Dovahkiin POV:
When I told Rikke I wanted to go scouting in my beast form she was instantly opposed to the idea, but eventually she reluctantly agreed. She wanted to send a guard with me and go herself, and I agreed seeing as it was the only fair thing to do. Our plans are destroyed when we open the doors to leave Dragonsreach, a wall of snow reaching Rikke's chest. The storm Irileth predicted came true, and with more force than we expected. "We'll try again tomorrow, the sun might melt some of the snow.". Rikke tells me as she dismisses our guards, but we both now that's not going to happen. If anything the snow is going to get worse, then we'll never get out.
As I glance at the wall of snow I can't help mentally praising the jarl. Last night he ordered all of his citizens to take up residence in Dragonsreach, so the snow and cold couldn't kill them. By now all of the citizens of Riverwood, Falkreath, and Winterhold are huddled in the giant building. No doubt the houses in Whiterun are buried, or well on their way to becoming that way. If the citizens had stayed in their homes they'd be trapped or dying of frostbite. I feel Rikke yank on my hand and snap me out of my thoughts. "I still want to go.". I tell her as I walk towards the wall of snow, the cold reaching out and running his fingers down my sides.
Rikke gives me a strange look and tells me, "You'll freeze to death. Besides, what do you expect to do? Kill Nameless? She's probably huddled up near a fire somewhere. Even if she wasn't she'd be surrounded by her siblings.". I stop walking and tell her, "I know I won't find anything, but I still want to see what's out there. Please?". I tell her as I turn towards her, a pleading look in my eye. Rikke sighs and pats me on the back, but tells me, "Be safe and promise me one thing.". When I nod she tells me, "Don't die.". I smile, promise, and give her a small peck on the cheek. "Thank you.". I tell her before I let a roar rip from my throat, my body changing as my clothes rip.
The citizens and guards in the great hall look uneasy at my transformation, but don't halt me. I begin sniffing, but begin walking away when Rikke tells me, "Hurry up, the doors are still open. At this rate the entire hall will freeze before you leave.". I bark at Rikke before I rush outside, jumping at the threshold of the door. I only manage to jump a few feet, so my face ends up crashing into the snow. I ignore Rikke's laughter and begin jumping, and eventually I clear the wall of snow. I expect to crash through the top lair of snow, but the crust is strong enough to support my weight. While it's able to support me, I'm certain a man would crash through the top lair of snow.
I take a step and hear the snow uneasily crunch, so I quickly fall to four legs. My four giant paws will distribute my weight evenly and differently than on two legs. I take another step and smile when the snow easily supports me. I lower my head and bound down the stairs, but stop when I reach the waterfalls. The water froze midstream and makes a beautiful sight, but I quickly press on when the smell of meat catches my attention. I quickly make my way over to the pen near the Battle-Born house, the cow inside dead. The proud family is inside Dragonsreach, but apparently left their cow. I tear into the flesh and find out why.
The cold disguised the smell of disease, but the taste is easily identified. The thing is weak and skinny, not to mention the meat would spread disease in Dragonsreach. No wonder the thing was left for the cold to kill. I lick some snow to get rid of the taste, then rush down to the marketplace. I sniff around and find some venison left behind by Anoriath. I devour the flesh and dash off towards the city gates, but slide to a halt when the barred gates halt my progress. I growl and quickly scale the wall, the ice cracking when my claws pierce it. The ice covering the stone wall is slippery, but I can easily climb it using my claws and unnatural strength.
I vault over the top of the wall and land in a gigantic pile of snow on the other side. I struggle to regain my footing, and when I do my thick pelt is covered in snow. I shake the whiteness from my fur and bolt off, my muscles feeling renewed now that I'm transformed. The world seems dead around me, but I know better. I catch the scent of a mammoth and quickly find the beast, his fur covered in white. I'm tempted to hunt him, but wait. The gigantic brute is digging at the ground, he's made snow piles ten feet high around the area. I'm almost asleep when the beast roars in triumph, his prize revealed.
