The sun dipped low on the horizon, washing Whiterun in a pale orange glow as Kael stepped back into the bustling streets. His errand to Dragonsreach had gone smoothly—perhaps too smoothly. The Jarl's steward had taken the message with practiced indifference, and the Jarl himself had only spared him a few glances here and there.
By the time Kael reached the Companions' mead hall, Jorrvaskr, the smell of roasting meat and spilled ale clung thick to the air as usual. Inside, laughter echoed against the wooden beams. Torvar slammed mugs together with Njada, their voices booming. Skjor leaned casually near the firepit, while Aela cleaned her bow with meticulous focus.
Kael slipped in quietly, nodding at a few of his fellow Companions. Some returned the gesture; others simply gave him a curious glance. Not many knew what to make of him yet—new blood always stirred whispers, but Kael carried himself with a confidence that made others wary.
He made for the long table, but before he could sit, a familiar voice cut across the chatter.
"Kael," Skjor called. His one good eye glinted in the firelight. "How did it go?"
"The usual I guess? I'm not exactly sure. Proventus took the parchment and the rest was boring formalities."
"Haha! It went well that. You should pay a visit to Farkas, he's been waiting for you for a while now."
Kael grunted in response and went to the basement level where the living quarters was. Members of the circle had a room to themselves while other members had to share a room. With the only exception being Kael.
This point alone had garnered him enough scornful look to fill up a barrel of ale. Although, he had come to a conclusion that only the werewolf members of the Companions were allowed such privilege.
He saw Farkas sorting out some ingots of steel and iron into a sack.
"Aye, I've been looking for you. Need your help with a 'small' task."
"Yeah, Skjor said so. What'd you need help with? Crafting? I'm not sure I'm suitable for the job" he asked, eyeing the stacks of ingots in the sack.
"Gods no. These are for Eorlund. Haha, you think I'd trust you to craft even a nail?—"
[Emergency Quest— Wipe out the Abomination of the Night]
[Rewards: 5SP, 2Lvs, 10StatPoints, Increased renown with the companions]
Immediately after the quest popped up on his system, Farkas continued, "There's been talk of a beast troubling the farms east of Whiterun. Farm steward said it was neither a wolf or sabre cat, but looked like it was a mix of both. The Jarl's guards are too busy posturing on the walls, so the Companions were asked to handle it."
Kael however was half-lost; How does the system issue quests that have not yet been spoken? Up till now, the quests had to have been given by manner of speech before the system formally issued it. This was the first time the system ever took this route and then an 'emergency' quest again.
"But if the monster attacking the farm is an hybrid of sorts, don't you think the more experienced Companions should be handling that?" Kael asked, still staring... into space.
"Well, to put it quite frankly, the task has been assigned to me, but you can see, I am quite busy at the moment. You wanted to fight, didn't you?" he said gesturing to the sack of ingots he had beside him.
Sighing heavily, Kael waved his hand gesturing that he would take care of it. He didn't exactly have a choice, the system already assigned him the quest.
* * * *
The farmland stretched out like a patchwork quilt beneath the fading light. Kael trekked past golden wheat fields and wooden fences gnawed by time. The smell of earth and hay filled the air, though beneath it lingered the faint tang of blood.
A farmer met him at the edge of a tilled field. His face was lined with weariness, and a pitchfork trembled slightly in his hands.
"You're from the Companions?" he asked, hope clinging to his voice.
Kael nodded. "Tell me what happened."
"Three nights ago," the farmer began, "I heard the sheep panicking. When I went out, I found half the flock torn apart. Whatever it was… it didn't kill to eat. Just mangled them. Last night, it came back. Took my hound, too."
Kael's cocked a brow. A predator that killed without hunger—that was worse than any hungry beast. That was malice or perhaps something else.
"Where?"
The farmer pointed toward the tree line, where shadows pooled thick among the pines.
Kael thanked him and started forward, his boots crunching against the dirt road. His heartbeat quickened. This was no ordinary quest.
The forest closed around him like a living wall. Pine needles muffled his steps, and the wind hissed faintly through the branches. Every sound felt sharper—the snap of twigs, the rustle of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl.
Kael crouched low, scanning the ground. Broken branches. A smear of blood on a stone. Tracks—massive, clawed prints that dug deep into the soil.
His pulse quickened. Not a wolf. Not a bear. Something bigger.
Steady, he told himself. He could feel the restless energy of his wolf blood stirring, begging to be unleashed—to finally hunt. But he knew he had to be careful. One wrong move, and he could be the prey.
Hours seemed to stretch as he followed the trail deeper into the woods. Then, just as the moon began to rise, he heard it: a low, guttural growl that rumbled through the darkness.
Kael froze. The sound vibrated in his bones.
Slowly, he turned toward the source.
Two eyes glowed in the shadows—one red, one yellow, burning with hunger. Then the creature stepped into the moonlight.
It was a twisted thing, half-wolf, half bat-like abomination. Its fur bristled like iron, its fangs long enough to pierce armor, dripping with drool. Blood matted its muzzle.
The beast snarled, and Kael's body tensed instinctively.
This is it.
Then suddenly the system screen pulsed and began to flash a red light.
"What the hell is this?" Kael said, taking a few steps backwards while he used his inspect skill on the creature.
[Sanguin Wolf]
Lv: ???
Abilities: ???
Error! Level up inspect skill to show more details!
Kael immediately took a fighting stance. This was not to be underestimated. At the very least, this abomination was on the level of the top-tier companions.
[Quest objective updated!]
[Emergency Quest— Escape!]
...