Author's Note: here's another chapter of Heart of the Beast! Thanks to those that left me reviews to read and smile about!
Dread Howl
It'd be another week before everything at Jorrvaskr seemed to be normal. Some members were still pained by the loss of Kodlak more than others, but everyone was up and running efficiently, even the little mage girl. Sahana watched as Eleni followed after Farkas, her eyes bright and only for Farkas. She didn't want to admit that the girl amazed her, but…it was a sad truth.
Eleni was pure. She was light. And though Sahana sensed that the girl had a dark past, she still managed to offer ready smiles and encouragement. She approached those who needed help and she seemed unafraid of – and even confident in – herself. Sahana found herself a little envious.
When Vilkas came upstairs and walked over to Farkas, Sahana sat up straight. Eleni smiled up at Vilkas and Sahana's gaze narrowed dangerously. Her wolf snarled and raked her insides, wanting to be freed. Not such a good idea, Sahana thought when Vilkas, as if sensing her rising beast, turned to look at her. Immediately, she threw on a mask of calm, though that would do nothing to hide her scent. Even Farkas glanced over at her, giving a discreet shake of the head.
From his eyes, Sahana could tell that Vilkas was mildly annoyed. That look quickly disappeared as he put some distance between himself and Eleni. Her beast settled down, though only slightly. It was as if he'd known that her wolf was reacting to his close proximity to the mage girl. And that just made her feel guiltier.
Frowning, she lowered her gaze to look at the steaming bowl of soup in front of her. She wasn't as hungry as she'd been a few short minutes ago. In fact, she felt a little sick. Sahana rose from her seat and started for the stairs. Her dogs were quick to follow.
As she moved through the hall, she became aware of the fact that Eleni was following her. She reached her chambers - once Kodlak's - and let herself fall into one of the chairs. Resting her chin on her palm, she looked up at Eleni from the corner of her eye. "What is it?" she questioned, sounding far too tired.
Eleni smiled softly. "Farkas said you were having a rough time?"
Sahana sighed. "I am fine."
"You always say that, but it's never true."
Now Sahana turned her head completely, giving the girl her undivided attention. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, she simply hummed a response.
Eleni shifted, as if being under Sahana's watchful gaze made her nervous. "Farkas suggested that I check on you, that I spend some time with you. He says that you are more of a lone wolf," she said, and then added quickly when she noticed Sahana's solemn expression, "but he knows that you watch over all of them. He knows that the Companions are your family."
"That is true. Never doubt that."
Eleni offered her yet another gentle smile, reminding Sahana of a patient mother. Eleni had her moments of appearing grown up. "I would never," she assured the Harbinger. They sat in silence for a moment. "They are worried about you."
"There is no reason to be."
"It is obvious to everyone that you are under stress. You've been taking on a lot of jobs recently."
"That is not so odd. Things need to be done."
"You've been distant, brooding."
"Brooding?" Sahana questioned, incredulous.
"Why not take some time for yourself?"
"Because money has to keep flowing..." Not to mention, her blood. She took a few hours a day to rest, but her wolf became edgy if she didn't move. Well, she couldn't blame everything on her poor wolf; she also became anxious and had become so overwhelmed with the thought of failing everyone again.
Sahana glanced at Vilkas as he appeared in the doorway. Even so, he reached around and knocked on the wall. Eleni whirled to face him before she looked back at Sahana, smiled and then left.
"Is something wrong?" Sahana questioned, immediately more alert. Vilkas shook his head and she settled back into her chair. He walked over, flopping into the chair across from her.
He didn't say anything for a long time, simply stared at her with his pale eyes. She found it hard not to lose herself in those eyes of his. She actually had to look away for a moment, just in case her emotions showed on her face.
"You said something to me a while back that has stayed with me since." Not so much what she'd said, more so the way she'd said it - with a smile on her face. He hadn't seen that smile in a long while and he...missed it, at least when he allowed himself to.
"And what was that?" she wondered aloud.
"'One should always take a moment to just breathe.'"
She blinked, surprised. "A lot has happened," she said. "Those were the words of someone without a care in the world."
Vilkas shook his head and some of his dark hair fell into his face. She wanted so much to reach up and brush it aside. She didn't.
"You were up to something back then," he reminded her. "Avenging Skjor. So it can't be as you said. The only difference now is that you lead us, that you think you have more to prove. But it is not so."
At this, her frown deepened. "What are you talking about? I have to make sure no one forgets what the Companions stand for. I want all of you to respect me."
"We do," Vilkas said, without any doubt. "Make no mistake, Sahana-" She flinched at the sound of her own name. "We would all rush to your aid if you needed it. Not just because you are a Companion, not just because you are our Harbinger, but because you are someone worth the risk to us."
She averted her gaze, but she hadn't been able to hide that look of pain from him. His words meant much and had obviously overwhelmed her. "Sahana...?"
"It is your opinion that matters the most to me," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. She wouldn't look at him now, so she couldn't know that his jaw had gone slack.
She couldn't say such things to him! She made his mind race, his blood hot, and his clothing...bothersome. Now she had his chest tightening painfully. He actually reached and pressed down where his heart would be as if that could relieve the ache.
Vilkas stood. Slowly, she lifted her dark gaze to his. Her eyes were huge, watery - as if she were near tears. That look didn't help the pain in his chest. "Get up," he ordered. Her brows knitted in curiosity, but she was doing as he wanted.
They stood toe-to-toe, staring at one another. Vilkas reached and gripped her upper arms, causing her eyes to widen. She became a threatened animal, and she immediately responded with a swift kick, only for him to side-step out of harm's way. He turned them and pressed her rump against the edge of the table, bending her backward as he leaned close.
