Blood on the Moon, A Journey of Discovery Options

[mALX]

Oooh, great descriptions brought this scene to life! I have not looked up this quest (or played Morrowind), so everything is a total surprise to me on this - WHEW !! Great Write !!

[Black Hand]

Darkness overpowering.

[minque]

Oh my.....As Hautie said...celtic myths and dark powers. This will be something very special....can't wait for the next update...Or well...of course I can...But still it drives shivers down my spine..Oh i so hope he will get the cure!

[Grits]

The Rite is a complex piece of dark magicka, involving the sacrifice of both flesh and innocence.

I don’t know the game story, but that sounds very grim. It makes me worry about what Athlain will be required to do, and how it will change him. It might be that a person who is capable of saving Athynae is not someone she can be with. That’s some pretty dark stuff.



I love it.

[treydog]

@haute- The atmosphere was important in this one- and will continue to be so. And I certainly drew on every creepy play and movie and night around a campfire I could think of…. The price will be seen- but not yet. I do hope Athlain brought along a Potion of Reading the Fine Print.

@Olen- My thanks again for your encouragement. Getting the Sisters “right” seemed essential to getting the correct feel for this quest. That is particularly true since I have not done it before this. And Athlain’s moral compass- if not his soul- will definitely be tested here. And- as you do so frequently, you note the significant moment- Athlain’s moment of more than just acceptance of what has gone before. My powers of foretelling hint that Athynae may have a bit more trouble recognizing a newer, more confident Athlain. Just a feeling.

@McBadgere- Just returning the favor- as I am often stuck for a way to express how wonderful I find your story. My thanks to you.

@mALX- I have a feeling that reading some of the “ceremonial” scenes written about a certain albino Khajiit has influenced my desire to make my own more vivid and interesting. Although I know the basics of the quest- this is the first time I have actually had a character play through it… so there are new moments for me to discover, as well.

@Black Hand- And I fear the darkness may get a bit more so before there is a chance for light to break through. And whether that light is the moons reflected in the eyes of a new werewolf… that remains to be seen.

@minque- Thank you so much- for everything you have done to help this story come to life- going all the way back to the beginning when young Trey stumbled off that ship in Seyda Neen.

@Grits- Interestingly enough, that quote is directly from in the game. More significant is the choice that will eventually be given to Athlain and how he responds. You also correctly note the question of how much can he change- and still be the person Athynae loves?

Where we are- Athlain has met with the Glenmoril Wyrd, a group of Daedra-worshipping Imperial women who are normally found in High Rock. Apparently, they have returned to Solstheim in connection with the Blood Moon Prophecy. They have offered a cure for lycanthropy- but their reasons and their price are not stated. Athlain has discovered that the antlered figure from his dreams is Hircine, the Daedric prince of the hunt. More ominously, Hircine is also the creator of lycanthropes and is attempting to convince Athynae to give in to the infection and become his newest Hound. And now we will leave Athlain for a moment, and discover that Athynae has not been idle in her cave.

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I am not a patient being. Sitting, waiting, wondering if Athlain was going to return before it was too late was as much a part of the mental battle as the daedric prince’s whispering, trying to coerce me. I tried to sleep and when I was awake I tried to be still to keep my heart from beating faster than necessary. I was beginning to feel as if I was just doing this because it was all I could do and not because it would matter in the long run. Long run, I wished I could go for a long run.

“You can. Just open the door. I am waiting for you Athynae. Three days have passed. It is too late for a
cure. Why do you insist on fighting the inevitable?”

I tried to block the daedric voice; I did not want to hear what he had to say. If there was no cure then Athlain would return and tell me so and then I would do what I had to. Until then I would continue to fight, but it was becoming more and more difficult by the breath.

I sat by the fire preparing some of the food that Athlain had left for me. I focused my mind as exclusively as I could manage on the process of seasoning my meal. I placed a piece of the meat on a stick and situated it over the flame. I removed one of the tubers from the sack and laid it on the glowing embers just inside the ring and then placed the sacks neatly to the side of the fire pit.

I focused my mind on other things- the flowers in Mother’s garden. My favorite, the wisteria with their large purple bunches, would be blooming soon. Mai and Cai and their endless antics were always worth at the very least a smile. Where I was impulsive and determined they were conniving and manipulative- and I supposed that was good. I shook my head with the thought, how to describe those two? I loved them like sisters, and there had been times when I could have wrung their lovely, ladylike necks.

