Fenra Darkheather pulled her cloak around her as the wind picked up. She had traveled most of the night and had to reach Whiterun before the dawn. She needed a place to sleep away from the prying eyes of the people and the burning rays of the sun. She hated coming this close to large towns, but she had no choice. It was here or some dank cave and she was tired of sleeping in caves like an animal. She had fed recently so the urge to feed again should not be too much of a burden. The sky was turning pink and she knew she had to hurry. The driving wind made seeing impossible as her eyes teared up from the cold. She did not see the giant standing in the farmers field til it was too late. It's massive club hit her from behind and sent her body flying through the air.

"Where in Oblivion did she come from?"

"Don't know and right now don't care, we have to kill this thing now."

"Farkas take her back to Jorrvaskr. We can handle this one." The large man nodded and picked up Fenra's small broken body. He could smell the blood leaking from her body and it pushed him to run faster. It smelled funny to him, like ice and death, but it wasn't an unpleasant smell. As he rushed through the door his brother met him.

"What are you doing?"

"Alea told me to bring her here. She was hit by a giant and she's bleeding."

"Take her to the healer at the Temple. There is nothing we can do. It looks like she is dead already." Farkas looked down on the pale face of the woman and frowned. She was cold to his touch and her heart was not beating, but she still was breathing. Neither brother saw their mentor walk up til he spoke.

"Hand her to me Farkas. She is still alive, but the healer can do nothing for her."

"Why?"

"Her wounds are not as grave as you thought. A few healing potions and she will be fine. Now I want both of you to go I will handle it from here." Both brothers shared a confused look, but did not question Kodlak as he took the woman into Farkas' arms. "Skjor has a job for you two and it needs to be done right away. Go to it."

"As you wish, come brother we should not waste time." Farkas cast on last glance at Kodlak and the woman before following after Vilkas. Kodlak place the woman in his bed and shut and locked the door. Even if the rest did not know what she was he surely did. The hit she had taken would have killed a normal person, but she was anything but normal.

OoO

Fenra groaned and slowly let her senses get their barrings. Where ever she was the place smelled of mead and dog. Or was it wolf. She let her eyes slowly open and she saw she was in someone's room. Panic set in almost immediately. She bolted upright only to feel the sensation of cold steel at her throat.

"I will not let you hurt anyone." Her eyes moved and fell on an old man dressed in fine armor. His eyes bore into hers and she shivered. It was like looking into the eyes of a wolf, yellow and piercing.

"I do...don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to leave, please just let me leave."

"Why should I trust you?"

"I...you shouldn't." Her shoulders slumped and she let fat bloody tears track down her cheeks. "Just please make it quick." Her voice a bare whisper, but she knew he had heard her. She knew what he was, just as he knew she was a vampire.

"You wish death?"

"No, but I also do not want to hurt anyone." She felt him pull the sword back and she looked up confused. "What are you doing?"

"What is your name?"

"Fenra, Fenra Darkheather."

"Most of your kind I run across do not remember their names, nor care to. Why are you here?"

"I was trying to find shelter before the sun rose in the sky. I was just going to stay the day and leave. I don't like being around people. It is too dangerous. I might slip and hurt someone or worse turn them." Kodlak looked at her wide eyed and sheathed his sword. He sat down in the chair in the corner of the room and covered his face.

"It is still light out, you can leave after the sunsets."

"Why...I don't understand?"

"You are not like the others of your kind I have met and I have killed many of your kind. How did you become this?"

"I was stolen from my family when I had just reached my full maidenhood. The vampire master fancied me and turned me, but...I never wanted this. I have traveled all over trying to find a cure, but so far I have found nothing, but dead ends."

"You want to cure yourself?"

"Yes, I don't want to be a monster."

"You have the blood of a master vampire in your veins, yes?"

'Yes, why?"

"You are stronger than most of your kin because of it. He wanted you to be his equal, his bride." He saw her make a face and shiver again. "I take it you wanted nothing of it."

"No, I didn't, he killed my family, the man I was to marry. I hate him, I hate all of them for that very reason. I kill any I come across."

"Are you any good with a blade?"

"I...I don't want to brag, but I was quite the battle maid when I was human."

"Then I want to offer you something a favor for a favor."

"You want a favor from me?"

"I want to help you reclaim your mortal form and in return you help me regain mine."

"You do not want to be a werewolf anymore? Why?"

"If I die a werewolf I can not go to Sovngard. Hircine will claim my soul. I do not want that."

"You know how to cure me?"

"I do, but I want you to help me first." She could hear his heart beat and sense no change in him. Kodlak was not lying to her. For the first time in over fifty years Fenra felt hope.

"What do you need me to do?"

"I have need of a warrior of skill and one who can keep up with the others."

"You want me fighting along side people? I'm not so sure..." Kodlak held his hand up and smiled.

