Ria and Kaiah stumbled into the halls of Jorrvaskr. Tilma was cleaning the table off from evening supper when she saw them. "Gods, what happened?" Tilma couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Kaiah in such a state. "Kaiah was attacked by a wolf." Of course Ria knew it was no ordinary wolf, but how do you explain what that monster was to another? "We need to get her downstairs." Tilma set down the dishes, "I'll fetch water and rags." Ria helped the nearly unconscious Redguard down the stairs and to their quarters. She was followed by a very concerned Aela and Farkas.

"What happened?" Aela demanded. Ria helped set Kaiah into her bed, lifting her legs gently. "I don't know. Skjor and I found her being attacked by some kind of wolf." Aela and Farkas looked at eachother. They both smelled Vilkas on her wounds, but they didn't want to believe that it was truly him who attacked her. And since Skjor wasn't with them, they only assumed he chased after Vilkas. What mattered right now though was treating Kaiah. Tilma came rushing in with a bowl full of water and some rags. "Farkas, grab some healing potions from my room." Farkas nodded and took off.

Ria rubbed Kaiah's forehead, "You're safe now, Kaiah. We're gonna fix you up." Ria moved over so Aela could lift up her nightgown and examine her wounds. She had three large gashes across her abdomen and chest. They were the most critical, so they would be dealt with first. Aela drenched the rag in water and placed it gently over her wounds, trying to clean up the excess blood.

"I got the potions- oh!" Farkas quickly turned his head and slowly walked in the room, holding the potions towards Aela. The Nord scoffed, taking the potions, "Oh please, don't act like you've never seen a naked woman before." Farkas then made his way out of the room, "Well, yeah? But it's outta respect." Aela rolled her eyes as she uncorked one of the healing potions. "Here, drink." She held the bottle to Kaiah's mouth and she drank it, almost choking on the contents. After a couple seconds she could already see the wounds closing up, causing the bleeding to stop. "You'll be fine." Aela muttered.

Ria brought over one of her spare nightgowns. "I'll bandage the wounds," Aela stated, "then we can change her clothes." The two women worked on cleaning and bandaging the wounds. The healing potion numbed the pain for Kaiah, but she still felt incredibly uncomfortable in her vulnerable position. After they bandaged her up, they took off her ruined nightgown and replaced it with Ria's spare. Tilma came in with fresh linen and furs since Kaiah's got stained with the blood from her wounds. After they changed the sheets they moved back to her original bed, where she would rest for a couple of days.

Skjor and Vilkas came through the halls of Jorrvaskr much later than the women. Skjor found Vilkas near the river and lectured him on his reckless actions. Vilkas already felt the guilt seeping through he didn't need someone else to nail it in. Kodlak was sitting at the long table, waiting for them. "We need to speak," was all he said before going downstairs. Vilkas and Skjor followed him, and Vilkas could smell Kaiah from the women's quarters. She had been back for a while, it seems, safe. He held his head down in shame as he entered the harbinger's quarters, Farkas and Aela already in there waiting for them. Skjor closed the doors behind for privacy.

Kodlak cleared his throat, "So, it seems we have a major problem." Vilkas kept his gaze to the floor. "What happened out there, boy?"

Vilkas tried to find the words to justify his actions, but he couldn't. He explained everything. The urges, the sudden transformation, how he found Kaiah in the woods bathing and his wolf couldn't control itself. "I just lost control…" he finished. Kodlak stroked his beard, trying to think. "Kaiah fell asleep before I could hear her side of the story. But when she wakes up, we convince her it was a wolf, nothing more." Aela crossed her arms, "You think she'll believe us?" Skjor chimed in, "We'll make her believe."

Farkas remained quiet as he looked at his distraught brother. He felt the grief he was feeling, and felt terrible for his twin. But he felt worse for Kaiah, how traumatic it must've been. He knew Vilkas had a hard time controlling his wolf, he could only imagine what Kaiah must have witnessed as a consequence to Vilkas' transformation. "We'll wait until she wakes up. Until then, not a word of this leaves this room. Understand?"

Everyone agreed and went their separate ways. Farkas placed a gentle hand on his brother's shoulder, but Vilkas pulled away. He was much too ashamed to face anyone, let alone his brother. He went back to room and sat on his bed, clutching his head out of frustration. He could still smell the dry blood from down the hall, and even saw stains of it on the floor leading to the quarters. But he still heard her heartbeat, which meant she was okay. He stripped himself of his armor and laid in his bed. Trying to force himself to fall asleep.

