They had left Jorrvaskr just before dawn. Farkas had been awake to see his brother off and make a few smart remarks that forced the colour into Sanjas cheeks, but apart from that the morning had been mostly uneventful. They had just left Whiterun and wandered the fields as the sun was rising behind the mountains. She was lost in thought. The brothers seemed so... different when they were together than when she was around. That morning Sanja could almost smell the intimacy and trust between the two of them and a pang of jealousy hit her.

It was Vilkas who had noticed her presence first. His eyes immediately found hers, and all the warmth that was there a second ago just vanished to be replaced with the coldness she was so used to.

Farkas just smiled at the girl. She forced a smile back, but could not deny the disappointment when she realized how different the one she received from him was to the smile he gave his brother seconds earlier.

Sanja walked always a few steps behind Vilkas. They had not spoken two sentences all day long and she felt more than just a little uncomfortable. Just as she thought about something to say, just to break the silence, Vilkas turned around and looked at her.

"Let me know when you are awake, so we can discuss our mission."

Sanja pouted. Ah well, that was probably better than nothing. "Of course I am awake!" Vilkas just shrugged. "You seemed like you were sleepwalking ever since we left Jorrvaskr."

The girl glared at him. She was not sleepwalking, she was just... thinking. With a sigh she closed up to him, waiting for her Companion to say whatever it was he had to say.

"Our client wants us to get rid of some bandits that have been attacking caravans east of Falkreath. The bandit hideout is probably in one of the caves southeast of the city. We will find and obliterate them." Vilkas looked at the girl, obviously not expecting a reply but rather studying her face, almost as if he wanted to read her mind. Sanja would be damned if she showed any signs of excitement, nervousness, or fear. All the things she felt as she thought about taking on a whole camp of bandits with no help apart from Vilkas of all people.

"There are supposed to be between six and eight bandits in that camp, but nobody knows for sure. Yet, experience tells me that six to eight usually means between ten and twelve. Are you prepared for something like this, whelp?"

Sanja glared at him. Was it not a bit too late to ask that question? She could hardly turn around now. A dozen bandits! And just the two of them should handle them?

"Aye, I am." Her voice sounded not as confident as she had hoped it would, and she knew Vilkas noticed as well. The girl almost expected him to give her a triumphant smile but was all the more surprised when he stopped and looked at her with a frown.

"If you are not confident, then I will do this on my own. False pride will only get you killed, newblood."

The girl growled at him. "Sanja! My name is Sanja."

For the first time, she could see the corners of his mouth twitch. "I know."

Vilkas just continued on his way as if they had never spoken a word, but Sanja decided not to let him get away like that. "Right, as if I could let you take on an army of bandits all by yourself!" She felt almost blackmailed. Sure, she wanted to be a Companion. She wanted to fight, wanted to earn glory, fame and fortune, but she was not suicidal either. Nobody could take down twelve armed bandits on their own.

Vilkas just shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time."

Sanja needed a second to gather herself. "You fought a dozen bandits all by yourself?" With a few quick strides she caught up to him and was walking beside the older man. He just shrugged. "We are Companions. That is what we do. If you think you are incapable of keeping up with us, then maybe you should reconsider your career. There is no room for milkdrinkers in our ranks."

And for the first time in her life, Sanja indeed felt like a milkdrinker. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she let Vilkas go ahead and stayed a few steps behind him, trying to get over what he just said to her. All her life she had been one of the strongest. There were not many people that could keep up with her, no matter what she was doing. And then there were the Companions, a completely different league of people. And all of a sudden, Sanja feared she might indeed not be good enough.

"Hey, wait for me!"

But she would be damned if she admitted this to Vilkas!

Sorry for the short chapter, I hope I will be able to write more over the weekend. Stupid exams!

I am not sure if Vilkas is not a bit too OOC. I don't like how everyone always describes him as an asshole. Personally I think he is just missunderstood :) Werewolves need love, too!