Mark eyed the wolf, his grip tightening on his sword that dripped with fresh blood. The white wolf unsettled him. It was far bigger than any wolf he'd ever seen, and it was hard to even see it in the falling sheets of snow. He hadn't smelled it or heard it approach, which terrified him. What level was it? He had not considered the level of the creatures here and now that oversight could have killed Sean. Skadi cradled Sean's body in her arms as if he was a child, telling him in a voice as soft as the winter breeze. "I'd put your blade away, Traveler. Ruttisdir doesn't trust you and he will continue to do so, unless you stop posing a threat to him." Mark hesitated to put his sword away. Keeping his eyes on the wolf, he asked her curiously. "Are you a player or an NPC?" Skadi's blue lips curled into an amused smile when she said almost to herself. "What an interesting question." Without waiting for him, she turned on her heels and began to walk away.

Every fiber of Mark's body tensed. He couldn't let her leave with Sean. Sheathing his blade, he quickly walked after her. Barely able to keep up with her long stride. Just before he caught up to her, he skidded to a stop as the large wolf moved in his peripheral vision. The beast appeared to grow FAR larger! Jerking his head to look at it, he watched in horror as it rose from all fours to strong powerful hind legs. The wolf towered over him at a size of at least seven feet. Its torso exposed to reveal muscles that would make a body builder envious. The wolf's thick black claws glinted in the dim light reflecting off the snow and his dark eyes glared down at him like a fierce predator. The wolf's long white tail flicked behind him before he shook the snow from his back and shoulders. Then with a snort, the wolf moved toward the cliff to collect the bodies of the griffins that they'd hunted. Mark's heart raced as he watched the large wolf move through the snow with barely a sound.

Unlike the young werewolf that he'd seen at the manor, this one was a beast of frightening presence. He wasn't even sure that any silver could bring down a beast that big. Behind him, Skadi's voice carried to him on the breeze as she told him casually. "Come, Traveler. It's not safe for your kind here. In Fenrir country." Mark forced himself to move, asking her curiously. "Fenrir? The world ending wolf?" Skadi slowed her pace to allow him to catch up, before telling him in a quiet tone of voice. "Yes. You are at the end of this realms' world here. The packs run heavy here. Bigger game. Richer meat." Mark shielded his eyes from the snowflakes that pelted his face as they walked, glancing up at Sean with worried eyes. Skadi held Sean close enough to her fur coat that he hoped he wasn't freezing to death, but upon seeing the droplets of blood that sprinkled the snow behind her, he blurted out. "He's injured. Where are we going? We should stop and-"

Skadi didn't answer him, her eyes were focused ahead. The sudden loud howl from behind him made him nearly jump out of his skin. The sound echoed over the flat landscape and twisted into a haunting call the farther it drifted from them. Glancing behind him, he took a shaky breath. When had Ruttisdir gotten so close to them? Each of his hands was dragging two legs that belonged to two separate griffins. When he stopped howling, his ears perked up to listen for something. Mark stayed close to Skadi, flinching as he heard another distant howl that drifted on the wind. As they walked the distant fog of falling snow cleared up enough that he could make out the forest ahead. Trees with no green. Just twisted dark branches laden heavily with snow until they appeared to be mere shadows. Upon approaching the woods, Mark's keen vampire senses caught the distinct smell of smoke and glinting eyes watching them from around the dark trunks of trees.

Faintly he heard snarling, but whenever he tried to find the maker of the sound, he saw nothing. Skadi walked calmly through the thick trees toward a bright bonfire that had been set in a massive open clearing. Nestled on the other side of the clearing was the abandoned inn they'd been looking for. Although., the name appeared to be a flat out lie. For around the large bonfire were at least fifty werewolves. Some females. Some pups. A good portion of them males like Ruttisdir. When they saw Skadi, they bowed their heads with soft whimpers, but even with heads bowed, they snarled as Mark passed by them. Only to fall silent as Ruttisdir moved by them. Peeking over his shoulder, he eyed Ruttisdir as he moved away to leave three of the griffins for the pack to tear into. Dragging the last toward the inn. He assumed Ruttisdir was the alpha. The apex of his kind because no male matched his great size.

