Hot blood splashed through the cage bars. Aravi and Vera dismembered the bandits as easily as one might pull apart a roasted chicken.

More disturbing than the death cries were the werewolves’ noises. Darnand suspected they might contain a magical element to intensify the victims’ fear. My Birthsign makes me weak… I must not attempt to flee.

In retrospect it seemed that Salyan would have been the best choice as key holder. She appeared composed and ready to respond to whatever might occur. Darnand took comfort in her resolve.

He watched through the bars, hoping that some of the other humans would survive long enough to lead the werewolves away from their cage. The thick stench of blood and spilled bowels filled his nose. I prefer fire, he thought. The screams are the same, but fire is cleaner.

With a severed leg in her mouth, the pureborn werewolf's tail swayed back and forth as she ran around the area while chewing on the leg. For awhile she focused on nibbling on the bone until movement captured her attention once again as the commotion of the herd drew her hunger at them.

A low, deep-chested bellowing sound came from her nostrils as her nose crinkled and her teeth bared. The rest of the men ran in a single unit, fleeing toward the exit.

With tremendous force she leapt from the body beneath her feet, through the air and above and over them. She landed with a large thud in front of the craven men, and blocked their exit path. With weapons drawn they began to walk backwards as she approached them, almost savoring the fear emanating from them like the sweet scent of flesh in the air.

The she-wolf snarled at the other wolf, and that deepest, primal level of communication between lycanthropes said: Flank them.

Aravi lifted her snout from the remains of some bandit. She licked the blood from her lips, her eyes upon the last of the prey. For a moment she was content to sit and eat her fill, but then shouts filled the air. They ran for the exit, and Aravi couldn’t have that. They ran so she must chase. The other wolf blocked their exit, and Aravi knew where she must go. Working with the other wolf, the entire herd would be theirs.

She moved quickly, though silently, to the side of the stunned group. They didn’t notice her, their eyes fixed upon the other wolf as it stood blocking their path. Then a gruff voice called, and the herd organized themselves. Something had changed. One of them rallied the others, and they slowly backed away, careful to keep their guard up. It would have been difficult for the other wolf to attack them without suffering grievous wounds.

They had forgotten about her though.

With grace only a hunter of the night could possess, she crept closer to the hapless band. She got so close, she would see the whites of their eyes before she was noticed. A fearful shout and weapons were whirled to point at her.

She jerked her head back to avoid being poked by a pole arm. Then she roared.

Kayla gulped a few times, gulping down the bile that threatened to rise from her stomach. She gripped the bow tightly, her body humming with nerves and fear. She hoped the vibrations would not be too much to keep her from aiming where she wanted the arrow. She took a deep breath as she aimed, then exhaled and loosed an arrow. It planted itself in the leg of a bandit, and she cursed. She was aiming at his chest.

She then waited to see what would happen to them once the bandits were finished off.

The man holding her off with the pole arm shrieked and fell to the ground, an arrow lodged in his leg.

That was all the opening she needed.

She smashed into the formation of terrified bandits. Wide swipes of her powerful arms sent men sprawling. Fresh blood coated her claws as she tore into them. She felt blades tug at her skin, but she paid them little heed. The minor wounds would heal soon, she didn’t even feel pain.

“Back! BACK!” one of them yelled and swung a shining great sword at her. He was clad in steel plate armor. He was the leader of the group, the one that rallied the others.

Aravi caught his blade on her forearms and howled in pain. She backed out of his reach, snarling. The sword was silver, and the wound he dealt burned.

Darnand watched Aravi draw back from the leader of the bandits. Torchlight flashed on his blade and plate armor. There is at least one warrior among the rabble.

The bandit chief called for a retreat. Good, thought Darnand. Draw the wolves away from us.

He wondered if they should take the opportunity to slip out the back. The thought spurred him to speak.

“I believe that the werewolves’ roars are having an effect on me,” he murmured. “It has occurred to me that we might attempt to flee down that narrow passage. There, where the stream flows out of this cavern. But that lies within the fighting pit, and an exit surely would be secured against such attempts on the part of unwilling combatants.” He looked at his fellow inmates. “If I should lose my nerve, I hope you will prevent me from acting against the interest of our group.”

His teeth felt dry when his attempt to smile turned into a grimace, “Heh heh, nothing potentially fatal, of course.”

Darnand took a swig from his water skin, feeling desperately for the first trickle of magicka to return to that vast emptiness inside him. There is nothing so helpless as a mage without magicka. At least a disarmed fighter can still bite and kick.

His hand found his staff where it lay on the cage floor. His fingertips brushed over the deep grooves made by scamp claws. His thumb found the dent where it had halted a dremora’s overhead strike. Though the staff’s enchantment was defensive, the memory of using it brought back his resolve. Disarmed but not helpless. Still, when I test myself against a werewolf, I should not like it to be one of my allies or friends.

A grim smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “That warrior appears to have a silver blade,” he said. “I should think that one of them will disarm him shortly. I wonder how long it will take them to open his tin suit. Anyone care to wager?”

Darnand glanced between Salyan and Kayla. It was his hope that the fight would pass out of their presence, thus removing them from danger. That was the point of locking themselves within the safety of the cage, placing the burden of the hunt on the werewolves. Darnand feared for Aravi’s and Vera’s safety in their fight, but his greatest concern was that he would have to kill one of them if the hinges and lock somehow failed. Yet Kayla appeared ready to fire at the bandits again, risking drawing attention back to the caged humans and elf.

Perhaps this was not the right moment to ask if anyone had brought along cards or dice.

Aravi roared at the bandits. The one with the shining blade was a threat, and the rest of the herd gathered around him, preventing Aravi from dealing with him.

The others didn’t flee from her when she roared again. Instead, they stayed close to their leader, weapons at the ready.

The wolf circled around them, now they were between her and Vera.

Aravi probed for an opportunity. Moving closer and backing out, trying to get one of the cowards to lash out at her.

One of them took her bait, and her iron jaws clamped on his arm and pulled him out of the group. Everyone was focused on her and her wailing victim.

