FARKAS

Amaris and him were almost to their destination. It had hardly taken them anytime. He suggested they rest once, feeling a little guilty for hurrying her along to her next task, but she was a force to be reckoned with and refused. She was ahead of him now, bow and arrow ready, ever watchful, not seemingly tired at all. She would make a good wolf, he thought. Sleep was hard and always restless.

He didn't know what overcame him back at the Jorrvaskr but he had to get his brother away from Amaris immediately. He didn't like the look they shared while training and he felt hot with rage, even now as he replayed the scene. Skjor approached Farkas shortly after Amaris had returned, who had tasked him with telling Vilkas and Amaris that they would be each other's shields, in order to obtain the potential Fragment of Wuuthrad…. But when Farkas saw them training… He didn't want them to have any time alone so he went where Vilkas should have. Feelings of remorse were trying to wiggle their way in but he pushed them aside, rationalizing his decision. He chose to lie and take Vilkas's place because he was a better match for this particular quest. He knew it was a cheap deception to himself but he was going to choose to believe it anyway.

The wind shifted, wafting Amaris's scent in his direction, pulling him out of his own mind. He closed his eyes and rolled his neck, then snapped his eyes open in a new bout of determination. This woman was testing his control. All he wanted to do was ravish her. He had to think about something else, smell something else. Perhaps… he shouldn't have lied but he knew, after witnessing them training, his brother felt the same. He would rather struggle with this then give his brother a glimmer of a chance. Selfish and petty of him, but at least in that he could and would be truthful to himself.

She stopped now and slipped in the shadows of a tree. She was silent and graceful, more so than anything he had ever seen. She mesmerized him in more ways than he could count. He shoved thoughts of her in the back of his mind as he moved, not as skillfully, to a shadow of an adjacent tree. She motioned to him, telling him there were three guards that needed to be taken out. He stayed hidden as she notched an arrow, taking out one of the guards. The other two came to attention but she wasted no time, and without a sound, other than the string of her bow releasing, took out another guard. She quickly pulled out a third arrow and dispatched the remaining guard effortlessly. She was crouching, with an arrow loosely notched, but still managed to move swiftly out of the safety of her shadowed tree. Farkas followed, though with much more noise involved. Amaris looked back with a look of slight annoyance written across her face at what she must see as him bumbling but didn't say a word, just moved forward with agile precision until she had the door of the Cairn ajar.

They proceeded through the rest of the Cairn in a similar fashion. Amaris took out everyone she could in a stealthy fashion, and those that couldn't be taken out that way, Farkas ended with his blade. They worked well together, he thought. Words didn't need to be spoken between them, their motions were intuitive to one another and they were able to read each other and react accordingly.

They came upon a larger room and each went off in a separate direction, rummaging, seeing what they could find. He heard the sound of iron gates closing and turned around to find Amaris behind bars.

He laughed, "Got yourself stuck I see." He commented while walking towards her.

"Yeah, yeah… I guess I should have been more careful… Can you get me out of here?"

He nodded, "I'll find a way, just give me a minute…"

Farkas didn't get far before his wolf senses could smell them… Silver Hands… Seven of them. Great. Just great. He thought. He turned and looked at Amaris and soon enough she picked up that enemies were almost upon them.

"Farkas... " Concern filled her eyes.

He simply smiled.

"There you are!" A Silver Hand yelled as they surrounded him.

"Farkas!" Amaris cried out.

Another SIlver Hand laughed and looked past him, finding Amaris behind the iron gates, "She isn't one of you… Does she even know what you are?" He paused for a moment, "No, she doesn't. I doubt she would associate with the likes of you if she knew the truth."

"Don't presume to know anything about me." Amaris said with venom.

The Silver Hand laughed again but ignored her comment, "We're going to enjoy skinning you, wolf."

Farkas wanted to look at Amaris, warn her what was about to happen. He couldn't defeat seven of them normally, but as his wolf… seven was nothing. Seven was easy, even. With his back to her, he gave himself over to his wolf. His body morphed until he was wholly changed. The Silver Hands moved, trying to take him off guard while he changed.. But, he had been doing this for quite a time. His changes were quick and he was adept at controlling himself during them.

