The camp lay still and quiet, warmed by the orange glowing coals of the fire as the last remnants of burning wood crumpled into ash. A thin cloud covered the sky like a blanket of silk in an attempt to blot out the two moons, Masser and Secunda. Despite the cloud, their prominent outline during the waxing gibbous phase of their cycle defiantly shone through, clearly showing their presence to any Man or Mer who happened to sneak a look.
A break in the clouds gave the twin moons their chance and moonlight swamped the camp. Aela, whose face was coated in the silvery light, seemed oblivious as she slept. Without any warning, the twin moons flashed like two beacons of blood, smothering the plains with the red tide.
Aela’s eyes twitched in reaction to the brief, albeit important event which passed unseen. Nearby, a pale blue ethereal humanoid walked towards her and quietly watched over the sleeping She-Wolf who was wrapped in her mate’s arms. The figure smiled to himself and whispered.
“Come, heed your master’s call”.
Despite the strange happenings around her, Aela fell into a coma like state. Her body lay near lifeless but her mind reeled with every sensation as her soul tumbled into a dream.
She was walking the plains in the early hours, her bow the only company she had. The two moons shone above her, silhouetting two stags that were in the distance. They stood as still as the trees while they grazed on the grassy tundra.
Aela’s vision fixed on her prey in a tunnel like gaze. Her surroundings seemed misty and undefined yet the two stags trapped in her sight were as clear as crystal. She could make out the soft changes in their fur’s color, their ever watchful eyes. The scents drove her wild with anticipation. A hungry smile formed as she prepared to notch an arrow.
Often she would have this particular dream, she liked having it. It made her feel safe, warm, content. She was a huntress and this is what she did.
She broke into a run as she always had. With an arrow ready to fire, she released the drawstring, sending the missile forwards as she whispered a silent prayer of thanks in Hircine’s name.
The first stag fell the moment the arrow hit its target and punched its way through the stag’s chest. The second stag broke into a run in an attempt to escape the, as yet unseen, intruder.
The scent of a she-wolf filled its nostrils and it barked in fear from Aela’s transformation. Aela had her kill, now it was Red’s turn and her hunger far outweighed Aela’s desire to kill. Red ran at full speed chasing the stag across the plains. The stag feigned a sudden dash to the left, momentarily fooling Red who turned in the undesired direction aiding in the stag’s escape.
As Red leapt the wrong way, the stag turned right at full bolt and opened up the distance between them even before Red hit the ground. The chase was on.
Her paws pounded into the dirt crushing the plants underfoot while her bright yellow eyes stayed fixed upon her prey. The stag passed a rocky out crop, seemingly slowing itself down as it circumnavigated the rough terrain.
Such ground provided Red with no impediment to her speed and she threw herself towards it with every muscle she had. With each passing second she closed the distance between her claws and fangs and the bloody flesh which she so hungrily craved.
On the brow of the small hillside, initially hidden from view, a hunter stood in wait. The hunter aspect of Hircine. He held his hand up, bringing Red to a grinding halt but her eyes stayed fixed on the stag as it ran ever farther away. Drip by drip, saliva fell from Red’s fangs forming small frothy puddles beneath her snarling maw.
“The Blood Moon falls and your prey still lives. The hunt is over, let your prey enjoy the respite… for now my hound”.
Red watched the stag in the distance as it dashed through the last of the rocks. It momentarily paused at the edge of a forest and glanced back at her, almost taunting her to continue in her pursuit. She lurched forwards a single step and the stag barked once more then ran for safety lest Red did carry on with her hunt.
The reality was such that Red wouldn’t always manage to catch the stag. It didn’t matter; it was the hunt, the chase which she lived for. A tap of a spear on Red’s shoulder drew her attention to her master. Without being told, she knew what he wanted. Aela changed back and knelt before Hircine in respect and awe.
Hircine didn’t speak, not initially. He simply pointed forwards, averting Aela’s gaze.
She found herself back at the camp, watching two figures sleep. Sotek’s arms were wrapped around Aela while her own palms rested against Sotek’s chest. The Argonian’s tail was coiled around her leg from her inner thigh to her foot.
Hircine stepped alongside her and spoke as they watched the two mates lay in each other’s arms.
“I have to admit, although you both are a bizarre pair, I’ve yet to see a better match. I’ve watched you hunt together, he has the thirst for the hunt, the kill almost as much as you”.
Aela felt a strong sense of pride to Hircine’s words. She looked down at Hircine’s bare feet and humbly whispered to him.
“Thank you Lord. Yes, he does. He gets a spark in his eyes when he tastes the blood of his prey. It’s funny in some ways. When we feast, that is, when werewolves feast on their prey, their hunger gets sated. After a few kills we still hunt, still thirst for the kill, I can’t help myself. But we stop eating. He doesn’t though, he keeps eating. It’s like his hunger has no limits, insatiable”.
She glanced down at Sotek and pondered about him further which only led to her having questions which needed answers.
“Lord Hircine, you say you’ve been watching. You have seen him, we killed some bandits last week. I fed on two, he tore into seven! I’ve never known a werewolf to gorge that much, despite of his… size. Lord Hircine can I be so bold as to ask a question?”
Hircine pointed to a chair and allowed Aela to sit down while he watched over her.
“I will grant you this favor as I am pleased with you, with your hunts”.
She left the chair behind and knelt down besides Sotek. Gently she caressed his temple and stroked it like she would a sleeping dog.
“I fear to ask for I fear your answer… yet ask I must. Lord Hircine, why do you punish him so? Each change he kills in your name, your glory yet every time he is in agony. Why must he be so roughly punished? What did he do?”
Hircine sighed and held his spear aloft in front of him as if he was weighing it. Distant memories of eons ago flooded his mind of hunts long past.