Vera pounced down onto the leader. Aravi slashed her victim’s throat and left him to bleed. The other bandit’s courage was smashed and they fled. Aravi ignored them and went after the horrible sword.

Her jaws closed on his hand, and she thrashed her head, breaking bones, tearing ligaments, and rending flesh. The entire hand came free with a high pitched scream of agony. Then it was over. His armor came loose under Vera’s probing claws, and without the metal plate to protect his soft flesh, he died. The others abandoned their leader to his fate.

A horrible cracking of bone echoed in the cave. Vera broke his rib cage open and her muzzle closed over his still twitching heart.

Aravi glanced at the mouth of the cave where the last of the bandits fled. She could chase them…

..Or she could get the prey that was right here. Her eyes shifted to the cage.

A low growl issued from her chest as she approached. They couldn’t escape. She just had to make a way in.

She circled the cage, looking for any weak spots.

The wolves Aravi and Vera tore the armored leader apart. Darnand watched in awe as Vera opened his chest and devoured the heart.

So it is true. His research for Abiene had convinced him that a mortal’s consciousness could be found in the brain, but the heart was obviously a source of some kind of power. Perhaps that is where the soul resides.

The cavern had gone quiet. Darnand realized that the other bandits had fled. Aravi approached their cage on silent feet. Her low growl made the hairs on his neck stand up. She circled them, her strange eyes scanning the bars.

Oh skitt.

“Salyan,” he murmured, “I will soon have enough magicka to cast a single spell. I expect the cage to hold. However if we appear to be in danger, I suggest that I might begin with a spell that will weaken her to magic. Then if you would be so kind as to attempt to Calm or Demoralize her, we might avoid doing real harm. What do you think?”

The image of the wolf Aravi wreathed in flame burned in his mind. His reading suggested that a werewolf retained its daedric form after it died. Please, not that.

“Or I might summon a clannfear for you to frighten,” he continued. “Perhaps the wolves would chase it out of the cavern. Other than that I should need to drink another potion. That would be risky but preferable to death.”

Without warning, she threw herself at the heavy iron bars, slamming into the cage with all her might.

The cage tipped, but stayed upright, and the bars remained sturdy. She tried this twice more, but a dull ache in her shoulders was the only fruit of her efforts.

Then she stood at her full height and gripping two bars in her claws, started pulling the bars in opposite directions.

Kayla jumped and let out a small yelp when Aravi threw herself against the cage. She had no experience with werewolves, and didn't think they were anything near dogs. Or wolves, even. Wolves could be tamed under the right circumstances. From what she's read, werewolves were pure instinct, complete animals, and whether their conscious selves were aware or not, they acted on that instinct alone. She'd seen that firsthand when Vera and Aravi had formed a sort of a pack with just the two of them. They both had operated on instinct.

And now her own instinct was telling her to get out of there.

But how? Opening the cage door would kill the three of them. As long as they weren't outside of this cage, they were safe. The bars were only bending ever so slightly between Aravi'a huge paws, but the fact that they moved at all unnerved Kayla. She frantically thought of a way to distract Aravi until she returned to the form that didn't want to eat her.

The thought of Aravi becoming frightened of spiders came into her mind, but she shook it off. Wolf Aravi didn't seem to be scared of anything. She wouldn't waste her magick on summoning. She wasn't skilled at that.

Poisoning her didn't seem to be a good idea, either. Most of her potions targeted the nervous systems of vampires and humans. She didn't want to kill her friend.

She was at a loss. Her only other option was to use the one Thu'um she knew, which would temporarily freeze her. It had taken her nearly ten years of study and practice to learn the word, should she use it now?

She stood up and held her hands out and gently pushed Darnand and Salyan out of the way, and stood just out of reach of Aravi's paws, which swiped at her now. She drew her sword and began prodding Aravi away from the bars, giving her cuts along the arms to push her away from the bars. Once her growling friend was far enough away, she took a deep breath. She concentrated the Word onto her friend's body, and used all of her will and force into the movement.

"IIZ!"

Ice encased Aravi's body, leaving her head and neck exposed. She would be weakened, but not by much. Hopefully enough to keep her from wanting to pursue this prey any further.

Trapped.

Cold.

ENRAGED.

Her vision blurred a second before snapping back in focus. She roared with fury as she squirmed, or tried to. Thick ice encased her body, but it was rapidly warming. A few minutes ticked by before she was able to squirm. Her vision flickered again. This enraged her more. Only blood would sustain the wolf now. With a final roar, she smashed the ice that encased her body and flew at the cage again.

Her strength intensified by desperation, she pulled the bars with all of her might, eliciting a groan from the metal bars.

Then suddenly her strength diminished. Her sense of smell became less acute. Her hearing, less sensitive, feeling almost deaf. She roared a last time, in defeat, and then in pain as her body began to change once again.

Everything shrank in size, and for a moment she felt like she was drowning. Breath became easier with time though.

Opening her eyes, she found herself naked, on her knees, her hands still clutching the iron bars of the cage.

She looked at her friends in the cage. I… I wanted to kill them. She spit blood out of her mouth. Not my blood.

She let go of the cage and fell on her side, and promptly vomited.

Kayla was overjoyed, the feeling spilling from her heart and overflowing into her face. After Aravi vomited, Kayla grabbed her arm through the cage and pulled her to safety. She was small enough to fit neatly between the bars with only a small amount of tugging.

"Come on, before Vera gets you!" Kayla pulled Aravi the rest of the way inside.

Aravi was only vaguely aware of someone’s hands yanking her though the bars of the cage. Inside, she looked up to see Kayla’s face, smiling.

How could she smile after this? Terrified faces flashed in her memory, just before she tore them to pieces, and ate their hot flesh. Some of them were still alive yet...

They were scum she knew, but the knowledge did little to help when her claws and mouth was caked with their blood. She could still taste it. It was so good. Better than moon sugar.

