It took me a while to update, because I focused more on completing the first three chapters of my new fic. It technically takes place after everything that happens in THIS fic, but don't worry, I didn't write enough to spoil anything.

It flashes back into the past a lot, starting with Helgen and so on. You should go check it out! It is currently untitled, so perhaps you could help me out with that. ;)

Terah almost forgot how much she missed the plains of Whiterun. She inhaled the welcoming scent of tundra cotton, allowing the crisp morning breeze to chill her skin. The comforting familiarity of the plains along with the colorful sunrise almost completely calmed her nerves. Skyrim had so much beauty to offer the world.

"Where?"

Aela stood beside her, "North."

Terah inspected her Dawnbreaker blade, admiring the warm glow by the hilt. She could see Teldryn peering over at her in her peripheral, obviously curious as to how yet another interesting blade appeared in her hands. She could've smiled if she wasn't so worried for Lydia. Sighing, she was determined to find her dearest friend. "Let's go."

So they hurried northward, solely by foot. The nest wasn't very far, and the blood-suckers on guard outside were rather pathetic. The Companions took them out almost effortlessly, but the Circle knew it would not be so easy once they got inside.

"Everyone stand guard outside," Aela ordered. "None of these filthy blood-suckers are leaving here alive. Only the Circle will enter the nest."

Terah didn't need any explanation to know what she was planning. Aela despised vampires, and took much joy in ravaging them in beast form. The secret of the Circle needed to be kept safe, which meant that everyone else needed not follow them in. Teldryn, of course, didn't think he counted, and stayed right behind his favorite little Nord.

The dragonborn spun on her heel, "I'm sorry Teldryn, but you're not a member of the Circle. You must stay out here."

He scoffed, "And let you go in without me? Come on, sera. You could use my help."

"I know," she acknowledged. Teldryn was phenomenal with fire spells, which would be extremely useful. It was a shame, but he had to stay outside. "You have to stay out here with the others. They won't make it without you."

"Please, I'm not buying it -"

"Teldryn, you must," she pleaded.

He looked into her gray-blue eyes, shining with worry. Gently reaching toward her face, he rubbed the furrow out of her brow with the pad of his thumb, sighing as he did so. "Sometimes I think your brow will get stuck that way," he grumbled. "Go find your friend."

A small smile formed on her lips followed by a whisper, "Thank you."

It didn't take long for the bickering to start. The Harbinger had already predicted that this would happen the moment they got inside.

"You do what you want, it's your life," Vilkas argued, "but you know Farkas and I refuse to answer the call of the beast blood now."

"I know that, ass wipe," Aela spat. "I'm just saying that it makes us that much stronger. The old man wouldn't mind if you did it just this once."

"I don't know," piped Farkas. "It doesn't feel right."

"There are only four of us," reputed the huntress. "If the beast blood is such a burden to you, why don't you go get yourself cured?" With that, she stormed off deeper into the tunnels. Familiar growling and howling could be heard just around the corner.

"You know," sighed Terah, "You two don't need to beat yourself up over this so much anymore. You've repented, and you're both strong, true Nords. If you just -"

"Not now, Harbinger," Vilkas interrupted quietly. "I appreciate your concern, but I'd like to kill us some vampires already." And with that, he skulked off after the werewolf ahead of him.

Farkas nodded with a small smile, "Thank you, Harbinger."

Terah couldn't help but return a smile. She adored Farkas and his big heart.

They hurried along deeper into the cave. The vampires and their thralls were a little tougher than they had anticipated, but the four of them stood their ground and managed to take them out through enough patience and perseverance. Why was this place so heavily guarded? Why was Lydia being kept here?

Finally, they found themselves in a large, decorated room, which was obviously where the master vampire dwelled. There was a large dining table with a variety of bloody bits to feed on, as well as a lounge where the vampires could laugh and tell tales about their murderous activities. As luxurious as the place was (for it being in a cave), there were no vampires to be found.

"Lydia!" Farkas exclaimed, pointing to a lump on the other side of the room. Lydia was on her knees, barely breathing, with her hands tied behind her back.

"Wait!" Terah hissed, grabbing Farkas by his massive arm. "This is probably a trap," Terah warned.

"Obviously," Aela growled, still in wolf form. "We'll cover you as you make your approach."

The dragonborn almost immediately spotted a couple of traps set for her. Did they seriously think she was that stupid? She crept silently across the room, deftly stepping over tripwires and pressure plates while dodging any air-born traps in her way. Easily enough, she made it to Lydia, desperate to see if her friend was alive.

"Lydia," she spoke softly. "Lydia it's me. You're alright now." The dragonborn gently grabbed her chin and and tilted it up. Her heart sank when she saw orange-red glowing eyes look sorrowfully up at her. Underneath all of the dirt and filth, her face was blotched and cracked. Terah already knew of the pain she was in. The burning of the throat, the sharp aches and pains in the stomach. These vampires turned her then left her here to starve.

Lydia tried to speak, but all that came out was some faint croaking.

"Shhh," Terah hushed her as she untied her dearest friend. "It's okay, I understand. Let's get you out of here." She helped her friend up and carefully guided her across the room. "Farkas!" Terah called. "Please carry her, she can't walk."