I turned the skewer holding the piece of meat and for a few moments was lost in the dancing tendrils as they reached and withdrew, each touch leaving a mark as the moiety sizzled its protest at the molestation. I merged from this meditation to thoughts about my future, a subject that I had never spent an inordinate amount of time considering. My life thus far had been….what? What had it been really other than just one day that rolled into another? It was a given that I would be a healer, Mother had not forced it really, she had simply introduced me to that which was intrinsically a part of me. As she worked on her medicines, spells and potions she had taken time to tutor me along the way.

Another given was my aptitude with weapons. My very earliest memories included a weapon in my hand, a wooden dagger, a gift from Uncle Seth, with delicate, interwoven vines around the base of the hilt and edging the spine of the blade. There was also the bow and arrows from the Ahemussa, a gift I received even before I could walk.

A distant sound, a sort of shuffling, pulled me from my musings. A momentary thrill that it might be Athlain passed as less familiar noises floated from the depths of the cave. A sound like the slow dragging of feet was followed by what reminded me of sniffing, growing louder, closer, even as I listened. I eased over to the pallet and wrapped my fingers around the katana and turned with my back against the wall away from the opening to the depth of the cave.

The sound, the air, the feel of the blood rushing through me, I can’t explain exactly how I knew but I knew, without a doubt, it wasn’t a little rat that moved in the darkness. And then I saw the reflection of the fire in eyes that were level with mine.

“I could just close my eyes and stand here, let whatever is about to step into the light ….” I couldn’t even allow my brain to finish the thought; there was no way I was going to quit without a fight, and that meant I would face yet another unknown and if I was destined to die so be it. I would not go easily like some coward; I would not give up. And running was not an option; no matter what happened, I could not leave the cave.

The bear ambled around into the fire’s glowing light, showing no fear of the flames- or of me. He raised his head and sniffed toward the fire. Obviously the smell of the meat cooking had roused him from slumber. Then he turned his gaze on me.

“T’would be best if you returned to your sleep; else I will make it permanent for you.”

He shook his giant head back and forth, stepping from his left foot to his right as he did so, growling and showing teeth through quivering lips. He stepped toward the fire, dismissing me as a threat. His hunger was pulling him toward the now burnt chunk that I had intended to be my dinner.

I kept my back as close to the wall as I could and moved to stay in a good position should he suddenly change his mind. But that was exactly what I wanted him to do. I WANTED this fight, I NEEDED this fight. I needed affirmation of my life force, desperately craved that voice from deep within that is the will that supplies the strength you need to survive. By fighting something tangible, controllable, I was seeking proof that I could and would come to the other side of this ordeal.

“You cannot have my dinner, you over-sized rug! HAH!! GET AWAY!!!” I lunged a step and stomped my feet in his direction. He opened his mouth wide and growled, making the walls and floor vibrate with the sound and then started bouncing on his front paws.

“I sure can get myself into some of the worst situations.” Thoughts, more thoughts; for once I wished my brain would just hush; I didn’t need the distraction just then. I needed to focus. I positioned myself for his assault, knees slightly bent, both hands clasping the sword. I knew if I allowed the fight to last any length of time, my chances would be significantly lessened.

“The larger the opponent, the slower his moves will be, but also the more powerful his strikes. Focus all of your energy on your initial attacks, making sure they meet their mark. Keep the fight short using your agility to remain untouched.”

The bear swatted and I stepped back, putting my weight on my right foot and using the momentum to shift onto my left, forward foot and make a full arc with the katana, sinking the edge deep into the bear’s left shoulder. He ROARED and lunged, hitting me in the torso with his head, slamming me into the wall. I felt all of the air rush out of my lungs but somehow managed to keep my feet under me.

Once you have made contact- don’t just STAND there, admiring your work! MOVE!

But the beloved voice of my mentor was lost in the sound of a growl that wasn’t from the bear; an animal roar of challenge that echoed off the walls and back to its point of origin- me. Even as the growl escaped my mouth I felt suddenly stronger, larger. I could feel my nostrils expanding and everything in the cave changed- so that I seemed to be looking through thin, red cloth. I took the briefest moment to look at myself, afraid of what I was going to see.

So this is it…

But nothing had changed; my hands were still hands, clenching my katana. I raised my fingers to brush my cheek and was almost surprised that it felt no different than always.

