Dirt was kicked over the fire as he finished packing. He hoped he wasn't far, hoped more that the guards were thinly dispatched. He could see the wall in the distance but had no idea how far north or south he was, he could emerge in forest under cover, or some city where he would be noticed. From here on he was careful. His possessions were not many. His small bag holding his gold, some line, a small shovel, and a few such small things. His weapons hung on his back, and the skins he wore was all he bothered to own. He needed few things to live, what he could not bring or take by blade, he could obtain by "other means". He began his march west, noting things he saw as he passed. By midmorning he had reached the wall and carefully followed it for a few miles before he reached a gate house. Crouched in the bushes he waited.


The guard house was not greatly manned, only two Covenant soldiers and a Lion Guard. The knight was the commanding officer Kololf assumed. He watched them for the better part of the day, pacing and bored they were not the pride of Daggerfall by any means. He had watched less them and more for signs of changing of the guards. Past twelve hours and no change told him that these soldiers were assigned to live here. He noticed the small building on the inside of the wall. There would be two in there. Four guards, rotating two at a time, with one commanding officer. He could get in, and no one would know until their next supply. He would try to do this the nice way, but that was rarely excepted.


"Hey you! Up there! Hey!" he yelled as he emerged from his hiding spot. The guards right away jumped at the sound. The Lion Guard wore no helm, she was young and inexperienced he assumed. The two guards were humans, men, as was one of the two that came out of the guard house at his noise, the forth an Orc. "You there! What do you want?" called out the Lioness. Kololf kept his hands high and visible, "Can I cross? I am a hunter and I seek no trouble. I wish to enter your land and try my hand at your game." One of the guards yelled, "Be gone savage! These lands are the King's! Go hunt your own ***-baring lands!" The Lion Guard seemed irritated but enforced the older guard's calls. "You may not enter Nord! Back home with'ya!"


He knew she was inexperienced by one clue, she had no helmet. As he had approached an experienced combatant would have put it on. A shame, she was a pretty one. His arrow was notched to quick, it flew straight up, slicing her cheek and throwing her off balance. He wasn't expecting her to fall forward, but did manage to catch her as she tumbled off the wall. He tossed her away like a sack as the four guards rushed through the gate to stop him. His blade was out as he seemed to fly across the space between then, meeting the flat of his blade to the Orc's face, breaking one of her teeth as he knocked her out. One of the humans was right behind her, swift and strong, Kololf thought he would have enjoyed knowing this smoke colored man. The Redguard's blade sang as it bit the Nord's arm. The same arm swung up, popping him in the jaw and sending him flying. The last two moved together, daggers drawn. They were like shadows, but he could move fast too. Before they had reached him, he had them both by the neck and against the stone wall. They dropped their weapons and struggled against his grip as blood began to trickle. His grip became sharp as his eyes began to glow red. All they heard was a growl as he pulled them forward then slammed them both back into the wall hard.


He walked over to the Lion Guard to be sure she was alive, and then checked each of his antagonist. He had stood still for more then a few minutes, his breathing hard and labored as he struggled to hold his control. As he checked them each he placed them into the guard house so they would be somewhat safe. He then closed the gate, he didn't want to get them into trouble. Finally done he helped himself to some of their food stocks and was on his way. "At least I wont have to fish."

Less then a half days slow travel, Kololf reached the outset of a city, and he was glad for it. He did not know the geography of High Rock and for all he knew he would sleep in the woods tonight. Before entering he stopped along the river running to the city. He cleaned off his furs some, washed his face, and combed through and tied back his somewhat wild hair. Quietly he entered Evermore.

For days he stayed in a small inn on the edge of the city, the named escaped him. Living wild and doing hard work can bring and hoard gold for a man. Kololf had earned money over the year as a guide, hunter, and trapper. His expenses small due in large part to his "condition". He did enjoy a few nights every year sleeping in a clean bed and having others cook for him and serve him drink.

This night was the last though. He still had gold, but he needed to go soon. He had great control over his affliction, but even he could not fight the moon. He would sleep in a bed one more night then move on west as he had planned. He called out to the inn that all there could drink their fill on him. The clatter of his gold on the counter was drowned out by the cheers. All cheered but one. His senses notice the oddity right away, his eyes snapping to the silent young woman in the corner. A beautiful stern looking girl, a fresh scar on her cheek. He realized she was the commander he had shot from the wall at once, she had found him...... "Crap."