Stepping up the creaky wooden steps of the inn, Mark pleaded with Skadi. "Can you let me see him now? Please?!" Skadi pointed to the distant fireplace, telling him coolly. "Get the fire going." Mark glanced at the frosted wood in the fireplace, before scolding back. "Have your dog do it! I wanna see him!" Ruttisdir snarled but remained inhumanly still in the doorway. Blocking any chance of a retreat, should he choose to run. Skadi stroked Sean's cheek, unphased by Mark's tone as she informed him. "If I release him from my arms, he will freeze and die. He needs fire to melt the snow that forms beneath his skin." Meeting his eyes, she added with a smirk. "I'm afraid Ruttisdir can't help you make fire in his current form. Unless you'd like him to fetch you some dry wood?" Mark shifted uneasily, watching her nod to Ruttisdir as she told him. "Ruttisdir, my darling. Bring up dry wood from the cellar. The wood is wet with snow from the chimney. Thank you."

Ruttisdir bared his sharp teeth at Mark, but silently moved out of sight to obey. Skadi seated herself down in a chair, cradling Sean against her chest, telling Mark contently. "Don't mind, Ruttisdir. He's really quite sweet once he gets used to you. He's just not good around strangers." Reluctantly moving to the fireplace, Mark aggressively shoved the wet wood aside, grumbling out. "Sure. What is he, your lover?" Skadi's tone turned almost fragile when she answered. "My son. Not by blood, mind you. But he was the first I saved from this bitter cold. He was but a runt of his litter... left to die." Mark calmed himself, glancing at her now with uncertainty. He couldn't get a good read on her. Was she an evil NPC or a good one? She held Sean's body as if he was a baby in her large arms. Stroking his cheek and starting to hum a lullaby that he'd never heard before. Something peaceful and calming. When Ruttisdir returned, he dropped a pile of chopped wood on the floor by Mark's feet with another snarl.

Skadi tore her eyes up from Sean, reaching out to pet Ruttisdir's big silky ears. Ruttisdir kneeled by her chair, a smile tugging at his wolfish muzzle as she played with them. While she absently informed Mark to break the silence. "He's not a runt anymore though. He seems to get bigger by the year. Practically a Fenrir if I ever saw one. And just as beautiful as the winter in sunlight." Setting to work to make the fire as quickly as he could, he asked her anxiously. "And the other wolves around here?" Skadi lowered her hand from Ruttisdir, turning her gaze upon Sean before answering serenely. "More of my children that I've saved over the years. It gets lonely around here without them." Sparking the fire to life, Mark turned to her and couldn't help asking seriously. "What do you plan to do with Sean?" Ruttisdir snarled at him, but Skadi tapped his big black nose to stop him, answering coolly. "I plan to save him, of course. Have you met so much evil, traveler?"

Getting to his feet, he exhaled out honestly to her. "I have. At this moment, we are being hunted. Now I'm worried that you're going to turn him into a... into HIM!" Ruttisdir snorted as he pointed to him. Skadi blinked slowly, calmly replying. "I see. I assure you, traveler. I don't turn them into werewolves. They made their choice when they decided to stay with us. Being a werewolf helps races... not suitable for this region to survive in it. It's a gift that Ruttisdir gives them. Although... for you. He's not so generous to offer." Ruttisdir let a small snarl escape him before going quiet at Skadi's smile in his direction. Opening his mouth, Mark let his fangs drop as he told her seriously. "I can guess why. Being what I am." Skadi huffed, shrugging out. "Being a vampire doesn't phase him. You don't eat meat. He does. So, your hunt for the same food source is void. Even if you drain it, he can still eat it. Werewolves and vampires are not the enemies you might think they are."

