Fair warning: Quite a few POV changes in this chapter. Don't worry, just sitting things up to fall down.


Aela POV:

"Aela.". I ignore the Khajiit and keep stomping up to Solitude. "Aela, come on. This isn't going to fix anything.". I continue ignoring her. "Fine. I'll leave.". Finally. "I'll just go into the dark woods over there.". I stop my walking, but still refuse to turn around to see her. "Alone. Without a brave warrior woman to protect me. Defenseless. Just a sitting duck for some hunter to come along and claim my head. Unable to do anything to stop them. Poor me, alone in the cold, dark world where-". I sigh and turn around. The Khajiit offers me a smug grin and dares to ask, "Why are you trying to leave me?". I meet her eyes as I explain the situation to her.

"I'm just trouble for you. You've only been hurt because of me. You're better off on your own. Please, just leave.". The woman's ears flip back and her eyes widen, the hurt expression crossing her entire face. "Aela.". I shake my head. "Please. We aren't even friends.". The skin around her eyes scrunches together and she whispers, "We're not?". The look on her face causes my resolve to absolutely crumble. "No!". I reach out, but allow my hand to drop after a second. "No. I mean. We are.". She looks a little less hurt, but only slightly. "If we're friends, then why do you want me to go away? I thought friends were suppose to stick together in tough situations, not abandon one another.".

I throw my head back, close my eyes, and let out a small groan. When I finally look back at her I desperately say, "I'm just trouble. If you stick with me, then your head will end up of Krev's wall. You can take care of yourself. You don't need me. It would be better if you just left.". The woman takes a step closer to me. "But we're friends, and you promised me you'd help me pay off my bounty in Whiterun. You can't do that if we're apart. Besides, what if our heads don't end up of Krev's wall? What if we manage to get away with it? Wouldn't you want to be together when that happens?". The poor fool. She's still clinging to the hope of getting her bounty in Whiterun paid off.

She doesn't understand the seriousness of what we did. Well, she understands the moral seriousness, but not how important the reality of it all is. We're never going to be able to return to Whiterun. I know that, but I don't tell her that. I'll let her cling to her false dreams and wishes. It's going to be all she has soon. However, she does raise a good point. What if we do get away with this? I shake the thought from my head. "If we get away with it, then we're going to end up hiding for the rest of our lives. Is that what you want? Jumping from city to city, never able to settle down? Always worrying about the fact we could be arrested for murder?".

She kicks the ground slightly and looks away as she explains, "I don't think that would be so bad.". She meets my eyes. "As long as I have you by my side.". I feel a lump begin to form in my throat, but I swallow it and ask her, "Do you really mean that?". She nods her head and I take a moment to think. Do I really want her with me? She's a strong warrior, but can I put up with her on a personal level? I've only talked to her a little, but looking back I can already tell that we'll get along fine. I could spend a few afternoons talking with her, no problem. So, I give in and tell her, "Okay. We'll stick together.". She smiles and walks up to me, twining her arm in mine.

As we resume walking up to Solitude she tells me, "Just think about it. Two untied women roaming the roads of Skyrim. No children, no commitment, and no clans to worry about. Just you, me, our swords, and the presence of death constantly looming over us. Men and mer will cower before us, beasts won't stand a chance, and monsters shall fall to our mighty blades! Not a soul alive will be able to stop our adventure, and we'll answer to no queen or king. We'll be as honorable as knights, but have the freedom of mercenaries! I bet the bards would love to sing our song!". I chuckle as we enter the city. Maybe sticking around wasn't such a bad idea after all.


Ria POV:

I curse as the tracks go into the stream. I slowly stand up, cracking my back. I look at the opposite bank and curse for a second time. Even from here I can see the dirt is kicked and chopped up by deer prints. A herd must have moved past here recently. Any chance of finding the werewolves' tracks has significantly gone down. Oh well, I can start up again tomorrow. It's not like a storm or anything is going to blow in and wash the tracks away. I stretch my arms over my head as I tell Njada (who's situation behind me), "It doesn't look like we'll be able to catch up with them today. We should go back to the inn and conserve our strength. You know, for the 'hunt' and whatnot.".

I suddenly feel two hands come to rest on my hips. I nearly scream and flip around in a rage, but then a chin comes to rest on my shoulder. Njada's familiar panting breath clogs my ears. "Hey.". I keep tensing up, but slowly bring my hands down to their normal position. It doesn't deter Njada, and I have to hold my arms out slightly not to crush her hands. "What are you doing?". I gentle kiss to my neck. "Nothing.". I don't let my guard down. "That doesn't feel like nothing.". Njada sighs and releases my hips. I take the chance to turn around to her. The woman's shamefully looking at the ground. "Njada. I think we need to talk.".


