The last thing Vilkas expected to see at 10:00 that morning was their harbinger. She had been gone for three months now and he quite honestly never expected her to show up. He was a bit bitter, it took a threatening letter from him for her to bother showing any responsibility. There she was, shuffling nervously at the front of Jorrvaskr. If he did not know her very well he would not have recognized her. She had shaven most of her long hair off so it was the length of a boys, shorter than his own. She also donned a new scar, running from the top right corner of her forehead and running all the way to the left corner of her lip. She was thinner and her face was sunken in and sad. She looked as if she had not slept in weeks and not eaten in longer. Concern for her spiked through him before he chided himself, she did not come to them. He had no reason to feel guilty. She cleared her throat and avoided his gaze. He finally got the courage to speak up.

"Where have you been?" Vilkas said, his tone obviously one of displeasure. She gave him a fierce glare and he saw some of the spirit he recognized.

"It's none of your business" She spat at him and he stood up, taking a step forwards.

"Actually, I think it is considering you are our harbinger." He said lowly as she took a step back.

"I needed time to myself" She said, less sure of herself as she said it. He gave her a withering glare and stepped out of her personal space and went back to his chair. The others rattled in with excitement from wherever they had been and stopped short.

"Laiyana?" He heard his brother ask and she looked nervous again, turning as if to hide her face. Before she could make any excuses, Farkas had lumbered forwards and grasped her up, swinging her around. At his sudden movement the others snapped out of it and went forwards to greet the breton. Vilkas stood up, shocked at their instant acceptance of the woman who had been neglecting them for months. He shook his head in disgust and retreated downstairs. As he angrily stormed towards his room something stopped him. The door to Laiyana's room was open. She had been in there. Vilkas knew he shouldn't, but eventually curiosity took over and he walked over to her room and pushed his way inside.