I roar as I fly towards him, my fangs gleaming like sharp shards of ice. The shaggy beast moans in pain when I begin tearing his side apart, but can only flail in fear as his blood stains the snow around us. I manage to find a area between his ribs and begin tearing, chunks of flesh now falling from the beast's side. The snow is drinking in his blood, and soon enough he's falling over. The mammoth lets out one final groan before dying, but is otherwise silent. I smile as I circle the corpse. If the jarl sent a team of men out here to collect the meat, then we'd have extra food for when times are scarce. But, for now I settle myself with tearing into my prey.
After I've eaten my fill I walk over to the ground where to mammoth was digging, and find what cost him his life. A natural hot spring is filling the small pond, sparse grass surrounding the pond. I sniff the grass and growl, the scent of poison emitting from the vegetation. It's obvious the mammoth was desperate, why else would he want to eat poisonous food? The smell of poison is faint, so it wouldn't kill him first. But, eventually the beast would've died. A feeling of dread grasps my chest. Mammoths are big, fat, and hairy. They're meant for winter, and now this one's desperate enough to eat poisonous food.
I shake my head and turn to return to Whiterun, but yelp when my foot hits a weak spot in the snow and I fall. I jump up and begin trudging towards the city, not bothering to shake my fur. The jarl will want the meat, Rikke will want a report, and I need a drink. I've hardly been out, but it's still nice to be free. I pick up the pace and begin running home, snow puffing up behind me. I allow my tongue to roll out and my tail to swish in the breeze. The wind blows in my ears and the snow blind my eyes. Too soon the city is in my sights. I sigh as I scale the wall, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind.
Nameless POV:
My siblings and I went out hunting and managed to bag a few deer, but the pickings are otherwise slim. We're returning from the hunt when I hear a roar, and when I turn I see a mammoth swinging his trunk frantically. I draw my bow, but the beast falls before I can shoot. I slowly turn my horse and begin riding towards the beast, but stop when a gigantic wolf appears. My face splits into a grin as I watch my wife sniff some grass. What other werewolf would be out here? The gods seem to smile on me. I load my bow and take careful aim as my wife begins walking towards Whiterun, but curse when my wife falls into the snow. She rises and I once again aim, but stop myself from firing.
Her pelt is covered in white and she blends in with the snow. If I fire I could end up killing her or paralyzing her. Eventually I'll skin my wife and place her pelt above my bed, but first I want to make her beg me for death. I put my bow up and kick my horse's side, riding towards the mammoth. When we reach the beast I tell my brother, "Take some meat, but not enough anyone would notice it's missing.". My brother nods and gets to work. As I ride back I frown, angered at seeing my wife. I make a mental note to talk to the Grand Chief (the same chief that took my family in). I want my wife back sooner than expected, and I'll need her help to get her. As we enter the camp I smile, imagining all the wonderful things I'll do to my wife.
Rikke POV:
I sigh in relief when my squire burst in through the doors, her pelt covered in snow and hoarfrost. Servants slam the doors shut as my squire rushes towards me. She's still in her beast form, so I make due with hugging her gigantic head. My squire's hot breath washes over my face as I pull back, her rotten breath causing my nose to curl. I smile and pat her head as I ask, "Did you eat something that died a week ago?". It's meant as a playful jab, but my squire nods her head and snow falls off her. I quickly find a blanket, already preparing for when my squire transforms back to normal.
I motion for my squire to follow me as I go about my daily routes. My squire happily follows me, but people seem to react differently with my squire behind me. By the time night falls I'm exhausted, and my squire's still a werewolf. When I enter our room I quickly dress, my squire sniffing at her nightclothes. I hear a moan of pain and a ripping sound, my squire returning to normal. I avert my eyes as she changes, still afraid she might react badly. When I climb into bed I make room for my squire. Ever since Nameless captured her she's preferred sleeping with space between us. Which is why I'm so surprised when she climbs into my arms.
I begin to speak, but my squire shushes me. My squire is as still as a board and her breathing sounds forced. Slowly, the candle above our bed begins dying. My squire is still breathing heavily when the flame goes out, drowned in its own wax. I'm not sure what to do, so I simply hold my squire against me. Slowly, her breathing calms and I can feel her muscles relax. After a hour or two my squire is asleep, my arms wrapped around her. I'm still confused, but begin smiling when I realizing what she did. Last week she relived her torturous week with Nameless, and now she's trying to overcome her fears she developed because of it. As I fall asleep pride wells in my chest.