Resh POV

'How dare that wolf attack me. I should just kill it and rid this town of that beast.'

Although that was his initial reaction to the attack, Resh didn't know what to think about that woman. However much he wanted it dead, he couldn't help but admire its ferocity when attacking. Mainly because it had been so unexpected and taken him by surprise. If she had a weapon, he might have been killed. The intention to kill was definitely there.

Few people, even those cursed by a Daedra, would outright attack someone who was clearly larger and stronger than them just because they had been angered. Resh couldn't decide if she was brave or foolish. Either way, to land that many strikes, weak they may have been, upon his face even when he was trying to shield himself, she had his respect. He still didn't like her though. Then again, he didn't like himself, and probably for the same reason. Not being one of 'his' kind.

"So… what do you think of Aela, then?" Lydia asked, breaking the silence.

"I don't like her," he replied keeping it short.

"Yeah, well, I don't think she likes you much either. Next time you meet her, don't say whatever it was you said last time. She's snaps quite easily, and I doubt you will want that to happen again considering she took her anger out on you."

"The strikes weren't painful," Resh snapped defensively so he didn't appear weak. "I was merely surprised."

"Even so, I wouldn't suggest getting on the bad side of Aela. I've known her for a while and most people who do, end up regretting it. She can be very… primal."

"I'm aware," Resh said sourly. "If she gets any worse than last time, I'll kill her and the rest of her pack. I don't respond well to being around the servants of a Daedric Prince."

"What are you talking about? She's a Companion, they're honourable, there's no way they have any allegiances to a demon," she told him, thinking him delusional for assuming that the most respectable group in Skyrim were linked, in any way, to a Daedra.

"They are. I could smell it on them. Well, two of them anyway. They're werewolves, followers of Hircine, willingly or not." Lydia doubted Resh was lying. He didn't seem like the sort of person to lie. Plus he was the Thane of the city, so she was obligated to believe him.

Even if he was telling the truth about what he thought, it doesn't mean was actually correct. After all, how well could you really trust someone's sense of smell? Only the beast races senses were that acute.

"What's a werewolf?" she asked trying to pry to see if he actually knew what he was saying.

"It's a Demonic illness passed on through the blood. Most view Hircine's 'gift' as the curse it is. Although there are some that see it as a blessing. They're give more power than most could dream for when in their Daedric form. And their improved senses means that even when in their normal body there are few people that equal them in combat prowess. Or they might not have wanted to have Hircine's blood in the first place, and may strive to remove it. Either way they both lead to the same end: power in life, and eternal servitude to a cruel god in death."

"What should we do?" Lydia asked, but, after guessing his reply, quickly cut Resh off when he started to speak, "Other than try to kill them." This time he said nothing.

The silence the followed was soon dissipated when Resh pushed open the doors of Whiterun and remembered why he came to the city in the first place: to buy supplies for his follower.

"Where would be the best place to buy all this stuff you want?" he asked putting emphasis on the fact that he didn't want to buy anything.

Lydia sighed, "It's not stuff I want. It's stuff I need, or I'll die. And you can buy food in the market which is further down the city. You can also sell the bedroll there to pay for it."

Resh left Lydia behind and walked up to the first stall he saw with any form of food and asked "How much is all the food on the counter." He wasn't sure if it was enough to last the journey or not, but he had to guess. He had never needed to buy such a large amount of food for one person, especially considering how much she supposedly has to eat.

"About 150 septims, probably slightly more. But you're buying so much you should have a discount," Carlotta replied, shocked that he was just taking everything. It must be one long trip he was going on.

"I actually don't have any money with me, so is there any way I could just sell you this bedroll to pay for it all? We don't need both of them. I don't even sleep in mine." The store woman looked even more shocked at this news than she had been at the large amount of food, and then looked over to Lydia, eyebrows raised.

