The journey north lasted for hours, and I spent the ride with my head in my hands all of the way, the quietness of the night fearful and uncomfortable. It was a strange feeling being alone without my shield siblings to fight beside me, I almost felt terrified.
The driver sang songs and tales of war and of hope to keep himself sane. It was evening when the driver stirred me with the poke of his finger and ushered me off the back of his carriage. Tired and weary I climbed off the back of the wooden carriage and felt my boots crunch against the snow covered earth. I shivered; breathing heavily and seeing the cloud of breath erupt from my lips. I thanked the driver and avoided the town, heading down south west through the thick snow and off the beaten track.
I wandered through the thick pines, the wind bitterly cold and the darkness disturbing. My senses heightened in the impending silence, and every shiver of a tree sent adrenaline rushing through my blood, you could never be too cautious. I knew what lurked in the darkness, living in the Pale when I was younger had taught me to fight against the creatures that prowled unseen in the wilderness. I pulled my dagger out, grasping the hilt tightly in my freezing fingers. My eyes searched the darkness wildly, any movement I would see, anything at all and I would be ready.
As I moved further south, away from Dawnstar, I digressed and headed west leaving the road behind. I recalled the path, almost knowing my way back to the campsite where I used to live. We had often traded wolf or bear pelts for money or food when winters were tough and food was scarce, Dawnstar was the only city in walking distance, half a day's walk. I could be there by dawn.
The moon shone ghostly down on the bleak wilderness. My feet trudged through the thick snow, now almost knee deep. I started to shiver, a chill running down my spine, nervous of what I would say to my family if I ever saw them again, a feeling of trepidation poured into me and all I could do was blame Vaermina for leading me astray, leaving Vilkas back in Jorrvaskr. He would have woken up without me there, how awful he must think I am. I wondered who he asked first about my disappearance, a pang of regret filled me and I swallowed a large lump in my throat, I hoped Kodlak would set him straight, I hoped he wouldn't be angry at my return. I let out a sigh and watched the cloud of air disperse in front of me, around me I started to hear other foot prints in the snow. I stopped, my eyes scanning the darkness. I held my breath, listening as the movements circled me. I spun my head around, my dagger held in front for any sudden attack, the noise stopped and I narrowed my eyes, swallowing away the sweet taste in my mouth.
I took a step forward, the noise growing as I edged closer, the darkness filling and absorbing. A white shot rang out at me, shocked; I ducked, fearing the creature that sped hastily towards me. Its huge fangs oozing venom, its orange skin alight with tiny freckled black hairs. The spider launched itself at me, I leaped out of the way, falling into the snow, I threw my dagger at the beast, launching it into the belly, it shrieked; its beady black eyes wild with revenge. It spewed another white web in my direction, poisoning me and slowing my reflexes, it ran hastily towards me, mucus and blood dribbling from the wound. I pulled out my sword from my harness, slashing the sharp Skyforge steel as the frostbite spider leapt a second time, I tore away its fangs before they pierced my skin, the creature hissed, high enough for me to cringe. I plunged my sword one last time into the beast's flesh, its legs flailing, bloody mucus oozing over my arm.
"Ugh," I let out, yanking my sword from the spider, it dropped, limp and lifeless in front of me. The snow splattered with the beast's blood. I cringed as I fetched my dagger from the creature's abdomen, it twitched as I jerked the dagger from its flesh, the corpse crunching and snapping as I tore through its skeletal remains.
Shaken up and thrilled I left the remains of the spider to the darkness and continued west, my heart raced and my mind was filled with excitement and fear mingled together to make a sickening concoction of over-confidence and a power hungry Nord warrior.
I quickened my pace not only to keep warm but to avoid other untimely creatures which could easily kill me in one fatal swipe. I knew that giants, bears and wolves loitered around the woods and caves, I was fearful of accidentally running into a giant camp, knowing that in human form two giants were almost impossible to fight and just as challenging as a werewolf. I stopped suddenly, realising it would be faster for me to travel as a werewolf, my wolf legs leaner and quicker than my human ones.
