Author's Note: Grohiik is the Dragon word for "wolf"
Eighth Shout: Grohiik
"Skjor wants to see you," Aela told me the next day when I asked for work. "He has something special planned for you. Better talk to him."
I raised an eyebrow. "He's not going to make me polish his armor or something like that, is he?"
She laughed. "I don't know. Talk to him and find out."
"Aela!"
"She waved me away. "Go. Don't keep him waiting."
Sighing, I went to look for Skjor. I found talking to Eorlund at the Skyforge, seeming to be inquiring about a new set of armor. I cleared my throat, and they both looked up.
"Ah, there you are," Skjor said. He excused himself from Eorlund and walked towards me.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked.
"Yes. I have something a little different planned this time."
"Let me guess…you want me to clean Aela's armor."
He chuckled. "No, no, nothing like that this time. But it's not for everyone to hear. Meet me at the Underforge tonight."
"Under…forge?" I asked puzzled. "What's that?"
"You'll find an outline cut into the rock wall under the Skyforge," Skjor said. "We'll speak more later. You can get back to whatever it was you were doing."
"All…right." I watched Skjor go back inside and I turned to Eorlund. He shrugged and went back to work.
What was Skjor going to make me do? And why was it so secret? I went down and checked the rock wall and sure enough, I could barely make out an outline of a door into the rock. I pushed my hand against it but it would not budge.
Whatever he's making me do, I thought, I hope it's not illegal.
With nothing better to do, I went inside to ask Farkas if there were any jobs for the day. For most of the day, I was "roughing" people up to make sure they didn't cause any trouble, running errands for my fellow Companions (funnily enough, I ended up having to polish Vilkas's armor), and looking after my own armor and weapons. As the sun began to sink below the horizon, I made my way to the outline cut into the rock wall under the Skyforge.
I pushed at the rock with my hand and it gave way, swinging open to reveal a small chamber. I stepped inside and the stone door shut behind me. In the middle of the chamber was a large stone basin and beside it stood a –
"What the hell!" I cried and jumped back in alarm.
Beside the basin hunched over a hulking werewolf, as large as Farkas's wolf form. It stared at me and growled, its eyes flashing a deep green. Before I could do anything else, the stone door swung open again and Skjor stepped inside.
"Ah, you're here." He walked over to the stone basin. "We do this in secret because Kodlak is too busy throwing away this great gift we've been granted. He thinks we've been cursed. But we've been blessed." He stared at the werewolf in admiration. "How can something that gives this kind of prowess be a curse?" He turned to me. "So we take matters in our own hands. To reach the heights of the Companions, you must join us in the shared blood of the wolf."
It took a few moments for the words to sink in. They wanted me to be a werewolf, just like Farkas and the creature before me! But why…?
"Why pick me?" I asked.
Skjor smiled. "We can see something in you that outshines the others, Vanya. We know you can gain more by joining us. Be stronger, unlocking your true potential as a warrior. Are you prepared to join your spirit to the beast world, friend?"
Don't I get to think about this first?! I wanted to shout. But I remembered the time I spent in that cage in Dustman's Cairn and how helpless I was when Farkas was surrounded by the Silver Hand. I gazed at the hulking form of the wolf before me. I could feel the strength it had, and I knew that if it so chose, it could tear me in half. It betrayed no weaknesses or maybe it didn't have any. In this form…I will never be helpless and I could protect those important to me. I might never get this chance ever again.
"Yes…I'm ready," I said trying to keep my voice steady. I was also half-afraid that if I said no, that werewolf was going to rip me to shreds.
Skjor smiled. "Very well." He took out a sharp knife from his belt and walked over to the werewolf. "I hope Aela didn't scare you very much. She may look menacing, but she won't harm you."
"Aela…?" I turned to the werewolf. It growled a little but made no sign of wanting to pounce and claw my face off.
Skjor produced a knife and swiftly sliced through the wolf's arm and held it over the stone basin. Werewolf blood seemed to flow more freely for soon there was enough to fill a small mug. I gulped as the smell wafted up my nostrils. Hopefully they'll forgive me if my stomach decides I didn't want to be a werewolf after all.
"Go on," Skjor urged. "You only need to take a sip."
"I…all right," I sighed.
