Bareck never went back to his vicious mood, which was a major relief to everyone. In fact, he was in a rather sober mood, especially when Keyarrion was around. While he believed her to be angry and suspicious of him, but she, in truth, was simply coming to grips with the situation in her own way. He had forgotten that she was used to her own company and was not used to sharing her feelings like the other women he had been in contact with. Still, he wisely kept his distance, waiting for her to break the ice.

But Bareck was in a quiet mood for other reasons than simply his conviction of Keyarrion's feelings. He hadn't been feeling quite so good since he had ripped those bandits' throats out. He had thought he had gotten past this back when Keyarrion had first found him lying unconscious in the woods by the Imperial City after he had fled from there like a nut. His protesting stomach, along with an ever persistent headache, made nausea a constant vexation. He experienced moments when all he wanted to do was curl up and try to sleep it off, but stubborn pride and a deep fear of never being able to get going again kept him plodding doggedly after Baurus and Keyarrion.

They were getting even higher in the mountains now, the terrain getting rougher and rougher and the weather more disagreeable. They covered less ground each day as strong winds and jagged rocks hindered their progress. More sure-footed and mountain bred, Baurus and Keyarrion had little trouble navigating the mountainous ground, but Bareck, born and bred in Valenwood, was having trouble. He didn't have much to do with the mountains if he could help it and had little experience with them. If he had, he would have realized that he was suffering from more than what he had gone through back in the Imperial City; he was suffering from altitude sickness.

He never mentioned anything, believing that he would throw it off soon, like before. After all, he was a Bosmer…his natural resistance to illness and disease ensured that he wouldn't have to suffer long.

They were 80 miles north of Lake Arrius when a blizzard blew in. The air had been rather still and the temperature dropping steadily, making even the cold-hardened Baurus start to feel slightly uncomfortable. It wasn't long before Bareck's keen ears caught a roaring noise. He looked behind them, slightly northward, and noticed a wall of white blasting their way, much like watching a severe rain storm rushing in. He gave a cry of alarm to the others and they quickly looked about for shelter, any shelter, to wait out the storm.

"Quick, over here!" Keyarrion shouted, pointing to a shallow cave that even Mina could walk into. Not in the position to be picky about running headfirst into an unexplored cave where they could be trapped for possibly days, the 2 men followed her into the cave, slamming the door shut just as the snowy wind began to howl viciously. Baurus and Bareck stood just inside the door, panting a little, listening to the wind. A sudden, short, rasping noise made them jump. Keyarrion raised a teasing eyebrow at them as she held up the newly lighted torch, causing the men to shrug and grin sheepishly.

The cave wasn't all that big; it had only one room that went back about 50 yards and was about 25 yards across but it had a high ceiling and had a overall roomy feel to it. It was more like a deep depression in the rocks with a door than a cave. They lit a fire in the middle of the room after thoroughly exploring the room and sat down to wait out the storm. Mina stood nearby, snorting in dismay over the lack of grass or fodder to graze on. Bareck leaned back against a rock by the fire, enjoying the warmth on his freezing body. He played absentmindedly with some pebbles, rolling them around with his fingertips, trying to get his mind off his painful belly. Finally he couldn't stand it any longer and he gave in to his exhaustion and curled up on his side, cradling his stomach in his arms, trying to ignore some of the worried looks he knew where being thrown at him. His eyes drifted shut as he allowed sleep to come over him, hoping for his pain to pass.

XxXxXx

Vorac walked easily through the snow storm, his black form conveniently hidden in the white snow by the furious wind. Cold had no effect at all on him, nor the searing effect of the wind. He was harder and colder than any blizzard. He walked steadily and silently towards the door of the cave. It was almost just as hidden from view as he was, but, once again, his 6th since made it possible for him to know where he was going so that he didn't need his eyes to see the door that sheltered his changeling.

He stopped just outside, deciding on what to do. He could always just go, slaughter everyone but the changeling and simply force him to come with him, finalizing the change that way…or he could wait and amuse himself later. He smiled as he opted for the latter. He had been given this horrendously boring job and he wanted to make the most of whatever entertainment he could from it. Looking around briefly, Vorac went and settled himself like a vulture on a pile of rocks in plain view of the door not 10 feet away, completely oblivious to the storm. He closed his eyes as he carefully worked out his plan. He couldn't drag this out for too long; his senses told him that he needed to get the changeling out of this high altitude before the whole mission became pointless. While death was required for the final initiation, premature death destroyed the process and permanently destroyed the changeling. Vorac couldn't afford that. For now, however, he could wait.

XxXxXx

For several hours the storm raged, turning the rough world completely white outside. Baurus fell asleep quickly after Bareck had, leaving Keyarrion to keep the fire going with whatever she could find. When the sound of the wind finally died down, Keyarrion got up and stretched, heading for the door. Baurus and Bareck were still asleep, the former snoring loud enough to wake a drunken goblin and the latter curled up on his side in the same position as when he fell asleep, still cradling his stomach. She looked at them for a few more seconds and pulled the door open, giving a silent thanks that the door swung in and not out.

