Ysolda snipped the final thread hanging off the tunic before handing it back the woman sitting in front of her. Valleri inspected the piece of clothing; the yellow tunic had a small splatter of blood towards the bottom that had stained the cloth orange. Valleri grimaced momentarily then sighed, "I didn't even realize that was there."

The red head chuckled to herself, "When Farkas asked me for a favor this was the last thing I thought I'd be doing." Valleri began to slip the tunic back on as Ysolda gathered her sewing supplies and laid them in an old box sitting on the seat next to her. She stared at the Imperial woman beside her who was now slipping on a light over coat. As far as she knew, Valleri had yet to become comfortable after whatever circumstances led her to Whiterun. "How are you adjusting so far though? Farkas told me that people are still uneasy around you."

Valleri thought of the man momentarily, much larger than she was but still somehow very cheerful. "I guess, but I'm not really part of the Companions. The healer over at the temple put me on suspension last week."

"What for? You look fine to me."
"Broken bone."
Ysolda's eyes widened in understanding for a second, "Must have been serious." She paused and met Valleri's eyes again, "He also said that you weren't from here."
Valleri furrowed her eyebrows as she looked back at Ysolda, "So that's getting around pretty quick then?" She sighed out and looked off into the distance before glancing back to Ysolda, "I'm form Cyrodiil, and yes, I'm an Imperial." Valleri's voice was tired and accusing, and the expression of disdain on her face amplified the unwelcoming tone in her voice.

Ysolda sat back with a slight look of shock, "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"Wait! No, no. I didn't mean to sound so upset. It's just that you're the seventh person to ask me that since I've arrived." Valleri almost yelled, eyes widening and hands gesturing wildly.

Ysolda laughed, "It's no problem. I had the same issue when I came here as well." Valleri smiled a bit before turning around to finish clasping her belt. Behind them they could hear loud footsteps coming down the hall towards the bunkroom they were in. Valleri turned her head to greet the newcomer as Farkas entered the room.

"Vilkas and Kodlak are looking for you." His voice was gruff and this was the most serious Valleri had seen him. With out his trademark smile, Farkas began to resemble his brother.

"You know what for?"
He shook his head, "Not really. Something about a job though."

Valleri met Ysolda's eyes and couldn't help but smile. "Finally," she muttered under her breath. She turned back to Farkas, "They're upstairs?"
"Yep!" Farkas began to smirk a bit as he saw the enthusiasm in Valleri's expression. He turned to Ysolda, suddenly taking note that she was still sitting down on a near by chair, "You're still here?"
Ysolda nodded her head a bit before getting up after Valleri left the room. "I'm just leaving. That was an interesting favor."
Farkas rubbed the back of his head in mock frustration, "Yeah, sorry about that. Usually Tilma would do it, but she's out visiting relatives. Here, I'll walk you out."

Ysolda rolled her eyes before stopping next to the large man, "Thanks."

…

It was easy to spot the two of them in the training yard, but Valleri made no mad dash to reach them. She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up in anxiety. Valleri strode up to the two of them on the raised patio. They were already talking, this time less secretive than when she had first spoken with Kodlak. "Farkas said you wanted to see me?"
The old man stared at her for a moment with slight confusion before realizing what she was saying. "I did, yes. We finally have work for you."
"That's what he told me, didn't give me any details though."

"Nothing difficult. But think of this as my last assurance that you can handle yourself well enough to be a Companion," Kodlak said as he looked to Vilkas next to him. Valleri furrowed her eye brows in confusion. "Vilkas can give you the specifics. You'll be leaving shortly."

Valleri nodded without a word and rushed inside to grab her cloak and sword. Vilkas turned back to Kodlak. "You're serious about ignoring her request if this doesn't go well?"
"Very." Kodlak grumbled as he looked over the warriors in the training yard. Most of them had been oblivious to their conversation and probably wouldn't have cared anyways. Kodlak glanced at the younger man form the corner his eye as he continued, "I believe she will do well, but she reminds me of you." Vilkas gave the old man an accusing look. "'Twas only an observation."

"She's reckless, I can already tell." Vilkas huffed as started to turn around to follow Valleri back into the main hall.

"I am not surprised; people who feel their backs are against a wall usually are. I only wish that you show that hers is not."

