The sky over Whiterun burned orange as the sun sank behind the tundra.
Torches flickered along the stone battlements. Guards moved along the walls in pairs, their silhouettes sharp against the dying light. The city carried a strange tension—like a bowstring pulled too tight.
Kael noticed it the moment he stepped into the courtyard.
The people were quieter than usual. Conversations were hushed. Even the guards looked uneasy.
Something had changed.
He walked beside Aela and Farkas toward the great hall of Dragonsreach. The towering structure loomed above them, its dragon-headed beams cutting into the sky.
The proclamation had drawn half the city.
Merchants. Farmers. Soldiers. Hunters.
And the Companions.
Kael spotted the familiar shapes immediately.
Vilkas stood with arms crossed near the front of the gathering, face carved from stone. Several other members of The Companions clustered nearby, speaking in low tones.
None of them looked pleased.
Kael felt the weight of their gazes when he approached.
"About time you showed up," Vilkas muttered.
Kael ignored the jab.
Aela stepped forward instead. "What exactly is this proclamation about?"
Vilkas' jaw tightened for a second before he let out a sigh.
"Vampires."
The word dropped like a stone.
A murmur spread through the crowd who heard him nearby.
Kael felt something cold stir in his chest.
Vilkas continued, voice low.
"Word came this morning. A courier from Falkreath. Then another from Rorikstead."
His eyes lifted toward the horizon beyond the walls.
"Villages attacked."
Aela frowned. "By vampires?"
"Not just vampires."
Vilkas looked at Kael briefly.
"Something else."
Before anyone could ask further, the doors of Dragonsreach opened.
The crowd fell silent.
Out stepped the Jarl of Whiterun himself.
Balgruuf the Greater strode onto the stone balcony overlooking the courtyard. His cloak snapped in the evening wind as his steward followed close behind.
Guards lined the stairs beneath him.
Balgruuf raised a hand.
The murmurs faded.
"People of Whiterun," the Jarl's voice carried easily across the courtyard.
"Dark tidings have reached our hold."
He paused, scanning the gathered crowd.
"Three nights past, a coordinated attack struck the village of Riverwood."
Gasps rippled through the listeners.
Kael stiffened.
Riverwood was barely half a day away.
Balgruuf continued.
"Witnesses speak of creatures unlike any seen before. Not merely vampires… but monsters that bore the strength of beasts."
Aela's eyes narrowed.
"Werepire," she whispered.
Balgruuf nodded grimly.
"Scholars now name them blood-cursed hybrids. Creatures born of vampire and werewolf."
A wave of unease spread through the courtyard.
Kael felt the hairs on his neck rise.
Balgruuf's voice hardened.
"These creatures are not random horrors."
"They are organized."
His gaze swept across the Companions.
"They came for one purpose."
Vilkas muttered under his breath.
"We know."
Balgruuf spoke the name aloud.
"Skjor of the Companions was taken."
The courtyard erupted in shocked voices.
Kael's stomach twisted.
Even though he had already heard the story, hearing it declared before the entire city made it real in a different way.
Balgruuf raised his hand again for silence.
"The attackers fled south before dawn."
"They move with speed and cunning."
His eyes darkened.
"Reports claim they are led by a powerful member of… a sort of vampire council."
Kael felt something stir deep in his blood.
A faint, predatory awareness.
Like a wolf hearing prey moving in tall grass.
Balgruuf continued.
"For this reason, I hereby authorize the Companions to lead the hunt with complete control over any resources needed."
He turned slightly toward Vilkas and Aela.
"Track them."
"Destroy them."
"And bring Skjor back home."
A cheer rose from parts of the crowd, though it carried more desperation than excitement.
But Balgruuf was not finished.
"There is more."
The courtyard quieted again.
"This enemy has a name."
The Jarl's voice grew colder.
"Lady Valerica of the Crimson Court."
Kael felt the name settle like frost in the air.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, the system stirred faintly.
But no notification appeared.
Balgruuf finished.
"These monsters believe they can hunt within my hold."
His voice thundered now.
"They are mistaken."
The crowd roared approval.
Torches blazed.
Steel clanged as guards struck shields with swords.
"The Crimson Hunt begins tonight."
As the proclamation ended and the crowd slowly began to disperse, the Companions gathered near the courtyard steps.
Vilkas spoke first.
"No more waiting. Ready the pack."
Aela nodded.
"We track them south."
Farkas cracked his knuckles.
"I've been waiting for this."
Their eyes shifted to Kael.
The tension from earlier was still there.
Vilkas studied him for a moment.
"You coming?"
Kael didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Aela gave a faint smirk.
"Good."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Because if those bloodsuckers think they can take one of ours…"
Her hand rested on the hilt of her blade.
"We'll show them what real monsters look like."
The group began moving toward the gates of Whiterun.
But as Kael walked, something strange happened.
A faint pulse echoed in his mind, his eyes turning crimson briefly before normalcy returned.
Not a full system notification.
More like a whisper that he couldn't quite catch.
For a brief moment, Kael felt as though something… someone, was watching him.
Something... pleased.