I'm really sorry about the lack of uploads recently – I've been busy with school and other things.

I hope you all forgive me. Enjoy.

Ljotur approached the large, iron gates which lead into a small area up to Solitude. The Gates were closed, locked and heavily guarded with a black cloth hanging behind them, preventing anyone – or thing – from seeing inside.

As he approached the gates a guard stopped Ljotur in his tracks – this guard was quite tall and gave the impression that he had tremendous strength and authority. He didn't though, something about his voice gave him away and Ljotur soon knew he was but a low ranked guard who, quite possibly, earned just enough to feed himself.

"I'm sorry but no one is allowed to enter or exit Solitude today – the Jarl's orders."

Ljotur thought about what to say, before asking a simple, one word question.

"Why?"

This puzzled the guard, all the other visitors today had just turned and walked on. This man knew something more – something about what had happened.

"Uh... There has been an attack."

Almost smirking, Ljotur looked directly at the guard and asked again,

"What kind of attack?"

The guard almost began worrying. He placed his hand on the handle of his new, steel sword.

"I'm sorry but you will have to leave now."

Noticing the guard's sword, Ljotur turned around and began walking away. Ljotur then turned his head to the side.

"May I ask one last thing?"

Hesitating the guard replied with an unsure "Yes."

A few moments then passed before Ljotur asked,

"What did the Werewolf look like?"

Alixya thrashed around in the water, struggling for air – none came. Her vision began to get blurry and her muscles were aching. The surface with oxygen filled air was inches above her reach. Frustrated now, she looked down at her feet and legs and realized a long, slimy weed had curled around her left ankle. Using the weed as rope, she pulled herself down and pulled at the plant.

It wouldn't budge.

Now panicking, with her lungs and muscles screaming, she tore the weed ferociously with her teeth. After a matter of seconds it gave way and Alixya resurfaced, gasping for air. She made her way quickly to the riverbank, taking large gulps of air whilst doing so.

The damp grass felt good against her body. She had removed the Thalmor robes and placed them on a couple of large rocks to dry in the sun. Her underwear was soaked too – but she didn't like the thought of someone coming along and seeing her nude.

Alixya peered up to where the guards had been – no one looked back down into her warm, amber eyes. She couldn't see them. She could however smell them.

Alixya picked up her clothes; they were now warm and damp. Better than cold and wet. Discretely, Alixya sniffed the air. It travelled smoothly up her nasal passages and led her nose to where they hid, crouched behind a large boulder with moss covering one side of it.

With the scent of sweat and fear in her nose Alixya hastily pulled the clothes on and made her way to the riverbank. She walked for about a minute before breaking into a sprint.

Sand, dust and mud sprayed up behind her as the distance between her and the guards grew. After about a mile she stopped, took some large breaths of air, and continued walking along the sand in her bare feet. It felt warm and grainy between her toes. The air was warm and the sun shining – the perfect summers day.

Most people would be out enjoying a picnic or walk through the hills. Alixya chuckled at the thought, when had she ever had a day like that? Never. Not even as a child. She had grown up in the creeks and crevices of Falkreath. Abandoned by her parents at the age of three and cast away from society by the age of four. Nothing was wrong with her – she had just been a bit of a handful at that age, running off whenever her carer's back was turned. Ripping up books. Refusing to eat. Throwing anything she could get her hands on.

Yeah – a bit of a handful.

Repeating this thought over and over in her head Alixya was lost in thought. A day dream? No, it was more like a flash back. The day she had received it – the bite.

Distant barks and shouts focused Alixya's attention on the present. She had stopped while thinking – a bad habit of hers.

She grasped a shoe in each hand, rolled up her trousers and waded across the river.

She took off, running gracefully through the woods.

A short chapter I know, but I felt really bad for not uploading anything. #sorry