Animal Urges - Chapter X

Chapter X -- Vengeance

Kodlak Whitemane was dead. The Silver Hand audaciously attacked Jorrvaskr, and slew him. Some escaped, and they stole the fragments of Wuuthrad, Ysgramor's battle-axe - Ysgramor, of course, being the founder of the Companions many centuries ago. Heartsick that I was not there to help defend my shield brothers and sisters, we determined that we would take revenge on them; storm their own stronghold, wipe them out, and recover the pieces of Wuuthrad. Vilkas and I accepted the charge, and I decided it was not the best idea to bring my other friends, thus I left Vilja and Lydia behind in my Whiterun house, Breezehome.

It betided that it was not much of a challenge, and so we shortly returned to Jorrvaskr, whence we attended Kodlak's funeral. Jarl Balgruuf and other citizens as well as, of course, all the Companions, listened to a eulogy from Eorlund Greymane, the Companions' smith. Following the service, Eorlund asked me to find the last piece of Wuuthrad that Kodlak had kept near, so that Eorlund could re-forge the weapon. When I did so, I found the Harbinger's journal, as well; and I admit that I felt almost no guilt as I read it. Aside from noting his wish to be cured of lycanthropy, he made mention that I should become the next Harbinger!

I would keep this to myself for the nonce, as I did not know how the others would react, my being a new Companion and still young, after all - not to mention the... social structure of the Circle that I had already grappled with. Nadja Stonearm, for one, who is not even in the Circle, resented me enough already.

Nonetheless, we needs must travel to Ysgramor's Tomb, whence the original 500 Companions from ages past lie at rest; there we will be able to complete the ritual that will free Kodlak, posthumously. Even Aela agrees that, as it was his wish, we should seek to fulfill it for him; it is the honourable thing to do.

Eorlund bestowed upon me re-forged Wuuthrad, and with it, we conquered the spirits in Ysgramor's tomb, Aela, Vilkas, Farkas, and I. Actually, it ended up being only Aela and me at the end, as Vilkas felt unworthy to proceed past the entrance, and would you believe that Farkas is afraid of spiders? Granted, they were giant, frostbite spiders, but still... Nonetheless, when we defeated the last of the ghostly ancient Companions, we met Kodlak's spirit and cured him, despite the fact that he was dead. He named me Harbinger, and Aela heard him. She did not appear too upset, but I sensed a challenge ahead nonetheless.

"Why do you delay, sister?" Aela demanded. We had returned to the entrance, whence Vilkas and Farkas told us they wanted to remain a while, 'to look at the carvings' in the old tomb or some-such. I was reluctant to leave as well, yet I noted that I had apparently graduated from 'pup' to 'sister', at least.

I am certain the Huntress knew what I was contemplating. "No reason - let us go." The hungry look she bestowed upon me made up my mind; it was all I needed to stay me from returning to the lower chamber and repeating the ritual at that time, freeing myself.

She had me pinned again, this time playfully - or so I hoped. The naked Huntress' skin shone purplish in the moonlight and by the few smoky braziers surrounding us; full, mauve-tipped breasts hung before my eyes like miniature cousins of the huge orb in the sky silhouetting her. I licked my lips, sought one or the other.

"No, not yet," Aela growled, moving out of reach of my eager mouth. "Tonight you earn your place, pup." Back to 'pup' again, I thought wryly. "Starting with patience - you must have learned some of that on the hunt. Now be still."

I decided to obey; she stood, arms akimbo, straddling me, the gap between her legs enticingly backlit by the full moon. It took almost every dram of my will to keep from squirming, never mind grabbing for her.

"Tonight," she continued, "under Masser, you will show us you are ready to lead. Kodlak thought you were, even though you are young and with us mere months. But we still have our... rituals."

I quivered in anticipation - and not a little cold in the mountaintop air; I was desert-born, not used to cold, let alone the light snow that swirled about us.

"First, the hunt." Aela stepped away from my trembling form, strode a ways off; there she stood betwixt the twins, both naked as well, infuriatingly indistinct in the moonlight - even though I knew both of their bodies well enough: broad-shouldered, heavily muscled, virtually covered in dark hair; penises hanging weightily, half-erect at least.

My heart - among other parts - quickened. This was not what I had expected, but it was no disappointment, either.

"Join us, sister," one of the men rumbled, echoed by the other and the woman.

I did so.

Continued in Chapter XI