"The ones you will be fighting alongside are like me."

"I can only go out at night, unless I feed then I can go out in the day as long as I stay to the shadows."

"I understand. You need to feed it looks like. I will take you out to hunt after sunset."

"I prefer not to hunt in front of someone."

'I won't be someone, I will be some thing. Do you like elk?" Fenra laughed.

"Elk is fine. This will be the first time I have ever shared a kill, with a werewolf no less."

OoO

True to his word Kodlak took her out to get blood without killing a person is she could help it. She did converse with him further about her habits. She did drink the blood of people, but mostly just bandits and necromancers. She surprised him more and more as they chatted. She did not even blink when he changed into a wolf. They ran together hunting and she liked having a partner for once. Fenra had been alone for so long she had forgotten the companionship of another creature. After he made sure she was safe to be around for the people of Whiterun she was brought into the fold of the Companions. Vilkas was not happy about him adding this small, fragile looking woman.

"She doesn't even look like she can pick up a tankard here let alone a sword."

'Then test her arm. I promise she will surprise you." The younger man rolled his eyes and waved for her to follow. Fenra flashed a brilliant grin at the old man and went after the sour faced man. He stood at the end of the compound near the wall. She was thankful that it was in the shade so she did not feel the burn from the sun's direct light. She passed by the the rest of the Companions and felt all their eyes on her. The last one in line was the largest of them. He looked much like the one who wanted to test her, but his silver eyes were much kinder.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry you won't hurt me." She wanted to growl at his condescending tone, but she let it roll right off of her. Without any warning she heard him draw his blade to protect himself and she drew both of hers. Vilkas was a bit taken aback by the fact she wielded twin blades, let alone orcish blades. She grunted and charged at the man knocking him back. He barely had time to recover and she hit him again. "Alright, alright, not bad. You have strong arms, I will give you that friend. Here take my blade up the Skyforge and give it to Eorland. Be careful with that blade new blood it is worth more than you." He placed the large blade in her hands and walked away.

"Ass."

"You'll have to forgive my brother. He is all show."

"Does he treat everyone like that?"

"Just the new bloods. I can take his sword up to Eorland if you want. It's pretty heavy."

"I can manage. Thank you though." If her heart was still beating she would have felt it flutter as she looked Farkas in the eye. She tried her best to give him a warm smile and started walking toward the Skyforge. The distinct shuffle of boots behind her told Fenra that the large man was following her. "Worried I will drop it?"

"No, just...your so pale and I surprised your walking around after that giant pummeled you."

"You were there?"

"I'm the one who carried you back here."

"Then I have you to thank for my life. I am terrible with names, you are?"

"Farkas. Vilkas is my twin, he's the smart one."

"The smart one?"

"I know how to kill things or hit them very hard. I don't think."

"You must think or you would not be able to speak. I think you are much smarter then you let on Farkas." He barked a laugh and followed her up to the top of the hill. Eorland looked up from his grindstone and shook his head.

"Farkas please don't tell me you broke another set of armor."

"No, I am just escorting our new sister up here to meet you."

"A new blood, it has been some time. Do you have a name girl?"

"Fenra Darkheather, it is pleasure to meet you."

"Darkheather? Is your family from around here?"

"They use to be, but it was a long time ago." Farkas saw sadness flash in her brown eyes.

"My father use to talk about the Darkheathers when I was a child, but stories will be stories. It looks like you have Vilkas' blade. Don't let them push you around too much lass. If they think they can, they will."

"That's why I have Farkas here to help me." She heard the warrior's heart kick up and she smiled. He was too precious with his cheeks flushed with blood.

"Are you heading back to the hall soon?"

"Yes, I need to speak to Kodlak."

"Can you give this shield to Aela, I want to finish Vilkas' blade and call it a day. I need to get back home to my wife. She is in mourning for out fallen son."

"Of course. I am truly sorry for your loss. It is not easy losing family, but to lose a child..."

"Thank you, lass." Fenra said her goodbyes and ran back to the hall. Farkas watched her go. "Smitten are we?"

'What? No..., just trying to figure her out. She is not like most Nord women."

"If I remember the tale of her family correctly the Darkheathers were a noble family that owned the farm and land now owned by the Battle-borns."

"Why did they leave?"

"They didn't. The entire family was slaughtered on the youngest girl's wedding day. It was said she went mad and killed them all, others say some dark force wanted her and took her leaving nothing but blood behind. Who knows, right?"

"Do you think she is a descendant of that woman?"

"That my friend you will have to ask her yourself. She is a beauty, isn't she?"

"Yeah."

"Your drooling lad, here give this to your brother. I need to get home." Farkas nodded and took the blade, but his thoughts lay elsewhere. The new Companion intrigued him. He felt the wolf in him stir. It seemed she got his attention too.