Now it made her sick. She vomited several more times in rapid succession, until nothing would come up. A sickly red pool spread slowly from the center of the cage, thick with blood and torn chunks of meat.

Vera chased the remaining bandits into the tunnel. The chase was her life, and the animal within wanted no other than to engage in a hunt. They were already aware of her presence. There was no stalking here, no sneaking, no guile. Just the flight and the pursuing of the quarry.

The colossal roar brought the men to a momentary halt. Even though probably knew full well what had produced the roar, the blood-curdling sound was enough to daunt even the bravest spirit. Fear overtook them, and they froze in place as she galloped down the tunnel and behind them.

The rest . . . the rest was history.

After screams and cries and the gaudy show of blood, the werewolf feasted on the remains of her prey by digging her snout into their flesh. But as it did, the bloodlust began to subside. That insatiable hunger for flesh was diminished, and for the first time since the transformation, Vera felt her conscious mind take hold.

Decades of learning and adapting, coming to terms and embracing her gift, had yielded fantastic results. For not shunning the beast, for not caging it within, she was able to unleash it, feed it and sate its hunger until her mind was of her own. With the blood blessed by Hircine himself, and her purebred existence being that of wonder, Vera saw everything through the eyes of the wolf. That red mist, that crimson haze that devoured everything that she knew she was had dissipated. Now, she was herself again.

There was still that calling, to hunt down the rest of the survivors. But Vera knew better. And she was able to reverse the shift, and once more turn to her human form again. The temptation was there. But she didn't risk it.

That, right there, was a power she had honed throughout the years and she was glad she had it.

Black fur fell from her skin, nails and teeth receded, feral eyes glowed away into a honey-amber. The massive, lupine beast was no more and in its place was Vera Castius Desselius.

The vision before her was just the same. Blood. Everywhere. All over her skin, her hair, her nails, on the ground, in her mouth. She got use to it.

She felt strong, rejuvenated. The kill had strengthened her for another night, and the consumption of the hearts had only empowered her. It was such an amazing feeling that a satisfactory moan escaped her lips as she ran her fingers over her blood-slicked hair.

Not only that.

Her eye. Her eye was completely healed. She touched it and felt no scars. No pulping flesh or immense pain.

Perfect.

Naked, Vera trotted down the tunnels with her bare feet sliding against the cold cavern floor until she reached the end of the tunnel. Ahead she saw bodies everywhere. Littering the ground.

She wasn't cleaning that up. She could spirit away a few coins, maybe a dagger or two and a quiver of arrows. But the bodies now belonged to the maggots and the scavengers. The wolf already got what she needed from them.

She stepped over limbs, a halved body, a headless corpse and all the ghastly, macabre sights that surrounded her. It didn't unnerve her. She didn't know these people. As far as she was concerned, they probably were all wanted anyway.

Up ahead even further was Aravi, reverted to her true form, regurgitating in the cell that was appeared as if it sustained quite a hit. Kayla was standing over her as blood was like a geyser from her mouth.

She's not like me, Vera realized. She must of acquired the Beast Blood from another source . . . one that can be traced to a pact, perhaps.

Vera casually walked over to them and stopped midstride. Her ear picked up a heavy hearbeat that was like the drums of war. It didn't come from the cages. It came from nearby. Only a second later did she realized one was still alive.

"Hold nothing in," Vera explained to Aravi from afar. Her rough voice echoed and bounced off the cavern walls as she knelt down over a dead body and retrieved a bow from nerveless fingers. She pulled a single arrow from a dirt-coated quiver and continued her path toward that drumming. "Let it all out. You'll feel much better."

While it was true that a dog returns to its vomit, she couldn't say the same for the cat.

She approached the source of the drumming. That one individual with a beating heart that seemed to be closer at death's edge every passing minute. It seemed only fair to put him out of his obvious misery.

His wounds were long gashes that was over his face, armor and leggings. His face was one bloody mess and it was irreognizable. It was a surprise he was still breathing and even conscious. He lay there, chest heaving ever so slightly and falling just the same. His eyes stared up, the white of them occasionally showing within those sockets.

Vera aimed the bow, placed the arrow, and pulled back. She pointed the tip at his face, just at the forehead.

She loosed it.

The heartbeat was no more.

Vera turned to Kayla, without a smile, and said. "The only thing I want from Aravi is the other half of my payment."

She nodded at Aravi. "The only thing I can provide for you besides my services is my gratitude."

She looked at Darnand and Salyan, and loaded another bow into the arrow. "And I want your discretion, of course."

Darnand stared in shock as Aravi vomited up a spreading pool of red liquid and flesh. Blood caked her hair and fur. She lay shivering on the cage floor.

Darnand reached for his cloak to cover her, but he had left it outside the cave. Instead he wordlessly offered her his waterskin. Does she need healing? Gods, with all that blood how could we tell?

Vera strode back into the cavern looking stronger than ever. Both eyes gleamed golden and healthy. Darnand filed that information away in his mind as he unlocked their cage.

The stream flowed fast and strong through the fenced-in fighting pit. He guessed that Aravi and Vera would want to wash, and they might avoid a tedious trek back through the bodies if an exit lay beyond the pit.

Vera’s actions reminded him that he had responsibilities with the dead. He moved to the pit’s framed metal door, calling an Unlock spell to his mind. Then he remembered the key in his hand. I should conserve my magicka. Perhaps this key will fit.

“And I want your discretion, of course,” Vera said. She stood naked with a bow in hand, nocking an arrow.

Darnand turned and looked behind him to see what she was planning to shoot. “You have my discretion,” he told her. Abiene must know of Aravi’s condition. However this is a poor time to ask.

The pit’s gate swung open on well-oiled hinges. “I shall light a fire,” he said. Aravi looked in great distress, and he was ill-equipped to offer comfort. He hoped his actions might speak instead.

It took little time to smash up some chairs and get a fire blazing beside the stream. Rather than enjoy its warmth he turned away to the shredded bodies. “I shall examine the dead,” he said. “If there is enough left of anyone, I shall put them to rest.”

