U.O.T.W. Chapter 168 Demons in the Dark

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    The end of the tunnel split into two passageways, forming a junction. With no second thought Red turned left and proceeded further down the mine. Scarface, having decided to explore the other route, went to the right. He ran around the corner and whined as he was greeted by a rather short but undeniable dead end. The miners, who occupied the mine some years before, had tunnelled through the ground until they hit solid granite rock. As it was beyond their means to break through, they doubled back to find an easier way through the earth. 

     

    Scarface also hit the same solid rock, except he created a loud thud as he bounced off it. He found himself staring up at the roof of the tiny cave and he gingerly picked himself up and shook the numb stunned sensation off before turning around to follow Red.

     

    He headed off down the other passage way to find her standing just past the junction grinning wickedly at him. Her fangs draped over the lip of her maw while her tail wagged side to side. Scarface gave her a low short growl as he made his way to her. He tried to walk past but she threw her weight to the side in an attempt to pin him against the cavern wall. He pushed back at her, earning a snarl as she went off taking the lead once more.

     

    Taking care to keep their noise to a minimum, they slowly entered a large cavern filled with various wooden platforms which the miners had used to reach a range of ore deposits embedded within the rock and earth. Having no interest in ores or gems, the two werewolves followed the far more alluring scents of bandits which wafted through the caves and passageways as it fed the werewolves hunger.

     

    Further along one such passageway were two bandits complaining to each other about their bland meal. The poorly cooked rabbit and over boiled vegetables left them feeling bitter and disgruntled. Red gave them something else to worry about. Having decided stealth was better left to those who cared, she howled out and charged along the passage on all four paws as she ran towards them.

     

    She hadn’t managed to get half way when a rogue previously unseen, lashed out at her from the side of the cavern. His sword cut deeply in her side causing her to cry out in pain as she fell sideways.

     

    No sooner had she whined when a louder thundering sound echoed in the darkness. Scarface closed in upon the bandit in seconds, preventing him from following through his initial strike with a quick stab in Red’s chest.

     

    In a rage Scarface grabbed the man’s head and lifted him up of the ground. The bandit screamed in terror for a few seconds before his skull imploded under the raw power of Scarface’s paws. He dropped the body next to Red then stepped over her, covering her body with his own like he was shielding her. As he stood over her, with her between his paws, he growled at the remaining two bandits.

     

    They both drew their swords and banged them against the rocky wall in an attempt to dissuade the creature before them from charging. His jet black fur broke up his shape in the dark tunnel, belying his actual bulk. Thinking the two villains were facing a cave bear, they moved boldly forwards, intent on revitalising their meal with fresh meat.

     

    From beneath him, Scarface felt Red try to move back up on her paws. He moved forwards, allowing her space to rise up and poise herself to pounce. As the bandits closed in, a deafening chorus of howls told them of their terrible and deadly mistake. Jet black and blood red paws slashed through the air as two pairs of white fangs snapped shut and savagely bit at anything that moved until they made contact with armor and flesh.

     

    Scarface charged forwards, grabbing a bandit by the arm and dragging him several feet along the ground. He dropped his sword and screamed as the werewolf’s powerful jaws bit through his arm, almost tearing it off completely. Scarface flailed his head side to side while his paws pounded down onto the bandit’s torso, spraying up blood with every blow.

     

    Red lunged at the back of the second bandit’s neck. He was too preoccupied and scared of the great behemoth that snatched his friend from his side to even notice her. Fangs bit into the neck as her weight brought the bandit down on his chest. He screamed for all his worth but in such a prone position he could do nothing as Red took a second bite and slowly increased the pressure in her jaws. Both her front paws pressed down on the man’s back, crushing him and preventing him from screaming out any more. With the faintest of cries, the man’s eyes opened wide as a deathly ‘crack’ echoed away from him. His head fell limp from the breaking of his neck.

     

    Red let him go and stepped back. She slowly clawed at his back with a single paw like she was testing to see if the prey was actually dead. With a disappointed snarl she tore at the base of the bandit’s spine with both paws like she was trying to dig her way through him. Such an action caused blood to splash on her body. It mixed with the red fur while smothering her moonlight silver chest.

