Hopefully you'll enjoy!
The monster, that came out of nowhere and killed the werebear, was right in front of Gyvas.
Staring at her, with its huffing snout and heaving chest covered in blood.
Then, it moved closer.
And the terrified child's view tunneled, she barely breathing. Her hands didn't even shake as she pulled the trigger, sending the bolt.
The dark furred creature had let out deafening yelp. It had snarled while taking a step back, gasping while dropping onto its knees.
The small child watched and waited, unloaded crossbow still ready in her hands.
The monster whined and coughed, lifting its hand with long, clawed fingers to where the bolt had sunk in.
And at the same time the monster started quickly changing.
Its fur withdraw, its form reformed, and the beast like features disappeared.
And as Gyvas watched, seeing who the monster changed into, the horrifying resolution numbed her. The weapon fell onto her lap and the girl stared.
And then it all crashed down.
She felt sick. Terrified in different way. Feeling dizzy and out of air. Vision misted.
"No", she breathe, trembling.
"Gyvas", she heard her uncle's voice: "It's okay."
The little child cried louder: "NO!"
Then she rose, staggering, and run to her uncle, falling onto her knees in front of him.
"Uncle", she whimpered, hands raised but not knowing what to do. She couldn't even see much through the tears, only perceiving the blood on him.
She broke into full tears, wailing, barely breathing.
She didn't want uncle to die! She didn't mean to- SHE DIDN'T WANT HIM TO DIE!
Then Gyvas was brought closer, her chin resting on uncle's shoulder, as he pulled with his hand on her neck.
"It's okay pup, it's okay, shshshsh", she heard him hushing, but how could it not hurt him!? She kept crying, gasping and shaking.
Managing to say things like sorry and please don't die. Saying it all in broken voice, full of fear, sadness and remorse.
She will never forgive herself...
She didn't mean to... She was sorry about everything, for being angry at him, shouting at and running from him. And now shooting him.
She didn't meant to kill him.
"Gyvas!"
Vilkas hadn't wanted to yell at his niece like that.
But he couldn't stand of her crying, it breaking his heart again and again.
So he had snapped at her, making the little girl go silent as he hold her near, trying to make her not see all the blood on him or anywhere else.
She had been traumatized enough.
"Gyvas", Vilkas started more softly, petting the girl's head as he spoke as calmly and unwavering as he could.
"It is okay. I won't die, this won't kill me."
"Bu-But-"
"No buts. Just close your eyes and calm down pup. Take a deep breath, now... Good, and let it out. Good, well done. If you want to be a warrior, you need to stay calm under any situation. Do you understand that? Do you, Gyvas?"
"Ye- Yes."
"Brave pup", the Nord smiled through the pain, trying not to show her how much it actually hurt.
But this wouldn't kill him. She had missed any vital organ and shot him into his hip. It hurt like Oblivion, but he would be okay as soon as the bolt would be removed.
And as the situation around the tomb sounded to be still on, the werewolf man hearing his battling companions, Vilkas decided to take care of Gyvas.
She was still trembling and crying silently.
"...It was a well shot", he tried, but it only made the girl start crying more again. Sighing the Companion kept petting her.
"I'm... I'm sorry."
"And I forgive you, it's all okay Gyvas", he answered, asking next: "They didn't hurt you, did they?"
The girl slightly shook her head.
"Good. That's good... Uliina is also fine, she's with her father."
"G- Good... Uncle?"
"Yeah?"
"...I'm sorry I was angry at you. And shot you."
"It's all okay. We will talk about it all later. Now we just wait that others come to us. Then, we go back home. Does that sound like a good plan?"
The little girl nodded, sniffling, feeling a bit relief now. She wanted to go back home with uncle and everyone else.
It took maybe an hour, Gyvas calming during that and Vilkas holding against the pain, when others finally started cleaning the tomb and searching for the two of them.
Aela, Serana and Athis found them. Dressed up in her armor, the Huntress put away her sword and hurried to collect the girl. Gyvas almost started crying again, but found out that she just couldn't anymore. She was both emotionally and physically exhausted. Instead she wrapped her arms around the woman's neck and pleaded them to help uncle.
At the meantime Athis had helped the Harbinger onto his feet, giving support as the vampire woman looked at the wound.
"Seems to be deep", Serana pointed out while looking at familiar type of bolt that Dawnguard members use.
"Just pull i-" Vilkas yelped as the vampire ripped the bolt out without a warning. By his sound Gyvas tried to look but was stopped by Aela. The Nord man growled.
"Oh don't whine", Serana muttered with slight mock, using restoration spell on the bleeding wound. "There, like it never happened."
As Vilkas left the Dunmer's support to stand on his own, the Nord heard the vampire muttering something.
"Who's this", Athis inspected a Nord man laying on the stone floor, throat ripped open.
"He was a werebear", Vilkas explained: "He was attacking Gyvas as I arrived."
"Gyvas?" the read haired woman asked and she heard the girl whispering, listening closely.
"...His name was Aaro, he was also captivated by vampires", the Huntress passed the information to them.
And the Companions gave each other glances, wondering that was this man part of the werebear pack, or someone who had escaped from them but got infected by their blood.