Kaiah awoke the next day feeling sore. She lifted herself from the bed and looked around the room. Everything had been exactly the way it was before she left. The door was cracked open, and she could hear Athis and Torvar talking down the hall. She looked over to the night stand beside her and saw a plate with bread and horker stew which was still steaming. 'Someone must have just brought it.' She sat up in her bed, which caused her to let out an aching groan, and placed the plate on her lap. She took the spoon and started eating the stew.

Kaiah heard a sudden knock at the door. "May I come in?" It was Kodlak. "Y-yes." Kaiah continued eating even as the harbinger started making his way into the quarters. He grabbed a nearby chair and placed it near her bedside. "How are you feeling, girl?" Kaiah swallowed her food before speaking. "Like shit." Kodlak gave her gentle smile, "Will you tell me what happened to you?"

The Redguard looked down at her food, suddenly losing her appetite. She set the plate of food to the side and folded her hands in her lap. "I was attacked…" she started, trying to hold back tears as she remembered the terrible night, "I-I'd never seen anything like it. I thought it was a wolf, but… well it was… I think? It was large and it had human-like hands… I had only heard stories but I didn't think it possible-"

"What do you think it was?" Kodlak asked softly.

Kaiah shook her head in uncertainty. "I don't know… I don't want to know. I thought it was… maybe… a werewolf." Kodlak leaned forward in his chair. "You know werewolves are just legends."

She looked at Kodlak with tears in her eyes, "I thought so too! But that thing… that monster… it did this to me! It almost tore me apart! What kind of regular wolf does that?"

Vilkas stood outside the quarters listening in on their conversations. He felt a dagger pierce his heart when he heard Kaiah recall the details of that night. How terrified she was, how she thought he was going to rip her apart. 'That monster!' The words kept replaying in his head like clockwork. A monster. That's what he felt like. And maybe that's what he was.

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Kodlak leaving the room, closing the door behind him. They walked down the hall a little bit, away from prying ears. "She seems convinced it was a werewolf. But I don't think she suspects any of us." Kodlak placed a gentle hand on Vilkas' shoulder, "Give her space, and time." The old warrior left him alone in the hall. He leaned up against a nearby wall and closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath.

"Vilkas!" Ria called for him from down the hall. He shot up from the wall, alerted by his student. "We're still training today right? I wanted to work on my swing some more." Vilkas cleared his throat. "O-of course. I'll be up there shortly." Ria nodded and ran back upstairs. Maybe training will take his mind off of Kaiah.

The Companions went about the day like normal. Ria went downstairs several times to check on Kaiah, bringing her food and water. She was not yet ready to walk, so for now she was confined to her bed. It was shortly before dinner time when Ria approached Vilkas again.

"Hey, Vilkas?" The bubbly Imperial inquired, "Do you happen to have any extra books lying around? Kaiah is getting bored and she'd like to do some reading."

Vilkas flinched when he heard her name, but he was more curious about Ria's request. Kaiah likes to read? "Uh… sure. Let me grab some and you can bring them to her." Ria stopped Vilkas, "You can bring them to her. I'm pretty you're the only one here who hasn't checked up on her. Maybe she'd enjoy the company?"

Vilkas gazed at the floor. 'If only she knew.' He wasn't sure if he could bring himself to face Kaiah. But he was the only person who has yet to see since the incident, and it looks suspicious. "S-sure." Ria smiled as she walked past him. He went to his room and looked for some books that he thought she'd like. He wasn't quite what she liked, so he picked three of his favorites. He walked over to the women's quarters and knocked softly. "Come in!" He walked in slowly, holding three books in one of his arms. Kaiah was already reading a familiar book, The Battle of Sancre Tor. One of his favorites. He tried looking for it earlier but he supposed she already had it.

She gave him a surprised look as he walked in. Vilkas cleared his throat, "Ria said you wanted some books to read. So I brought you some." Kaiah gave him a soft smile, "thank you. You didn't have to do that." How could she smile after what happened to her? She didn't know it was him who attacked her that night, but he knew. He placed the books on her nightstand. "I better get going."

"Wait."

He turned around with a surprised look on his face. "Why don't you stay? I'd really like someone to talk to. Ria is nice and all but she's the only person I've been seeing all day."

He wanted to tell her no, that he couldn't. He wanted to tell her how sorry he was. How he felt horrible about what happened. How he couldn't bear the thought of being near her after how he hurt her the way he did. But he gave her a soft smile and pulled up a nearby chair. "Of course."