     

    Scarface was already feeding off his prey when he lifted up his head and gazed back at his mate. Red’s snout was half buried in the torso but her eyes were fixed on the black werewolf. He stayed there for several seconds, caught in her yellow wolf eyes like a rabbit caught in a snare.

     

    Red, having eaten her fill, slowly lifted herself upright and walked on her hind legs. As she neared Scarface, he attempted to stand up as well but where he was taller and in a lower section of tunnel, he banged the top of his head on the roof of the passageway.

     

    Scarface howled out in anger and slashed his paw at the offending rock above him. Claws tore into the rock like a stick drawing a picture in wet sand. Debris and dust fell down around him causing Red to grin at his misfortune. As she opened her mouth, fresh blood dripped from the corner of her maw.

     

    Further along the passageway, the tunnel opened up into a second large cavern. A stream, forced through faults in the rock, formed a small lake, allowing the two beasts to drink. They lapped up the fresh water, tainting it with blood as they drank.

     

    From there, Red made her way along a wooden platform which creaked and groaned under her weight.

     

    Scarface went to follow immediately behind her but since she had remembered the sensation when Aela’s bed broke, she snarled at the black werewolf when she felt the wood start to give. Having no choice, Scarface backed off, leaving her to be the first to cross. Only when she was over the deep ravine did she grunt, telling Scarface to follow her lead.

     

    He was no more than half way across when Red started growling. Two figures, one dressed in a complete set of Steel armor and the other one in a rough set of Hardened Leather, appeared. The leather coated man wielded a lethal looking mace and swung it around his head several times.

     

    The bandit covered in Steel armor who was, with no doubt the bandit leader, was armed with a two handed sword.

     

    Walking on her hind legs, Red inadvertently brushed against the burning torch held by an iron fitting on the wall. The stench of burning fur wafted throughout the complex while the intense heat of the flames caused her to jump sideways in pain. She swiped at the offending torch, tearing it out of its holder, throwing it to the floor. Within moments the flames flickered as they started dying. Soon the whole cavern which Red had only just entered plunged into darkness.

     

    Scarface followed behind but he stopped just on the threshold of the cavern. He sniffed at the air but all he could smell was Red’s burnt fur. Red had already moved to his right. With the aid of his night vision, he could see her standing up at her full height. She sniffed around just as much as he did. They both understood what their senses were telling them; there were more than just two people here.

     

    From out of the darkness Scarface charged forwards, just appearing for a fraction of a second in the scarce light which shone in the middle of the area. As he ran he grabbed a girl by the leg and dragged her at full speed back into the shadows. Her horrendous screams were drowned out by the pounding of paws which were quickly followed by a mixture of terrifying growls and snarls. The girl’s cries suddenly stopped a mere second before a new sound filled the cavern. The sound of a body being torn into two. Paws running on earth and rock echoed through the cave as both Red and Scarface left the dead body where it was and separated, vanishing into the gloomy shadow of the perimeter walls.

     

    The leader stepped forwards with the torch from the centre pillar and held it aloft to find the sickening sight of the girl’s body. Her neck was at a right angle after being broken. Fang marks covered the neck line where one werewolf had used it to pull the body away from the other beast. Fangs tore through the stomach, ripping it open like a shark had taken a bite from her torso. The leader gulped and felt his hand tremble but he shrugged off such fears and called out to his men.

    “There are two of them. Get ready”.

     

     

    Scarface ran past the leader by several feet and crossed the middle of the cave. Arrows ricocheted on the cavern wall behind him as he tried to draw out the bandit archers. He ran through the middle again, showing himself as a target. Arrows flew past and thudded into the wall but Scarface fell to the ground and rolled for several feet. He whined in pain and tried to hide once more in the darkness but one of the archers closed in upon him.

     

    Not ready for the final confrontation, Scarface leapt up and dug his claws into the rock face. Carefully, he climbed up the wall and rested in a corner where he could observe the bandits.