Retracting his fangs, Mark corrected. "No. I meant that he can't turn me into what he is. So, there is no point in him giving me such a gift." Skadi smirked to herself, then adjusted Sean on his lap as she crossed her legs and asked curiously. "Not as rounded a traveler as I thought. Do you wish to be a werewolf more than what you are?" Blinking, Mark mumbled out nervously. "Are you saying you can turn me into a werewolf? That I wouldn't be a vampire anymore? But my stats said..." Skadi lifted a hand, causing little snowflakes to dance over his fingertips as she said serenely. "A body frozen to time. Like water frozen in the cold. The body perfectly preserved from death but is forced to maintain a death like state. Darling... I am the winter goddess. I am the very cold itself. If anyone can revive you from your frozen life... it would be me." Standing very still, Mark asked in a low deep voice. "What would something like that cost?" Skadi lowered her hand, causing the snowflakes to vanish in the warmth from the fireplace, before answering just as seriously. "The price varies from person to person. Race to race. Some have more to give than others."

Inhaling, he asked anxiously. "What would it cost me?" Skadi slowly rose from her chair, keeping Sean cradled close to her chest. Leaning closer, she grabbed Mark's chin and tilted his head to let the firelight reflect into his eyes. She was searching for something in his eyes, when she answered so low and suddenly menacing. "For an Aesir like yourself. The price is expensive. A race like yours has a lot to give. You kill for glory and honor. You are conquerors. You take... but never give." Mark lowered his eyes to Sean, telling her sternly. "You can't have him. He's not mine to give." Skadi's menacing tone faded. Her smile was bright, when she told him in a whisper. "I know. As much as I adore Ljosalfar. He's not what I'd want from you." Easing back, she adjusted Sean in her arms to carefully drape him across Mark's arms. Sean felt so cold that he was sure that he was frozen solid. At his scared look, Skadi informed him. "My kiss froze him in time. My embrace kept his insides warm. Warm him, traveler. Or you'll lose him."

Dropping to his knees in front of the fire, he cradled Sean in his arms and pleaded into his ear. "Sean? Wake up! Jack!" Sean didn't stir. Rubbing his hands over Sean's body, he gasped when his hand came back with blood and glanced at Sean's health bar. He couldn't see any red. Was he dead? Had he bled out? Embracing him, Mark snapped back at her. "Help me! I don't see... You said he was alive!" Skadi stood far back from the fire now, telling him seriously. "He is alive. I would never lie. You're a vampire. Calm yourself and prove me wrong." Mark bared his fangs at her. He couldn't help it. Turning back to Sean, he stroked his bangs and pleaded to her. "How do I stop the bleeding? Please! I can't see how much health he's got left!" Pressing a hand to the worst of Sean's wounds, he tried to keep the blood from leaking out, but it continued to drip through his fingers. Behind him, Skadi told him stoically. "My help in that too will cost you... will you accept it?"

Without thinking, Mark snapped out. "YES!" Skadi swiftly approached them, dropping to a knee and nudging Mark away from Sean. Cupping Sean's face, she inhaled and whispered over his lips. "A second kiss so sweet and bitter, I take your pain and fill you with winter." Mark gasped as he helplessly watched her press her blue lips to Sean's. He didn't like the sound of her spell and didn't like it more when he saw Sean's brown hair tint with white highlights. It was like she was draining the life out of him. Reaching out, he touched her shoulder in a weak attempt to stop her. If she was helping, he didn't want her to stop... but he couldn't tell. Suddenly, Skadi sat up from the kiss to look at him, her eyes a solid silver when she whispered eerily to him. "There he has my health, and I bare his pain." Glancing down, he saw blood stain the side of her coat. While Sean's bleeding side frosted over and healed rapidly, his health bar filled to max. With a deep inhale, Sean began to breathe steadily again.

He was just about to thank her, when she grabbed Mark's jaw and pinned in up against the wall. Her strength far exceeded his own. For a moment, he stared at her confused, watching her groan before her body quickly healed from her injured state. Then staring him down, she told him rather calmly now. "Ruttisdir will watch over him. It's time for you to pay."  To Be Continued...