The invocations to Arkay rose to his lips without effort. He began to murmur as he walked toward the first pitiful pile of flesh.

Kayla rubbed Aravi's back comfortingly, ignoring the grime on the Khajiit's fur.

"Shhhh. You're okay. You did great. Let it out. Let it all out." She didn't kneel, not wanting the crimson pool to soak into her armor.

"There's a hot spring nearby, you two. I'm sure you...smelled it? Can you smell that sort of thing? Anyways, it's about a half mile east. We can all scrub down there."

The cool, damp air of the cave made her shiver. She laid on the floor of the iron cage in her own vomit, feeling as weak as a kitten. Her muscles ached, her head spun, her eyes closed tight against it all.

The world around her seemed far away for a moment. Her heart pounded in her ears as she took rapid shallow breaths.

She heard sounds of people around her. Vera’s voice… She spoke to her and the others. Aravi said nothing in response, though another dry heave put Vera’s words to action.

A hand on her back let her know someone, Kayla was still with her. She curled into a tight ball and shivered.

The smell of smoke roused her.

“Fire... Help me to the fire. I’m cold.”

Strong hands helped her up, and guided her to the fire. She felt too sick to care that she was completely naked.

After a few minutes at the fire she asked, “Where is the spring? And... Thank you.” She smiled at Kayla weakly, still feeling queasy.

Kayla lifted her up at her request and brought her bear the fire. She then sat by Aravi, away from the vomit. "A half mile east. It shouldn't take us less than a half hour to reach it. Lie your head on my lap, if you want. Rest." She gave Aravi a sympathetic look. "And you're welcome. Anything for a friend."

Aravi wanted nothing more than to sleep for hours, using Kayla as a pillow as offered. But…

“I shouldn’t. My stomach is still unsettled, I wouldn’t want to get that on you.”

She looked around at the others. Darnand was putting the dead to rest. Why did I do that? Why did I transform? Now they all know I’m a monster. Her nakedness was almost trivial in comparison. She couldn’t even bring herself to go over there and see what she had wrought. We could have ran, she told herself, though she knew that wasn’t truly an option.

Vera looked more powerful than ever. She seemed to thrive in the destruction of life. At another time, that would have horrified Aravi. Now, she was merely glad that the huntress was on her side. Who was she to judge the other woman? This also may explain why the woman is the way she is.

Salyan hadn’t said a thing. Aravi couldn’t read her. She felt the same as she felt about Darnand, though this wasn’t sure what would come of it. Darnand would keep her secret. Would Salyan?

Kayla she knew, would. The elf’s kindness meant a lot to her, especially now. She wanted to hug her, but she didn’t. She was a total mess after all.

“As soon as Darnand is done, we should find that spring. Umm… could you help me dress?” she asked Kayla embarrassedly. “My balance isn’t back yet.”

Kayla nodded and helped Aravi up. She used her body to shield Aravi's from Darnand's eyes, though to the mage's credit, he did his duty as a priest without so much as a glance in Aravi's direction. Kayla picked up Aravi's armor and let the small Khajiit lean on her. They were nearer to the cage and further from the fire, away from earshot from anyone.

"I'm sure you've guessed it, but I'm in the Cult of Meridia." Kayla said. At Aravi's questioning look, she smiled.

"Super secret thing. Only a handful of members. We're down to about twenty in total now. Since I know a secret about you that could threaten your life, I thought it was only fair that you'd know one about me. I wouldn't tell your secret for anything in the world, but just in case you were afraid I would, now you have something over me." She finished helping Aravi dress.

"In case things aren't clear for you, I'm Meridia's sword hand. Hence Dawnbreaker. Not everyone likes daedra, so it's up to your to keep this hushed for me, alright?"

Aravi mimed turning a key in front of her mouth, to show that Kayla’s secret was safe.

“Meridia… That’s why you’re a vampire hunter. She hates the undead. Why is there so few of you?”

She finished dressing with help, and felt a little better that she wasn’t naked anymore. At least I’ve stopped shivering.

“I’m going to have to wash this at the spring. I feel disgusting.”

The side of her face was caked with clotted blood and other fluids. This was interrupted on her neck and continued on her chest, stomach, and legs. Her fur was already sticking to the inside of her armor as the blood dried more. She was going to lose some hair when she took it off again.

"Killed off. They send us after the most feral vampires. You want some ginger root for your stomach?" Kayla began rifling through her bag. "I have some in here somewhere..."

Killed off? That was disheartening. "I'm sorry."

That also meant that she really couldn't quit either. If she gave up, there weren't many others.

To Kayla's offer she said, "I'll wait until we get to the spring." She held out her hands, showing the mass of red that encased them.

Aravi changed the subject, happy to have something to distract her from the slaughter.

"So that sword is Dawnbreaker? That is a mighty weapon. I have read of it, but I didn't think I'd get to see it."

Kayla grinned. "Just wait til you see it make a vampire explode. It's great. Come sit by me near the fire. I think Darnand might be finished in a little bit."

Aravi smiled weakly at that, and sat next to Kayla. "I would like to see that sometime. How did you come to wield such a weapon?"

She thought of her own blades. One steel with a fire enchantment, and the other silver. It was somewhat ironic that she carried a silver weapon, but it was useful against the undead as well as werewolves. Not as powerful as Dawnbreaker...

Darnand reached the end of the carnage and kept going. His cloak and pack lay outside the cave. It took less time than he expected to retrieve them.

Outside the cave’s entrance he washed his hands and face in the freezing pond. Then he stood for a long moment looking out toward the volcanic tundra. Kayla’s hot springs must lie in that direction. He let his breath out in a long sigh, then turned back to the filth and reek of the cave.

Back at the fire Aravi had gotten dressed. Darnand walked past at a polite distance so as not to interrupt the conversation. His earlier speculation had been correct. A metal grate and door sealed off the stream’s exit from the fighting pit. A broad path was visible beside it. The lock opened with the cage key.