     

    The archer, who thought he had managed to score a good hit on the werewolf moved forwards but only so far as to remain on the edge of the pitch black area where Scarface cried out. Dust and debris fell from above the bandit including a small stone which tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up in surprise then gave out a chilling scream as Scarface released himself from the rock and fell down, crippling the man beneath him. Paws with razor sharp claws slashed and flailed down with unearthly strength, smashing the chest open, spraying blood and guts in all directions.

     

    Without feeding, the black werewolf once again returned to the shadows.

     

    The second archer, upon hearing the screams from his comrades, dropped his bow and fled down the passageway in an attempt to reach the entrance. The sound of his footsteps was drowned out by his screams and cries of terror and nightmares. Every twist and turn the man shrieked with fear as he expected to be torn apart by nightmarish creatures from hell.

     

    The leader, now finding himself alone, stood in the middle of the cavern and called out to his adversaries, taunting them to move out of the shadows.

    “Come on you bastards! Show yourselves you cowards. I’ll take you all with me you dogs!” His hands were trembling but he gripped his two-handed blade tightly, ready for the fight to come.

     

    Scarface obliged and rose on his hind legs, giving him the height and presence to dwarf the Nord in front of him. He stepped forwards, barely into the light just enough so his head and chest were exposed.

    “You demon!” The man cried as he pointed his sword at the beast that stood before him. “I’ll send you to hell!”

     

    Scarface hesitated for a moment. The smell of the blade bothered him. He sniffed at the air, widening his nostrils, the scent confirming what he had come to realise. The Nord had a silver blade.

     

    Remembering the pain such a weapon could do, Scarface growled and snarled; showing his murderous fangs whilst he brandished his claws.

     

    Thinking he was actually afraid, the Nord stepped forwards, causing Scarface to back away slightly, further fuelling the man’s belief that he had the advantage despite the werewolf’s size.

     

    Seizing his chance the bandit leader raised his Silver broadsword above his head and charged, screaming out with all his rage and anger quelling the fear within.

     

    Scarface grinned wolfishly and pulled back his right arm so he could swipe out with his deadly claws at the attacker but he never got the chance.

     

    From nowhere Red leapt out from the shadows on the man’s left and bit into his arm as her weight and momentum caught the Nord perfectly. All Scarface could do was blink in astonishment when in the instant of a second the man fell sideways, leaving his sword to fall to the earth with a loud clang. Of him there was no sign.

     

    Chilling screams lasted no longer than Red’s initial surprise attack as she savagely bit and tore into the Nord. Blood coated his armor as he tried to push the werewolf’s maw away but Red was too strong for him to hold back with one arm as the other lay twisted and torn by his side. From the shadows, an arm was ripped away from the shoulder, shattering the socket. The limb was tossed in the air and landed in the centre of the cavern adding to the confusion of the black beast that stood there listening to his mate as she fed upon her prey.

     

    Scarface toppled forwards before staggering sideways despite being on all four paws. He whined as he moved towards his mate who had by now finished eating. He felt dizzy and tired, disorientated and weak. Stumbling on one of the bodies, he fell and landed heavily on his side as his legs collapsed underneath him. Both eyes almost shone a bright green but he could barely see. All he could make out was a faded shadow as Red cautiously approached him.

     

    She moved faster towards him when she sensed something was wrong. Scarface’s breathing was erratic and Red could easily hear his heart beating wildly; beating faster and faster. She whined as she feared the muscle would explode with the force and strain cast upon it.

     

    Scarface reached out a paw to her as his head started to spin. He was unable to hold his head up any longer and it fell to the side with a dull thud while his paw dropped to the ground.

     

    His eyes slowly closed like a stricken animal while his mind was invaded. Images of Hircine, the White Stag and of Aela flashed through his psyche, mentally unbalancing him. The images stayed just long enough for him to focus on then they were gone as another image took its place. Hircine in his hunter form, Aela making love to Sotek, her fighting him at his trial, the White Stag chasing Scarface through caverns. Red changing in front of him for the first time.....

     

    Finally three images stayed burning inside his mind. Red as she gave him the beast blood in the Underforge sanctuary; the agonizing event when he drank his mate’s blood then the Red Moon; the Hunter’s Moon. The Bloodmoon.

     

    It blazed so bright he had to tightly close his eyes from its glare despite the fact that his eyes were already closed to begin with.