Kaiah gave him a sheepish grin, "I wanted to let you know that I'll be out of commission for a couple days. If you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly in shape to train." She finished with a soft chuckle. Vilkas gave her a soft smile, "Of course, I wasn't expecting you to." Kaiah held her book in front of her. "I didn't know you read too?"

"Well, I guess there's a lot you don't know about me." Vilkas immediately bit his tongue. He could've said literally anything else. Kaiah let out a small laugh. "I guess so. I thought you were just a dumb brute. No offense." Normally that comment would upset Vilkas, but there was something about her cheery attitude that made it seem okay. He then felt a sudden wave of guilt wash over him. He had to apologize to her.

"I'm sorry," Vilkas started suddenly, which caught Kaiah's attention, "about what happened to you."

She shrugged her shoulders, "Well, it wasn't your fault. Could've happened to anyone."

That comment felt like a dagger in his heart. It was his fault, but how could he admit that to her? She then lightly tapped his chest, "but hey, don't get all sentimental on me. I need someone to pick on." Vilkas chuckled at her comment. Even after all that happened she still had the annoying attitude that he hated. Although it didn't feel much like hate anymore.

Kaiah picked up a book from the pile that Vilkas brought in from his room. "So tell me about this book." Vilkas looked at the book and then at her. "The Mirror? If you like a story with twists and turns, it's a good choice." Kaiah looked at the rest of the stack. "Which is your favorite?" Vilkas thought about it for a few moments before answering. "The Locked Room. It's short and sweet but it has a twist in the end." Kaiah let out a soft laugh. "I'll read this one first then."

Ria was standing outside the room, eavesdropping on their conversation. She smiled softly as she heard them both enthuse about books. She knew that Kaiah didn't care for Vilkas much, but she would be lying if she didn't think they would be so perfect together. They both

had such a fiery attitude, and almost everyone thought they had feelings for eachother. It was apparent from their first spar in the courtyard.

About an hour went by and Ria came back down with a meal for Kaiah. Vilkas was still there, and they seemed to be reading a book together. Ria gave them a sheepish grin, "What's going on here?" Vilkas shot up quickly, "nothing, just showing her a book."

"Alright," she then looked at Kaiah, bringing over the plate of food, "here's your plate."

Kaiah smiled as she took the plate, "thank you, Ria." Ria turned around to dismiss Vilkas but he was already gone. Ria shrugged and sat down next to Kaiah.

"So…" Ria raised her brows, "how are you feeling?" Kaiah took a sip of the warm ale that she had brought her. "Alright, I suppose. Got some good reading today. Feeling a little less sore now."

Ria gave her a smirk as Kaiah went on. The Redguard, feeling a little uncomfortable, gave the Imperial a strange look. "What is- what is this? This thing here?" Ria shrugged her shoulders innocently, "What thing? I can't ask my friend how she is feeling?"

"Well you can but not with that weird ass look on your face." Ria let out a dramatic sigh, "I'm just glad my friend is doing "alright"." Ria then got up from the chair, "Anyways, I'm gonna leave you be, with your books, and your thoughts…"

Kaiah threw her hands in the air, "Okay, why are you behaving so strangely?"

Ria scoffed, trying to play dumb, "I'm not sure I know what you're talking about. I'm just glad my friend is doing well and getting along with everyone now."

Kaiah tilted her back, "Okay… now I know what this is about. You thought him, and I-?" Of course she was referring to Vilkas, who else could she have referred to? Kaiah thought it strange as well that he was suddenly acting so kind, but she was bed ridden and had no energy to pick fights with anyone. "I'm not thinking about anything!" Ria said defensively, "I'm just saying that when I walked in here and he was still here…"

Kaiah let out a laugh, "Ria! You have got to stop reading those romance books, for gods sake. That man is my trainer, nothing more."

Ria shrugged innocently before turning around and leaving the room, "Okay, whatever you say…"

Kaiah let out an inaudible chuckle of disbelief. Her, and Vilkas, of all people? She would sooner bed a troll than him. And she hardly knew the man. He was arrogant, rude, and all around unpleasant to be around. Although today was slightly different. He was pleasant towards her. He brought her books to read and they spent the last hour reading The Locked Room and picking out every single little detail of the book.

Bah, he was her trainer, nothing more. She was injured and resting, of course he would come check on her, everyone else did. She wanted some books to read and they got caught up on platonic interests, nothing more. After she recovered, everything would go back to normal and she would be picking on him again. She did enjoy riling him up though.