Eyes Opened

Witches

The sun was finally starting to rise. You looked down the road to the horizon, smiling at the beautiful oranges lighting the sky. Your warmth bloomed as you thought about being with Vilkas. You wondered what might have happened if he'd been woken up. Would he have come with you? Would you have been standing here with him? It was hard to leave this morning as it was, would it be that bad to have woken him? It took a while to untangle yourself from his arms in any case. He looked so happy, peaceful as you left. You always respect every decision Kodlak made, but would it be that bad to disobey him just once? You sighed, the point was moot now. He was probably waking up to his empty arms right now. The note you'd left simply told him that you had important work to do, and that you were sorry. Kodlak asked you not to mention it was for him, so you did as he asked.

It was mid day before you even got to the cave they were held up in. You entered with caution, sticking to the shadows. After a moment you heard a voice echo against the rocks of the cave. "It's been a slow month." Your ears almost twitched. You looked into a dim light of a fire. There was a tall hunched over woman. You narrowed your eyes, focusing on her. It was a hagraven. You eased a bit, sinking further into an alcove darkened enough to hide your entire body. Slowly you pulled the bow and an arrow from your quiver. "Only one. Sisters, we will have to find a way to entice more." You took a slow deep breath. It was clear they weren't going to stop, the Companions weren't their only prey.

You worried about the others, where they were. You shook your head. "Eyes on the Prey." The hag's head shot up, looking around.

"What was that?"

Your teeth grit just a bit, drawing the bow to aim. Your head tilted as she walked around looking for the source of your voice. You finally let the arrow fly, the head struck her in the gut between the ribs. You watched as she stumbled back, only to pull out another arrow. The speed at which you drew back the bow and fired was astounding, the arrow ripping through the air and landing in her shoulder. Another one was loaded as she tried to cry out for help, her voice weak. The last arrow flew into her mouth, jabbing the roof until she fell back, body still twitching. The agony she expressed wasn't enough to bring her sisters running, wherever they were. Pulling out a medium sized dagger you knew what you had to do.

Blood. You were used to the feel of it on your hands now, though it didn't get any easier to take a life, you were able to rationalize it. It was still hot, the life force drained from her as you took the head. "Is this really what will cure him?" You questioned. "In any case, they are planning on forcing others to fall into this life. The pain, the heartache. I can't let them. Kodlak just needs one... but I need to kill them all."