Sahana quickly became aware of the fact that their chests were touching, that her hips cradled his and that they just seemed to...fit perfectly. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the feel of him against her.
Vilkas buried his face in the curve of her neck. He inhaled, taking in her scent until it became a part of him. He dragged his lips against her silky skin, occasionally tasting her using the tip of his tongue. He kissed one corner of her mouth before his lips fell over hers and he kissed her hard. He demanded entry, biting her bottom lip when she didn't open fast enough. She only moaned as his tongue slid along hers.
His wolf came howling to the surface, demanding that he claim what was his. And that scared him. He lifted his head, taking in huge gulps of air. When he looked down, Sahana was staring at him, her face flushed, her eyes a pretty amber color. Her wolf was responding to his, recognizing him as...mate.
Vilkas threw himself away from her. She pushed herself up off of the table, her expression curious. She blinked rapidly as she stood. She didn't move after that, sensing that Vilkas' wolf was closer than he was comfortable with and that it would have him jump on her - not that she would have minded, but she'd rather him feel like it was his choice... She wanted it to be his choice when and if he came to her.
"Sorry," he said.
"Don't be," she murmured.
She could hear Farkas running down the hall, so when he dashed into her room, it didn't surprise her. It was the look in his eye that made Sahana stand up straight, alert.
"What is it?"
"A dragon attack..."
Sahana glanced at Vilkas before she started throwing on armor and taking up her weapons. She walked out of the room, telling the dogs to stay. They whined, but sat down and watched her go. They were outside when she questioned, "Where?"
"It's just outside of Whiterun," he said, pointing in the direction that he knew the dragon to be in. "It's setting farms ablaze and slaughtering the guards that come for it."
Vilkas came up beside Farkas, clad in his heavy armor. "The three of us will go," he said. Sahana stopped right there, pinning him with a fierce glare. "You're not going alone. It is what you were planning on doing." She was so much a part of him now that he could read her every intention in her eyes, as if they were doors that let him fall into her mind.
Sahana tried not to grind her teeth. "I am the only one that has ever successfully fought off such a creature, but I will not risk your lives."
"It is not your risk to take," Vilkas grumbled. And that was where he was very wrong... She had more than one reason to want him alive. He obviously realized his mistake because he closed his eyes with an irritated sigh, turning his head away.
Sahana frowned and looked at Farkas. "You want to do this thing?"
Farkas gave a curt nod. She had his trust, and she should have known better than to ask.
She dragged a hand through her hair. "Let's go, then."
"Wait!" Eleni came running out of Jorrvaskr and straight to Farkas' side. "Let me come, too."
"What?" Sahana made a face. "Are you out of your mind?"
"Please! I can help!" Sahana was already shaking her head, rubbing her temples. Eleni scowled. "Farkas?" She looked up at him, at the frown on his face.
"I have to agree with Sahana. It will be too dangerous for you."
Eleni was out to prove herself. That much was obvious. Sahana couldn't be bothered by this at the moment, though. "We are wasting time! You do what you want, but if you are coming, you listen to me. If I tell you to back off, you back off."
"Understood."
"Good. Let's move. Innocent people are dying as we speak."
When they reached the stables, Sahana whistled softly. "Enya," she called and her horse came up to her, snorting and nudging with her muzzle. Sahana readied the horse to ride with practiced ease. She led the horse out and pulled herself up. "I will go on ahead."
"Sahana." It was obvious that Vilkas didn't like the idea.
She met his gaze, held it. And then she smiled. "I will see the lot of you when you get there." She turned Enya around and had her walk forward, eventually making her pick up speed and put distance between her and the other Companions.
Later on, Sahana's gaze searched the skies restlessly. She did not see the dragon, but there was evidence of his passing everywhere. Some homes were left a charred mess, while others were simply reduced to ashes. The ground seemed to be stained red with the blood of animals and Whiterun guards.
Sahana lowered herself down and led Enya forward. Orange specks danced before her face, flickered and then simply disappeared. The smell of death and smoke offended her sensitive nose and overpowered every other scent.
"Help! Please!" A woman was running towards her, carrying a young girl in her arms. Sahana dashed forward, taking the child from the weary woman.
"Take my horse. Hurry to safety." She pointed in Whiterun's direction. She helped the woman up onto the horse and handed the girl up to her.
"Thank you! Thank you!" The woman was weeping, but she was already guiding Enya away.
Sahana watched until the woman was out of sight. She could only hope that there were more survivors than there were dead. After this dragon issue was dealt with, she'd start a search.
Almost as soon as she thought that, she heard wings – great, powerful wings, by the sound of it – slicing through the air. She turned her head, drawing her bow as she did. It landed right in front of her, staring at her with one bright eye – focused, intense, and full of hatred. It stretched its neck forward, opening its mouth to let loose a thundering roar that had her ears ringing.
Sahana stood her ground, an arrow already sitting on the bowstring. She released it and it flew straight for the dragon's eye. The arrow lodged itself deep and the dragon let out a shrill cry. It stomped the ground, in a rage, before it whirled around, smacking her with the tip of its massive tail. She flew through the air, landing hard among some blackened rubble.
When she lifted her gaze, the dragon was staring at her with its good eye. Maybe it was just her imagination, but she thought she saw a wicked grin come to its face. Flames sprang to life in the dragon's mouth and her eyes widened. She tried to move, but couldn't. She was stuck! She thought she heard herself scream.
Chapter end! Thanks for reading!