This is Our Home: A Collection of Skyrim Short Stories

Flying Fur (Vilkas)

12th of Second Seed, 4E 197

Vilemyr Inn was a welcome sight for my road-weary eyes.

Farkas and I made it into Ivarstead after a hard-fought battle against an infestation of wild hogs near Merryfair Farm in the Rift. The swarm had been breaking down fences, killing livestock, and trampling crops, terrorizing the owners of the farm, so our aid had been called in. Farkas and I dispatched the horde, accepted the payment from the thankful farmers, and made our return trip to Jorrvaskr.

But we'd been marching on empty stomachs for several hours now, so stopping at the tavern in Ivarstead seemed like the logical course of action.

We stepped inside the cozy inn, and my heightened werewolf senses were bombarded all at once with the fragrance of cooking food, the beating of a drum from the songstress performing in the corner, and the rushing blood from at least three of the inn's occupants. I tried to zero in on the good, the sultry crooning from the bard's voice, the delicious aroma of meat sizzling over the open firepit, and the jovial chatter passing between everyone.

Two years into possessing the beast blood, and yet I still struggled to focus on individual senses instead of allowing myself to become overwhelmed by so many all at once.

Farkas and I sat down at an empty table, resting our satchels next to us on the floor. I propped my arms on the table and let my head rest in my dirty hands. I'd done my best to wipe the blood and gore off myself after the fight, but blood caked under my fingernails and stuck in my hair.

A serving girl approached us and set cups of water down on the table. She fixed us with a dazzling smile as she greeted us. "Hail, Companions. On your way to or from work?"

"From," I answered, grabbing the cup in front of me and taking a long swig. The cool water soothed my parched throat, and I released a satisfied sigh. "We need a room for the night, if you have one available."

"Oh, yes." She pressed the tray she'd carried to us against her chest. "We only have single-bed rooms available, though, and seeing as neither of you have bedrolls on your packs...."

"We'll take two rooms, then." I dug into my satchel and paid for one room, then nudged Farkas with my elbow. "Pay up."

"You have enough gold to cover both rooms," he mumbled. "I'll get you back later."

I shot him a quick glare before turning back to the barmaid. "Sorry about him. He can be a bit slow."

Farkas punched me in the back before he begrudgingly reached into his pack to retrieve some coin for his room. He slapped it down on the table next to mine, then crossed his arms and sulked.

"I must say," said the barmaid as she stooped to push the gold onto the tray, "you two are quite handsome for Companions. And so young, too. You must be rather skilled to have ascended to your ranks among them."

I sat up a bit straighter on the bench, tilting my chin toward her. "We practically grew up in Jorrvaskr, so the warrior way is all we've ever known."

"Such a dangerous life, but it suits the two of you well." She cocked her head to one side. "Before I take these coins and get you the rooms keys, do you want anything to eat?"

"Oh, yes, please," said Farkas, rubbing his belly. "I'm starving!"

I rolled my eyes at him. How easily he forgot himself. I procured a few more coins from my bag and placed them on the tray with the others. "Bring us two of whatever's hot, would you, please?"

She smiled at me, nodded, and walked to the bar at the back of the inn.

When she bent down below the bar, I slapped Farkas across the back of his head. "Dumbass. Act like you have some manners, will you?"