     

    Within less than a minute the feelings passed and the images ceased to torment and dominate his mind. He opened his eyes to find Aela sitting with him, gently stroking the fur that adorned his cheek as his head rested on her lap.

     

    Sensing he was now awake, Aela spoke to him smoothly trying to get him to calm down while she kept brushing her fingertips through his fur.

    “Hey. Steady boy... steady; stay still. Good boy.... good boy”.

     

    Scarface looked around the cavern and sniffed the air. Knowing they were alone he finally relaxed, increasing the weight upon Aela’s thighs as his head pressed down even harder.

     

    Aela groaned, exaggerating the weight brought down upon her legs.

    “Urgh!! You great lump”.

     

    He tried to move his head away but the Huntress pulled it back down on her and cuddled into him, tapping into his warmth while providing the werewolf with comforting emotional support.

    “No, don’t move... Stay!”

     

    Lacking the strength to fight her, Scarface flumped his head down once more on Aela’s lap. She just managed to brace herself when her legs became pinned in place from Scarface’s massive bulky form. He felt different but he couldn’t figure out what. With a gentle, soft whine he looked up at her without moving his head and one of his front paws clawed weakly at the earth in an attempt to move within Aela’s grasping distance. She reached out and pulled his paw towards her, stroking the black fur on it as if he was a treasured loved one needing her tender care.

     

    Scarface flipped over on his back and howled out as his body started transforming. All the while Aela held his head in her lap as she watched the beast change shape and size as he changed back into his Argonian form. Sotek stayed where he was and rolled on his side, keeping his head on the Huntresses lap. He lightly stroked her leg as his tail got in on the act and wrapped itself around her shin and thigh.

     

    He stayed there, staring into space with just the occasional blink of his reptilian eyes when he heard Aela talking to him.

    “Are you ok? You had me worried. What the hell happened?”

     

    Except for the shrug of his shoulders, Sotek never moved. He stayed exactly where he was and just stared into the darkness of the cave that surrounded them.

    “I don’t know. He felt dizzy, images! Hircine, you, Red... stuff”.

     

    Aela couldn’t help but be concerned. She bent over and kissed him on the forehead as she questioned him further; fully determined to get to the source and find out what had happened.

    “What images?”

     

    Sotek pulled himself up off the floor then he offered his hand to Aela and helped her up. When they were both back on their feet he set about trying to explain what he had seen.

    “All I could remember was Red giving me her blood then the sky exploded and the Bloodmoon was there, shrouding everything in its reddish glow. Look, I feel fine now. Whatever it was, it’s passed. Don’t say anything to the others, I don’t want them getting worried over nothing. Besides, they would only start on about this being a bad idea. I’m not in the mood for Farkas and Vilkas’s ‘told you so’ moments”.

     

    Aela watched him with concern. She had two methods to check on Sotek’s welfare, two markers that would show if he was unwell. The tint in his scales for one and the color of his eyes. Both seemed to be their natural state although it was hard to tell for sure in the darkness.

    “I doubt it’s nothing, but as long as you’re ok”.

     

    He wrapped his arms around her and buried his head into her shoulder, using her body for support.

    “It felt kind of weird; heads fuzzy”.

     

    “Let’s get out of here, come on”.

    She took his hand and tried to lead him back along the tunnels but he refused to go.

     

    Instead of following her, he tapped one of the corpses with his boot.

    “We got to loot the bodies and the mine first. There are six Whelps and those two goons out there expecting to see something. Look at me; I’m fine and I’m feeling better with each passing second”.

     

    “You’re not though are you?” The Huntress declared. She was starting to get irate with the Argonian’s stubbornness which never ceased to irk her.

     

    Sotek slightly lifted her chin so she could see his face.

    “Yes I am. Look at me, I feel fine now. Whatever it was its past, come on let’s get looting”.

     

    Ignoring Aela’s constant objections, Sotek removed a few bottles of water from his pack so they could wash of the blood from their faces. He then, after filling half his gut with the cool refreshing liquid, began looting the closest body; searching the pouch on the dead bandit’s belt along with his pockets.

     

    Aela stayed where she was and watched him fumble about in the darkness until she shrieked with joy and ran bounding across the cavern.