At first, all she saw was white. The snow had blanketed everything in nearly 2 feet of snow. Far from feeling upset about it, Keyarrion smiled. It had been far too long since the last time she had seen and, yes, played in the cold white stuff. She scooped her hand through it, rubbing it in her fingers like farmer would with dirt. Then something moved, catching her eye.

She stood in frozen shock as something rose up from a pile of snow covered rocks directly in front of her, shaking snow from its back as it did. She found herself staring into a pair of red eyes that nearly made her heart stop in panic. It smiled, making a weird grunting noise that might have passed for laughter. She didn't stay to find out if it was; she leapt backwards, slamming the door shut and hurtling back into the cave, waking Baurus and Bareck as she flew in.

Baurus leapt up, pulling his sword as he ran back up to the door and threw it open, Bareck getting to his feet a little more sluggishly and following behind.

XxXxXx

Vorac still remained where he was, smiling wickedly to himself as he watched the girl run. She would be easy to kill and he could have some fun with her in the process of killing her. But he wanted to see the other one. He needed as much information about them so he could formulate his plan to have as much amusement as possible. A few moments later, the door burst open again and a big Redguard in heavy armor with the changeling behind came out.

"What in the name of Talos…?" He heard the Redguard whisper. He frowned. Vorac hated any association with the Nine Divines and especially hated when it was mentioned in reference to him. He would make sure that that lesson would burn itself into the Redguard's brain as he drew his final breath. At that thought Vorac's frown disappeared as he struggled to contain his excitement. Others would have wanted to spend more time with the pink-haired Breton girl…but Vorac got all the arousal and pleasure he needed from blood, torture and death. He smiled again and let them get a good look at him.

XxXxXx

Baurus could hardly believe what he was seeing. At first, the creature in front of him seemed to be made of nothing but vapor, but on a closer look he had black leather skin pulled taunt over heavy muscles. He stood on two legs that looked like a dog or wolf's legs, but much bigger and bulging with muscles. Instead of standing flat-footed, he stood on the three toes on the end of his feet, his heels ending in a point, making it impossible to flat-footed. But he could raise and lower himself on those toes, altering his height by nearly 8in, depending on his mood. The talons on his 3 toes gouged into the rock, making it crumble like wet sand. His upper body was more humanoid, except his hands ended in talons instead of fingers, and his face, too, was somewhat humanoid. Actually, it reminded all three of them of the face of a deadra with his red eyes and the typical sneer. Like a deadra he had a few horns adorning his head but they were not as long or as sharp as the deadra they had seen. However, deadra did not have fangs as long or as sharp as this black monster did.

His sneer deepened in what seemed a smile and he beckoned with his taloned hand for them to come closer. No…he was motioning Bareck to come closer.

Baurus heard a sharp intake of air behind him and he glanced over his shoulder to see the elf staring in morbid fascination at the creature. His eyes held a mixture of terror and elation. He felt the want, the need, to go to this black creature…but at the same time, something screamed at him to stay away. Slowly that voice started to fade, losing strength as the longing began to flood his mind. He shifted his weight to move his foot forward.

"Bareck! Stay!" Baurus barked. It was a desperate, last second effort to get Bareck to remain, but it was enough to pull Bareck out of his revere. Instead of going forward, he quickly pulled back a few steps, pressing his back into the rock wall behind him. The black creature looked a little disappointed but quickly turned his sneer/smile back to Baurus.

"Tick tock." He said, his voice deep and rough, "Tick tock. Then, he's mine." He gave that deep harsh grunting noise again that Baurus assumed was laughter and vanished into the shadows, his grunts remaining in the air.

Baurus stared after him for a few seconds, and then turned back to Bareck when he heard a soft crunch as Bareck fell to his knees in the snow. He too was staring after the departed monster, his eyes burning with mixed emotions. He hated to, but Baurus had to ask.

"Bareck…what was that thing?"

"Vorac…Vorac. Don't ask me how I know his name. He's coming for me. He's waiting for me to join the shadows so he can bring me back to the Black Woods…where the Dark Guardian waits…" He said in a stupefied whisper. Then he looked up at Baurus with hunted eyes, "He won't stop following us until he has me or us or him are dead."

Bareck got up and stumbled a few steps out, ignoring Baurus' warning. He fell to his knees again a few steps away, too shaky and sick to go any further.

"More deadly than deadra…" Baurus whispered, remembering what Jauffre had told him.

Bareck suddenly threw up violently at those words, turning the snow bright red.

XxXxXx

Author's note: This simply hasn't been Bareck's weeks has it? That altitude sickness can be a real bitch, especially to those not used to high altitudes…suddenly I like my coastal plain altitude, even if it is hotter than hell here now. XD. Read, review and enjoy!!!

-Vanillathunder215