Ahhhh where is the rest - it's been DAYS now. I need more

@Eirikir well ok, I'll be patient. Reading what you wrote is distracting enough to keep me from my own writing LoL

A few hours had passed and Kololf continued to stare out the window. Glencroft had been in to see him every hour on the hour. She would ask him questions, stupid ones he thought. Who was he? Did the Pact send him to spy? What were his contacts in Evermore? The only wise question he figured she had asked was how he had managed to break through the five of them. She assumed advanced military training. It was not......


~Twenty Years Ago~


The fire crackled in the small but well kept house. Outside the wind blew over the sealed thatched roof as it seemed to always do. A boy sitting at the fire, he had seen fifteen winters, and was happy in his life. There were others in the warm home, other children, some siblings, others cousins. Two women sat sewing and talked and laughed, one his mother, the other one of his many aunts. His father, a grandfather, and many uncles had left that night. Something had been happening in the quiet village in the last few weeks. Some of the old had been getting sick, the boy's grandmother had just passed on a few nights earlier. An odd thing, the village was little more then a large family. A family that never became sick, but lately who had all been at least under the weather. It seemed everyone at least faced a cold.


His grandfather and his brothers settled the tiny corner of the Pale, and all who lived in it were separated by little more then a generation. The joke was you had to leave town to court. Until a week or so ago it had been wonderful, an open and free town who never turned away travelers, unless the moon was full. His grandfather and his brothers were werewolves. They had fled the Rift and sought a home in the canyon full of snow to live peacefully. They were not daedra worshippers, they did not serve the Divines, they were farmers. Best they thought to leave such lofty divisions and ideals to people who had the time to dwell on them as they had no work to do. The blood of his grandfather flowed in his veins, as it did in every member of the village. Those who had come from outside the family to marry into it would be offered the moon's blood, and could turn it down if they wished, as long as they swore an oath to keep their knowledge of the family secret. No one was ever hurt, even on nights of the full moons you could see the people walk and even have conversations with lychans as they went about their business.


He had asked his father to go with him and the other men. He was angry that he was left behind, but knew his father was right. He had not made the change yet, it had been slow in coming and his father and the men planned to run tonight, all the way to Dawnstar. Then they would become human again and approach the Thane. They would seek her aid in uncovering the mystery.


So there he sat, the fire cracking, the sounds of family, the warmth of the hearth.... then silence. The boy looked up and around the busy house and notice most in the house all staring at the door, all lychans. The few humans watched them as he did, knowing they sensed something. From stillness to a snap of movement, the old, the young, man and woman rushed the door, their forms changing as the charged out into the night. What followed would haunt the boy forever.


Behind the pact he rushed out too. By comparison to his kin, he seemed weak, but by Nord standards he was a fine and strong lad. He grabbed one of his father's many swords as he followed the sounds of growls into the night, the few humans in the town following suit. Something threatened their home, furred or not they would all defend it and each other. Into the center of the village he froze in fear as arrows were loosed gain and again. Wolf and man both fell to the relentless barrage. In the chaos and cover of the dark he slipped under the main hall, into the crawlspace to take shelter from the arrows. There had been no invaders to fight, the soldiers of the Pale had taken to the tops of the canyon, and dipped their silver-plated arrows in Wolf's Bane and Nightshade. His father and the men would have warned them had the Jarl not killed them in his Hall as soon as they entered. He would later learn that their heads had been piked outside the city gates, his father's misshaped as he was killed in mid-shifting.


As morning came he crawled from his hiding place. There were a few soldiers left, walking through and stabbing the sixty some odd bodies, making sure every last one was dead. He was silent as he had been taught, his father was a metalsmith, but his mother had been a game hunter, and both skills flowed through him as he stuck to the shadows, gripping his sword. The first had wandered to far, "Like a doe from the herd". The second was hurt, her arm bound and in a sling, "Always target the sick or old" The last few clustered, unharmed sharp. He ducked down and watched, but was drawn to a noise.... how had he heard it? A voice across the yard behind another house, whispering to him. He was cautious and made his way to it, an old man, his hair as black as his with white dancing on the sides of his head. Four arrows ran through his grandfather, his veins all over his body highlighted in violet shades, the poison already taking its toll. "Erik.. you live." he gasped out. The boy took his hand, there was no saving him he knew, but he would not let him die alone. The old man spoke through the pain, "I was the first... a wolf gone mad attacked our farm... some fanatic cultist who didn't know the price of the deal he struck... He was killed by my father with his last breath, but not before he had attacked me and brothers. Our mother was a devout woman of the Eight, and wasted.... no time reporting us.... she saw no sons, but abominations.... I was the eldest, the first bitted, the first to change... my brothers and I even as men stood out here in Skyrim with our black hair... our fur matched.... Kololf.... Black Wolf.... that is the name for us, this family, this place...." He struggled now, Erik would not dishonor his last words telling him to stop. "We are... no more but... you.... I was the.... first....you are th... the last." The old man began to shake, foam pouring out of him, rage flowing from the boy. He remembered the lessons his mother taught him. "Separate the inexperienced, like a doe from the herd.... Always target the sick or old.... and when outnumbered, seek the leader and savage him, break the spirits of the herd and have your fill."


The men died a savage death, he had wondered often if he was like his kin, if his fur would be black too.... it was. As he sat a man, no longer a boy, he picked through their bags. He had found papers, the Pale had learned of the Kololfs. They could not allow such a pact of that size to live. They had been poisoning the water for weeks with wolf's bane. It had no effect on the humans, but had weakened the wolves, not that it mattered, all had been killed, all but him. It would be a few days before the few men left would be missed. He buried his kin, and let the town raze. He has walked ever since....


~The Present~


"Girl." he finally said, the bravado in his voice turned to a whisper. The knight bristled at being called that turned to rebuke him only to meet his stare in silence through the bars. "I have never hurt anyone who didn't have it coming. I've worked hard to claim that. Now I know you have to look good for your King or whatnot but you have to let me go.... now. If you don't things will get complicated for you, me, and this whole town. And I would aim to hurt anyone, but I'll do what I have to, I won't die here." Glencroft was taken aback, falling out of her "tough act" for just a moment, she hated herself for being so sympathetic, "No one will hurt you, not unless you have done or will do something terrible. On my honor I promise that you will be punished for your crimes, but if you are innocent as you say you will be freed. If you are no spy you have nothing to fear. He turned away and whispered.... "I'm sorry." She leaned in to the bars, missing his low voice, "What did you say?" He didn't reply, his hand snapped out grabbing her by the neck and slamming her hard into the bars. A twinge of guilt coming over him as he spied the healing gash on her cheek. The others in the room rushed to free their commander but stopped as Kololf's other hand found and held her throat, "Fellows... Orc lady... I don't want to break her neck but I'm awfully bored in here and need to pass the time somehow. So how about I get a key and go find another way to pass the time. "Let me go you villain!" Kololf almost lost his grip on her when he snorted, "Villain? Who talks like that?" One of the men then called out "Lady Heather!" and he understood. A wolf's smile came over him and he snapped, "Keys! NOW!" One of them panicked and did as they were told. His single hand was enough to hold the struggling knight, and just as well to open the lock. "My things! Toss them to me!" he demanded as the Orc threw him his bag and sword. He slowly backed out of the room through a door leading out.... he knew it. A modest castle, but a castle none the less. And high up on one too, Overlooking a forest to the north. The humans and orc followed them out cautiously. He held a hand up as he stepped to the edge of the battlement, "So I am going to excuse myself and take the Lady with me here. I don't know my way around you see and I'd like to get out of your reach. So if you don't mind I'll get downstairs and ask Miss here to point me in the right direction and you'll find her at the front gate after I get my heading." Glencroft struggled harder, "They won't let you pass, and there is only one way out of..... oh Divines no!" She and her soldiers all had the same hilarious looks on their faces he thought as he stepped back off the battlement's edge. He couldn't really hear her scream, the blood rushing in his ears blocked out most everything. And he wouldn't have known why she was screaming, if it was the fall or the fact that as they did his bones shifted and cracked as black fur covered his body over. He had let her go to avoid his claws from slitting her throat, but now changed he grabbed her and pulled her on to his back, his bag with his weapons and supplies caught in his jaws. He began to run down the side of the wall. The terrified knight holding on for life itself as he reached the bottom and kept going onto the leveled ground.


