Bab 222: A War of Wolves II
As we stand amidst the sea of chaotic battle, a few of our other shield brothers and sisters, Athis, Njada, Ria, and Torvar, find us and form a shield wall around us.
With a moment to breathe, I see that other clans of Companions have also somewhat restored order, acting as islands of control as they vie for control of the field as some of the werewolves have come to their senses along with some of their own clans as the fighting devolves into three fronts.
Those still in a berserk state, werewolves and their clansmen, and those hunting down both sides.
"Aela! What in Oblivion is going on?! Why are Skjor and Kodlak fighting?" Torvar shouts as he blocks a blow from a crazed warrior, nearly taking his head off had he been a moment slower with his block.
"Focus on the fight before you, Torvar! But know Kodlak betrayed us all and that the werewolves had been tricked!" Aela answers him, and Ria then exclaims in shock.
"By Talos! Look at Skjor! He's- He's-!" Njada exclaims in shock as I see Skjor transform into his werewolf form.
Going toe to toe with Kodlak, this time Skjor knocks Kodlak off the platform with a heavy double clawed strike.
"AAAARRRRROOOO!!!" Skjor howls deeply, taking command of the still crazed werewolves, driving away their bloodlust. This allows the werewolves to focus on aiding their companions while still being willing to protect them against those who have succumbed to their fear and battle lust.
With only two relatively defined sides of this battle having taken shape, a flow returns to this chaos as the former disjointed islands of warriors link into rough battle formations as a push and pull begins between the two sides, mirroring the battle between Kodlak and Skjor.
At one point, Farkas had freed himself from his bindings, joining us on the frontlines of this fight, having picked up a great axe from one of the fallen warriors.
With Skjor bringing the werewolves back to their senses, they're able to coordinate with each other and their companions effectively, launching attacks deep into the other Companions' lines.
Alea and I join the shield wall, using up all my arrows in the process before grabbing a sword. I use my smaller buckler to take advantage of the gaps in the shield wall and stab my borrowed blade through.
With Aela by my side, I feel the tide of battle turn in our favor as we're able to surround the other Companions' and I see Skjor finally disarm Kodlak.
However, the sense of impending victory is short-lived as hundreds of arrows begin raining down around us. I'm able to just get my buckler up in time to block the first volley of arrows, but several werewolves aren't so lucky as I hear them howling in pain as the arrows knock the younger werewolves to the ground as they writhe in pain.
Look to the horizon; I see what I had feared...
"Fuck! There's at least twice as many as I had seen earlier!" Farkas shouts over the din of battle as the other Companions have their morale restored, and the host of newcomers pushes back the werewolves.
Charging forward with their standard of a white flag with a silver hand emblazoned on it fluttering in the wind.
Their archers support the advance of the group's swordsmen, who charge in from the sides, pushing us back from our encirclement.
With the Silver Hand swordsmen rushing to his aid, Kodlak is able to recover Wuuthrad and push Skjor back.
I see morale begin to wane as we're pushed back into an encirclement as the pressure mounts.
"Inigo, Inigo, Inigo..." My spell whispers in my hands as I pull back from the frontlines temporarily to summon some additional support.
I feel a sense of concern as he emerges from the summoning gate, as Inigo walks out with a worried expression before joining the fray.
"Begone, you accursed bandits!" Inigo shouts as he begins launching arrow after arrow, relieving pressure on the left side as I have an idea, prompting me to cast [Raise Wall] on the right side, stopping their encirclement.
I then start casting [Pale Shadow] on the Silver Hand swordsmen, making it appear as though they've betrayed the opposing Companions as copies of the Silver Hand begin cutting down the distracted warriors, sewing enough chaos for the two sides to start attacking one another as we begin to regroup our strength.
"FUSSS!!!" I shout into the right side of the attacking Silver Hand swordsmen as my wall crumbles back into the soil, feeling a surge of strength return to me as I shout above the chaos.
"BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!! Hear my voice and know the truth! Kodlak has betrayed us! Bringing bandits to slaughter us all indiscriminately! Your fellow Companions may have the blood of Hircine flowing through them, but it was turned towards protecting the people of this land and earning honor in combat! Now turn your blades towards our true enemies!" I command, my voice ringing clearly across the battlefield as I feel the energy of a Thuum empowering my words.
Most of the Companions we'd been fighting earlier begin to turn their weapons solely against the Silver Hand swordsmen as more shields are raised to defend the werewolves against the next volley of silvered arrows raining down around us.
With the Silver Hand swordsmen pushed back by a united host of Companions, they quickly break ranks and retreat under the protection of their archers as we see the battle between Kodlak and Skjor reach its climax.
The bodies of Silver Hand swordsmen lie gutted around Skjor as he is now missing his left arm.
But, despite his injuries, he stands defiantly against Kodlak, still in his werewolf form, as Kodlak seems to be succumbing to his wounds, using the reforged Wuuthrad as a crutch to remain on his feet.
Rushing towards them, I can hear one final war shout emerge from Kodlak's lips as he charges Skjor, "Sovngarde awaits me!"
(Author's Note: Hey everyone, I'm not really late this time! Woohoo! Hope you enjoy this chapter.)
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone