Viperish Night lies in a pool of icy water in a dimly lit cave. His eyes stare blankly into the gloom as the icy water chills him to the bone. Stalks-in-Darkness sits nearby staring at him with those chilling grey-blue eyes of his. "When will you learn the world is against you?" he hisses. Viperish Night's eyes finally focus and turn to Stalks-in-Darkness. "Is it worth it?" Stalks-in-Darkness asks. "fighting so hard only to get your face slammed in the dirt time and time again?" he taunts.

Viperish Night does not answer the question. Does not even have an answer. Old wounds ripped asunder. Valsvis... his eyes filled with hatred. "Should have killed him..." Viperish Night whispers.

"Yes," Stalks-in-Darkness says. "But you wanted to be a good little lizard. Nice, gentle, like a rabbit." he leans in closer to Viperish Night. "But what happens to rabbits? The jaws of the predators close in around their neck. Each and every time. Do you really want to be THAT?"

Viperish Night closes his eyes, but he cannot escape Stalks-in-Darkness's words. Be the hunter and not the hunted. Strong and not the weak. Lead and not follow. Viperish Night's eyes snap open and he sits up. "No." he answers.

Stalks-in-Darkness rises and circles him. "Then submit to the icy river. Let it plunge you down to the depths so you can conquer it and have power enough for whatever you decide you desire."

Viperish Night shudders. "You mean what you want." he snarls at Stalks-in-Darkness.

Stalks-in-Darkness stops in front of him and tilts his head. "True. In part. I will get something out of it, in the end. But so you will. Perhaps even more than I."

Viperish Night hisses, such anguish in that small sound. "I cannot. My friends," he says.

"You would not betray them that way?" Stalks-in-Darkness says.

Viperish Night is silent, the answer in his eyes. No. He has been betrayed, to do that to someone else? Much less ones he considers friends.

Stalks-in-Darkness laughs. "And they would not ever betray you, now would they? Very well." he moves in closer to Viperish Night, lightly running his claws down his shoulder. "I'll leave you alone then for now. But think of what Valsvis did to you. How brutally Valsvis murdered your Bosmer friend, how he paid to have your beloved murdered. How long did she wait in that cold empty building? Waiting for salvation, for you, for death?" Stalks-in-Darkness pauses. "Does Valsvis deserve as quick and merciful death as the Orcs?"

The dim light starts to fade and Viperish Night hangs his head. One thought in his mind as the dark closes in.

No...Valsvis does not deserve mercy.


Viperish Night wakes to find Thjonwulf staring at him. The day rushes back and he springs up and howls wildly before crashing back down.

"Savage Argonian," Thjonwulf says. "I promised you a chance to play with Valsvis the day I bought you. In two days you'll have him. A special arena match. The ruling body made me agree to send him in with guards. But they are all Dunmer milk drinkers. They stand no chance against you."

"Valsvis." Viperish Night hisses in hatred, raising his head to stare at Thjonwulf. Stalks-In-Darkness's words flow back into his mind. Valsvis does not deserve a merciful death. But Titumus's council also courses through him. Viperish Night shakes, so confused as his thoughts war. "I want to return to the others now," he says.

"No, I think not," Thjonwulf says. "You'll stay here as my guest until the fight."

Viperish Night's eyes snap wide and he snarls, attempting to get up. The world spins and Thjonwulf gets up and grabs his arm. "You had your shot at taking my head," he says. "You have no chance in your condition and with the binding cuffs active." he half drags Viperish Night to a small room and locks him inside for the night.

Viperish Night sits just staring at the door. Food and mead rest on a nearby table ignored. The walls are made of rock, the door solid oak. There is not even a single window. The deep wound left by Rishima's death had started to scab over. But now it has been ripped asunder and the agony that courses through him seems unbearable. The icy rage and hatred scream in his mind, chipping away at everything else. How could he be so stupid to think that monster would let him be? That any monster would? Did one have to be a monster to survive? Viperish Night closes his eyes and shakes, trying to regain control. His friends were not monsters though. They survive. But... bound. Always bound, until death found them and set them free. Viperish Night's claws trace the collar around his neck. All so many in this world did was use him, hurt him in unimaginable ways. The Hist had rejected him. Even his egg-parents did not want him if Stalks-in-Darkness told any kind of truth. Viperish Night lowers his head, more thoughts course through his tired mind. Not everyone... not everyone hurt, betrayed, or used him. Seriana, Denros, his Rishima. The gladiators that became his friends and salvation from the madness and rage. They all had accepted him. The world had taken some from him, but still, many remained. He opens his eyes. Suddenly he wants nothing more than to talk to Titumus. He staggers up only to fall again. The food mocks him, he feels so sick but his body is at its limit. He grabs the food and eats it, ignoring the mead. Finally, he rises and searches the room, but there is no way out. He rests his head against the door, claws scratching deep groves in it.


"Let me return to the others!" Viperish Night snarls the next morning. He stands in the ruins of the front room in front of Thjonwulf.

Thjonwulf glares at him, those eyes demanding submission. "Come at me then, Savage Argonian."

Viperish Night knows he cannot beat Thjonwulf. He tried and that was in the training yard the binding cuffs were off. But the rage and fury coursing through him seem to blind him as he throws himself blindly at Thjonwulf. Thjonwulf slams his fist into Viperish Night's head, sending him staggering back. Again Viperish Night charges at him, slammed the ground. Into the wall. Against the chair. Until Thjonwulf grabs him by his wrists and holds him twisting above the ground.