The bear was moving his head from side to side, baring his teeth and making horrible sounds. I met his verbiage with an unfamiliar feral expression, my own lips pulling back to show my teeth in return. The feeling that coursed through me was intensified by the smell of blood pouring unhindered from the bear’s shoulder. He stood on his back legs and if I had had any sense I would have been petrified, but between the surge of the animal within and my instinct to survive, I instead saw an opportunity. He was enormous, his gnashing teeth and growling producing a thick foaming mass of drool. I moved around so the wall was no longer at my back, making room to maneuver. I had to think fast; his adrenaline was surging even as his life was draining through the gash in his shoulder and he was MAD at me.

“Yeah, I’m not too happy with you either, bear!!! But you will make a lovely blanket or robe. I’m sure I’ll think of something.”

Stay out of the way of those enormous paws. Figure out how to make one good thrust straight to his heart.

He dropped to all fours again and sniffed in my direction just as I felt warmth spreading down my leg, I glanced at the wall- a sharp protrusion had cut me, and there was blood on the stone and a trail that marked my movement to where I now stood. He turned his head to scent the life fluid I had deposited on the stones and there it was…my chance. In a movement that surprised me, I found that the strength I had felt was real, at least for now. With one giant step, I jumped to his back, spinning in the air. Before he could shake me free I drove my katana through his shoulder blades up to the hilt, turned it and pulled up half way and plunged again. The great bear crumpled to the floor with me still sitting on his back.

The moment of childish elation, like the feeling of winning a championship match, passed quickly. The aftermath of the adrenaline rush took over as I slid to the floor. I had been right on the brink of letting the lycanthropy take over. BUT IT DIDN’T. I had won yet another round against the beast, the one that was far more dangerous than the poor bear that sprawled beside me.

The bear had been hungry AND he was defending his home; which I had taken to keep from becoming a bloodthirsty beast far worse than he. As backwards as it sounded, I respected him for that. He was beautiful, with thick, dark reddish brown fur covering his muscular form, just beginning to lose the fat store that would have otherwise lasted him through his hibernation.

I felt the effects of blood loss from the gash in my leg, and found myself torn between just letting nature take its course and using one of the potions Athlain had so graciously left for me. Sometimes he just didn't think; what if he needed those?! I put pressure on my leg with one hand and reached for the sacks with the other, rummaging through the smaller one to find the potion I was looking for. It bore my own seal; he still had some of the potions from the meeting we'd had, at the airship. That must mean something; either he was as good a warrior as he wanted me to believe or he had been sitting safe somewhere. I knew the latter was not true and I smiled, thinking maybe if he'd learned a different weapon when we were growing up our childhoods might have been far different.

I tied a cloth around my face to lessen the scent of the blood, which was causing turmoil in my head, and began the process of separating the skin from the meat. I kept my thoughts focused on the task; a process that took a tremendous amount of time. The meat I prepared as best I could and carried deep into the cave where it would freeze and keep. The skin I stripped with my katana, thinking decidedly unkind thoughts toward Athlain as I did. If I had had my dagger, it would have been so much easier! I hung the skin on the wall to start drying, thinking as I did so that it would make a lovely set of fur armor, a complement to the white armor that was a gift from the Skaal. Beyond that, armor would be the best way to honor the bear who’s home I had taken.

[Olen]

Wooo update So Athynae isn't exactly offscreen for this quest and has rather a lot to worry about. I liked the appearance of the lycanthropy trying to take hold as she fought and making her stronger without actually changing her. It works that the effect is not so black and white but creeps in despite of her best efforts. I also like that it's not all bad, without that she might not have lived through that fight, though without it she perhaps would not have started on the bear. That she didn't consider this shows just how much she's having to focus to slow the disease, I wonder if she'll succeed...

It was a good fight sequence, and now she has the raw materials for some new armour.

Beyond that, armor would be the best way to honor the bear who’s home I had taken.

Do I see some mixing of Skaal beliefs into her Redoran honour code. It seems that Athlain isn't the only one who is subtly changing...

[mALX]

Athynae's inner dialogue throughout even the fight with the bear and her attempts to distract her mind gave the reader that same sense of urgency to slow the progression of the disease. Her fear that it had taken over when she felt/heard the feral roar was tangible! Awesome Write !!

[minque]

So she fights....like I kinda knew she would..amazing! This is writing in its excellence..

“You cannot have my dinner, you over-sized rug!

One of many sentences that made me smile, Athynae has not lost her sense of humor...that is good it will help her stay sane.

The story builds up more and more, gah how I love it!!

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE ..please!