Vilkas grimaced as he opened the door and stepped inside. Valleri was already across the hall waiting for him. She was dressed in a light leather jerkin over her tunic. Vilkas stared with slight disappointment; this woman was crazy if she thought she could get away with being so lightly armored. He thought she would have learned lesson after those bandits had left her for dead. "I'll try," Vilkas muttered under his breath as the door closed.

…

The pair didn't speak as they left Whiterun. Valleri had felt tense as the man next to her continued to walk a foot or so ahead of her. Vilkas wore his scowl like a well-loved mask. Valleri was used to sour, rude looking people, but Vilkas had just seemed hostile. While she wasn't overtly friendly to her new compatriots save for Kodlak and Farkas, Vilkas seemed to go out of his way to avoid her entirely. Since their initial meeting, they had barely said two words to each other. Valleri didn't feel as though it was her right to judge him however; she only recently met the man and he did help her find medical help, even if it was forced.

Vilkas looked ahead as they passed the last gate leading out of the city. Mountains laid ahead of them towards the south, tall and intimidating. Snow blanketed the top of the mountain and Valleri shivered as she stared up at it. She almost paused as she noticed they were crossing the bridge to head to the road going south. Vague memories of her time in before arriving in Whiterun surfaced. Her stomach dropped as she hurried to catch up to her travel companion.

Vilkas turned back towards her, "You okay?"

Valleri hummed low as she came up to his side. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Vilkas muttered something in response then continued his trek up the road. They were coming into a hillier area and fir trees began to line the cobblestone paths.

It was sometime before any of them had said something, but Valleri was able to work up the nerve to ask about the what sort of job it was that she agreed to take on. She wasn't feeling well about being on the dark about what she was supposed to do. Vilkas turned around again and stared at her, "Nobody told you anything?"
"Not at all," She narrowed her eyes as she looked back, "Kodlak said you were supposed to."

"Why didn't you ask earlier?"

She paused, "I'm not at all sure."

He muttered under his breath again, "We were hired to clear out some bandits in an old ruin." Valleri's stomach dropped further and clenched her hands a bit as Vilkas continued to speak. She heard him complaining about how many people had turned to such a dishonorable lifestyle. Valleri couldn't have cared less. She prayed to the eight it wasn't in Riverwood.

"You don't talk a lot."

Valleri glanced up, eyebrows furrowed. "Sorry, is that a bad thing?"
"I'm just used to more talkative people."

Valleri's face relaxed; he didn't mean any harm, so neither should she. "I'm just a bit preoccupied."

"No problem. Just as long as you're thinking about the task at hand when we get up there."

The two continued to climb the hill going south and it was half an hour before finally reaching flat ground. The forest was much denser than it had been at the foot of the mountain. Riverwood slowly appeared over the horizon, a guard station still being the only thing standing between the village and the unknown threats of the wilderness. Nothing had changed in the past week. Vilkas quickened his pace as the village came into view and Valleri kept up with him easily. Valleri stared at the ground as she past the spot where she killed the thief; the blood stain had been washed away since the incident happened. There was no trace that she had been here before.

Vilkas went straight for the inn, the long house that dominated the village. The two of them walked up the steps and Valleri kept glancing at the store and the temple behind them. Memories of the theft came rushing back, making her frown slightly as she approached the door to the inn. The interior was almost the same as she remembered, only now it was less welcoming and a bit darker. Vilkas paused next hearth in the middle of the room. The inn keeper that Valleri met previously approached them, scowl still on her face.

"Are you the people the Companions sent?" she asked as she walked over to the two of them. The inn keeper paused, an expression of shock slowly replacing her dour expression. She stopped and looked Valleri up and down. "Aren't you the one who helped us with those thieves about a week ago?" she pointed to Valleri, now smiling as she nodded her head.

Vilkas glanced at his friend standing next him. Valleri eyes had widened in what he could only guess was fright. "Is the same fight where you hurt your rib?"

Valleri's face went red as she stared into the distance. She shrugged and said, "Well I mean, shit happens." Valleri looked back at Vilkas who only looked forward at the inn keeper with an expression of disappointment.

"Where are the bandits you wanted us to get rid of?"