Darnand walked back over to the fire still wearing his cloak and pack. Aravi looked stronger now. Kayla was by her side in the manner of a close friend. Still, what he had to say should wait for privacy. He kept the pack over his shoulder, indicating that he was ready to depart.

"That's a long story. Un a nutshell, the former weilder had died, and she needed a champion. I passed the test, and she gave it yo me."

There was more than that. She remembered the short she had told Irvana, how they had given her to Meridia as a child. She shuddered.

Aravi didn't press the other woman for details. She had other thoughts on her mind. Looking up, she saw Darnand was ready to go.

"We should go, I really want to bathe. Help me up?"

Kayla smiled and helped Aravi up, letting the smaller woman lean on her for support when she needed it. One everyone had gathered their things and any extra septims the bandits might have had, she lead them due east to a small bubbling hot springs near a copse. The trees leaned towards the steaming water, giving the area a lazy, relaxed look. The sun was shaded from the faces of the adventurers.

"I think Aravi and Vera need a wash more than us, so unless we're all going to cast aside our inhibitions and get nude together, I'll start a fire for those of us who aren't bathing. I'm starving."

A quick check of her pack reminded her that she had no food that needed to be cooked, but the fire would be useful in drying out their clothes. She grabbed some dried meat and began chewing on it while she gathered wood.

When they got to the springs, Kayla started gathering wood for a fire.

“I’ll begin, but it will take me a long time to get the blood out of my fur. Someone else can come in after I get under the water. I won’t peek.”

She would rather not share, but she also had to be conscious of their time. She didn't want to force everyone else to wait an hour while she scrubbed her fur.

Aravi wasted no time seating herself at the edge of the water, and carefully undressed herself. The dried blood stuck to the inside of her armor, stinging pain let her know where she lost bits of fur.

As soon as she was nude again, she eased herself into the waters. She gasped at the heat, it really was hot! Currents from the rising water made it difficult to see clearly, giving her some measure of privacy.

She began working through her fur with her claws, scrubbing and pulling filth from her body. Soap that she had gotten from her pack was then applied after the worst was gone to cleanse what was left.

Darnand put his pack against a tree. Inhibitions. Now that Kayla mentioned it, he supposed that the others might have some.

“I shall stand watch,” he said. He cast a life detection spell and moved away with his back to the springs, keeping within sight so they would know he wasn’t sneaking back to ogle them.

The warm sand allowed fruit and flowers to grow while nearby the ground was covered with snow. Jazbay grapes and red mountain flowers were of particular interest. Mixed with moon sugar they made a powerful potion to restore, regenerate, and fortify one’s magicka. Darnand kept his eyes up searching for danger while he gathered the alchemical ingredients. He was prone to hyper-focus, and it would not do to let a pack of wolves amble up to the bathers while he picked flowers and grapes.

Vera collected her personal belongings; armor, gauntlet, grieves, knives, and helmet. She geared up and followed the rest of them through the cavern and toward the springs. Aravi and Kayla were very close. Salyan was as mute as ever. Darnand might have felt left out in the company of all these women, and he kept mostly to himself as he went off to do . . . well . . . whatever the hell mages do.

They arrived and Aravi was the first to get in the hot springs. Vera wasn't in much of a hurry. Lycus had built a sauna in his cottage in Falkreath Hold, just within the wilderness, secluded from civilization. It came as a popular leisure in Cyrodiil but it had gone and went the same as it was in Skyrim. She had to admit that heat and water was a fantastic way to cleanse one from physical impurities.

After the khajiit went in, Vera followed a few minutes later. She didn't really care for Darnand's respectful actions toward her and the other woman's nakedness. Only because she was use to being seen naked.

But still, deep inside, she felt relieved. She wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea, especially being on the job.

Vera entered the hot spring and the water was hot upon her skin, but yet it was soothing. She submerged herself in the steaming waters, and began to scrub the dirt and filth from her hair, and the rest of the stains on her body. Red and brown mixed together to taint the water beneath them, only to be cleared as bubbles carried away the dirt.

It was just the two of them. Vera decided to make conversation. Aravi, despite her differences, was still a lycanthrope. She shared the blood of the wolf. She earned Vera's respect, and thus deserved a bit of attention.

She wasn't human. That was a plus.

"You killed well today. Blood will be in the air for long. I'm assuming you didn't acquire the gift through a scratch," Vera said. "The Companions?"

Vera approached the spring, and Aravi turned to give the other woman some privacy while she got in. Even though they had just seen everything of each other in the cave not long ago.

She kept scrubbing away at her fur. Matted chunks of her fur mixed with blood floated on the surface of the water. She picked out the larger ones that were in reach, tossing them out of the pool. The blood had nearly totally dried by the time they got there, and it was so difficult to get out now. Vera was just as messy as she was, but for a moment Aravi envied the other woman’s lack of fur. It must be so much easier to get clean…

“You killed well today. Blood will be in the air for long. I'm assuming you didn't acquire the gift through a scratch. The Companions?”

Aravi turned her head to look at Vera. The other woman was calmly washing, her eyes fixed Aravi.

“Yes it was from them, how did you know? How did you know I was a lycanthrope? Did someone tell you?”

Only Abiene knew...

“How did you get your,” she screwed up her face, but used Vera’s word anyways, “your gift?”

Vera felt a piece of flesh stuck in her teeth, but she made no efforts to remove it. She didn't think the others would take kindly to her pulling out leftovers. Though she had to admit they seemed . . . normal about it. None were too traumatized. Especially that other one.

Aravi had trouble cleansing the blood from her fur. Vera was thankful she wasn't born a khajiit. There was only certain times she could grow fur. She couldn't stomach the idea of having it every time.

Upon asking Aravi of the origin of her lycanthropy, the feline woman seemed surprised that Vera was even aware of her gift. “Yes it was from them, how did you know? How did you know I was a lycanthrope? Did someone tell you?”

Vera felt the need to scrub something just beneath her foot. "I know their blood when I smell it," she explained. It was like how many could smell the different scents of fruit, though knowing they belonged to the same family but were different types. She supposed all dogs had the same smell, but most were different. "I worked with the Companions before. I was a member of the Circle for a short time. Their blood is passed down to honorary member throughout generations. It made sense you got what you have from them."

