Dinner

Farkas surveyed his camp with satisfaction, it was the perfect place to build a permanent stead. The large meadow-like area settled within tall pine and oak trees and made its way toward a bluff that overlooked the great Lake Ilinalta. Late evening dew droplets clung to the grass, a light fog hung close to the ground and shone brilliantly in the fading sunshine. Rays of pink tinged light cascaded through the trees, putting different scenes of the forest on display. Critters of all sorts were busy, readying themselves for nightfall; woodpeckers hard at work, squirrels chattering, foxes barking in the distance. Farkas breathed deeply, taking in the scents of the forest. He could smell wet earth, the same tantalizing scent that followed a good rain, sweet spring flowers and blossoms of the hardy fruit trees that were scattered among the mountains. And yet best of all, the savory aroma of tomato from his cookpot graced his nose. He had a whole loaf of bread and fresh cheese that would pair well with the piping hot, creamy tomato soup. Farkas might not have been the culinary master between himself and his brother Vilkas, but he could make soup with the best of them. He sighed appreciatively as he stirred the pot, ready to fetch a bowl.

As he was walking to the tent to retrieve the bread and cheese, a strange noise met his ears. It sounded a lot like a war cry. Farkas frowned, that particular sound didn't fit. He waited, not entirely sure he had heard it to be true. Sure enough, the same intense cry could be heard coming from the lake below. Immediately Farkas grabbed his sword and rushed to the bluff in hopes of seeing whatever was making the commotion. For a moment, he was dumbstruck by what he saw below. There was a woman at the lake shore, undoubtedly the same who made the war cry, yelling and shaking what looked like a fish in a wild manner. A large hound at her side was barking madly, silver hackles raised. Farkas cocked his head to the side in confusion, then he noticed a hulking form shambling toward them. He heard its mighty roar and began sprinting down the bluff, hurrying to aid the woman.

When Farkas came around the trees and was in sight of the madness beside the lake, he marveled at the bravery the woman and her hound were showing. The woman threw the fish, it had indeed been a fish in her hand, and hit the bear squarely in the nose. It grunted in surprise and lowered its head to inspect the projectile salmon. The silver hound leapt onto the bear's back, clamping its jaws into the scruff of flesh and fur on the bear's neck. The beast roared in agitation, standing on two legs and reaching for the dog. Farkas was close now, he raised his claymore high, and nearly tripped over himself as the bear came crashing down to rest at his feet, dead. A crossbow bolt protruded from its muzzle, another from the neck. The silver hound released its grip on the dead bear, shook itself from nose to tail tip, and trotted off lazily.

Farkas frowned, turning around to find the woman in his confusion. "Are you injured?" He asked, regaining some of his composure.

She began laughing, almost uncontrollably, her hands shaking slightly. "Damn, but did you see the size of the bastard? Great bloody brute." She gave the bear's nose a kick. Blood was trickling steadily down her left arm.

"You've been scratched." Farkas said. He eyed the body, and sighed with relief. It was only a grizzly. His first thought had been that she was being attacked by a werebear.

The woman looked at her arm in mild surprise. "He got me, did he?"

Farkas approached her, taking her arm in his hands to inspect the wounds. Two long gashes slashed from shoulder to elbow. "These look ugly." Farkas observed. "If you have nothing to dress them with, I've got some things. A friend of mine sent them." He felt a pang at the thought of the friend; Sivanna. Vilkas and Sivanna had both insisted that Farkas take some of her medicinal jars and pouches before he left Jorrvaskr.

"Have them on you?" she asked, apparently seeing him for the first time.

Farkas let out a small chuckle and pointed. "I have a camp south of here, just on top of that bluff."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "So I'm to come up there with you, eh?"

"If you so desire." he said. "Or you could wait here and I could fetch them."

For a moment she said nothing, just watched him with fern colored eyes. Then, abruptly, she called "Olcan!"

"Uh, Farkas." he said, his brows furrowing.