"Usually I would only buy that for around 100. But for you, the rest is on me," Carlotta smirked unable to suppress a grin at this new gossip. "Think of it as my thanks for making this day slightly more interesting." Resh was confused as to what this meant, but just wrote it off as there being few travellers in Whiterun.

"Thank you," Resh said collecting all the food, and dumping the bedroll down on the stall.

As Resh started to leave, she glanced over at Lydia again, then back to him, "Huh, I didn't expect you and Lydia would start to get along this quickly."

Lydia, seeing the transaction was over edged over to her Thane, and saw the large amount of supplies he had bought. "You bought all of that with one bedroll?

"She seemed happy to trade. She said I had made the day more interesting. Maybe she was proud of having the Thane that saved the city from the first dragon seen for years buy from her," Resh suggested.

Resh looked over to Carlotta who was now happily talking, in a hushed tone, to group of people who were all staring at him and Lydia. They snapped their heads away the moment he made eye contact started whispering amongst themselves again.

"Yeah, that's definitely it. She's already telling all those people, I didn't know I'd become so renowned in this city so quickly," he announced proudly.

"Are we going to leave straight away, then?" Lydia asked, hoping she would get more sleep before they trekked off.

"No, not right now. I might see what these Companion people are like. Maybe some of them are actually tolerable to be around."

"Jorrvaskr is their base of operations. Follow me. Just try not to get in any trouble there," she told him, trying to make sure he didn't kill any of them, like he wanted.

"Fine," Resh sighed. "But if I'm provoked, I'm killing the short woman." Their short trip to Jorrvaskr was very strange. People kept staring at them and giggling for no reason whenever the two walked together.

'Humans are weird, what could they possibly be laughing about?'

Vilkas POV

"-Also I heard that the reason they left wasn't to see the Greybeards, but just to sh-," Vilkas cut Njada off, unable to bear the sound of that infernal woman spreading rumours about people she knew nothing about.

"Njada, just stop. How fast does gossip travel in this town? They've only been in Whiterun for about 10 minutes and you think you know everything about them," he snapped at her. He was growing tired of her constant vindictiveness towards everyone and that she spoke of people behind their backs as well.

"Vilkas is right. All you do is complain about people. You haven't even met them yet," said Athis, the dark elf who held a strong distaste towards the woman.

"If I had wanted your opinion I would have asked for it, elf," she growled at him. It was clear to Vilkas that the main reason the two didn't get along was the race difference. Unlike most Nords, he didn't find his views clouded by such unnecessary factors as birth. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Njada.

"I just thought that you would want the opinion of someone who had actually proved themselves, unlike some," he replied, knowing she hadn't had nearly as much experience as a Companion as him.

"Go run back to the college where your people belong, and hide with the rest of the Thalmor!" Njada yelled throwing her fist at the dark elf who she had hated for as long as she could remember. He avoided the blow easily. Vilkas was going to try and interrupt and stop a fight before it started. But after seeing the anger in both their eyes, decided it would be best if they were to both get whatever quarrels they had out of the way.

"That's not even the right kind of elf, you ignorant, narrow-minded bitch!" he shouted at her returning with a swing of his own, colliding with her jaw.

Just as the brawl had started and the rest of the Companions began to gather, the doors of Jorrvaskr were pushed open causing a few of the spectators of the fight to turn, most of whom just went back to placing various bets on the two and cheering. All except for Aela, who had seen the pair walk through, looked at the hulking Nord and contorted her face in anger before clapping Farkas hard round head and storming off.

He could smell them the second they walked through the door. The rumours were lies, as he had thought. If they really were lovers, she would have his scent on her. It was a good thing she didn't though, because the man's scent made him Vilkas want to rip him to shreds.

Vilkas's wolf howled at him, 'Aela hates it as well. Imagine how pleased she would be if we killed it. Maybe you'll finally rut like we've always wanted. Expand the pack,' his wolf had always been interested in Aela. Maybe it was because she was the only female werewolf in an otherwise male pack.