I hid myself between a clump of trees and waited for any kind of movement or sound, I listened carefully, hearing nothing I finally started the change. My body contorted and twisted, my arms snapping and fixing themselves in their new places. Black fur sprouted from my skin and my jaw lengthening, sharp incisors and teeth poking through my gums. I panted, letting out a growl, letting my eyes adjust to the wilderness. Now able to see through the darkness as clearly as day I started out in a gentle run, careful not to attract too much attention to myself.
Suddenly I started to ascend, climbing up a small hill thick with freshly fallen snow. Jagged rocks snapped at my paws as I slowed down, finally reaching the peak of the rocky hill and looking down upon an Imperial camp. The surroundings were familiar to me and I knew that I was close. I rested briefly on my haunches feeling apathetic as I realised that they weren't here anymore.
The Imperial campsite fleshed out over the land, and only few soldiers walked through the snow in the night, the others tucked up warmly in their tents. The campsite covered enough ground that I knew my camp would be destroyed, or at least taken over by the soldiers. It was useless for me to come all this way and find nothing. I started to climb higher, finding the highest rock and perching myself upon it. I could see the coastline, the bleak landscape empty of life. I let out a wolfish sigh and panted, wondering if it was a lost cause to find them now, as the war waged on it would become increasingly difficult to find any soul that could have been drafted into the Imperial or Stormcloak army.
If I couldn't find them here then they could be anywhere, Dawnstar was my only second bet and I doubted that they would be there even more. Mother always hated being around others, she was reclusive woman with an obsession over beauty and nature, she would never mingle with strangers in Dawnstar.
I clicked my tongue impatiently, desperate for some sort of indication of where they could be. They could have moved closer to the coastline...but mother was always scared of the Horkers. It was useless, if only I had chosen better reasoning before leaving Jorrvaskr and then maybe I wouldn't be sitting here on the edge of an uncomfortable rock waiting for people who might never show their faces to me. I didn't even know if they still alive, perhaps this were an adventure far too great for a werewolf.
My ears twitched as I heard a high pitched noise whizz through the air next to me. I sniffed the air, another noise, reflecting off the stone and falling down into the darkness. A snarl escaped my lips as an arrow shot through the air narrowly missing me. An Imperial guard had been alerted to me presence, a looming black shadow upon the rocks, a threat which I hadn't intended. I picked myself up and fled the scene quickly, the soldiers losing me as I raced down the rocks, my nails chipping and splintering as my paws collided with each damn rock.
I headed straight for the trees, panic rushing though me. A close call. I panted heavily, resting my large paw against a tree trunk listening for any indication of a chase. Nothing. I was fine. The change back was suddenly upon me and my skin rippled frantically as I tried to avoid it. I gasped for air, falling to my knees as the strength of the wolf left me. I listened, my ears not as sensitive as before. I watched, my human eyes searching the darkness, impenetrable, unnerving. I pulled on my armour as fast as I could, my fingers fumbling as I tried to tie the knots harnessing my armour together. An arrow shot past, landing silently in the snow a few centimetres from my foot. I gasped and spun around, unable to see the soldiers.
I started to hear shouting, growing rapidly, I pulled out my dagger in defence, another arrow soaring past me and landing further away. I heard the pounding of a few men's feet, the clatter of Imperial armour and the searching voices of the shadow. I picked myself up quickly, and danced swiftly through the trees, unable to keep my heavy footfalls silent. They tracked me zealously, eager to hunt and eager to kill. I crouched, panicked, behind a tree stump, listening to their voices.
The men, serious and over-confident split up and searched the surrounding area; one, a large bulky Nord, getting close enough that I could see the glimmer of his blade in the moonlight, his strong arms capable enough to stagger me. I peered over the moss covered stump and watched his eyes search hungrily in the dark; I steadied my breathing, anxious.
