It was the third time this week either Vilkas or Farkas had made a conspicuous pass at Sigrid. She had been target shooting outside Yorrvaskr when Vilkas had approached her from behind and reached around her body to position her arm.
"Good form," he had said. "And a strong body. A deadly combination."
She had stood in breathless shock as his body had molded to her back.
"But you still have much to learn," Vilkas had whispered in her ear. "If you ever desire instruction, you know where to find me."
He had walked off into Yorrvaskr and she had been so disturbed that she was unable to even hit the target again.
Not that she really minded it. She found the twins singularly physically attractive. In fact recently she had been finding a lot of people physically attractive. Even Skjor had become appealing lately. But Sigrid knew he was off limits. From what she understood, he was Aela's and she was his. However, she had a hard time imagining the hard-headed huntress tying herself down to anybody.
That night was a night for celebration in Yorrvaskr. The Companions had just accepted two new members, and Aela and Sigrid had just eradicated the last known clan of bandits in the Whiterun hold. The Companions ate and drank. Someone played a lively drum and lyre. The hall buzzed with warmth and camaraderie.
Although Sigrid had completed many jobs with Aela and even run and hunted with her as a wolf, she was still somewhat intimidated by the huntress. Herself a large Nord woman, Sigrid even stood slightly taller than Aela, yet something about the woman's presence and composure, not to mention physical prowess and beauty, seemed to give her unsurpassed stature.
And so it wasn't until after Sigrid had downed a few drinks that she dared bring her concern to the redhead. Sigrid sauntered across the room and settled in an empty seat next to Aela, swallowing her intimidation.
"We are the celebration of the feast tonight," Sigrid said, raising her cup to Aela.
"Aye, we were indeed granted good fortune," Aela replied, smiling as she toasted Sigrid. But Aela quickly turned to face forward again and Sigrid frowned in confusion.
"Aela, I need to ask you something," Sigrid ventured.
"Yes, sister, ask anything," Aela answered, still gazing around the room but not at Sigrid.
Sigrid glanced a few chairs down at Vilkas and Farkas, laughing heartily with one of the new members.
"Perhaps somewhere a bit more private," Sigrid suggested, not wanting to incite any contention.
Aela hesitated, looking down into her drink before responding, "Perhaps we could step outside?"
"Yes, that will do," Sigrid said, pushing her chair back as she stood. Aela followed her out the back door and onto the small covered area where thankfully no one was reveling. Sigrid turned to face Aela who had crossed her arms and begun pacing across the stones. Entranced by the huntress, Sigrid watched her muscled body sway under the moonlight. Something about the woman gave her an edge that Sigrid didn't quite understand.
"I just need your insight," Sigrid finally began, "about Vilkas and Farkas."
Aela nodded but still didn't look up at Sigrid.
"This week both of them have made seemingly overt and uncharacteristic advances. Personally, I wouldn't mind obliging either one of them, but before any such thing happened I wanted to check with you about what the customs are concerning those kinds of relationships within the Circle," Sigrid explained.
"You say this week?" Aela stopped mid stride to ask.
"Yes, but what does it matter?" Sigrid asked in confusion.
"Let me ask you: have you had your womanly cycle recently?" Aela inquired.
Sigrid was taken aback by the question.
"Well, yes, it ended at the start of this week," Sigrid answered.
"Have you experienced a heightened sense of attraction recently?"
Again, Sigrid was surprised by the question. She thought of Vilkas and Farkas, remembered Skjor, and finally Aela came to mind.
"I—honestly I would say yes," Sigrid replied.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of," Aela said, shaking her head. "I should have told you earlier. I simply forgot since we've never had another female join the Circle."
"Tell me what?" Sigrid ventured.
"This really explains a lot," Aela murmured, rubbing a hand across her face which was usually covered in her green paint but which was fresh and clean for the celebration tonight.
"You are reaching your period of heat," Aela stated bluntly.
"Heat? You mean like a… a dog?" Sigrid asked in confusion.
"Well, not exactly, but we are partly wolves," Aela deadpanned.
"Right," Sigrid whispered, lowering her gaze.