She flicked away a chunk of meat floating near her shoulder. "I can smell my own kind. No one told me. They don't need to tell me things for me to figure them out."

Aravi disfigured her face when she said the word "gift" and Vera instantly figured she wasn't too enamored with the idea of having the beastblood. She knew how to read people. She's seen that same expression before on the faces of those who wanted a cure or didn't think of their lycanthropy as a completely beneficial thing.

"For me it was hereditary," Vera said casually. "I was born into the world, and the blood was dormant within me for sometime until the day it blossomed."

She left out the fact that she was the last living pure member of the Castius family. But Aravi's facial revelation of disdain did bother her.

"I'll be honest with you. I can tell when Hircine's favor is upon someone. Surely you know the Daedra have no patience with the fickle. You may have the beastblood but it doesn't mean you enjoy the nature of it. You may find me the most unpleasant person in Nirn, but I guess I ran out of cares to give. Still, I respect those who have the blood and know how to use it."

Vera's tone wasn't condescending, nor aggressive, but it came light and smooth. "I don't know why you accepted it, but don't be so sure that its going to be over when someone forces a sword through your heart."

She whispered. "By now you know what happens to us when we die. We may live long but we all owe life a death. We will all die someday. You don't want Hircine to drag your ass to Oblivion when you're not entirely so sure of yourself . . . or if you're miserable with this condition. Word of advice. Seek a cure, lest you want to find out if you're hunter or prey in the afterlife."

Kayla leaned against the tree next to Darnand and helped him keep watch.

"You doing okay?" She looked his way, her face full of concern.

“I know their blood when I smell it…”

“I can smell my own kind…”

“…Daedra have no patience with the fickle..”

“…if you are miserable with this condition... Seeks a cure, lest you want to find out if you are hunter or prey in the afterlife.”

Aravi absorbed Vera’s words. She kept washing, but her mind was elsewhere. Vera’s final statement was perhaps the most powerful to her. She remained quiet for some time.

I do not want to go to Hircine’s hunting grounds when I die…

I do not want to be a vampire either.

She took the curse of the beast blood to be rid of another curse. Which is worse? At the time, she reasoned that lycanthropy was the lesser evil. She could remain her own woman except when the beast was out. Vampirism… that changes who you are.

Or at least that’s what she thought. Maybe they weren’t so different. I am chained to a master yet.

She had stopped washing at some point when Vera was talking. She began again, gritting her teeth as some fur pulled out with the blood.

“I do not enjoy this… gift. I took it not for the power to transform, but the side effects of being a lycanthrope.

How did you get used to it? I’ve seen my share of death, I’ve killed with my claws before I had the beast blood, but this… this is different.”

Vera knew full well that Aravi didn't take to lycanthropy. She just waited to hear her say the words herself. And she did. Vera's response was a simple nod of acknowledgement. She didn't agree with the khajiit woman and her ideals, but she didn't necessarily look at the woman with disdain. Not entirely. Her only concern was that she was, in a way, abusing the gift.

She uses part of it to her advantage, but doesn't accept the reality. There must be no middle ground.

"Lycanthropy seems into the spirit," Vera explained. "Its an ongoing process. Some are affected by it more than others. We may be faster, stronger and have a greater sense of smell and instinct than normal people and no disease can touch us . . . but our minds can change. You may not feel it now but give it a few years and you'll realize that slowly that animal part of you grows. Its up to you to decide if you want that in your conscious."

"How did you get used to it? I’ve seen my share of death, I’ve killed with my claws before I had the beast blood, but this… this is different.”

Vera shrugged at Aravi's question. "I've had a knack for violence ever since I was a lass. I didn't know I had the beastblood in me, but I suspected something was different about me. Couldn't go a day without wanting to bash someone's skull in or tear at them. I didn't feel I belonged in normal society, and trust me, I tried. Wasn't before long that I found out what I am the hard way. My first prey was someone I hated . . . and she was pregnant. I took her life, and the child. My unborn step-sibling. Soon after I lost count. So many faces passed, so many lives taken that I became numb. I became use to the pain so much that in the end I felt it no more. I learned to embrace what I am, because I couldn't find fault in how I was born."

She scoffed with a bitter laugh. "You can say my remorse has gone on short supply."

A melancholy sigh came from Vera's lips as she took her eyes off Aravi and gazed out to nowhere in particular. "This is different because the people you kill sometimes don't deserve it. You think a sickly elk or a calf deserves to be torn apart to feed the hunger of a wolf? That it isn't fair for them to feel the agony of being devoured? It doesn't really matter, does it? Because it happens. Its the law of the hunt. The essence of what it means to be a predator and what it means to be prey. Its a part of life."

Lycanthropy isn't for everyone. You and me, we've seen our share of death. But our existence is against what others established as 'mundane'. We're a direct challenge to the natural order of things. Abominations, in their eyes. We shift into beasts, we kill without a second thought. Once your mind belongs to the animal inside . . . whatever human mindset you have is history."

Vera wasn't much for talking, but she saw fit to make her point. She wouldn't repeat it again. She looked at Aravi and nudged her head to Kayla and Darnand. "Your friends over there were lucky. You could've killed them today and they might have even killed you, just like Kayla took her friend's life. I got use to what I am because the friends I had died because of what I was. I realized that everyone in this world who is not what I am, is either an enemy or prey. Its simple as that. I'm not living in this world to be someone's bitch or surrender to their laws or to forge friendships with people who I'll kill or be killed by. But you?" Vera raised a brow. "You have people who care for you and people who might love you. Save yourself some pain. Slay the wolf inside, and you'll prevent certain misery from ruining your life and an eternity of regrets."

Kayla joined Darnand. “You doing okay?”

“Indeed. I did not suffer injury.”

Kayla’s expression hinted that he may have missed her point.