"Of course." His voice was full of worry as he outstretched his arms.

A slippery voice echoed from the entrance, "Look who finally decided to show up."

The Companions all turned to see the master vampire himself gliding across the stone floor. "I wondered if you'd ever come and get her. . . Just look at her now, aha!" he laughed, full of triumph. "She's one of us, and there's nothing you can do about it!"

"Sure there isn't," Terah drawled, unimpressed.

"You and your Dawnguard think you're so clever," he spat. "But I have you now! Soon, you will watch ALL of your friends die, and then I will kill you myself! Slowly. . ." he added with a maniacal grin. He was shouting now, "You will pay for what you did! The vampires will have their revenge and ta-"

"Yol Toor Shul!"

The vampire screeched as he was entirely engulfed in flames. He attempted to back away and run, but he was silenced by an elven blade piercing him from his back and through his gut. When his burning body dropped to the floor, Teldryn stood in his place, obviously irritated. "What was he on about?"

"Teldryn!" Terah snapped. "I specifically told you to stay behind!"

His eyes finally caught the large beast in the room, standing there calmly. "WEREWOLF!" He lunged for the huntress, only to be stopped by Terah and Vilkas.

"No!" they exclaimed in unison. Terah explained, "It's Aela! She's on our side!"

Teldryn relaxed in the Companions' grasp, trying to wrap his head around the situation. "That," he said, pointing to the wolf in the room, "is the huntress?"

The wolf released a howl of terror, as if to make a point. Her howl rattled his bones, but he stood his ground.

"Dammit, elf!" Vilkas barked. "Why don't you do what you're told?"

"Stoppit, Vilkas."

"I'd appreciate not being spoken to that way," Teldryn warned through gritted teeth.

Vilkas pointed to the Dunmer, growling as he spoke, "He is a threat to the secret of the Companions. You know it, Terah!"

"So you're all werewolves?" Teldryn inquired uneasily.

"Enough of this!" Farkas interrupted. "There's a dying woman in my arms!"

They immediately dropped the subject and hurried over to Lydia's side while Aela began to change back into human form. Vilkas tutted and sighed, genuinely sorry for her. "She's been turned."

"I know," Terah acknowledge. "She needs blood." There was a large goblet sitting on the dining table that caught her eye, so she quickly grabbed it and pulled a dagger from her boot. She hovered her wrist above the goblet and quickly sliced across her veins, making sure to get a solid blood flow. Lydia immediately saw the blood, and it drove her wild. She kicked and hissed and did everything her weak body could do to get out of Farkas' grasp.

"Are you mad?" Teldryn said worriedly, observing how much blood she was losing.

Terah spoke in a low and warning tone, "Not now, Teldryn. She'll die if she doesn't drink."

With that, Teldryn backed away and dropped himself in a stone chair, observing the odd bunch. Not only did he hate being kept in the dark, but he felt so useless at the moment. Terah's restoration talents were once again put to show as she quickly healed her wrist shut. There was no sign left of a cut, but her body still resonated with beautiful golden-white light.

"Here," she said softly, handing the goblet to Farkas. "This will be enough to sate her. . . for now."

The housecarl hungrily gulped down the goblet, eyes wide and luminous. Surely this was her first taste of blood, and Terah knew all too well what she was going through.

A rescue wagon had been sent their way after Terah had shooed off the rest of the Companions. It included a decent place for Lydia to lie, as well as some clean clothes for her to change in. She was feeling much better than when they found her, but Terah and Aela still insisted on helping her bathe in a river nearby. The sun certainly didn't help either. Once she was clean and changed, they helped her on the wagon and made sure she was comfortable.

"What do we do now?" asked Farkas. "She's still a vampire."

"About that," Terah said, "There's a cure. A man in Morthal knows all about vampirism, so we'll head there straight away. She can be cured tonight at midnight. Also," she continued, draping a large cloth over the back of the wagon, "This sunlight has got to be killing her. She needs to stay covered. How about you and your brother come with Teldryn and I, eh? Watching a vampire get cured is a pretty awesome sight. Plus, Lydia could use an escort back to Whiterun."

"Sure, I'll let my brother know."

Surprisingly, Vilkas was actually hoping he could tag along. The only thing he was grumpy about was the fact that Teldryn's nosy ass was going as well.

"I don't trust him, Harbinger," he urged, speaking in a more pleading tone than an angry one.

"You never trust anyone, Vilkas. That was always your problem."

The twin tilted his head down, either out of frustration or shame. "Terah, how long have you known this man? How can you be so sure that he won't blab about our secret? You realize that if people find out, it will reflect on the entire legacy of the Companions, not just us?"

"Listen," Terah assured, eyeing her Dunmer friend, "I will explain everything to him at an appropriate time, alright? We can trust him. Believe me, we can. He might not seem like it right away, but he's a good man. Besides, he knows I'd be out for blood if he ever did anything to jeopardize the Companions."

Her hand reached up to his stubbly cheek and patted it endearingly, giving him much comfort. Perhaps a little too much comfort for his own good. He sighed, "Fine. I trust your word, Harbinger."

"For gods' sake, Vilkas," she rolled her eyes. "Just call me Terah."