[Grits]

But the beloved voice of my mentor was lost in the sound of a growl that wasn’t from the bear; an animal roar of challenge that echoed off the walls and back to its point of origin- me.
The whole fight was gripping, both the physical one with the bear, and the internal one not to give in all the way to the disease.

I particularly liked the flower memories, and her respect for the bear. The many facets of Athynae.

[minque]

[i]
The many facets of Athynae.

Yes...isn't she just awesome? The wonderful daughter of Serene...I'm so happy about the interpretation of her

[McBadgere]

Love it mate... ...

Brilliant fight scene...

At least she'll be warm!... ...

Nice one... ...*Applauds*...

[treydog]

@Olen- You always manage to get at the heart of what we hope to accomplish. In this case, the mixed “blessing” of lycanthropy, as well as Athynae’s personal honor code- AND her evolving awareness of what all that weapons training really meant. Thank you so much.

@mALX- And you also find one of the key elements of the post- that Athynae cannot allow her attention to wander from the battle within for even a moment.

@minque- You have provided so much inspiration and guidance, with your wonderful creation of Serene, as well as your continued encouragement. The best thanks we can provide will be to grant your wish- and give you more story- FINALLY.

@Grits- Your words mean so much to us- you, who have given ALL of your characters such depth and dimension.

@McBadgere- Thank you so much! And yes- one set of bear armor on the way.

Where we are: Athynae remains ensconced in a cave, battling the effects of lycanthropy, as well as the urgings of the Daedra Prince Hircine. Athlain has found the Glenmoril Wyrd, who have sent him off to find the ONE remaining wolfsbane plant on all of Solstheim. As a result of a “finding” spell Korst invoked, Athlain is now able to “hear” Athynae, as well as know where she is. Now he needs some sort of similar magic- or something else- to find one plant on the highest peak on the island.

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Hvitkald Peak was known to me; I had traversed the perimeter of the mist-shrouded mountain when I activated the Water Stone. At the time, I had been grateful that I had no need to climb the rocky, ice-covered slope. And now, I was being sent to find one small plant somewhere amidst the fissures and drifts. If the quest had been for myself alone, I think I might have given in to despair then- but I could not. Athynae had not given up when she found me nearly dead from skooma addiction, nor later, when she again rescued me from the wreckage of the Dwemer airship. Her unyielding stubbornness had frequently annoyed me, but that aspect of her personality was precisely what I needed just then. And I needed one thing more. For the first time in my life, I called upon one of the gods to aid me.

Azura, you took a hand in my father’s life, though he did not desire it. And you chose Serene to be your vessel. If not for you, neither Athynae nor I would be here. And now, I seek your aid. Help me save the child of your avatar, the love of my life.

I left it at that; making no promises, striking no bargains. If Azura heard- if she decided to involve herself- she would let me know what price she expected in return. And I would pay it gladly.

Still, appealing to any deity- even Azura- was hard for me. Despite what I had told Korst, I knew quite a bit about the goddess who had played such a significant role in my father’s life. Even he admitted, although grudgingly, that she was the one who had saved him from becoming a corprus beast. Of course, he generally followed that admission with fulminations regarding his belief that he would not have become infected in the first place if not for her “interference.”

Family legend had been enough to cause me to read a bit more about the Daedric goddess, so I knew she was associated with dusk and dawn, the times of transition between darkness and light. If she intended to answer me directly, it would most likely be at one or the other of those. Given that my purpose was to make sure Athynae did not become a “creature of the night,” I decided to camp at the base of Hvitkald and wait for morning. That had the additional advantage of saving me from stumbling about the windy slope in the gathering darkness.

I set up my gear with the speed and economy of long practice, making a hollow in the snow and lining it with evergreen branches. I added a layer of furs and at last fashioned a roof from more branches, leaving an opening for the smoke from my tiny fire. Watching the colors of the dancing flames, I thought about sunrise- and Athyna. The two were inextricably linked in my memory. She had watched the dawn whenever possible, having a rather different “familial relationship” with Azura than I did. On more than one occasion, she had sent the staff at Indarys to drag me out of bed so we could watch the first light over the peaks near Ald’ruhn. And by way of thanks for my participation, she would then bruise and batter me on the practice ground, chattering enthusiastically the whole time. I had seen her less than a day before, and already I missed her terribly. That night was one of the longest I ever passed.