"During this time our bodies are fertile for reproduction, and with this cycle comes a heightened sense of our sexual nature in order to find a mate. Other brothers and sisters, and even some humans, can smell your nature during this time, which is why it seems Vilkas and Farkas have made advances. And why…" Aela trailed off. "Nevermind."
"Aela, what? I need to know," Sigrid responded firmly.
Aela finally turned to face Sigrid. But in confusion Sigrid perceived her slight hesitation and a wince in Aela's features as she did so. As Aela turned toward Sigrid the breeze caught her scent and delivered it to Sigrid's heightened senses. Immediately Sigrid's nostrils flared as she was drawn to the smell.
"Aela, you… your.." Sigrid trailed off as she drew closer to the huntress. "Your scent."
Sigrid closed her eyes and breathed in the dense musk, sighing as it inundated her senses. She pressed closer to Aela, planting a hand against the wall of Yorrvaskr as she leaned into the red-head's neck. Sigrid heard Aela sigh as she tilted her head, giving Sigrid access to her heavy aroma. Sigrid nuzzled her face into the crook of Aela's jaw and neck, breathing in her skin and allowing the scent to mingle through her body.
"Aela, what is this?" Sigrid breathed, pushing her body against Aela's as she uncontrollably pressed her mouth and nose against Aela's hot skin. Aela only hummed and brought her hands to Sigrid's waist, tugging her closer. Sigrid drew gasping breaths confused and unsettled by the powerful attraction the simple smell dictated over her. She planted her forearms against the wall behind the red-head, bowing her neck to press her mouth against Aela's skin, tasting the scent that drove her. Aela's sighs only served to encourage Sigrid, and as Aela's hands wandered under the hem of her shirt, Sigrid languidly rocked her hips against Aela's. Suddenly Aela gripped Sigrid's lilting hips and forcefully turned Sigrid's back to the wall.
"Heat, sister," Aela breathed, as Sigrid's mouth played at her soft neck.
Sigrid's lips cracked into a grin against Aela's skin.
"I've never felt such urgency," she sighed into the woman's jaw.
A chuckle rumbled in Aela's throat, tickling Sigrid's lips. Aela ran her hands along Sigrid's ribs under her shirt, and Sigrid gasped as her fingertips sent shockwaves through her skin.
"Then wha—what do I smell on you?" Sigrid stuttered, hooking her arm around Aela's neck and drawing herself up against Aela's chest.
"I'm in heat, too," Aela replied, the hint of a laugh in her tone.
Suddenly Sigrid drew back, locking eyes with Aela in perplexity.
After a moment of hesitation, Aela added with a chagrin smile, "And honestly it's been all I could do not to throw myself at you upon sight."
Sigrid was so relieved to hear an explanation for everything going on that she truly couldn't be bothered by Aela's announcement.
"The doubled strength of the attraction finally makes sense. I've just never been near another who was in heat at the same time as I," Aela breathed, turning her face away from Sigrid once more. "When you're releasing those invitations with your smell and at the same time my senses are heightened, it makes it all very difficult."
"Frankly I don't care anymore," Sigrid began, wrapping her arms behind Aela's head. "All I know is what I feel. And right now I want you."
"I couldn't agree more," Aela replied with a sultry grin. "Let's escape somewhere truly private."
Aela gripped Sigrid's hand, pulling her along as she headed towards the entrance to the Sanctuary. The two slipped through the door, the stone sealing behind them, and headed towards the altar.
But before the two had even reached the stone edifice, Aela gripped Sigrid's hips, pushing her back until she collided with the altar and slid to the floor. As the red-head nuzzled her face into Sigrid's neck, she crawled in between Sigrid's legs, inciting a giddiness in Sigrid that only heightened the effects of Aela's scent. Sigrid sighed as icy waves melted through her limbs while Aela's tongue played along her skin, and Sigrid drew her hands up to Aela's hips, pulling them down to connect with hers.