I leaned over the basin, holding my breath. Slowly, my hand dipped into the small pool of blood and scooped a minute amount. I immediately sipped at it, fearing that if I hesitated any further, I would change my mind.
As soon as I swallowed, I felt as if someone was clawing my insides out and lighting them on fire at the same time. I cried out in pain, doubling over, feeling the searing pain burn higher and higher.
Then, there was darkness.
O ~ O ~ O ~ O ~ O
I groaned, feeling the numbness in my body beginning to fade. The wind was frigid around me, as if I had ventured to go out with nothing but my underclothes on.
Wait…
My eyes snapped open and I bolted upright.
I was wearing nothing but my underclothes!
I looked around wildly, searching for the cause of my near-nakedness and I saw I was lying against a log, surrounded by trees. Before I began to panic on what might have happened earlier, a familiar voice came up beside me.
"Are you awake?"
"Aela," I sighed in relief.
She sat beside me and handed me a small pack. "I was starting to think you might never come back. Do you remember what happened?"
I stared into space for a few seconds, trying to piece together what I last remembered. Running past buildings…people screaming and running...the urge to rip them to shreds and feast on their blood and flesh…Yes, the thirst….the thirst…
I shook my head vigorously, clearing it all away. I shuddered at the thought that I might have hurt innocent people while I was running wildly in the streets. I looked down at my body, but save for a few cuts and bruises, I did not have any significant injuries.
"Yours was not an easy transformation," Aela said. "But you're still alive, so, congratulations."
Still alive? I thought. You mean people actually aren't guaranteed they'll live after turning?
"We even have a celebration planned for you," Aela continued cheerfully. "There's a pack of werewolf hunters camped nearby at Gallows Rock. The Silver Hand. I think you've met them before."
I nodded. "They tried to kill Farkas and I before."
"We're going to slaughter them," Aela said simply. "All of them."
I gaped at her. Granted, they tried to kill us before, but slaughtering them as if they were cattle? Perhaps they could be reasoned with…they were still human in the end so they must know how to listen to reason…Not all werewolves are like those used to frighten children who misbehave.
They hate werewolves, a tiny voice in my head whispered. They tried to kill you and Farkas without any reason other than the fact that they knew Farkas was a werewolf. They will not listen.
Sighing, I nodded. Perhaps they needed a little fear to drive them back to wherever they came from. Opening the pack Aela gave me, I was relieved to discover they contained a fresh change of clothes and my armor. I hurriedly got dressed and signaled to Aela I was ready.
"Oh, before I forget, here," she said reaching behind the log and bringing out my sword.
"Thank you," I said gratefully strapping it to my hip.
"Come on," she said. "Skjor's already scouting ahead."
The sun was sinking behind the thick branches of the trees, yet I found that I could still see as easily in the dark as I could in the day. Must be one of the gifts that came with being a werewolf. I followed Aela, my mind going back to the fragments of memory I had when I first transformed. Did I hurt anyone? Did I…kill innocent people?
"You didn't," Aela said.
I perked up. "What?"
"You didn't hurt anyone," she said. "I've seen that look on your face before. When you rushed out into Whiterun, you were running around wildly, but it seemed as if you had enough control over yourself that you knew not to hurt anyone."
I sighed in relief. "That's…good to hear."
"You'll learn to control the thirst in time," she continued. "The more you satisfy it, the longer you can stay in beast form. So, if I were you, I would choose my targets wisely."
"Oh…all right."
We soon came upon a crumbling building surrounded by ruined walls. We quickly dispatched the Silver Hand guarding the entrance and made our way inside the building. The steps seemed to lead us deep underground – a perfect hiding place for these type of "vermin" as Aela put it.
I couldn't help but noticed the wolf heads mounted on spikes at the entrance. How many werewolves have these people killed in cold blood? None met us at the entrance and some of the doors were bolted shut.
"Look at this," Aela sneered. "Cowards must have locked the place down after Skjor charged in. You can taste the fear."
We dispatched more of the Silver Hand as we went deeper into their base, they didn't seem to know that there would be two more werewolves coming in after the first. Some werewolves lay dead in cages, though none of them were ones we knew, Aela said, judging by the smell. She explained that there were those who couldn't separate themselves from the beast inside them so they go feral. I shuddered at the thought. That dead werewolf could be me if I didn't learn how to control this blessing-curse they've given me.