With time came leisure to consider Etienne and her sisters. There was something about them that bothered me- a sense of an image hovering just outside of my field of vision. Perhaps that was intentional- an attempt on their part to appear as mystical as possible. But Korst’s warning also nagged at me; as did the decidedly hungry look in the women’s eyes. At that, my own stomach reminded me of its needs and I gave over worrying at least long enough to prepare a meal. Given the number and aggressiveness of predators on Solstheim, I resisted the urge to cook anything; the fire was for warmth and for comfort against the darkness. Instead, I managed with smoked fish provided by the Skaal, along with some berries and ash yam. It was filling, though not necessarily satisfying.

As I drowsed beside the embers, I could sense ‘Thyna engaged in similar activities, could practically feel her anticipation of the meat she was roasting inside the cave. It was all very well for her- she was safely locked away… My resentment was shattered in an instant by a primal roar and the disappearance of her thoughts from my consciousness. I jumped to my feet, hands going for my mace and shield, even as I shouldered aside the roof of my shelter. Outside, nothing moved, beyond the slow wheeling of the stars. And then I knew- that terrible growl had come from within- not from without.

Something had happened. Something terrible. Athynae was in a struggle for her life. I had to…

What? What could I do? Run out into the darkness, across half the island, only to arrive exhausted- with no idea of what I might face? I did not want to believe it, but what if the roar I had heard was the triumphant call of the lycanthropy overwhelming her defenses? But no. Her thoughts just before had been relatively quiet, there had been no feeling of conflict. So whatever now threatened her had come upon her suddenly- and most likely was external. The Nine knew there were dangerous beasts in great numbers on Solstheim. And Korst had more or less indicated that Hircine was influencing them- driving them into a blood frenzy and suppressing their more usual wariness. But most telling, the harsh truth was that the source of the threat made no difference.

Suppose ‘Thyna was facing a wolf or a bear- or even something worse? And further suppose I did rush back to try and save her? (Assuming she even needed “saving”). Whatever was happening would be over for good or ill, long before I could get there. And when all was said and done, the greatest danger was the infection in her blood, the disease that would take her from me if I did not find the cure. My reasoning was sound, my conclusions were inescapable- and I hated myself for the cold equations that marched through my mind. I did not want to be logical- I wanted to hold her again.

Instead, I resettled the roof of my shelter into place and rescued the remaining embers of my fire from the snow that had nearly put them out. And then I sat down to wait, straining my mental “ears” for any sense of what was happening. Was this what it had been like for Athynae after I left for Solstheim, during all the long months since the party? Had she experienced the constant, gnawing fear- interrupted by moments of terror and then silence? No wonder she had come to find me- first in the cabin, then at the airship, and then the final, fateful time that had led to her being attacked. How had she been able to stand it when I blithely sent her off to Indarys, to be “safe,” practically with a pat on the head? In that moment, I felt as though I had earned every bruise she had ever given me.

There is no way to describe the time that followed my decision. I lived through those agonizing moments once, and have no desire to do so again. The profound silence that again inhabited that place in my mind that had become Athynae’s was almost more than I could bear. Even though I had only felt her “presence” for a day or so, its absence was akin to waking to find myself missing an arm or leg. A dozen times- a hundred- I reached for my pack and my weapons- and then forced myself to sit once more. And still, the silence reigned, broken only by the crackle of flames and the hiss of snow melt falling into the fire.

How STUPID does someone have to be to not check a cave for prior tenants before settling in?

The question came out of nowhere, and I found myself reflexively beginning the words of an apology before I realized it had not been directed at me. It was Athynae’s voice, but for once, she was berating herself. I allowed a smile of relief- and, I will admit- satisfaction- to curve my lips upward. She still lived, and by her acerbic tone, was as well as could be expected. Even so, I did not allow sleep to claim me. Before dawn, I would need to be high upon the slopes of Hvitkald where a different goddess awaited me- I hoped.

[mALX]

I hated myself for the cold equations that marched through my mind. I did not want to be logical- I wanted to hold her again.

Even though I had only felt her “presence” for a day or so, its absence was akin to waking to find myself missing an arm or leg.

It was Athynae’s voice, but for once, she was berating herself.

First: Great line! The struggle to follow the most helpful action instead of the most heartfelt was tangible!

Last: Lol on the last quote, lol.

Awesome Write !!

[Olen]

Woo update.

You did a good job of capturing his tension. His being unable to sleep then worrying and wanting to go back all show it well but the fact he tried praying was what really showed his worry and desperation about how dire his situation is. So far he's been to busy sorting her out then running around to look at the longer picture but he certainly took a look lying in the cold and dark at the mountain foot. At least he had the sense not to try at night...

