Unfinished Business VI

"If I can't control you, how can I trust you to not harm those I care about? To not wantonly slaughter innocents for the slightest provocation?" I ask as they continue circling me.

"Why must you concern yourself with others? Why won't you just accept my power like the others and let me be free?" The abyss echoes with exasperation.

"Because I have ambition. An ambition that may one day unite all of Tamriel… And unchecked rage will always destroy the plans I lay and I can't allow that to happen when those plans are necessary to keep my friends and family safe." I counter as the eyes stop circling me and stand still.

"We must begin somewhere if we are to move forward. You sought my power… Now you must trust me. We must become one or forever be at each other's throats guarding against the next one's attack." The abyss says, issuing its ultimatum.

I'm left there, staring into its eyes in silence…

We wait for what feels like hours as I try and discern the beast's intentions, but all that meets me is the gaze of a solitary predator trying to determine if what stands before it is food or foe…

Until I simply nod and close my eyes. Waiting to see if they will take this chance to try and end my life, ready to resist if need be.

I feel the abyss shake as the beast draws closer… Their warm breath washing over me…

Then I feel a great *crack* reverberate throughout my very core and open my eyes to see my pack staring at me as if nothing had happened.

But I no longer feel like me… I am not the beast either… Nor am I even Taruuk… But, I feel whole, like my mind isn't about to tear itself to shreds.

I look down and see my clawed hands, flexing my fingers, the motion is smooth like a flowing creek. Whereas before when I would shift everything was rushed, frantic, and completely out of control, like raging rapids. Now, I'm like a wide river, calm on the surface with bounding power just beneath the surface.

I place my hand against my chest and feel my heart beating steadily like a mighty war drum.

"New Blood, time to hunt." I feel Skjor tell me but his mouth isn't moving.

It's as if his every motion and twitch speaks volumes, despite nothing more than a low growl escaping his lips.

His presence alone evokes a strong sense of trust and respect for his strength and power.

And with his order, I feel compelled to run…

And run we do, we bound across the plains…

Deep into the forest…

High into the frosty mountains, of the north of Skyrim, we run for what feels like hours over a distance that would've taken a horse several days to travel. With the moons still high in the night sky we enter a small culvert with an outlying medium fortress near the edge of the mountain.

As we near the structure two torches light's illuminate the exterior, one outside the entrance and the other standing alone atop the structure.

"Aela. Take the archer. Farkus. Take the one nearby. New Blood. Breach. I got your back." Skjor conveys with a series of low growls and quiet barks.

As we all make light yips in affirmation.

We slowly stalk forward, slinking ever closer toward our prey…

Aela goes behind the small fort and up a staircase, while Farkus gets in position. As I stand still in the darkness awaiting Skjor's order.

A piercing howl tears through the night signaling us all to act.

Aela leaps from the top of the fort, taking the archer with her by their throat.

Farkus bounds across the front and swipes his claws across the other Silver Hand knocking them aside.

And I begin charging forward with all my might, barreling through the door, sheering it from its hinges, and riding it down the stairs into an open room with three paths forward.

The one to the right has collapsed, while two Silver Hands are charging down the middle corridor, weapons raised.

With a few swipes of my claws, I'm able to tear them to shreds before they can even land a blow on me as I hear the rest of my back charge down the staircase behind me.

Skjor growls in approval before leading us down the left corridor.

Skjor tears into the room attached to the hall we are traveling down with Farkas, slaughtering the Silver Hands in there with ease.

Leaving me and Aela alone...

She slowly approaches me, sniffing the air with each step.

When she finally arrives at me... We lock eyes as I sense a hunger from her, a desire... And she starts to nuzzle me. Her substantial werewolf form was dwarfed by my much larger one.

Though the moment is broken when the slaughter nearby is ended and I feel Farkas laughing.

"Enough puppy love. Let's hunt!" Farkas barks out driving us further down the tunnel.

We enter a large room split into two levels. We emerge on the lower easily overwhelming the lone Silver Hand on each level with the increased space allowing us to coordinate with greater mobility.

From there we follow the next corridor into what seems to be a makeshift bunk area with several beds and one poor heavily sleeping fool.

I take my claws and rip open his unprotected chest to devour his still-beating heart before we head into what seems to be the kitchen.

With an abundance of food and other supplies strewn about haphazardly.

Farkas and Aela deal with the two Silver Hands who were enjoying a late-night snack before they even had a chance to defend themselves.

And as the two enjoy their own late-night snack, Skjor motions towards a series of metal bars blocking the entrance into a cellar and barks out, "Break!"

And I happily oblige, I brace myself against the ground before wrapping my claws around the bars and with all my might tearing them out of their mounts clearing the path for us to advance down into the cellar.