Krev POV:

My horde slowly moves through the woods, careful not to snap a branch or move a rock. We can't be seen. We're hot on the trail of two Companions. It was a miracle we found them, but now we need to be quiet while we chase them. We aren't going to bring them down or attack them, but we need to find the werewolves. My logic is that if we follow The Companions, then we'll find the werewolves. However, what we find is less than pleasing. The two Companions are sitting on a large stone by the edge of the river. One's a Nord wearing a hide helm, and the other is an Imperial with dark skin. Both are women. The one wearing the helm suddenly lunges forward, capturing the Imperial in a kiss.

The Imperial sits there in confusion for a few seconds, then wraps her arms around the Nord. A general grumble goes out from my group. I can't blame them. If these two start fucking, then we'll have to wait an hour or two until they start following the tracks again. I see some tracks across the river and come up with a plan. I lean over and tap Bartholomew. He leans in and I whisper, "I'm going to follow the tracks over there. Can you handle these guys and keep searching the woods?". When he nods at me I turn my horse so I can sneak past the two lovers, then get to it. Werewolf skins wait for no woman.


Aela POV:

The dimply lit inn reeks of grease and sex, but the Khajiit and I ignore the smell. We both down our sixth glass of black ale, the candle in between us doing a sick dance. We talked for a short while, but now we're quiet. In fact, the entire inn is. That is, until the bard picks up a tune. The Khajiit flicks her ear and seems to recognize the melody. She gives me a dopey smile and bobs her head a little, and I see her tail flicking behind her. She smiles at me and quietly sings to me.

"Come to me here from Whiterun,

To this holy temple, where

Your lovely apple grove stands,

And your altars that flicker

With incense."

I suddenly realize the tune as a poem/song by Assiniboine. A poem famous for her woman seducing ways. It's said she only needed a single verse to steal the heart of whoever she pleased. I remember the song, and could probably sing it. When the Khajiit opens her mouth to continue I cut her off.

"And below the apple branches, cold

Clear water sounds, everything shadowed

By roses, and sleep that falls from

Bright shaking leaves.".

The woman looks absolutely shocked and takes the brief musical bit to whisper, "You know the song?". When I nod she gives me a gigantic grin, showing off all of her teeth. "I never took you for an artisan.". I smile and lean forward a little, resting my chin on my hands. Our noses are almost brushing above the candle as I whisper, "Not an artisan, just an appreciator of beauty.". It's painfully clear the drink is turning my stomach, but the Khajiit is equally drunk and sees my words as charming. The song keeps going and she takes over.

"And a pasture for horses blossoms

With the flowers of spring, and breezes

Are flowing here like honey:

Come to me here,"

I lean in a little more, cocking my head. Our lips are almost brushing and our eyes are locked as I finish the song.

"Here, Cyprian, delicately taking

Nectar in golden cups

Mixed with a festive joy,

And pour."

I can't contain myself any longer. I lean forward, capturing her lips in mine. My mind tells me to stop acting like a fool, but the tongue suddenly in my mouth urges me otherwise. I smile into the kiss. I can only hope I don't regret it. That's when the Khajiit pulls back and whispers, "Bedroom.".

I nod and hastily stand, fumbling for the key in my pocket. The Khajiit stumbles up and I grab her hand, tugging her after me. It takes me a few moments to get the key in the lock, but eventually it swings open. The Khajiit's hand never leaves mine. Once we're in the room the woman rushes over to the bed, and I take a moment to turn around and lock the door. When I turn back around the woman is naked, the dim candlelight around the room shining off her orange and gold fur. The woman's fur protects her cunt from my sigh, but I get a generous view of her tits. And of the woman's hand gently squeezing and fiddling with them.

My companion sees me looking and ask, "You just going to stand there all night, or am I going to get fucked?". That's all the encouragement I need. I begin ripping off my armor and practically charge over to the bed. My foot slips at the last second and I go tumbling down on her. The woman chuckles and I flip us over. Now the naked Khajiit's cunt is resting on the lowest part of my stomach. The woman laughs, but her laugh turns into a gasp when I lean forward and take her left nipple in my mouth. Definitely not regretting this.


Final note: The song (mildly messed with) is a poem from Sappho of Lesbos. 'Come to me here from Crete'.