Great stuff - as ever I look forward to the next part.

[Grits]

The thing that stands out the most for me in this update is Athlain's empathy for Athynae for what he put her through when he left. So much in his thoughts of her just shines.

Athlain's not entirely humble request for aid from Azura made me smile. I look forward to what the dawn brings.

[McBadgere]

Excellent chapter...Loved it...

I like the way he can "Hear" her thinking...Would save so much hassle if all men had that about their loved ones... ...

Nice one matey!!... ...

*Applauds*...

[minque]

YESSS! he can hear Athynae, he CAN read her mind....That is excellent if I may say so! Now dear Athlain, you sweeet "son of your Father" Step in....help her! Drag her out of it, you're the only one who can....or? For all you might also seek guidance from your "Godmother"

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE! (pretty please?)

[treydog]

@mALX- As ever, you find the lines that meant the most to me, as well. I think I lifted “cold equations” from somewhere, but it is such a perfect description that I cannot think of another. And yes, it says so much about The A and A Show that, even in this crisis, he is just a LITTLE happy that she is yelling at herself for a change.

@Olen- Yes, Athlain only admits the existence of Azura, but actually seeks her aid- he is beyond upset. And at the same time, he will try to do things “logically,” even when they involve faith.

@Grits- THANK YOU so much for highlighting that moment. It actually came late in the writing process- which is my only valid excuse for taking so long. The dawn will come- but not yet.

@McBadgere- My thanks. Hearing what one’s love is thinking… hmm. On further consideration, and with the memory of certain scorching looks that have been directed my way, perhaps not.

@minque- Athlain is still learning to use his newfound ability, and he is so used to acting “directly” that it is hard for him to imagine letting Athynae know that he can “hear” her. Then there is his healthy fear of her possible reaction. In some ways, those two traits define his relationship with her- well-established habits and trepidation. Of course, SOME of that is changing. As to his being the “only one,” well- read on to see.

Where we are- As Athlain awaits the rising of the sun (and grudgingly hopes for the aid of Azura) to find a single plant somewhere on a mountain, Athynae is continuing the most difficult fight of her life. Oddly enough, the struggle begins with a memory- and with laughter.

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“Ha ha ha ha!” The echo of my laughter drifted into the depths of the cave, fading little by little with each ricochet. It had crossed my otherwise piteous thoughts that even in this there was something to be thankful for. Mae and Cai weren’t trapped in here with me.

The scene replayed of the one and only time I had been forcibly confined with them. We had played a prank on Athlain, and like the majority of their grand schemes, it went terribly awry. In my defense I took no part in the planning; I was just the one with the skill and courage to climb the tree and tie the rope. We were almost finished setting the trap, the bait/trigger being Athlain’s dagger that I had taken in a skirmish the day before. I hadn’t finished securing the weight on the rope that would hold him suspended when Mae and Cai took off, shortly after which I heard an “Ooff” and the bundle of stones was snatched from my hands. I looked around the tree to see Athlain hanging upside down with the dagger in his hand. I had just a moment in which to be pleased that the snare had worked, then the sack of stones hit the ground behind me, having come loose from the unsecured knot. And of course, after being pulled even higher, Athlain plunged back to the ground.

He hit headfirst and screamed, and then blood started spurting from his left thigh. I knew we were dead anyway and I couldn’t leave him there bleeding like that, so I was by his side, doing what I could when Aunt Baria and Uncle Trey responded to his scream. While Uncle Trey took care of Athlain and extracted the dagger from his thigh I got to tell Aunt Baria ‘how this happened’. When I got to the Mae and Cai part Uncle Trey looked at me, his eyes the color of old ice, and bellowed like I’d never heard before.

“Mae and Cai! GET OVER HERE, NOW!”

It was then I realized that my fear of Uncle Trey was a healthy thing. Mae and Cai were there before I had blinked my eyes.

“Would you like to tell your father and I how this happened?” Aunt Baria’s voice was just loud enough to be heard over Athlain’s moans.

“It’s her fault,” they both said, pointing at me.

It took a second to process. "Hey! Now wait just a minute! This was NOT my idea….”

Mae cut me off, saying, “We were just thinking out loud and she decided to do it.”

Mae could lie like a guar in fresh hay. About that time Uncle Trey stood with Athlain in his arms.