A moment of stillness before he shook her off and raised up on his back legs. A roar of a howl escaped him and countless soldiers, guards and people all looked out and over the walls, or just heard it and knew the fear. He looked her in the eyes growling and she found herself starring back. She shivered and didn't look away, but with the unending curiosity of a child seeing for the first time an ocean, a cyclone... fire. She slowly reached out to touch him but snapped out of her gaze with a snap of his jaws and a growl. She pulled back in full terror as he galloped off on all fours.

Heather stood waiting inside a grand room, ornate with crystals and natural light coming from the open windows and skylights. The light playing off the crystals collected around the house. Her armor had been removed by her only female soldier, the Orc, Mora gra-Aza. Her other men, the older Redguard Amir, her sergeant and second in command, and the twin Breton nightblades, Dalon and Kay, all remained outside her bed chamber. Mora's great hands were very gentle as she searched over her Captain for any sign of injury, or worse, infection. "You were unharmed Lady Heather. Not so much as a scratch, and lucky enough for that." Heather was there but not, the events of the last hour still spinning in her head. She hurried and dressed as she heard footsteps coming, footsteps her men would not be able to stop.


"Heather! By the Gods child I came as soon as I heard." Her stern face melted into a sad child as the overwhelming storm that was Lord Glencroft fell upon her, "I'm fine Father." Lord Glencroft sat down and sat her down near him, "I am so happy to see that abomination did not harm you. And as from reports I have seen this was your second brush with the monster. I am ever so proud of you Dearest, such courage and strength. You have certainly earned your rest and reward." She looked up at him in a questioning look, "What reward?" Lord Glencroft smiled wide, very proud of her and himself, "Why your promotion to the Lion Guard's headquarters of course. You were most insistent that you be allowed to join and fight with the Covenant and now that you have and have narrowly escaped danger you must surely have had your fill. I have arranged for you to be stationed in Wayrest. Your friends also have been promoted of course, I did not forget them."


Once he had finished going on and it became a drone to her ears, he kissed her head and walked out satisfied he had done the best for her. She always felt smothered when he "did the best for her", when he and more so her title stepped in the way of life. She had to talk and argue with him for a solid year to join up. Finally he relented and she had gone to Daggerfall to enlist in the Covenant forces only to be met by Lion Guard Elite at the gate, along with loyal retainers from her father's household, Mora her lady-in-waiting, Amir her bodyguard, and the twins Dalon and Kay who were footmen in her household. Her Father she learned had sent a request to the King himself seeking a quiet assignment for her in the most prestigious role, weighed against the danger of that role of course. Her knighthood had all but been instantly bestowed, it felt so hollow to her. Amir had offered the best advice, "If it feels hollow, then make it not so." So she threw herself into her role no matter how meaningless she placed a maximum effort into it. But this was not like those times. She would not forgive herself. Her duty had been dishonored. She had been placed in command of a border crossing and someone had gotten through, worse yet a monster. And she had allowed him.... it. She had allowed it to escape. As empty as assignment to Wayrest would be, it would be down right bitter if she got it because she had failed and her father wanted her boxed in an even more gilded cage then she already was prisoner to. She packed her armor and other things quietly. Waiting until nightfall she lowering a rope she had used to escape her room since she was a girl she slipped into the stables and rode off. She would take her father's gift, but she would earn it first.