He dodged the sword that tried to pierce his heart and soon held the throat of the Silver Hand that so offended him. He slashed at another, sending her flying, hearing her body crack as it found its way to the rocky wall. Farkas rushed forward, thrusting his claws into the chest of a SIlver Hand. When he removed his hand, their heart was beating in his palm. He was salivating looking at it, and quickly devoured it before his next attack. He continued his brutal slaughter until only one remained. He left gashes on the back of the last Silver Hands legs, rendering him immobile. The Silver Hand dragged himself away from Farkas, using his arms to pull his weight. Farkas made his way slowly to the sniffling man, placing his foot down on him, pinning him to the ground. He applied more and more pressure, causing the man to cry out, until their was a deafening snap, silencing the man forever. Farkas ripped the dead man's heart out, wasting no time feasting.

After he was done, he couldn't help but look at Amaris. She stood stunned, but elsewise unmoved. He didn't know how she would view him now… He could never fully control his wolf's destruction, finding entirely too much joy in the chaos, and he hoped, desperately, that she wouldn't think less of him. Perhaps it was his desire to feel accepted by her, that he found himself walking in her direction. She didn't falter, didn't look frightened, just looked intrigued. She reached her arm out in between the iron bars and rested her hand on his snout, careful not to look him in the eyes as she inspected the rest of him, though he couldn't say why… Perhaps to ensure he was not badly injured. Her gaze finally met his and he saw delight dancing in her eyes. She moved her hand, petting the side of his face and his body warmed, flaring with excitement. He wanted to claim her. Make her his.

He pulled away suddenly and disappeared down a nearby corridor. He changed and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. He flexed his muscles and dug his fingernails into his palms, trying to gain mastery of his body. When he thought he could face Amaris again without the very real possibility of seizing her, he pulled the chain beside him, and made his way back to the room.

She was just making her way out of the area she had unintentionally trapped herself in, when he emerged. She saw him and smiled, relieved and ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck.

"I was worried." She spoke softly, as if there were others around and she only wanted him to hear.

He closed his eyes, taking in her scent. She smelled of labor, of steel, of blood, and under it all, the trees. A combination of his and his wolf's favorite scents. He found himself wrapping his arms around her and stroking her hair. She burrowed into his chest but promptly halted, as if truly realizing what was occurring. He released her once he felt her leaning back, resisting the embrace.

"I… Uh… I'm glad you're okay." She was looking down, not at him as she spoke.

"It doesn't frighten you? Me being… a werewolf." He had to know… had to be certain she wouldn't be disgusted by him. Had to be sure that little detail didn't ruin his chance.

She laughed, "Why would it?"

He shrugged but was pleased with her response, "People seem to think they will be harmed… Which is always a possibility."

"I can handle myself." She replied, "Is everyone in the Companions a wolf? Or just you?"

"Not everyone… Just those of us in the circle." He shouldn't be telling her this information.

"The circle? Who is in this circle?" She tilted her head to the side, genuinely curious.

Farkas laughed, "Let's go get this Wuuthrad piece… We can talk more on this subject back at the Jorrvaskr." He started down the hallway, continuing their quest.

He heard her sigh and picking up her pace to catch up, "In other words… you aren't supposed to be talking about it."

"Nailed that on the head."

"Vilkas is a wolf too." It was a statement, not a question, "You two have similar mannerisms." She clarified, trying to help him piece together how she came to that conclusion.

Insecurity was clawing at his front door. He didn't want to talk about his brother with her and certainly didn't to hear his name on her lips, "Ah." Was all he said in response.

"At first, I thought it was because you two were twins but you two just seemed… different… Like there was another sense you were using to interact with the world. There is no way Vilkas should have beaten me the last time we brawled. I had him… but he surprised me." She was deep in the thought.

"So I noticed." Farkas replied, replaying the brawl once again... for the thousandth time, and for the thousandth time, vexation creeped in at the scene.

After that, they proceeded through the Cairn without many words spoken, resuming their silent communication to avoid detection from potential enemies. Once they obtained the piece of Wuuthrad, they made their way back to the Jorrvaskr. Stopping on the way to camp. He glanced at her as she slept on the opposite side of the now smoking fire pit, his eyes tracing her outline. Farkas had never felt such an intense desire in his time. It wasn't just the yearning he felt for her, the yearning that warmed him at night when he allowed himself to dwell on such thoughts… but the need to provide for her, protect her, to ensure she had a shield in every instance, not just when she was working for the Companions. She was the Dragonborn… her destiny would call for her to accomplish much more and he wanted to be by her side every step of the way, if she allowed him to be. He had to figure out something, a way to win her affection. Afterall, life was short in the land of Tamriel… If you felt so strongly for an individual, you acted on that notion. You never knew which moment could be your last. He looked upon her figure one last time before drifting to sleep, thoughts of her shifting into dreams…