“All three of you go to your room,” he indicated Mae and Cai with his head. “I am going to send for Serene just to make sure Athlain is healed properly. She can decide what to do with you,” glaring at me, “when she is done.”

I knew as well as Mae and Cai that arguing was useless. I followed them into the manor and up the stairs to their room. Before the door latched they lit into me like cliff racers on a blighted kagouti.

“Why did you go over there?”

“Why didn’t you run?”

“Why did you tell?”

“Stop!” I yelled, “You lied!” I pointed at Mae. “We were caught, game over! Then you lied and made it look like it was ALL MY FAULT!”

“Wasn’t it?” Cai chimed in. “If you hadn’t climbed the tree and set the trap the idea would have died as merely the musings of angry sisters.”

The argument didn’t let up for what seemed like hours. We yelled back and forth for who knows how long. It only ended when Mother opened the door, “Let’s go, young lady.”

I ran to her, feeling like I had just been released from one of those torture devices I had seen pictures of in the book in Father’s desk drawer.

“Mama, I am so sorry! It wasn’t supposed to do that! I didn’t mean to hurt him!”

“You never do.”

“Mama?”

“Yes?”

“I am really glad I am the oldest and the brats aren’t schemers like Mae and Cai.”

The memory faded as I recalled Mother’s smile; she always smiled like that when I called them the brats. I guess it’s because she knows I love them. If things here didn’t turn out well, she would still have my brother and sister, even if they were brats.

The thought that my life might end in such a way, in this place, unleashed a surge of anger fueled by pent up energy and frustration that lifted me off of the cave floor. I started swinging my katana, slashing at the roots hanging from the ceiling and protruding from the sides of the cave. I lost all control, screaming at the beast that had put me here, the course of events that had led me to fall prey to it, my own stupidity for doing exactly what I ALWAYS accused Athlain of, a raging hatred pointed at nothing but encompassing everything. I didn’t stop until I was so exhausted I couldn’t lift the sword much past my waist. I buried my face in the bear’s luxurious pelt, grasping hands full of fur, trying to find some comfort where none existed.

The voice was full of pride and exultation:

“I knew you were worthy of my gift! Even without the power the gift will supply, you are a fierce warrior.”

“I do not want your ‘gift’.” The words were barely a whisper, but his interruption stopped my descent into self-pity.

“You do not know what you are saying; you do not know what this gift will mean for you.”

The mental voice carried the implication that the disease that stalked my blood was some grand gem or immense sum of money.

“I do not want your ‘gift'.”

I did not alter my volume or tone; I spoke the words the same as I had the first time. I closed my eyes, pushing at his presence in my mind, thinking about Mother and some of the stories I had read in her journal. The strength and will power it must have taken for her to overcome some of what she had been through still stunned me.

Time was passing- fast or slow, I had no way of knowing. I was battling, in waves that seemed to be growing closer and closer together, the disease in my body and the voice of the Daedric monster in my head. The ebb of the tide carried calming memories, thoughts of home, lessons learned and, of course, the calming effect of Mother’s presence. She knew, wherever she was, that I was fighting like I had never fought before. There were not really words as there had been with Athlain, but I could feel her. I had not tried to talk to her because I was afraid her voice would only make me more bereft. Besides, we both knew she wouldn’t get to me in time even if she were to try, so she did the only thing she could, she stayed in my head. As for the disease, that fight was my own, and Athlain’s….

The antlered god started another barrage…

“You are only hurting yourself the more by fighting; come join me for the feast; all will be as it was intended. With you by my side we would be invincible, indestructible. The world would be ours for the taking, Athynae. You will be my greatest Hunter.”

“I do not want to rule the world with you or anyone else. I want my life as it should be. I will not give in to this. I will die first.”

His voice became a cajoling song:

“Oh sweet Athynae, do not say such things. You want to live, you want to answer the call of the wolf, you want to taste what your body craves. It is easy, so easy. Just open the door, my sweet. The life you desire is waiting.”

I was so tired of the fight, so tired of feeling the disease take my body into its grasp cell by cell. I was losing the battle as each moment passed. Where was Athlain? I couldn’t hold on much longer. He had taken my silver dagger and, as angry as I was, I knew why. I also knew my katana would serve the same purpose, not quite as expeditiously but to the same end.

“Athynae do not think like that, it is not so horrible as you think. Come join me and see for yourself. Should it be as unacceptable as you assume, I will let you go. But ‘tis no different than the prejudice amongst the races. I simply offer a different life than that you are accustomed to. And you would be as a god, with me, making the world what you want it to be.”

