she got me to do this", Arnbjorn scowled to himself as he notched an arrow. Crouching in the gaps between some rocks, he was pleased he had managed to get so far into the cave without being heard. These things did have keen hearing.
He pulled back the arrow as slowly as he could, minimizing any noise. Steadying his hands and his breathing, he couldn't help but overhear the conversation between the few individuals he was watching.
"...claws are longer than yours, I'll bet you twenty septims!" A young man boasted, standing before another, larger man.
"You're on!" The second man jumped to his feet at the notion of a challenge.
It all happened so quickly. The two bodies quivering, shifting, the low growl which resonated through the depths of the cave, and the deafening roar which followed.
Arnbjorn froze. This is what he had feared, why he had tried to avoid this quest. Werewolves.
He had to get out. Arnbjorn stumbled backwards from his position, accidentally letting go of his arrow. It clattered against the rock in front of him, and his targets' eyes snapped to his location. The two in beast form lunged, and the remaining man shifted to join them.
Arnbjorn ran back through the cave, feeling the hot breath of the beasts behind him. He drew his axe and swung behind him once, twice, three times. Two of the beasts fell. The third's jaws wrapped around Arnbjorn's ankle, pulling him to the ground. He felt pain, burning, seething pain, and then nothing.
Arnbjorn woke up some time later, unaware of his surroundings. Trying to stand, he found that his body felt different. Heavier, larger. He raised his hands in front of him. Claws sharp as a blade, fur black as the night. He was not in his own body. He was one of them.
Stumbling back towards where he hoped was home, Arnbjorn prayed his kitten would not be afraid of the beast he had become.