    “Chest! It’s mine!”

     

    Sotek spun around in surprise to see her drop to her knees and expertly start probing the lock with her lockpicks. When she tried to open the lid, she felt a heavy hand press down on it, preventing her from exploring any further.

     

    With a gold septim in his hand, Sotek tapped on the chest, laying claim to it for himself.

    “The chest is mine!”

     

    Aela growled back and snarled, defending ‘her’ property with the threat of violence.

    “I saw it first. I will stab you!”

     

    Sotek chuckled and played with the gold coin while he formed a plan to win the chest.

    “Tell you what; this chest. Toss you for it?”

     

    Aela huffed then lifted herself up off her knees and nodded. The chest was a large wooden one, with gold fittings. She was sure it contained something of value so she agreed with one condition.

    “Ok but I call... heads”.

     

    Sotek dropped the coin then immediately grabbed Aela then lifted her above him. She screamed in protest when she realised he was going to throw her and the Huntress slapped the Argonian on his head several times until he put her back down.

    “Toss the coin you moron not me”.

     

    He put her on the ground apologetically then picked up the coin.

    “Oh sorry, my mistake. Heads it is”.

     

    He threw the coin upwards but before it even had a chance to fall, Aela snatched it out of the air.

    “Heads it is. The chest is mine!” She cheered and smiled back at him broadly as she flung open the lid of the large wooden chest revealing its contents. Aela plunged her hand inside and grabbed three scrolls from the bottom of the box along with a large pouch of gold while Sotek moved to a second bandit’s bag.

     

    Once they loaded themselves up with as much armor, weapons and various other miscellaneous items as they could find, they began to make their way to the entrance.

     

    Upon exiting the mine, they both paused and breathed in the fresh air. Sotek dropped the armor he had in his arms so he could cover his eyes as the sun temporarily blinded him.

     

    When he had started getting used to the daylight once more, Sotek looked down on the ground. He could see another body of a fourth bandit. He had been stripped of weapons and armor along with a money pouch. Sotek could see the strands that had been cut on its removal. The Argonian guessed the bandit was the archer who had fled earlier. He must have run straight into Vilkas which was easy to guess due to the massive gashes in the bandit’s leg and chest as well as the Companion’s scent which seemed to reek from the corpse.

     

    Adding their loot to the pile the others had already formed, Aela prepared to organise the Whelps into groups when the Imperial Whelp excitedly approached her. She began talking about their exploits while Aela and Sotek were in the mine.

    “While you were down there we killed the bandit who came screaming out! And we killed a...”

     

    Sotek immediately interrupted her, correcting the errors in her story.

    “Vilkas killed the bandit. You three killed a bear with Farkas. We can smell it. Well done... Now, all of you pack up as much as you can. We’re heading back”.

     

    Both Farkas and Vilkas stared at him, not quite believing what he had said. They shared glances with one another as they tried to figure out how he knew who had killed the bandit let alone the bear.

     

    As for Aela, she gave herself a sneaky smile as she finally understood what happened inside the mine.

     

     

Comments

5 Comments   |   ShyGuyWolf and 5 others like this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  December 1, 2016
    Don't concern yourself about it Ebonslayer. I just hope the errors don't put you off. 
    I've been adding to my list of words to check for errors and mistakes but it seems the more I search for and catch the more others slip through. I'm going th...  more
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  December 1, 2016
    I remember that part with Sheo now that you mention it, I haven't read in a while so I forgot.


    I didn't even know irate was a word, my autocorrect doesn't seem to recognize it so I just assumed it was another typo.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  December 1, 2016
    I've changed the miners line a fair bit...
     
    The miners, who occupied the mine some years before, had  tunnelled  through the ground until they hit solid granite rock. As it was beyond their means to break throu...  more
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  December 1, 2016
    The (miners that were) tunnelling through the earth had happened to hit solid rock so they doubled back to find an easier way through the earth.



    She was starting to get (irritated) with the Argonian’s stubbornness which nev...  more
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  November 1, 2016
    Hmm, wonder what's happening to the Sotekanator. Good entry. Some fun and disgusting Scarface and Red action.