Aela's breaths came hard and heavy against Sigrid's neck as the red-head tugged at Sigrid's shirt, slipping the fabric over her head and dancing her hands over Sigrid's body. Sigrid then struggled with Aela's tunic as the strong woman still fought to keep her mouth buried in Sigrid's neck. But finally Aela slipped out of her shirt, and her muscled body inundated Sigrid with the intoxicating scent. Sigrid gripped at Aela, pulling her closer to fulfill her hunger for that irresistible musk, and Sigrid's veins were filled with liquid fire that burned pleasantly. Aela brought her hands to Sigrid's thighs, pushing them apart as her fingertips played along her pantline while Aela's mouth roved up Sigrid's neck, finally capturing Sigrid's hot, panting lips.
As they submerged each other in their scents and tastes, Sigrid's breeches were soon lost as well, and she was completely vulnerable before the red-headed huntress. But she couldn't be more pleased.
Before the tendrils of ecstasy had subsided from Aela's palms on Sigrid's thighs, the huntress slipped a hand under the hem of Sigrid's small clothes, tugging at the fabric as her lithe fingers danced in the wetness at Sigrid's apex. Sigrid's mouth parted in a breathless gasp, her lips just brushing Aela's self-satisfied grin. With a rumbling chuckle Aela pressed her mouth into Sigrid's, biting playfully at her listless lips. Their breathing intermingled as Aela's fingertips incited Sigrid, her hips writhing anxiously and her hands gripping desperately.
As Sigrid tilted her head back against the altar, Aela's warm mouth traipsed down her pulsing neck landing on her heaving collar bone. While a wave of pleasure struck Sigrid's core, Aela's mouth had suddenly replaced her fingers between Sigrid's legs, and Sigrid clung passionately to Aela's auburn waves as an ardent sigh flowed from her lungs.
"Aela," Sigrid groaned desperately as the intoxicating, heightened musk and the surge of crystal bliss inundated her senses. Aela's pale, green eyes glowed dangerously as she glanced up at Sigrid, her hot mouth pushing Sigrid closer. Suddenly blazing ecstasy engulfed Sigrid's body, and her muscles arched tensely as she gripped the huntress, an uncontrollable gasp lifting from her chest while her stifled need was finally satisfied.
As the euphoria sunk, Sigrid's heart still pounded eagerly and she lifted Aela's jaw to meet her lips, forcing Aela onto her back and eagerly reaching for Aela's breeches.
"Wait," Aela hummed, gripping Sigrid's roaming hands. "Let's run."
"You don't need your pants for that," Sigrid snapped back, nipping at Aela's jaw. She tugged at Aela's breeches while her sweat-sheened chest still heaved restlessly.
Suddenly, a sly grin stretched across Aela's face. With surprising force she propelled Sigrid off of her and pinned the struggling, dark-haired woman to the ground. Slowly and pointedly Aela bowed her neck and breathed in Sigrid's ear, "Catch me if you can."
And faster than Sigrid's clouded mind could comprehend, Aela sprung up and burst into a powerful sprint down the cave corridor, lithely slipping out of her small clothes as she ran. With a playfully eager growl, Sigrid dragged herself from the ground, darting after Aela as she prepared to muster her beast form. Before her, Aela's body grew and morphed until, bursting from the cave, she pounded across the earth with four paws.
As Sigrid flew into the moonlight, she too urged her body to find its alternate form, reveling as her muscles grew and her fur sprouted. Soon her own paws ate up the grass before her with exhilarating speed. While Aela always maintained status as the chief hunter of the circle, Sigrid had unmatched agility among the other werewolves. Something about Hircine's gift planted infectious excitement in her chest which spread to her limbs and drove her to unimaginable speeds. Even now as the werewolves entered the forest, she seemed to fly over the cool, moonlit earth while she fast approached Aela's pumping hindquarters. The height of her elation drove filled her with the ecstasy of the chase, the beauty of the moon shadows, and a flaming desire in her core. As her instincts overwhelmed her, Sigrid howled excitedly, eager to pin the coveted quarry that raced before her. Eagerly, Sigrid eyed the height of the moon. To her joy, she found Hircine had blessed them with a full moon and a nascent night, ripe for harvesting the prince's many pleasures.