"Nothing here sir," The man let out, the loudness of his voice startling me. I ducked as his head turned swiftly in my direction; I gripped onto my blade ready to plunge it into his guts before he could tell the others I was here. His footsteps began to grow louder, and the crunching of the snow was unsettling.
I held my breath, turning my head slightly, seeing the tip of his helmet over the tree stump; I held my dagger steady, now able to make out his face. Quickly, I leapt forwards, my dagger swinging as I slashed the Imperial, his hand, just as swift, snatching my own before the blade plunged into his chest. I growled at him, his grip iron tight, tight enough to cause my fingers to loosen and the dagger to plummet down into the snow.
"What have we here," The Imperial soldier smirked, snatching up my other arm before I seized my sword to cut his hand off.
"Get off of me you bastard," I snapped trying to pry my hands free. His grin grew and he let me struggle, calling his fellow soldiers over to gape at what he had found lurking in the darkness.
The soldier dragged my flailing body back to the Imperial campsite, holding me over his shoulder, my hands banging on his back and my legs trying to kick him.
"Let me go!" I shouted, cringing away from the sudden brightness of the torches. A fire burned greatly in the centre of the campsite, a cooking range placed over it. I growled again, struggling against the strong hands that kept me glued to his shoulder.
"Sir," The soldier carrying me let out, stopping suddenly. I looked up, my hair covering my eyes, trying to make out the soldiers gathering around to watch what would happen to me, "We found this," He flung me back of his shoulder and I landed with a crunch on the cold solid earth. I let out a moan of pain, rubbing my spine and glaring at the soldier who had threw me down, "She was loitering around the campsite, armed."
I followed the soldiers gaze and met eyes with an old man with short black hair and a thick unkempt beard.
"Ah," The General let out, walking around the table and kneeling in front of me; I narrowed my eyes, his thick steel armour clinging to his muscular body, "A Stormcloak spy?" I turned my nose up at him, attempting to rise to my feet; he pushed my shoulders back down and thrust me against the earth again. I gritted my teeth.
"No," I replied, staring into the man's tired face.
"Then tell me why you were trying to ambush my camp?" The man grabbed my arm and dragged me to my feet, towering over me in both height and stature.
"Definitely a stormcloak spy sir," The soldier who had caught me let out, proud of what he had managed to capture. I turned my head and snarled at him, revenge pulsating through me.
"I'm not a spy!" I ushered, looking back at the General, "I'm a Companion from Whiterun." The General raised his eyebrows in suspicion and took a step closing towards me; I nervously took another back, bumping into another soldier who grabbed my shoulders.
"Stormcloak spies always come up with such unbelievable stories," The General continued, looking down into my face.
"Here," I pulled out my sword and showed it to the General, "Skyforge steel, only Companions can own such things," I kept my voice stern and unshaken.
The General took the blade from my hands and examined it, he nodded as soon as he was satisfied I was telling the truth.
"Almar let the woman go," The soldier holding my shoulders suddenly dropped them and I stepped away from the man, snatching my sword back from the General.
"Am I free to leave?" I asked sarcastically, stashing my blade away and folding my arms across my chest. The General smirked, stepping back behind the table and leaning against it.
"Did you know it is a crime to interfere with Imperial business, and to assault a guard?" The General continued, I frowned, rolling my eyes.
"I'm sorry," I let out, "I just need to get on my way."
"It is a crime punishable by law which requires the criminal to serve time in jail."
"You can't be serious?" I let out, exasperated, "It won't happen again," I held my hands up in surrender.
The General stayed silent for a moment, contemplating on the situation before him.
"Okay," He let out finally, "We'll leave you to continue about your business," The man folded his strong arms across his broad chest, his voice stern and filled with authority. I narrowed my eyes, wondering if there were to be a catch.
"Thank you," I replied with caution, edging away from the General, turning around and fleeing the campsite as fast as I could, never looking back.
A/N: One day I might rewrite this whole story.