By now the Silver Hand had been alerted of our presence and were coming to us in groups. However, they were still no match for us and we pressed on, trying to find Skjor. We passed rooms filled with torture equipment and more cages. Some of the equipment were covered in blood. Why so much hate against werewolves? I thought. Why go as far as to torture them? Some part of them are still human!
"We're getting close now," Aela warned. "Be careful. Their leader is a tricky one."
"How so?" I asked as we descended down the last flight of stone steps.
"They call him "the Skinner". I don't think I need to tell you why."
"Well, he seems like a nice guy," I said trying to ease my anxiety with my little joke.
I pushed open the last door and we stepped into a large circular room with a raised platform in the middle. Tanning racks were set up all over the room and some members of the Silver Hand were busy working at them.
Feeling the pools of mana within me, I curled my hand and released a huge fireball at a group of them, setting them and their tanning racks ablaze. The Silver Hand scurried to pick up weapons as Aela and I rushed inside.
"There's Krev the Skinner!" Aela shouted pointing at a huge man in heavy armor and wielding an axe. "Kill him, Vanya!"
As Aela fought off a group of Silver Hand members, Krev charged at me, swinging his axe. I blocked a blow just in time, but Krev was strong and I buckled under the force of the swing. He roared and swung again, but I rolled to the side and threw a fireball at his face. He dropped the axe and clutched at his face, howling in pain. I seized this opportunity to stab my sword at him, but to my shock he dodged and kicked out, knocking me off my feet. My sword went flying.
"Vanya!" Aela cried.
Krev's face was charred almost so black, I could no longer see his eyes…or if he still had any. He picked up his axe and stood over me, a smirk curling at his lips.
"That's…all you've got?" he growled as he lifted his axe high.
I rolled out of the way as the axe came down and quickly got to my feet. I scanned the room for my sword and I spotted it near the steps of the platform.
"Pay attention!" Krev shouted.
My eyes snapped back to him as he swung again. I dodged to the side a little too late, feeling the heavy axe cut slash through my leather armor.
"Ah!" I clutched at my side and ducked as he swung at my head.
"Hey!" Aela shouted.
I looked up just in time to see an arrow fly into Krev's shoulder. He flinched and glanced back at Aela, giving me enough time to run and dive for my sword. Aela let loose another arrow, this time piercing into his chest. Sword in hand, I charged forward.
"Hey, peabrain!" I called.
Krev turned back to me catching my sword with his stomach. I glared at him as I pushed the sword deeper, twisting it until it was buried up to the hilt. Aela's final arrow flew straight into the back of his head, puncturing through his forehead.
The Skinner stared at me for a moment before lurching sideways. I pulled my sword out of him as he fell and became still.
Aela rushed up beside me. "You all right?"
"Yeah…I'm…argh!" Fire erupted at my side and I clutched at it, falling to my knees.
"Let me see that," Aela said urgently, lifting my hand away. Blood covered my hand and was continuing to ooze out of my cut armor. "Here, let me."
She took out her knife and cut the straps holding my cuirass in place. My side was soaked with blood and she quickly dug into her pack and gave me an undershirt.
"Just keep putting pressure on it," she instructed. "Skjor's here. I can smell him."
I nodded and she helped me to my feet. Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, we walked towards the other side of the room. A figure lay slumped on a stone table. As we approached it, I felt Aela buckle beside me.
"No…no…" she said softly.
His body was cut so badly we barely recognized him, but the armor was Skjor's.
"Those bastards!" Aela seethed. "Somehow they managed to kill Skjor. He was one of the strongest we had, but numbers can overwhelm. He should not have come without a Shield-Brother…or Sister."
I noticed the tone of her voice change as she said the word "sister". She tried to keep her face as stoic as a grieving member of the Companions would allow, but I saw something in her eyes. Those were not the eyes of someone who had lost a friend and companion, but someone who had lost something more than that…
"Let's take him back," I said softly. "Give him a proper burial. It's the least we can do for him."
Aela nodded. "We'll take him back. Stay here first. I'm going to make sure we get the last of them and see if there's any information to be gotten from the bodies."
She helped me sit against a pillar near Skjor's body and left. Pain was still burning at my side, but I held my sword tight, ready if any more Silver Hand would come into the chamber.
But sooner rather than later, the room was starting to spin and the last thing I remember was the floor coming up to meet my face.
