That night, when Ylwa awoke from a long slumber, she went out and took a quick hunt, all the while trying to work up the nerve to go marching into the Companions' wooden home. Their imposing wooden home. It was a rather imposing home, wasn't it? She imagined Companions, standing strong and formidable in the doorway of their home, glaring at her for daring to come near… and then dragging her inside and tearing her to shreds.
What did the Companions do inside of that home? Surely it was something atrocious. But the Skyrim counterpart of their pack was where precious Farkas and Vilkas were staying, so she couldn't let her mind go there. She realized that she had been dawdling rather than actually trying to successfully catch some dinner. She never had been fond of the idea of throwing herself into a crowd of strangers. The night was already halfway over. They were probably all out hunting. Maybe she should just catch something, eat it, and go back home. So that is exactly what she did.
The next night, Ylwa had worked up more determination. And the fact that a few of her packmates had dragged an exceptionally large kill into the camp to share gave her no excuses to not pay the Companions a visit tonight. She quickly ate as much as her fluttering stomach would allow her to scarf down, and then headed determinedly off into the direction of the Companions' home. The packmates who had "died" were quickly trickling back in, and the pack was beginning preparations to launch an attack to move back to their usual territories. It was now or never, Ylwa told herself, as she marched right up to the Companions' house.
A few of the Companions stared at Ylwa as she approached the double doors, paused, and then walked right in.
The inside was nothing like she had expected. It was much warmer and stuffier than anything she had experienced in the Hunting Grounds. There was a large fire pit in the middle, surrounded by tables. There was food and drink on the tables, and many warriors sitting around the tables swapping stories. There were a couple of brawls going on, apparently over what she later learned was mead, which they had a severe shortage of. When Ylwa first entered the hall, her presence was not even noticed over the din of the other activities that were going on. She stood staring for a moment, mostly stunned that she had actually made it into their home successfully. After a moment, someone came slinking over from the shadows.
"You are not one of us," the woman stated.
Ylwa just stared. All of her plans had centered on getting into this building. Of course, she had run many different dialogues through her mind as to what she would say to them, but now that she was actually here, none of this was going even close to what she had envisioned in her plans.
"No," Ylwa finally responded to the woman who had approached her.
"What is your business with the Companions?" she asked.
Very formal. She must be important. Ylwa thought.
"I… um… Who is your most recent arrival?" Ylwa asked.
"Hildegarde is," the woman said, motioning another woman to come over and join them. "What business do you have with her?"
"My pack has told me that my sons, Farkas and Vilkas, were taken to live with the Companions. Could you please tell me how they are doing? Have they settled in well?" Ylwa asked Hildegarde.
"So they are your boys!" Hildegarde exclaimed. Ylwa breathed a sigh of relief at this Hildegarde's recognition. "They are fine boys! They have settled in well and are growing up to be quite strong. I can see the resemblance..." she observed, and then seemed to realize something. "Let me go get Jergen. He can tell you more." she smiled.
Jergen is here…. Not there taking care of them. They are all alone with a strange pack, Ylwa lamented. The woman who first confronted Ylwa made some small talk with her while Hildegarde fetched Jergen.
As Ylwa saw him approach - the actual, real Jergen - the one who should have been home taking care of the pups that he had STOLEN from her pack, she couldn't help but let out a snarl. Hildegarde and the other woman both quickly vanished. Jergen, sensing that this encounter was going to be unpleasant, immediately directed Ylwa to the doors and led her outside and away from the wooden building.