Echos Of The Past & Arrival Of Trouble

Nearly two months had slid by since the sudden disappearance of Callio. Glooras hadn't really noticed, having made himself busy with other things. Among those, was smuggling skooma. He had agreed to a contract, and had left a few days after his brother's disappearance. The.. 'cargo' was taken from Silvenar, and carried across to Woodhearth. All he had told his family when he left was that he had a job to do.. No details other than that.

The deal to smuggle had come through at a tavern. He had been drinking and enjoying the attentions of one of the waitresses, when his table was approached. An altmer man, clothed in black, his face hidden had taken a seat at the table. He wasn't invited to his table, but Gloo hadn't minded. In fact, he had been curious as to what the stranger had wanted.

"I hear you take any job.. True?"

The taller man had spoken.. And in that instant, he had Gloo's attention. The waitress was gently and politely asked to leave the table. When she was gone, only then had he decided to indulge his curiousity.

"That depends, stranger.. What do you have in mind?"

His gaze darted over the man.. His voice, he didn't recognize.. And with the man's features cloaked in black cloth, that made it impossible for Gloo to tell if he could recognize him in any other way. His head tilted to the side as he considered the man.

The altmer would dig out a small, pink.. unmarked vial. Beneath his face mask, he grinned. The vial was held out to him, yet in a way that it'd be hard for those around them to see exactly what he was holding.

"Allow me to answer with a question of my own..."

That's when the vial was produced... Again the man spoke..

"This.. Do you know what these little bottles are, by chance?"

Gloo would give the the small glass object a once over, before turning his gaze back on the man. Oh yes, he knew what it was. Not from personal experience mind you. He'd scritch his chin as he considered the offer..

"Aye.. I know what they are..Now.. Answer what I had already asked. What do you have in mind?"

He was growing impatient. A thin brow perked as he wait. And the stranger, the man would continue on, not wanting to offend the bosmer.

"I propose you take a full shipment of these little things to Woodhearth. There's a fullshipment waiting at the docks in Velyn Harbor. However, you'd have to hurry if you take this job. There's no telling if guards have gotten.... nosey. Oh.. And.. I'll pay you very well. Just make sure the guards don't get their.. hands on it."

Gloo would sit back, listening to the man speak. His hands folding lazily over his toned stomach. He wasn't bored, he was just.. taking in all that he was told...

"I want the details before I agree. You have my attention though.."

Details were shared.. The contract taken. He just had to play bodyguard to the ship captain until they reached woodhearth.. And until the... 'gems' as the stranger worded it, was bought by the buyer. Only then would he be paid. Though Gloo was no fool. He'd demand half up front.

Weeks passed, job completed, and a very well paid Gloo would return home. He came in tired, sore and hungry. When his family questioned him, Gloo had refused to answer. Simply saying that a job had been a job. He had settled in to eat when the door opened.. His brother had returned. There was something different about Callio though.. His little brother had changed.. In what way, Gloo wasn't sure right off. But his brother certainly didn't look sickly now.

Callio would stride in, and request his parents sit down. Then the secret came out..

Callio: Mom... Dad.. I have a confession.. I am a werewolf now. I've been blessed by Hircine.

Gloo would nearly choke on the bit of chicken he had been eating. A look of shock washing over his features. His parents were just as shocked, although they weren't angry. Gloo on the other hand.. He was livid. He knew his brother had health problems, often would push the weaker elf around because he knew that Callio was usually too weak to do anything about it. But now.. He'd stare at his brother in disbelief.. And even further when his parents embraced the younger elf.

Mother: We love you, Callio. We'll keep this a secret. The treethane don't need to know. No one does, except those in this pod.

"No. This isn't right. Mom, dad.. You two aren't seriously considering keeping this from our treethane are you? He should be turned over! He broke the Green Pact! You know what that could do this village?! Breaking the Green Pact pisses off the forest! Is it really worth risking countless lives over one pathetic little welp?!"