“Oh, I see. Yes, and I thank you for your concern. I suppose my dreams may be a bit more colorful for a time, but we all survived the day. That thought will bring me peace.”

It was not in his nature to confide, but Darnand was aware that talking after a traumatic event sometimes eased the minds of others.

“Kayla,” he began. Then he visually swept the area for approaching danger before returning his full attention to the Altmer. “I will never forget the way you cared for Aravi in the aftermath of her transformation. A person who could call you friend is among the most fortunate of souls.”

He glanced back over the horizon before giving her a wry smile. “If you will excuse my outpouring of emotion.”

Vera and Aravi were still in the hot springs. Dried sweat, spider webs, soot, and splashes of blood itched on a variety of Darnand’s surfaces and crevices, some certainly inappropriate to scratch. He ran his fingers under the back of his collar wondering how long it would be before he could get into the water. Perhaps Kayla would not share the Imperial sense of modesty. Darnand would not hesitate to shuck off his robe and jump into the pool in the presence of any company, but he found himself unwilling to suggest it.

“How do you fare, Kayla?” he asked.

Darnand seemed to be faring better mentally than she was. She was used to seeing people twisted into a former shadow of themselves, but she had never seen them come back from it, trembling and mewling like a kitten. She was too tired to wonder if that statement was racist due to Aravi being a Khajiit, and instead focused her brainpower on her answer.

“Kayla,”His eyes traveled away from her momentarily. “I will never forget the way you cared for Aravi in the aftermath of her transformation. A person who could call you friend is among the most fortunate of souls.”

He gave her a wry smile. “If you will excuse my outpouring of emotion.”

That earned a bark of laughter from her, and she gently slapped his arm. He then asked how she was faring. She sighed.

"I won't lie," she lowered her voice so the two wolves wouldn't hear her. "The moment she transformed, I wished I had never seen it. I wished she had kept it a secret. When she began to rattle the cage, my mind was filled with the complete certainty that it would either be me or her. I thought it was going to be a repeat of history, that I was going to kill a friend tonight. But she changed back. She changed back to Aravi, and I couldn't help myself.

"It's just something that I've got to work through, you know? Knowing that's part of her. She's the same Aravi that she was before I knew, just something else about her is added. She saved me by coming after me. Granted, you all did, but she didn't give up on me. I have so few real friends that I can trust, and I knew before she was one worth trusting. This doesn't change a thing. Not for me."

She cleared her throat and laughed. "Forgive MY outpour of emotion, mage!" She laughed again and took off her gloves.

"Good gods, I have blood and dirt in places where it shouldn't be! Considering you've seen me in nearly nothing, i think we can skip the embarrassment and you, myself, and Salyan can get in the springs when they're done. Just don't expect me to wash your back." She winked at him. "Or maybe I will, if you ask nice enough!"

She laughed again.

“Yes, I might have killed them… I wanted to kill them.” And them me.

Her eyes dropped to her hands. There was still blood on them. It will always be there though even when she cleans it off. She tried to not transform where innocents may be killed, but there was never really any way for her to know. Sometimes the hunt takes her miles away. There’s no way to know.

The knowledge that it will start changing who she was, seeping into her mind, was disturbing as well. She looked at Vera again. Bitterness. Cynicism. Disregard. Aravi didn’t want to turn into that.

She did have more understanding of why Vera was the way she was. Killing her step-mother and her unborn child. Her friends. Perhaps she has no heart, because it’s been torn out repeatedly.

Or perhaps there’s more animal than person there…

“I need to think about this. Thank you for your wisdom. I have not been able to discuss this with anyone. The Companions shared nothing of this with me.

And for what it’s worth… I’m sorry for your losses.”

She returned to her washing. All that was left now was her back, if it needed it.

“Is there any blood on my back?” She turned so that Vera could look.

Vera examined Aravi with a careful eye, and saw that her concern was genuine. She couldn't blame her. After giving her thanks, Vera just nodded at her and settled to washing the back of her ears. She gazed up once more, and said a final word on the subject. She felt Aravi said all that needed to be said. "Don't think too long. If you truly want to cure yourself, don't be afraid to seek Lycus out. He will be more than happy to help someone in need. Someone like us. He will be far better help than I am."

And that was saying something. Lycus was deeply immersed in the ways of the beast, and could trace his own blood, gifted to him, through the start of ages. His wisdom was greater, his patience was, too. And he could relate to many things.

"You don't have to be sorry," Vera said. "Dead is dead. We lose, but we gain so much more."

Aravi was concerned with completely erasing all trace of the bloodshed. Vera obliged to her need.

"Just above your right shoulder," Vera noted. "Close to the nape of your neck."

Darnand felt his cheeks flush as he looked down at his toes. Despite his adherence to Jerric’s strength-building routine, he doubted that his magely physique would inspire offers of back-scrubbing. He appreciated Kayla’s jesting nonetheless.

“If Salyan does not object, then. Thank you.”

He scanned for danger again, but found none.

“It seems odd after the events we have recently witnessed, but I am hungry enough to eat a horker. Do you suppose it will upset Aravi’s stomach if we prepare a meal?” He guessed that Vera would not need to eat for some time. The thought did not bear expression. “Should we camp here for the night? I am not familiar with the area, and I have found that many of Skyrim’s smaller settlements are not marked on my map.”

Aravi peered over her shoulder, twisting her neck and bringing her shoulders forward. She could feel it with her fingers though…

Lycus. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk to him. But if he had the information she needed, perhaps she should.

A few minutes later she was satisfied. No more blood could be felt where Vera said it was.

Next was her armor. She didn’t want to wear it again until it was clean. The smooth plates and leather was much easier to clean, and it only took a few minutes.

She regretfully hoisted herself out of the hot spring and checked her bag for clothes. Being soaking wet, she decided to wear only her loincloth and a top, leaving much of her fur bare.

Kayla and Darnand were talking together, and Aravi decided to not disturb them. Instead she went to the fire and let the heat dry her fur. The warmth and inactivity made her realize how tired she was. And hungry, but mostly tired.

