Ill Met by Moonlight

The next day, I woke up feeling miserable. I struggled to sleep the following night, and neither my beast blood nor Skjor's death helped with it. I saw Aela at the foot of my bed.

"Hey, Svanhild," she greeted.

"Hey, Aela," I mumbled. "I don't know if I can do this."

"Consider yourself lucky."

"What do you mean?"

"We can control our transformations. That's more than what can be said for some. Rumor has it that a man named Sinding is in Falkreath Jail for murdering a little girl. Her parents didn't find much of her body. Maybe you can go down there and hear his story."

I took a carriage to Falkreath and made my way to the cemetery. There, I saw the local Priest of Arkay preaching to the girl's parents: "The god Arkay was once like us, bound to winding mortality. But he willingly gave up this existence so that we might better understand the vagaries of life and death. It is through the ebb and flow of this cosmic tide that we find renewal and, in the end, peace. May the spirit of Lavinia and all those who have left this world and its suffering know the beloved serenity of Aetherius...and may we one day rejoin them in eternity."

"A sad time," the girl's father, Mathies, said. "Why did she have to die so young?"

"Sorry for your loss," I told him.

"Thank you, stranger," Mathies replied before he wiped the tears from his face. "Can you believe such a man would do such a thing? That bastard, Sinding. He ripped her apart, like a sabre cat tears a deer. We barely found enough of her to bury."

I made my way to the barracks and took the stairs down to the dungeon, where I met Sinding, at the door to his cell.

"Come to gawk at the monster?" He asked.

"I heard you killed a little girl."

"Believe me, it wasn't anything I ever intended to do. I just... lost control. I tried to tell them, but none of them believe me. It's all on account of this blasted ring. the Ring of Hircine. I was told it could let me control my transformations. Perhaps it used to. But I'll never know. Hircine didn't care for my taking it, and threw a curse on it. I put it on... and the changes just came to me. I could never guess when. It would be at the worst times. Like... with the little girl."

"You're a werewolf?"

"Yes. It's my secret, and my shame. That's why I wanted the ring... it was said to give men like me control. Now I may look like a man, but I still feel the animal inside of me, as strong as ever."

"Why did the ring make you attack the girl?"

"I had just come into Falkreath. They needed some help working the mill, and I thought that would be something safe. Something I could do. When I saw the little girl, I was just... I could feel it coming on. I could taste the... I needed to hunt. But this pitiful, limited body wasn't meant for hunting. Slow. No claws. Weak, mashing teeth for chewing cud. I held in my rage as long as I could. But it boiled inside of me. She looked so fragile. Helpless prey. And then... ... I feel terrible about what happened. About what I did. It would probably be best for everyone if I just went away."

"What will you do now?"

"I've been looking for a way to appease Hircine. There is a certain beast in these lands. Large, majestic. It's said that Hircine will commune with whoever slays it. I tracked it into these woods, but then had my... accident with the child. I want to beg his forgiveness. Give him back the ring. But while I'm stuck in here, the beast wanders free."

"I'll take the ring to Hircine."

"Oh my. You would do this for me? Here, take it. I don't want anything to do with this wretched thing anymore. Seek out the beast. He wanders these woods. Bring him down and... well, the Lord of the Hunt should smile on you. I wish you luck, but should leave here while I still have my skin. Should our paths cross again, I will remember your kindness. Farewell."

Sinding then made his way to the middle of his cell, took on his bestial form, and climbed out.

I made my way to the forest. Before long, I spotted the beast on a hill. It was a stunning white reindeer. I hid in some bushes, and ensured that the reindeer was downwind. I grabbed my bow and was ready to fire an arrow. I took a deep breath and let go of the bowstring. The arrow pierced the reindeer's heart and it immediately collapsed and drew its last breath. When I approached it, a ghostly form appeared and said:

"Well met, hunter!"

"Are you Hircine?" I asked.

"I am the spirit of the hunt, just one glimpse of the glorious stalker that your kind calls Hircine."

"What would you ask of me?"

"Your fealty is precious to me. I will make good use of it. You bear my ring."

"Will you remove the curse from this ring?"

"I may consider it. But you must first do a service for my glory. The one who stole it has fled to what he thinks is his sanctuary. Just as a bear climbs a tree to escape the hunt but only ends up trapping himself. Seek out this rogue shifter. Tear the skin from his body, and make it an offering to me."

"I'm only talking to you on his behalf. I won't kill him."

"There is no retribution in the hunt. It is not vengeance I seek but the blood course of a living hunt. There are others who would gladly accept my favor. They will hunt him while you delay. Your choice."

I headed to Bloated Man's Grotto, where Sinding was hiding out. When I arrived, I saw a Khajiit lying on the ground. He looked at me and asked: "Has the blood moon called you, fellow hunter?"

"What happened here?"

"The prey is strong. Stronger than the hunters. But more will come. Bring him down, for the glories of Lord Hircine." he succumbed to his injuries.

I progressed further into the grotto and spotted Sinding standing on a rock.

"Never thought I'd see you again," he said.

"Hircine sent me to kill you."

"And I would deserve it, wouldn't I? I can't stop you if that's what you want to do. Hircine is too powerful. But if you spare me, I can be a powerful ally to you. And I would promise to never return to civilized life. I know now that I can't live among people."

"I have no intention of killing you."

"Thank the gods. Now let's deal with these other hunters. We hunt together!"

Suddenly, Hircine's ring triggered my werewolf transformation. It couldn't have acted at a better time than this. We both managed to slaughter all the other hunters that Hircine sent after Sinding. He was immensely grateful for my help and decided to make his home there, away from anyone who he might hurt.

When I left the grotto, Hircine appeared again.

"Well met again, hunter,"

"I defy you and your vile tasks."

"So you may think. By bringing down my other Hunters, you turned the chase inside out. And they were no base prey. You continue to amuse and impress. Go forth, with my blessing."

I returned to Jorrvaskr, feeling more confident in myself.

"Someone's in a good mood," Aela commented.

"You were right, Aela," I replied. "Hircine has blessed us."

"That's the spirit, Svanhild," Aela smiled. "And I see you bear the Ring of Hircine."

"Yep. Now, I can transform as many times as I want."

"Excellent. The Silver Hand will quake in their boots!"