Morning After

Farkas snaked a hand behind Sivanna's neck, cradling her head as he kissed her. Still heavy with drink, she halfheartedly pushed at his chest. He pulled himself away far enough to see her face. He was smiling, for all the world looking like a fox in the hen-house. Unease spread through her. Surely there was a reason this felt bad... yet she couldn't remember why. Farkas was warm, and sweet, and her body was definitely reacting to his. What could be wrong... She pushed gently at his chest, silently marveling at just how solid he was. He lifted himself higher, braced on his hands and knees.

"What ails you?" he asked with a puzzled look.

"Farkas, this isn't..." all the coherent thoughts seemed to be swimming away from her, "We are on the floor." There! She thought proudly. Perfectly good point.

Farkas chuckled softly, tracing his nose along her jawline. "Aye. If it bothers you though, we can move."

Sivanna frowned concentrating hard. She should be sleeping, it was late. "I need a bed." she managed.

Farkas lifted his brows, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Is that so?" He gently tucked a lock of stray hair behind her ear, and kissed her neck, making her gasp. She drew up her knees, accidentally knocking him on top of her once again. They laughed together at their clumsiness, it shouldn't have been so hard to stand.

Beside them a door open, Sivanna lifted her head to see Vilkas, eyes closed in a yawn. "Brother, I've told you before, if you're taking a woman, at least get into your..." The alpha stopped with a sharp intake of breath akin to a hiss when he noticed her. His eyes were wide with surprise, his mouth parted slightly. Sivanna's heart fluttered anxiously, THAT is why it felt so wrong.

"Apologies, Vilkas. We just ended up down here after you left.", Farkas said, struggling to stand. Vilkas never took his eyes from her, emotions washing over his face in waves. First surprise, then sadness, anger, and then the worst of all, his mask; the scowl. Farkas went to clap a hand on his brother's shoulder, but Vilkas stepped back. The alpha turned to look at his beta, and struck him hard in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. Farkas cursed and spat, droplets of blood splattering on the rug.

"Sober up!", Vilkas barked at him, sounding more like a curse. He threw one last look at Sivanna, his face cold and angry, then retreated to his room. Sivanna lifted herself into a seated position, her stomach in knots. How could she have forgotten? After all they had been through... and how close they had become. The look on his face just then said it all, he was done. Done with her. Sivanna's chest panged with guilt, this is not what she wanted. Already she missed him, feeling more alone than she had since they met.

"I... I'm sorry Farkas, I have to go.", Sivanna said. A dark bruise was already visible on his cheek. The anger from this morning had returned, and it was pointedly directed to Vilkas's door. She wasn't even sure he had heard her. Picking up what was left of her dignity, she rose and began walking down the hall. All the torches and candles were snuffed out at such a late hour and the darkness was thick. Sivanna couldn't help but feel uneasy, as though someone were watching, but she convinced herself it must have been circumstantial. After what just happened, she was just jumpy. Strange though, as she climbed into her bed and closed her eyes, she could have sworn she heard a woman's laughter.

The next morning was difficult, to say the least. Ria and Torvar pestered her for details about the hunt. Torvar's curiosity seemed friendly, just wanting to share stories with a fellow warrior, but something about how Ria looked as she inquired about Vilkas... made Sivanna feel odd. Ria wanted to know what it was like to hunt with him, if he was still quiet outside of these walls, what it was like to watch him fight. Sivanna hated it. She did not want to relive the hunt, and she certainly didn't want to talk about Vilkas with Ria.

After giving an excuse about training, she took her leave of them. Bow in hand, she made her way to the archery targets. Her head throbbed, no doubt from too much beer and little sleep. The sun was so bright, she was sure it shined in her eyes to spite her for being so foolish. Regrets from the night before were still very fresh, and her mood was sufferingfor it.

"Sivanna, how goes it?", Aela called, spotting her across the training grounds. Sivanna harrumphed, waving a hand dismissively. She was so unbelievably tired of telling the story over and over. Really, Sivanna would rather be alone for a time.

"That bad, huh? I heard from Farkas about your hunt, you brought honor to the Companions. We will see about finding you a new horse.", Aela said.