The silver hound that had been dangling precariously from the bear trotted to her side, licking her hand. It was a lanky creature, sleek in build and wiry of hair. It's muzzle was bloodied and it watched Farkas with a fierce intensity that let him know that the hound knew exactly what Farkas was.

"Me hound." the woman said. "His name is Olcan."

"Ah." Feeling slightly perturbed, he cleared his throat. "I'm Farkas."

"Aye. You said." Silence fell for a moment as she dipped her arm in the lake water. Farkas knew the dark water had to be next to freezing, but she never made a sound. When she seemed satisfied that her arm was clean, she stood and said, "Well are we going or what? I'd rather not be spurting out all me blood."

"Right." Farkas said, laughing softly. He took her up the short path through the tall pines that led to his camp. The area was flat and grassy, a small meadow-like camp that he hoped someday he could build on. For now though, there was a tent, a campfire and his great horse, Roan, all waiting for him. The woman sat on the large log beside embers of his dying fire, Olcan vigilant by her side. His cookpot that hung over the fire was gurgling softly and Farkas's mouth watered with hunger.

"Thieving bastard of a bear not only broke all me fish baskets, but tried to take a chunk of me arm as well!" Farkas could hear her saying as he reached into the tent and retrieved his rucksack. He took out the roll of linen, an herbal wash, and a jar of green smelling poultice. Farkas didn't know exactly what was in any of the jars or pouches, but Sivanna had thankfully told him what their uses were.

"After just waking from their hibernation, they'll be bold." Farkas said absently as he uncorked the jar with his teeth.

"I know that, of course I know that." she said hottly. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Easy." Farkas said, raising a hand. "I meant no harm."

She let out a harrumph and looked away from him. He blinked, flustered. What in oblivion was wrong with this girl? She was so... strange. He took a good look at her. She had long honey colored hair that was pulled back with two plaits that reached loosely toward the ground. Her fern-green eyes might as well have been red, what with the fire she was shooting at him. Her full, pink lips were parted slightly, and then they were moving again."Been watching me have you?" she asked, looking at him from the corner of her eye.

He shook himself slightly. "What? No. First I saw of you was when you threw that fish at the bear."

"Oh aye? Damned overgrown pot-belly, he was." she grumbled.

"Well," Farkas started, taking her hand and pouring the herbal wash over her cuts. "I'm sure when you next go into town you can buy new fish baskets."

"Buy fish baskets he says!" she exclaimed, causing Farkas to jump and spill the remaining liquid from his jar. "I make me own baskets! Takes a dogs age, too! Have to make them just so, have to have strong reeds, have to make extras."

Farkas nodded but did not reply, this woman was half mad! He hurried with his task, covering the wounds in the smelly green poultice and wrapping the linen over her arm several times before tying it off.

"That it then, Fergus?", she asked, looking around his camp.

He let out an exasperated laugh. "It's Farkas."

"Well then, Farkas.", she took time pronouncing his name. "I'll be off then, yeah."

Farkas furrowed his brows, she couldn't be serious. "You've lost blood."

"Aye, that I have. What of it?" she asked, scratching Olcan's ear absently.

"Where will you go?" he asked, looking to the sky to gauge the time. The sun would set before she had time to get to the closest town.

"That's a wee bit of my business there, Farkas." she replied, her voice guarded.

He took a page from Vilkas's book and said in a matter of fact tone,"You can't go out in the woods like that, you look like dinner."

"The Deadra I can!" she stood, her chin raised defiantly, and stalked down the path.

"Wait, uh" Farkas realized she hadn't given him her name. "Huntress."

She turned, brows raised. "Aye?"

Farkas scrambled for something to say. He couldn't let her leave in that state. Brave as she was, her skin had gone pale as milk. He knew what types of creatures lurked in the woods, hungry ones, and most of them would love to meet her. He shook his head, he wasn't about to have her death on his conscience. He was a Companion, he protected people. Granted, he usually got his share of gold for it, but he was still an honorable man.

The woman sighed impatiently. "Got something to say, or haven't you?"

Farkas gritted his teeth, he had been looking forward to shifting tonight. Change of plans. "Won't you join me for dinner?"