She drifted off to sleep…

We should be safe camping here," Kayla said to Darnand's question. She turned her head to see Aravi sit by the fire She smiled at her friend, and turned back to Darnand. "There are several settlements, but most of them don't have any rooms. They're mostly mills or single homes for those brave enough to be out here alone."

Her stomach growled. "I could really use something thick and meaty, like a stew. Something to fill me up for a while." she turned her head to see Aravi dozing.

"I think it's best if we just rest for now. Set up watch like before. Vera and I can build shelters. We're still far south enough that the snow won't be much of an issue."

We are very, very close to Alcassar, she realized. That thought alone darkened her mood. That's another secret I've got.

"There's no reason to go anywhere. We've got food, warmth, kindling, and protection. Let's just stay here."

“An excellent plan.” Darnand started toward the hot springs. “I have another packet of frost-dried food, but I must confess that the likelihood it contains rat meat is regrettably high. Jerric assembled the last one while I was not observing him.”

Darnand decided to scrape as much residue from his robe as possible and leave the laundering for professionals. If he rinsed out the undergarments he was wearing he would have enough clean for the trip home. As long as he had one presentable robe for camp and inn use he could wear the soiled one on the road.

He put his thoughts to action, skinning out of his robe and leggings without discussion. The water was hot enough to make him hiss then stifle a groan as his tender parts got used to it.

Darnand did not travel with an array of personal care products. He used the same soap to wash, shave, and clean his socks. The cloudy water drifted away with the current. He tossed his bundle of wet clothes onto a rock and leaned back to enjoy the water.

Kayla looked through her bag, running her fingers over the smaller bottles until she found what she was looking for; a clean set of underwear and her soaps. She felt a twinge of apprehension as she pulled her armor off, shucking the chitin quickly then dipping it into the steaming water. She set it near the fire, by Aravi, then she got a mischievous look on her face, training her eyes on Darnand's back.

She set her bottles near the edge of the water, then tackled Darnand's back, propelling him forward. the water was a olt to her cold skin, but a welcome one. When they both came up sputtering, she laughed loudly, one hand over her mouth, and the other pointing to his soaked form.

"How's that fr a washed back?"

Darnand floundered to the surface, coughing. Kayla’s laugh let him know he was not under attack even before he swiped the hair out of his eyes.

“Heh heh,” he said. “Washed and rinsed, I should think.”

Darnand eyed her uncertainly. Does she expect me to grapple her in return? He could not see a suitable place to grip.

Instead he hauled himself out of the pool and arranged his laundry to dry on the rocks. The sun combined with a warming spell kept the chill from his skin.

A tangle of orange roots caught his eye. Creep cluster. He stopped himself from executing a naked scramble over the rocks. Perhaps later. I should also like to procure some Dragon’s Tongue of the Skyrim variety. The Fortify Illusion effect will be a boon to Lildereth.

Darnand ran his hands through his hair, separating the strands to dry in the sun. He should not let his mind wander in the wood elf’s direction until he had put on some pants.

“I hear a waterfall,” he said to Kayla. “Is there a deep pool beneath? Perhaps we might catch some slaughterfish to grill.” He brought a lightning spell to his hand with a smile, letting electric arcs snap and dance over his fingers. “I am quite good at fishing.”

Vera sat by the stone with nothing but a huntsman's vest and leather pants. Her arms, stomach and shoulders were bare, offering much needed movement. Aravi had drifted off into Vaermina's realm somewhere and the others . . . Vera looked over her shoulder to see hear a splash and some laughter. She heard bits of conversation in the air and came to the conclusion that the Breton and the Altmer were entertaining themselves.

If they didn't fight as good as they did, she would have thought them adults stunted at growth. Or maybe I'm too much of a hard-ass.

Vera wasn't tired. Not yet. She was completely and utterly strengthened and she was hungry again. It is a miracle she doesn't get plump. Then again, she's always running.

She leaned to the side and grabbed her array of knives she hid beneath the bush. She chose the suitable blade for it, concealed it and dangled the sheathe on her belt. She didn't even know why she took a bath. She would just get sweaty and bloodied once more. She couldn't entrust the others with bringing in game. Since her transformation they may be expecting her to catch the food just as she did when she first arrived. Meanwhile, they can skip rocks and hold hands in the sunset . . .

Vera cracked a smile. Amusing.

What to hunt? What to hunt? Maybe I can save myself some trouble and put a few arrows inside a few chickens. Hopefully the farmers would be inside for supper.

She was in the mood for goats. She remembered seeing a family of them by the mountain pass a few miles off. Hopefully there were more. She could bring in two or maybe three if someone went along with her. Roast the meat in the fire . . . her mouth watered just at the thought of it, despite knowing not long ago she decorated the cavern chamber with the bodies of a group of renegades.

She climbed to her feet, stretched her arms high and walked away from the sound of playfulness towards a more serene atmosphere of Aravi sleeping by the fire. The serenity was ultimately destroyed when Vera kicked Aravi's foot with the tip of her toe. "I'm going hunting again for food."

Vera stared at Aravi and then turned and walked away. "You can tag along if you like," she said, and then heard Kayla and Darnand laughing in the distance. "Or you can stay and babysit the infants."

Aravi was jolted into wakefulness. I fell asleep, didn’t I?

“I’m going hunting again for food. You can tag along if you like. Or you can stay and babysit the infants.”

She looked around. Darnand and Kayla were goofing around together in the spring. Her brows climbed when she saw they were both nude. She wasn’t so much surprised by Kayla but by Darnand.

“I’ll get my bow,” she decided quickly. She called to Kayla and Darnand, telling them that she and Vera were going to bring back some food.

When she caught up with Vera after retrieving her bow and quiver, she asked, “What are we hunting?”

Kayla laughed at Darnand and gently shoved him, careful to not make him stumble or slide on the mud.

"You mages, always taking the easy way out!" She teased. Her stomach growled loudly, and she pursed her lips and frowned. "But that sounds delicious right now. That jerky didn't do a thing for my appetite."