Like the reopening of an old wound, Sivanna felt the loss of Brun yet again. Will no one let this go? She thought bitterly. She needed a distraction, something else to focus on. "Aela, care for a run?"

The huntress gave a predatory smile. "Why not? You'll have to be quick to keep up, I won't coddle you."

"I wouldn't ask that of you. I won't be left behind, I'm sure of it.", Sivanna said, resting her bow against the target. The two of them headed through the Underforge, the strange ritualistic cave that only the wolves used. It led a secret path out of the city, which suited Sivanna perfectly, seeing as there were two people in particular she did not want to encounter. The smell of wet earth filled Sivanna's nose in the dimly lit cavern, the air warm and still. The sounds of the city were muffled here, it was a good place to escape to.

"All three of you have been very troubled since you came home." Aela remarked, casting a sideways glance at her. "How long until you tell me what happened?"

Sivanna sighed. "It was a long trip."

"Come now, you don't think I would know if it were just the hunt that caused this?" Aela asked, shaking her head. "I heard all the exciting bits already, but something happened out there. Something far more personal I'd wager."

Sivanna thought for a moment, deciding now would be a good time to get some answers. "Did you know about the girl in Ivarstead? The one that Vilkas bit?"

"The Circle knows of her, but no one else." Alea replied.

"Was she searched for?", Sivanna asked.

"Yes. The twins got into quite an argument about it, but eventually Farkas convinced Vilkas that the girl needed help. They never found her though."

Sivanna furrowed her brows, "Vilkas did not wish to find her?"

"From what I understand, he was ashamed and wanted to forget that it ever happened. Farkas on the other hand, said as an alpha he was bound to help the girl. That he was responsible for not only what he did, but what would become her." Aela said.

"I see."

"Why do you ask? Did Farkas tell you about her? Have you heard any tales of her?"

"No, I was the girl. The silly mistake Vilkas cannot rid himself of." Sivanna said, laughing wryly.

Aela was silent for a moment. "That explains a lot. I would not go so far as to say biting you was a mistake. True, he handled it poorly, but you are a strong hunter. You would not have survived otherwise. His mistake was not bringing you home that night. That is his regret."

Sivanna thought on it. Was that what he had meant, when he told her he wanted to fix his mistakes? Could that be why he brought her into the pack? To try to make up for the time she lost as a human? A traitorous flicker of hope reared its head within her.

"What does it mean to be marked?" she asked the huntress.

Aela stopped. "Have you been marked?" Sivanna nodded. "That was faster than I thought. Farkas surely didn't waste any time now did he?"

Sivanna shook her head. "No no! Farkas... it wasn't him."

Aela squinted at her, then widened her eyes with realization. "The alpha?", she asked in awe.

"Yes." Sivanna answered.

"To be marked is to be proposed in the wolf way. You would be mates, your souls would be one. You would run together, hunt together... lead together. How sudden this is! I never imagined Vilkas would want a mate, much less want one!"

Sivanna looked away, unable to meet her eyes. "I... he had a change of heart.", she whispered.

"Oh? Oh..." Aela shifted from one foot to the other anxiously. "We should get going, I know a great place to hunt."

Sivanna smiled faintly. "You have my thanks."

"We will see if you still feel that way when I take all the glory!", she smirked as she unfastened her armor. The two of them stripped bare, preparing for the shift. Sivanna couldn't help but watch the huntress, she had never seen another woman in the nude. Aela's soft, milky white skin was dusted lightly with freckles, her breasts dotted with peach shaded nipples. Copper curls adorned the apex of her thighs, a stark splash of color. Her body was a perfect curved line, beautiful, and deceiving of the warrior it harbored. Sivanna wondered if her body resembled Aela's, having only seen her reflection in water, she did not know. The huntress shifted seamlessly. Auburn fur sprouting in a wave as she popped and stretched. When at last she had finished, she shook from head to tail and lolled her tongue.

Sivanna immediately began her shift, following Aela. It felt like she was finally getting that perfect stretch after being confined for too long. She yipped, feeling much better after shedding her human problems. They had not disappeared, but for now, she could let them go for a while. Now the only thing left to worry about, was the hunt