Sickness And Dreams

Skylar leaned against me as we made our way back to the overturned carriage. Her face was very pale and her breathing was growing ragged. Please hang on Skylar I begged in my head as I leaned her against the carriage.

"What are you doing?" She asked as I began to search around the ground.

"I am looking for that dagger." I answered as the gleam of the blade caught my eye.

"Why?" She asks as I slowly picked up the blade and began to examine it.

"So I can figure out what kind of poison was used." I explained as I rubbed my finger against the blade to remove some of the substance. It was a mixture of green and red. I didn't have to guess that the green was the poison and the red was Skylar's blood.

Skylar scrunched up her nose as I brought my finger to my mouth and licked it. A mixture of the taste of blood and one other thing overwhelmed my mouth. Whatever it was completely contaminated the sweet taste of blood. My eyes went wide and I spat it out. I spat several more times before I wiped the back of my hand over my mouth.

"Uuggh!" I moaned as I took a breath.

"What?" Skylar asked as she looked at me with her eyes wide.

"Red death." I said. "It's what the poison is called..." I paused before I looked at Skylar. I wondered if I really wanted to tell her what was on my mind, but before I could stop myself my mouth started moving. "It is what vampires use to bring down werewolves... I am actually surprised that it is still used after all this time." Skylar turned away from me and moaned as she leaned her head back, lightly whacking it against the carriage several times. I looked at her for a moment. My brow furrowed as I watched her, she was trying to hide it but I could tell that the poison was really taking a toll on her. She was very weak, even standing looked as if it was a chore.

"Don't worry." I said as I stepped in front of her. "I am going to take you back to Dawnguard, they will be able to brew up a cure. Skylar closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Dawnguard is a two day journey on foot." She started to say but I stopped her.

"Then we will use a horse." I said as I grabbed her shoulder with one hand and pointed with another to a horse in the distance.

Skylar arched an eyebrow. "Well then..." She said confused.

"It must be from this wagon." I shrugged as I allowed Skylar to lean on me for support as we made our way to the horse that was grazing the grass.

I jumped onto the horse's back and then I helped Skylar up. "Hang on tight." I said as Skylar wrapped her arms around my midsection. I bit my lip as I nudged the horse's sides with my heels. In a matter of seconds the horse took off running in the direction of Dawnguard. "Come one..." I mumbled under my breath when I felt Skylar bury her face into my back. "Skylar, how are you holding up?" I asked as I rubbed my hand over hers. The only response I received was a moan, I also felt her shake her head.

I knew I was pushing the horse very hard. It was only a matter of time before it collapsed now. It had been running for at least twenty minutes now without stopping. I felt absolutely guilty about pushing it this hard but I was desperate. I could sense Skylar's energy leaving her body.

I looked up to the sky when I heard thunder. My eyes went wide when I felt Skylar's grip loosen. I took hold of her hands and I forced the horse to a complete stop. I quickly hopped off. I turned around and lifted Skylar off the horse's back. She was barely conscious.

"No..." I whimpered as I lowered her small body to the ground. "Skylar! Open your eyes!" I commanded as I leaned over her body and cupped her face with my hands. I watched as her eyes fluttered open for a second but almost as soon as they were open they closed again. "No!" I yelled. I gave her body a shake. No response. My bottom lip quivered, I didn't know what to do. I place my hand on her stomach and brought my ear to her chest. Her heart was still beating! There was still a chance!

I quickly looked around for something, Anything that could help. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes fell on a small cabin in the distance. It was a little ways into the trees but it was still there. Without a second thought I lifted Skylar into my arms and began to run in that direction. "I'm not giving up." I told her. I didn't know if she could hear me or not, it didn't matter, I was still not going to let her go that easily. I was going to fight with every last bit of strength I had left in this undead body of mine.

I panted as I ran up the steps and to the front door of the cabin. I kicked the door several times due to the face that Skylar had my arms preoccupied at the moment.

"Who is it!?" I heard a grumpy voice ask from the other side of the door.

"My name is Serana! Please my friend is hurt and she needs help." I begged as I held Skylar's body close to mine. The door cracked open a bit, as soon as it did I instantly looked down at Skylar to hide my eyes from the person.

"What's wrong with her?" They asked. By the sound of their voice I could tell that it was an older man.

"She was stabbed, and the blade was poisoned." I explained. "Please she doesn't have very much time left." I begged.

The man stood there for a moment and sighed before he stepped aside and allowed me to pass. "The second door to the right, set her down on the bed in there and I will be right in." I quickly nodded and made my way into the warm Cabin. It was very cozy. There was dear heads on the walls, candles lit, a fireplace crackling, and many more things that one would find within a home.

I stepped into the room he described and gently set Skylar down onto the bed. I leaned over her and brushed a damp strand of hair out of her face. She had a pained expression, it pulled at my heart.

"Stay strong Skylar please." I said as I pulled away when I heard the man's footsteps enter the room.

"Wait out in the living room, I need to concentrate. I will call you if I need your help." He said as he set down multiple bottles onto a dresser beside the bed. I nodded and quickly stepped out of the room. I didn't know for sure if I could trust that man but he was the only chance Skylar had left. If he couldn't save her... I shook my head, I didn't even want to think about it.

I sat down on a chair in front of the fireplace as I began to wait. My hands rested on my lap and I stared into the flames.

It was dark, but I knew that I was trapped in a cage that was in a deep cave somewhere. I could hear many different sounds bouncing off the stone walls. I cover my ears and curled up into a ball at the back of the cage. It sounded like someone was being mauled, and that was not all, I could hear cheering as well. A small whimper escaped my lips as the sound somehow bypassed my hands and went straight into my ears. At that moment I actually wanted to rip them clean off my head in hopes that it could stop the sound from assaulting me.

A few minutes later the mauling sounds stopped and ended with a blood curdling howl, cheering followed not too long after. It was quiet after that but just as I removed my hands from my ears the door to my cage flew open and hands grabbed my upper arms. I fought but than a collar was clamped onto my neck. Confused I began to scratch at the metal collar. I was not surprised when my fingers found silver.

"Listen to me pup, you will obey me or I will send electric shocks through your body." I growled and slammed my knee into the bandit's stomach. Not even a second later my body dropped to the ground as electricity ran through my veins. Once again the bandit grabbed my arms, I was being dragged. I didn't fight this time, I allowed him to take me to where ever he was going to take me.

I was thrown into an area where the ground was covered in gravel. I fell to my knees and winced as the jagged rocks penetrated my skin. But that is not what made me jump to my feet. I looked up in time to see a huge black werewolf charge at me. My eyes went wide and I tumbled to the side. The werewolf ran face first into the wooden fence that kept us in this make shift arena. As the beast was stunned I took advantage of the time I had and transformed into my own werewolf form. When my transformation was complete the crowd of bandits that surrounded the arena screamed and cheered. I growled as the bigger werewolf turned towards me. It too growled. For a moment we just stared at each other growling. My opponent slowly lowered himself to the ground as the fur on his back fluffed out and before I even knew what hit me the wolf charged and tackled me to the ground with its teeth clamped onto my arm. I cried out in pain as its teeth sunk into my skin. More cheering was heard as I landed good kick to its stomach, sending it flying a few feet away from me.

As it's body hit the ground my own was back onto all four paws. Just as I lowered myself to the ground to prepare myself to charge I felt another body slam into mine. The impact sent me flying into the wall. Dazed, I looked up to see two black werewolves approaching me. I struggled to stand. Every time I got to my feet I fell. I lifted my head just as a large paw slammed into my face. Just as I hit the ground for the final time I was seeing stars, then my vision blurred and everything went black.