“It isn’t a case of what he did, rather what he didn’t do”.
Aela looked up in surprise and questioned him further.
“What didn’t he do?”
Hircine’s face turned sour and resolute. One single word was whispered back.
“Obey”.
Aela knew Sotek was somewhat wild, she was the same, after all they were ‘two cubs from the same litter’ at least that was how they seemed.
“Sotek said you felt threatened by Omega. You can’t be, not of him! He hasn’t got the size or the strength, even his speed is slow. When Red’s thundering across the plains she leaves him behind”.
Hircine watched Sotek sleeping and chuckled at her.
“Have you found a hound that doesn’t get left behind? Don’t tell me you’re not happy with Sotek. Don’t tell me that you expected Omega to be anything else than the hunter he is. You say he has a spark for the hunt, the kill. That’s not all he gets a spark for though, is it? I’ve seen you both… Aela lay with Sotek and I’ve seen Omega take Red as his own. Red doesn’t belong to Omega, inside you know that”.
Aela suddenly felt cold and desperate. A chill crept along her spine causing her to shudder for the icy touch of fear.
“Why Greymane? Why won’t you just let us be? We’ll hunt for you, in your name!”
Hircine’s temperament changed like the cold harsh winds of Skyrim. Aela knew the weather could switch quickly from a clear sky to a freezing blizzard. Hircine’s anger rose just as fast.
“Greymane? Ha, Greymane’s a fool. He had everything yet he sent assassins against his prey. He defied me, so I’ve sent my own assassin against him. The hound has been let loose and Greymane is now the hunted”.
His tone softened to the remnants of a gentle breeze and he turned back to Aela. She felt his hand as he stroked the head of his beloved She-Wolf.
“You want Sotek to be yours? You want Red to belong to Sotek’s wolf?”
Aela dropped to her knees and clung on to Hircine’s leg like a child desperately wanting her father’s approbation.
“Yea, yes I do!! I swear I’ll do whatever you ask”.
If ever a Daedra Lord rolled his eyes, it would have been then. Hircine sighed and sadly shook his head.
“Hold your tongue foolish hound… Like a deer your mind scatters and bounds about aimlessly. What if I said in the hunting grounds Sotek will have Red as his mate. All Red would have to do is hunt down her prey, Kodlak the Harbinger! What then would you choose? Would Red and Sotek’s wolf be together as one?”
Aela shot a terrified glance at the Harbinger. Her two worlds, the Companions, the man she looked up as her father and the freedom she felt with Sotek when they ran the plains collided with a horrendous bang, leaving her shaken while a nauseating feeling filled her gut.
Hircine was all too aware of Aela’s emotions. He laid them to rest and swiped away her fears so his hound would be more at ease. Having control was one thing, torment was another yet there were times it was needed to enforce restraint.
“Oh don’t worry, the Harbingers safe. I want something else from you. You defied me before, if you defy me again then you know your fate. Sotek won’t save you from it, no one would”.
“What is it you ask of me?”
“Sotek, he is out to kill Greymane. What I ask is simple, Greymane is to live. Heed my warning, if Sotek knows of this, or Greymane dies before his time then Red's fate is sealed. She will be Greymane’s mate in the hunting grounds. If you want everything, and you hunt in my name, then stop Sotek's werewolf from killing Greymane. Stop him from slaying his prey”.
Aela’s eyes closed as a sense of dread threatened to overwhelm her. Mind games… She couldn’t keep up. She desperately wished Sotek was privy to the conversation. He would know what was going on.
“He listens to me. I’ll make sure Greymane is left alone”.
Hircine laughed and shook his head dismissively.
“We’ll see how much control you really have over him. You had better hold him back, Sotek’s wolf… he’s a killer”.
Caution failed her yet again. Almost defiantly she glared at her lord and master.
“He don’t look like the killer you say he is!”
“Would you still love him if he was?”
“You know I love him. I’ll love him no matter what”.
Hircine chuckled as an idea came to his mind, one worthy of Sheogorath.
“You would love him if he was a rabbit? Oh no wonder Sotek takes control so easily from you. A wererabbit, an interesting thought. You have to take control, Sotek, he has his eyes fixed on his prey. A part of me is hoping you will pull this off. Don’t go thinking it will be easy, I assure you it won’t”.
Aela woke up, it was still night. The two moons shone through the thin cloud and there was no sign of Hircine. Sotek still lay sleeping, his arms and tail wrapped around her, holding her. She just laid there, thinking on what Hircine had told her. She couldn’t help but wonder why he was so concerned about Omega and why he thought she would have such a hard time stopping him from his rage taking over. Then she had one last thought, Hircine said he had his own assassin, his hunter had been sent out. Hircine don’t use assassins, he uses the great hunts.
Who is it that Hircine had released upon the world?
Who is hunting in the night?
Comments
I trod on a bit of a highwire with Aela here as I wanted the full on 'Hircine o Lord and Master' yet not lose Aela's spirit.
PM me with who you think is the Assassin.. And no, it's not Tilma.....
I think I know who Hircine's assassin is
Yes, I like the interaction with the Prince. Almost loving lord and loyal servant, but still a spark of Aela's fire
Says it all really
Well, Sotek is usually the wiser one in their pair, but something tells me that he might go against the usual just to not obey Hircine. And Aela... she's... well, Aela))
Don't answer that!
*Lissette Thanks  I have tried to give Hircine his own style which to be honest I found a lot harder than Sheogorath due to him being sane. I'm relieved ... more
In paragraph 56 you forgot the apostrophe in Red's and Sotek's.
Interesting, Hircine sent an assassin, who is it I wonder...
I have plans for them both.