He shook those unwanted thoughts out of his head. Vilkas knew better than to give in to his wolf's urges and had gone years without obeying or even listening to his wolf. And he wasn't going to start now. Kodlak would know what to do and tell him how to not surrender to his wolf. So before his wolf could get any more worked up, he paced downstairs to find the Harbinger.

Five minutes later

"-But I still hear the call of blood," Vilkas continued, stressing on his earlier urges.

"We all do. It is our burden to bear. But we can overcome," Kodlak replied with a stern voice at the word 'overcome'.

Sensing the change in the conversation to Kodlak's plans, Vilkas remembered Skjor and Aela's love of their curse. "You have my brother and I, obviously. But I don't know if the rest will go along quite so easily."

"Leave that to me," The Harbinger replied. Although Vilkas would follow Kodlak with firm trust, he still wasn't sure the others would if it would mean sacrificing the beast.

Vilkas had only just finished his discussion with Kodlak before the newest Thane and his Housecarl Lydia had walked into the room. He visibly sneered when the man walked in because of his scent and was surprised to see that Kodlak didn't, despite the fact it was overpowering and felt dangerous. Then again, Kodlak was always a very calm and accepting person. Maybe too much so.

"Newcomer, did you come here to join the Companions?" Kodlak asked at his arrival.

"No, I only came by to see why you're supposedly so honourable," the man replied, glaring at the two of them as if there was already something about them he didn't like.

"That's as good a start as any. Here, let me have a look at you. Hmm. Yes, perhaps. A certain strength of spirit." The newcomer rolled his eyes as if to say he knew already. Could he really be that arrogant?

"Master, you're not truly considering accepting him?"

"I am nobody's master, Vilkas. And last I checked, we had some empty beds in Jorrvaskr for those with a fire burning in their hearts," Kodlak answered. He respected Kodlak, but you could hardly say there was a fire in this man's heart. He didn't even want to join.

"Apologies. But perhaps this isn't the time. I've never even heard of this outsider," Vilkas argued, trying desperately to find a way to refuse him.

"Sometimes the famous come to us. Sometimes men and women come to us to seek their fame. It makes no difference. What matters is their heart," Vilkas knew better than to keep trying to get rid of him. The Harbinger had made his mind up and there was no changing it.

"And their arm," he added.

"Of course. How are you in a battle, boy?" Kodlak inquired, now brought to the subject.

"You dare question my skill?" the man spat.

Vilkas considered lunging over and throttling him. How dare he talk to Kodlak like he were his elder. But before he could do anything Kodlak spoke up again.

"Calm down there, whelp. Don't feel like you need to show off for our sake. Vilkas, here, will be the one testing your mettle." Now it looked as if Kodlak was going to be throttled because the newcomer went completely silent at the name 'whelp', and Vilkas could see the anger flaring in his eyes.

Kodlak turned to Vilkas and broke the tense silence, "Vilkas, take him out to the yard and see what he can do."

Five more minutes later

Vilkas hadn't expected his first strike to be so powerful. It felt like a blow from ten men at once, staggering him almost instantly. What was worse than the actual collision was the smirk on his face. As if he thought he could do the same in proper combat and not just the practice swing he had given him.

"Wipe that smile off your face. One swing isn't enough to prove yourself. Now grab a shield, or you might get yourself injured," Vilkas told him, gesturing to the weapon rack that was clad with shields and weapons.

"No," Resh replied bluntly.

"What do you mean 'no'?" growled Vilkas, his anger showing at the man refusal to fight.

"I don't need a shield. They're for people either afraid of a bit of pain or unable to avoid an attack. Besides I have something that can actually help with a fight and requires skill to use." As he said this, flames sprung up in his bladeless hand. Vilkas was happy to know that he wasn't refusing the fight completely, but felt insulted that a fellow Nord would choose magic over a shield. He didn't deserve to be among honourable warriors such as himself and the other Companions.