"Fuckers are holed up in that blasted temple." A new voice echoed across the room, angry and straight to the point. The inn keeper breathed out on frustration while Vilkas and Valleri turned around to come face to face with a short man. Panic settled into the bottom of Valleri's stomach. It was same man that had cornered her the night of the theft. Valleri groaned as he looked straight at her. "Wait I know you!" The man's face scrunched up in anger, eyes narrowed and breathing unsteady. He seethed as looked past the couple and towards the inn keeper, "You should have told that you were hiring people to clear the damn place out! Especially that bitch. By the eight Delphine!"

Delphine looked deadpanned at the merchant, "How was I supposed to know she joined up with the Companions?" She looked at Vilkas and Valleri once again, " I really apologize for this. I was hoping got keep Lucan out of this."

The merchant, Luca, paused and snarled at Delphine. Vilkas, exasperated by the exchange, addressed the merchant, "Wait, what happened between you and Valleri?"

"I politely asked your friend here to go after the thieves that took my property. She had the audacity to refuse," He looked right at Valleri and continued, "And now look you're back, you opportunistic bitch. Watch me give a single hint of gratitude when you get back with my claw."
Valleri was seething by the time the merchant had finished. The audacity of this man was hard to believe. "I don't remember you fighting off those people the night your trinket was taken. Not going after them yourself then trying to force the chore on another was pretty small of you."

Valleri breathed in quickly, realizing the gravity of her words. Lucan only smiled, "See? See what I mean?"

Delphine rubbed her temples with a hand before looking at Lucan. "Lucan, just stop. Poking a bear with a stick when you have a chance to get the honey doesn't help anyone."

"Aye," Vilkas agreed, eyeing Valleri out of the corner of his eye. She was still red faced, but had calmed down after her outburst. "Our work is with Delphine. If we find your trinket, we find it. If not, oh well." He glanced at Valleri, "Let's go."

Valleri nodded. She wouldn't say anything more in case she said something to upset the already incensed shop keeper. Valleri cursed as the door closed behind her and she could hear Vilkas chuckle.

…

Snow crunched under Valleri's boots as she walked slightly ahead of Vilkas. The temple loomed above them, just as intimidating and defensive as Valleri had remembered it. Up close though, she could see the age of the stones that made up the ruins. Intimidating though it was, the ancient feeling of the ruin was the first completely familiar thing she experience she had since arriving in Skyrim.

She looked up to one of the spires jutting out of the lower platform of the patio. There was a lone person standing and looking out over the ruin. Valleri paused and looked over to Vilkas. She gestured towards the bandit above and he nodded his head. The man approached Valleri, pulling his great sword out of its scabbard on his back.

"It's probably just simpler to go at them straight."

"Wait, what?"

Vilkas smirked slightly and looked at the confused woman in front of him. Her green eyes narrowed a bit and she glanced up at the ruin, calculating the odds in her head. She sighed, and Vilkas took another look at Valleri. Her profile was long and straight. It only took a moment before she turned back to him, expression more confident than before. She nodded and the two of them ascended the stairs slowly.

Another bandit pacing around the lower portion of the patio took notice of them quickly. He rushed at them, sword swinging wildly from the right side. Valleri was blocked it easily while Vilkas left her to attack the bandit they had first seen. The one on the spire looked stunned as the larger Nord ran towards him. He began to knock an arrow as Vilkas' sword came down across his chest. The man yelled in pain as he bent forwards. Vilkas made one last motion and brought the blade hard across the back of the man's neck. The fight was over quickly.

Vilkas turned around to see that Valeri had grabbed her opponent from behind. The bandit was struggling hard against her arm and was close to breaking loose. Before he could though, she dragged a small dagger across his neck. He made a guttural noise and then fell limp to the ground. Valleri stepped back as the dying man landed with a thud. She turned to face Vilkas, smiling a bit. He approached her as he sheathed his sword again.

"You're going to have to trust me if you wish to continue working for the Companions."

She scowled, "Trust takes time to build."

Vilkas shrugged. Her words were true; trust was like respect, it had to be earned. "Fine, fist step then." Valleri stared with a confused look and glanced at the large black door to their left. He gestured towards her, "This is your test. Lead the way."