He'd stand rapidly, knocking his chair over. His father would lift a hand, a signal for Gloo to stand down. His father was a mute, so his father's gestures were the man's way of communicating. Gloo would glare at his father, his hands balling into fists.

"I'm not going to stand down. I'll never stand down. He's a traitor to us all."

With that, he'd turn and leave the pod, knocking his plate to the floor in the process. He refused to stay put another moment. He'd go to his own pod. He couldn't bring himself to stay in that house with the rest of his family for another moment.

Minutes ticked by.. Minutes to hours.. It was the wee hours of the morning, just before daylight when he came up with a plan. Callio would suffer. He'd make sure of it. He spent his night pacing around his pod, gathering this and that.. Weapons mostly. When he was certain the family was asleep, he'd slip out of his pod and into the pod his family shared, kidnapping his brother, while the younger male slept.

When Callio awoke, he'd be tied tightly to a chair in his brother's pod. He'd panic immeditately, and try to break free. But would find that no amount of struggling would set him free.

Gloo would step from the shadows after his brother had woken. He'd circle him twice before stopping in front of him. A cruel little grin curled his lips as he'd bring up a small dagger, placing it at his brother's throat.

"I won't kill you, Callio.. There's no honor in me killing you. However, come day break, you're going to the treethane... I'll ensure you get what you deserve for breaking the Green Pact. If you run, only then will I cut you down."

He'd sheath the blade, standing. A faint smirk appeared as he'd turn and head for the pod 'door'. His gaze would flick once over his shoulder, as he'd use his fingers to snuff a candle that was placed on a nearby shelf.

"In the mean time, enjoy the dark. I'll see you again soon, little brother. And don't bother yelling for help. No one's listening."

He'd be gone after that, the 'door' of the pod rustling shut behind him. He'd lock it up, and he'd leave.. He'd stop at the tavern though. Finding a small group of his friends, and together they'd go to pay a.... beating... to a khajiiti family..

The attack erupted on them before anyone knew what was happening. Gloo and his friends would invade the small area that khajiiti family were using for a camp. His friends would drive off all but one.. While they were busy with the majority, Gloo would lead Callio's lover into the forest, just a bit off from Silvenar. A fight broke out, in it, both would get seriously wounded. Though the khajiit.. the tiger striped male.. he'd end with the worst of it. Gloo got out of it lucky. Mainly just getting a few nasty wounds on his face and scattered wounds over his body. The khajiit... not so lucky. A nasty knife wound to his gut and his chest, were leaving him to bleed heavily.

Though in the scuffle, he'd manage to knock Gloo out and be gone. Though he'd find Gloo's pod, breaking in. Ropes were cut, and Callio set free.. Only to die moments later in Callio's arms, in Gloo's pod. Callio, unable to stay, would flee. Though he'd just go into hiding for a few days. When his brother was admitted into the clinic for his injuries, and he was certain he had time, Callio would return. Callio would smuggle the khajiit's body out of the area, and bury him, before being gone. No one would know what happened to Callio. Not even Glooras.

Years had slid by since that though.. For all he knew, Callio was dead somewhere. But thoughts of his brother were far from his mind. Tonight, Gloo would be found roaming up the path to Vulkwasten. Settled on the back of a large bear mount. Silvenar was only a hop, skip and jump from this place.. Having passed through here in the past, during jobs, Gloo had decided to pay the place a visit. The place was definitely more quiet than Silvenar. He'd get to almost the tree in the center of the village, before dismounting. He'd lead the bear to the tree. A hand coming up to pet over the beast's nose.

"If you wander off, Anuk, return to this spot when you're done hunting. Alright?"

He'd scratch behind the bear's ears, the bear giving a faint, but gruff snort. Gloo would smile a bit, leaving the bear to sit by the tree. He'd go to the tavern after that, deciding to get himself a room first before doing anything else.