I started dry heaving; just the thought made me sick. It was vile, ugly, and I wanted it to stop. I didn’t want to hear the voice anymore; I didn’t want to feel the burning as the bad blood mixed with the good. I didn’t want, I didn’t want, I didn’t want….

I knew there were only two ways to make it stop that I could accept: a cure, which at this point did not seem likely; or making use of my katana. The blade was far too long for me to hold the hilt and plunge it into my heart and I knew that was the only way to be sure it was over because I couldn’t decapitate myself. I really should have paid more attention to weapons that could be thrown and then returned to the wielder. I was so tired even my sarcasm wasn’t hitting the mark.

I studied my katana, turning it in my hands and touching the blade, still almost sharp enough to split a hair even after the earlier assault on the walls and floor of the cave. I considered ways to anchor the blade so I could finish this.

I decided it was time and I NEEDED to hear her voice, even if it was going to be the last time.

“Mother, are you there? What would you do? I am so tired, and afraid. What did I do wrong, Mother?” I waited “Mother?” She wasn’t answering, had she given up?

I felt something inside snap. Time. I couldn’t fight this anymore, the fear of the lycanthropy taking over was more than I could bear; I had to finish this while I still had the wherewithal to do what was needful. I started collecting stones into a pile to use as a prop to position the sword. After my rampage through the cavern, it took a bit of time, as I had scattered them to the farthest reaches of the firelight. I crouched on my knees preparing to set the hilt of the katana into the stone wedge. My vision blurred a bit as I picked up a stone that had fallen off of the pile.

“Athynae Sarethi if you move ONE more stone! This is NOT over, and YES, I am still here. I will NEVER leave you. You must have faith in Athlain; you must hold on. I know the feeling of hopelessness, I know what it means to fight when all of your strength is gone AND IF I CAN SAY THAT IT MEANS I SURVIVED IT, which means that you can too. PUT THAT DAMNED THING DOWN NOW!”

The echo of the sword hitting the pile of stones reverberated through the cave, continuing its clamor until I collapsed and rolled into a fetal ball.

“Mother.”

My whispered cry was answered by the beast:

“Do not cry my sweet; the pain can end. Come to me, Athynae. Be my greatest warrior; rule the world with me.”

And Mother answered him, with a strength and fury I had only imagined she possessed:

“And what world would that be? The world of death and destruction? We have had our fill of desolation. This child was the END of that! YOU CANNOT HAVE HER! I will not let her go; I will not give up. Your cowardice is abhorrent. If you want MY blood, then come and get it! But you will not take my blood through her.”

The evil, the malice in the Daedra’s laughter, was murderous:

“You think you can do anything, Serene Sarethi? What strength do you possess when you are but a voice in the head of a naïve child? She is mine; it is only a matter of time before she succumbs.”

“I know my daughter; I know her heart, and she WILL NOT lose this battle! She will not join you! She will choose death before she tastes the first drop of blood! You have made a grievous error by choosing this CHILD! If she doesn’t hunt you down and destroy you when this is over I WILL! There will not be a place in this world nor in all the planes of Oblivion for you to hide.”

Her voice changed then and the Arch-Master of House Redoran disappeared, became “Mother” again, humming softly, a song she used when she was comforting me as a child. I could almost feel her hand caressing my head, letting my hair run through her fingers. Then the hair was brushed from my face….

[Athynae]

To each of you THANK YOU so much for your continued support of Athynae. It is interesting how a character develops themselves…

@Olen- Ever so slowly it creeps, yes. Thank you for noticing the ‘subtle’ changes, our little girl is growing up.

@mALX- I am so glad you are here and that you like Athynae…it will get more interesting from here….stay tuned.

@Grits- I like the memories too, all of them. They creep in at the oddest times, REALLY!! Thank you for reading I do hope you like the following installment.

@McB- My new friend, thanks for reading…Thyna is very special to me, I only hope that I am doing her justice.

@Minque- And for your words I am most grateful, that Athynae meets your approval is at the apex of my goals for her. I do hope you enjoy the next piece in her tale (shut up Foxy). She sure would like to have the rest of your story…..was that subtle or what??? Much love Mother….. <3





This post has been edited by Athynae: Jan 8 2012, 02:24 PM

[mALX]

It's like taking a step down into the depths of insanity as the battle rages in her mind, but Athynae is calling on all the right ghostly voices to help her fight the disease. Awesome Write !!