After the place was cleared from enemies and the bodies burned, the Companions and the Dawnguard gathered outside. The night was almost ending, bits of sunlight rising at the horizon.
Vilkas, already dressed in his gear, clasped hands with Agmaer, thanking him and his people for the help.
"It was nothing, Harbinger. It was an honor fighting beside you and the Companions, destroying the enemies' plan", the blond haired Nord smiled.
Serana stepped forward.
"I'll stick with the Companions for a bit, if that's all right", she looked from nodding Agmaer to Vilkas: "You probably will pass the lakeview manor while heading to Whiterun? There's something in that house, that needs to be taken care of."
Vilkas frowned, glanced at the girl who still was holding onto Aela on her arms, probably sleeping, before he cautiously said: "I don't believe we visiting that place would be wise at the moment."
The vampire crossed her arms over her chest, saying: "You three may be able to get to the city just fine, but the child needs rest. Whatever the vampires might have done to her, it takes a toll. She's probably so exhausted she won't notice anything. And to prevent from something like this happening again, the child needs to be there."
"Why?" Vilkas didn't hold back the displeased growl from his voice.
"Because of the magic defending the house. I know the signs how to get inside without burning-" at this mention Athis' eyes narrowed. "But if there's not someone, who carries Drust's blood, present, the protection spells will at the worst scenario burn the place down."
"And what is this that's needs to be taken care of?" Vilkas questioned, though understanding Serana wasn't asking this from ignorance.
"The Auriel's bow."
Three Companions, a child and a vampire made their way through the misty forest under morning sun.
Aela was still carrying Gyvas in her arms, denying she wasn't tired and would gladly carry the girl all the way to the Whiterun.
Like a wolf mother with her cub, Vilkas had softly amused, watching Gyvas' sleeping face resting on the redhead's shoulder. Athis also glanced at the woman and the child now and then. The elf had not said much after they found the girl, but the Nord man could sense the Dunmer was as relieved as the rest of them.
Vilkas looked at Serana, who was walking behind them, pulling hood more over her head as sunlight seeped through the surrounding trees.
Slowing his steps the Nord fell to walk next to the vampire.
"The sun hurting you", he asked.
"Kinda. Giving a headache and everything's so... Bright."
Vilkas nodded, looking at the trio ahead of them.
"Serana."
"...Yes?" the woman looked, cautious by the man's solemn tone.
He thought what she had muttered back there, and though he didn't deserve to be forgiven and he wasn't gonna ask for it... Still...
"How do you feel, that the child is living at Jorrvaskr?"
With me?
The silence from the vampire almost lengthened to a point where Vilkas was gonna drop the subject, taking her answer as that. But she then started, quietly.
"I admit, after what you did, after what Drust told me and how you kept ignoring their letters... I was worried for the girl."
Serana glanced at him.
"Knowing she would be first brought to you, I thought about coming and bringing her to the Dawnguard instead. Thought it would be better for her, safer."
This squeezed the man's heart painfully, fearing that after this kidnapping, the vampire was determined that the girl was to be brought to the Fort Dawnguard.
He wasn't sure what would he say in that situation. He wanted to keep the child at Whiterun, with the Companions. It was Gyvas' home now, they cared for her and he-
"But after seeing how you were ready to go after her, seeing you holding her while you were hurt... I guess she's better with a relative of hers."
Vilkas stared openly surprised. Relieved. The vampire smirked at him.
"Though I still won't forgive what you did, I care more of the girl's happiness. You really care for her, so I don't have a problem with it."
Swallowing, looking ahead and trying to keep his voice steady, the Harbinger nodded: "I am... Happy to hear that, Serana."
"As long as she wants to stay with you, it's fine to me", she assured with a small smile.
The lakeview manor was impressive residence, the three Companions staring it with raised brows.
Serana was already walking to the front door, hands lifted to feel around the magic protecting the place from anyone who had bad intentions.
"They surely had it good here", Athis spoke in low voice, others not commenting but they agreed with him.
The place was pretty idyllic, even now without residence, laying near a calm, shining body of water and the forest surrounding it. There was a sudden distant howl, catching the Companions' attention. Even Gyvas stirred, whimpering and muttering what was it.
"It's nothing cub, just sleep", Aela shushed the girl, rubbing her back and swaying a bit. The little one hummed, nuzzling against the Huntress' shoulder before seeming to fall back to sleep.
Vilkas looked at the girl, pondered the situation and then looked at still working Serana.
"How's the magic?"
"Almost done", she answered, moving her glowing hands in the air.
Vilkas looked at his companions, thought about it for a moment more and then after glancing at the child, asked: "Should we actually rest here, about half a day?"
"Why such idea", Athis asked.
"Gyvas clearly needs to rest. And though it wouldn't bother you Aela to continue carrying her, I want her to sleep on a proper bed."
"What about this place", the woman wondered, Vilkas neither liking the idea but the girl's health was the top priority now: "She will come back here at some point, this is her home. Treating the place as a tomb would be wrong."
There was a faint click as Serana opened the door with a key she had taken from her belt pouch.
"Okay, the place should be safe to enter now."
"Should", Athis questioned before others did, the vampire shrugging: "I dealt with the protection spells, and as long as Gyvas is here with us, we shouldn't be seen as hostiles."