"Fine, it's your loss. None of that magic, though. We're going to do this like real men of honour. Not like those milk drinkers up at the College." Vilkas smiled himself when his opponent's smug look of arrogance was quickly replaced with a frown at those words.

The fire extinguished in Resh's hand as the two prepared for their duel. And when Vilkas nodded to him to say he was ready, he lunged, throwing himself shoulder first at the smaller Nord, ready to use his other hand to slash after staggering or making Vilkas block.

Vilkas saw his plan, and realised that Resh wasn't concerned about getting an injury if it would result in the opportunity to finish the fight quickly. So instead of countering or blocking Vilkas jumped out of the way, avoiding the attack.

Resh quickly noticed that Vilkas understood his strategy of making a small sacrifice for a quick victory, and opted for another tactic. A tactic of waiting.

Vilkas thought he had his chance when the other man didn't try to strike. So he took a swing at Resh's chest, only to receive a jarring shock down his arm when his sword crashed down on his own with the same unnatural strength as the last time. That was the last thing Vilkas remembered before he received a punch to the face, downing him instantly.

He wasn't unconscious, but his vision was fuzzy and there was a searing pain in his cheek. By the time his vision had reverted to normal again, he felt the edge of a sword pressed against his neck, and a foot on his shield pinning his arms down against his prone form.

When Vilkas tried to struggle he felt the foot pushing on him press harder, making him gasp for breath.

"You submit," the man said. It wasn't a question, merely a declaration of the obvious when he wasn't able to escape. The pressure on his chest was released when Resh took his foot off him. Vilkas quickly rose from the floor and looked him over. He hadn't even broken a sweat, even through all of the sharp movements of the duel.

"You might just make it. But for now, you're still a whelp to us, new blood. So you do what we tell you. Here's my sword. Go take it up to Eorlund to have it sharpened. And be careful. It's probably worth more than you are," Vilkas spoke with bitterness because of his quick defeat.

Resh POV

'How dare that uncivilised, savage beast! I am Tsaesci! He can't try to push me around! I'll rip his flesh off! I'll devour him! I'll skin him and his pack alive like the beasts they are!' Resh was outraged that this 'Companion' could be so dishonourable to him when he had clearly been the victor of their duel. That this 'lesser race' could try to order him to do such menial tasks just because he thought he could.

He growled, wrenched the sword from Vilkas's hand and launched it over the walls of Whiterun, much to the shock of Vilkas, Lydia, and any others who were watching. It was even a shock to himself that he didn't just decapitate the cur there and then with his own sword.

"Fetch," Resh hissed, spitting at him in disgust. And with that he left, spouting curses and death threats in his wake, with his loyal Housecarl not far behind, and he didn't look back.

Resh stormed through the streets of Whiterun away from Jorrvaskr, regretting his passive retaliation. It would have been better to just kill them. Even so he could feel that he was gradually calming down, knowing that he didn't let any one of those beasts try to act above him.

Once he got to the city gates he had loosened up completely, letting his anger dissipate. His tranquillity didn't last for very long, as he tensed up all over again when he threw open the gates of the city and saw something that made all of his senses flare up.

Much to the surprise of his Housecarl, Resh nearly jumped out of skin when he saw a Khajiit caravan outside the city. Resh had a firm grip on his sword, ready to kill before he realised that the group weren't Ka Po' Tun like he had thought, but were their weaker Tamrielic counterpart, the Khajiit, and were just traders that wouldn't even know about the war between their distant cousins and the Tsaesci.

'Hmm, those Khajiit look delicious. Like Ka Po' Tun with more fur. I wonder if my promise to Ralof stretches so far as to include the beast races. I hope not." Resh hated Khajiit, they reminded him too much of his people's main rival.

"Resh?" Lydia asked snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Yes? Did you need something?"

"No, I was just wondering why you were staring at those Khajiit merchants."

"It doesn't matter…" Resh let out a sound that sounded like a low growl. "Remind me to stop by Riverwood when we leave."