---

For the rest of that day and all the night that followed he ran. Through the thick forest he had no trouble keeping out of sight as he rushed onward west. By the early morning when the moon slipped away and with it the wolf, he found himself completely exhausted. As he staggered on another mile he could go no more and collapsed. The world had gone dark by the time he opened his eyes. As he sat up he was startled by a Khajiit smiling at him, "Such a tired pup. Maybe you should rest more yes?" Kololf was not an easily startled man but this was the exception. "Who are you, and why did you call me a pup?" The Khajiit smiled wide, "Who am I? A Liar of course, but that does not matter little pup. And why not pup as it fits does it not?" There was a long silence as the catman seemed lost in thought, scratching his chin. "You would be most wise to go that way pup." he said, pointing south. Kololf looked in the direction he was pointed and then back to the Khajiit, but he was gone. Vanished into thin air without even a scent left in the air. He thought for a minute and then felt he had no choice but to follow the Liar's advice. So he began to make his way south, toward the city of Wayrest.

The woman found no small measure of ironic humor in finding her way to Wayrest. She had headed northwest at first, assuming he would stick to the woods. A night in Wayrest Inn brought her more fortune then simply a warm bed and meal. A local knight sitting by the fire, talking idly about his sword to a fellow resting knight. "Daftly repaired. See here, the blade had been taking a lot of warping here. That new man Georence has at the High King's Forge knows his way around a hammer." The other knight looked over the blade and replied, "I see what you mean. Is he that big nord working there now? The ebon-haired one?" To that she perked up. Three weeks in the woods, that son of a.... he couldn't have been there this whole time. She took her plate and moved to the fireplace. "Sirs, I could not help but hear you talking. Some of my equipment is in need of care and I am seeking a smith, and I heard you speaking of one you like. Pray tell if you would more of this nord?"

---

Not more then a day's travel from his encounter with the liar did he reach the city. Far busier then Evermor, people seemed caught up in their affairs more here, which seemed fine to him. Border towns like Evermor were always nervous of new faces, but Wayrest was a port. new faces, Nord faces among them were a common sight. Hiding in a forest is much easier then a desert as they say. A day later he had found work in the forge. He had told the man in charge he was looking for long term employment, but neither believed that. Kololf knew the moon would if not the next time, would eventually cause him issue. The owner for his part had heard the tales of wanderers long enough to see one before him. No matter though, a man with skill in the forge was rare and worth the unpredictability.


For three weeks he had held some stability. Starting on the first few days at simple tasks his skill was noticed quickly and he was set to repairs which was a coin or two more then pumping the bellows. Square meals, a bed, and most important a forest to the north for him to see to his affliction. He had little thought to the future. He had no goal, no quest, no grand destiny. He merely wanted to live freely. Maybe he would stay, or maybe hop on one of those ships and see where he ended up. But for now...


His employer Noah waved at him as he approached the forge that morning, "Morning to you Kol." The nord nodded and returned the greeting. His boss seemed nice enough. Always greeting him by name, or at least the name he had given him. "Morning Noah. Is the fire warmed up?" The breton nodded, "We were busy all through the night Kol, never cooled it. Big order, which I need help with. No pay drop or change, you'll still get your repair wages for the day but I need you to handle the deliveries today, specifically a big one. Our order I mentioned." Kololf smiled setting down his meal and day pack, "An easy day sounds nice. Is Tom sick or something?" he asked, referring to the Forge's delivery boy. Noah waved a hand, "Oh no the lad is fine, its just to big a delivery for him." Kol's eyes got wide at that, "Really? Damn man what all is it?" Noah smiled wide, "A massive order my friend. As I said the forge burned all night. The Fighter's Guild lost a shipment they were expecting. Weapons, armor, everything really. It was a boon to all the craftsmen in Wayrest. From us weapons, bolts, and armor. We have it packed and ready for you, the first load anyway. There are several loads and I fear Tom would collapse." Kollolf looked toward the direction of the Fighter's Guild. An organization not known for their love of his kind.... maybe today is the day for the ship. He sighed, damn him if he didn't like Noah. Not as though "I'm a wolf" was tattooed over his face. "Let me run over and buy a few skins for water and one for something stronger, and I'll load my lunch on the cart and I will get started."


Noah waved as Kol drove the cart around the corner. As he turned a cloaked girl entered the Forge, a scar across her cheak catching his eye. He smiled and turned to her, his arms dutifully folded behind his back, "Welcome to the High King's Forge. May I help you Miss?" The young woman looked about, looking as much for her quarry as for her father to explode out of some wall. "I'm looking for a man, a Nord specifically. I was told I could find him here,"