Taroh Waldgrave stared up at the sky, ignoring the burning on his face and the thousands of needles attacking his smoky grey eyes. The light blue of the sky was streaked with grey; long tendrils of dullness streaked across like hundreds of long spider webs drawn across the heavens. The grey was spreading slowly; the tendrils grew slightly fatter, taking more of the brilliant blue hostage.

Taroh knew that it was bad. That it should alarm him that his eyes were beginning to become blinded by the curse of their people. But somehow, he just was unable to do anything more than look up at the strangely colored sky.

Idly he wondered how much longer he had to see colors at all. He wouldn't loose them all today. It was far too gradual a loss. Taroh narrowed his eyes forcing the grey back. It receded slightly, but it took so much effort Taroh eventually let the grey return to full strength.

In the back of his mind he could hear his sister asking why he wasn't yet in the ground like he should be. Taroh's mouth curved upwards at his sister's impossible mothering instinct. She'd always been like that and he'd always found it funny. And he'd so far been able to maintain his sense of humor. Again, he couldn't help but wonder for how much longer he'd be able to hold onto it.

Taroh turned to look out at the crushing waves at the bottom of the cliff he was standing on. The white foam exploded across the rocks as the wind caught the spray and ushered it further upwards. Taroh could smell the salt from the water. A small line of sand curled off into the distance, slowly growing wider as it moved away. The beginning of the beach, he knew.

Off in the distance his keen eyes could see brightly colored umbrellas start to spring up. This was the latest he'd ever been awake, and the early beachgoers were just starting to arrive. His eyes were watering with the effort of being in the sun for so long. He closed his eyes to cut down on the burning and a few tears broke past his lashes to roll down his cheek.

He opened his eyes again to look at the umbrellas. They were so vibrant normally but they were becoming pastel to him. Sorrow clamored in his heart. He had known it would happen but there was no way to prepare himself for the harsh reality of it all. What was the saying? You never know what you have until it's gone? How horribly, horribly true it was.

It was only a matter of time before his was completely dead to the world. Already icy indifference was seeping into him. He didn't like it and he fought it, but he knew it was futile. Eventually he'll lose and then his next fight, the fight to remain honorable, began. He sighed at the daunting prospect.

It isn't like you to be so morose, brother. An utterly calm voice filtered into his mind on a private path, one he had not used in several years. Maxim was far older than Taroh and chose to spend most of his time in solitude. Taroh knew his brother was preparing to meet the killing dawn. Just like their two brothers before him. He couldn't find it in him to feel true worry for his older brother anymore, though he desperately wanted to. You should go to ground and stop thinking such depressing things. Maxim commented.

I cannot help it if the truth is depressing. Taroh replied evenly.

You have such a poet's heart, little brother. Maxim said. Taroh felt the stirrings of amusement for a moment. He savored it as long as it lasted. Any feeling at all he would appreciate. Now, go to ground. Jasmine is giving me a headache with her complaints about you.

Taroh smiled a bit. Jasmine will always find something to complain over, brother.

Nonetheless, you are causing her grief by exposing yourself to so much sunlight. You needn't give her a reason to fret about.

Very well. Taroh dissolved into a fine mist and streaked further inland, where the soil was richer. It was probably true, he spent more time in the sun than he really should have, but it wasn't the first time he'd done so either.

He could feel Jasmine's worry. Both for himself and for Maxim. The thought that she would have to watch all of her brothers fade away and then meet the dawn was strong in her mind. Once Maxim was gone, Taroh would be the only one of the Waldgrave brothers left. He knew it was impressive none of them had turned but none of them had found salvation either.

Taroh let out his breath as a long sigh before shutting his body down. The rich soil would replenish his energy and heal the burns he had endured through his own stubbornness. It was unfortunate that the earth could not replenish his heart and soul as well.