"Savage Argonian, listen for ONE MOMENT." Thjonwulf roars at him. Viperish Night stills, panting, his eyes glaring daggers of hate at Thjonwulf. "Do you want to punish yourself?"

Viperish Night's head falls. "Too stupid to kill him years ago." he snarls. "I should have!" he pants then closes his eyes and shakes. Viperish Night knows he has to try to reign in this all-consuming rage. It's pushing him into the icy river that calls to him. If he could just talk to Titumus he could find something to hold onto. "Please," he says. "Let me talk to Titumus. Just for a few moments."

Thjonwulf drops Viperish Night to the ground and stares down at him. "Two choices." he rumbles and as Viperish Night looks up at him with wild eyes he continues. "You stay here willingly, and stop asking to return to the gladiator quarters until AFTER the match, or..." he trails off as Viperish Night stands. "Or..." he continues. "I'll let you return to your friends. But if you do, I'll turn Valsvis over to the Island's ruling council. They may banish him from the island, or lock him up for a while. But they won't kill him." Thjonwulf grins savagely. "I'll return later. I expect your answer then." he walks to the door and leaves Viperish Night.

Viperish Night slides to the floor once more shaking. He stares at the door utter hate filling his eyes. How could Thjonwulf demand such a thing from him? He hangs his head and breaths hard, then gets up and bolts for the window. Even if he breaks it, it's too small for him to slither through. And the guards are not just by the door, they are patrolling the cabin's grounds. Making it impossible for him to leave, and impossible for anyone to sneak up here. He rests his head against the window his heart beating wildly. He knows his answer. He'll stay. He cannot let Valsvis escape. He cannot let him go. But... he could still have both. But both would mean killing Valsvis without making him suffer. Why would he not also making him suffer? He deserved it! Viperish Night hisses and once more, he tears apart the room, though there is not much left to break.


Thjonwulf returns late evening and finds Viperish Night the same way he did the previous day. He stares at his chair, this time it did not survive the Argonian's rage. "My favorite chair," he says with a growl before pushing it to the side and sitting on the floor with mead. Viperish Night's eyes flicker open and he sits up and stares at Thjonwulf. "So you've decided then," Thjonwulf says.

Viperish Night lowers his head. "I will stay." he hisses softly. "But you cannot tell me how to kill Valsvis! I will kill him the way I want."

"Do you know how you want to kill him?" Thjonwulf asks and just laughs when Viperish Night turns his head from the question. He knocks back his mead and throws the cup against the door, guards come in with food and place it on the floor before Viperish Night and Thjonwulf.

"Do you need another... everything?" the guard asks Thjonwulf.

Thjonwulf throws his head back and laughs. "Yes, but let's wait till my angry house guest has left." The guard just nods, looking once more at the trashed room before leaving.

Viperish Night pulls the food to him and methodically eats. After they are done eating Thjonwulf leans back and regards Viperish Night. "Two hours. Give or take." Thjonwulf suddenly says.

Viperish Night's eyes fill with confusion. "What?"

"Took some doing finding that out," Thjonwulf says. "That is how long it took your kitty cat to die. How long she was alone for."

Viperish Night bolts right up and staggers back, hitting the wall. He had been sleeping hours. If he had gotten up earlier. Despair fills his eyes.

Thjonwulf stands and stalks up to him, thrusting both hands against the wall on either side of Viperish Night. "Idiot." he snarls. "I did not tell you that so you would blame yourself. You are not to blame for any of it! It's the damn Dunmer that are to blame. They started this island, you know. The Orcs just took advantage and a few Imperials. They can get away with things they could not get away with on Vvardenfell, especially now!" he pauses, staring deep into Viperish Night's eyes. "You need to stop thinking any of this is your fault and cast blame where it's due. And then you hunt."

Viperish Night's claws scratch the rock walls and he looks away from Thjonwulf's intense gaze. "But I should have woken sooner. Killed Valsvis sooner," he says.

"Idiot." Thjonwulf snarls again. "Can you see the future? Prevent yourself from being nearly struck by lightning?"

Viperish Night's eyes snap back to Thjonwulf's. "How do you know that?" he says.

"I told you, I went to all the trouble of finding things out. The time, that night. Nelimar's other house lizard told him about the lightning strike, so when I asked Nelimar..." Thjonwulf laughs a little. "Milk Drinker still does not care for me. Despite the money I gave to him for you."

Snails-In-Garden, the elder Argonian house slave. Viperish Night had not thought of him in a long time. He, along with many memories was still too painful to think about. But why did Thjonwulf ask Nelimar and not... "He returned to the swamp." Viperish Night says.

"Yes, shortly after I bought you," Thjonwulf says. "But back to the subject. ANSWER MY QUESTION."

Viperish Night looks away and then closes his eyes. "No.," he says.

"Then it is Valsvis's fault and ONLY his fault," Thjonwulf says. "He killed your other friend and your kitty cat. He will pay for it, not you." Thjonwulf lowers his arms and settles back into his spot with more mead.

Viperish Night slips to the ground, arms hanging over his knees and he rests his head on them. Memories streak past his eyes. Things he could have done, but it would have ended the same way. If he went for Valsvis to throw him in the lava the guards would have killed him as well, leaving Rishima without either of her friends. If he tried to dive in the ocean with Rishima when they tried to run, the guards would have called in ships, if he lost hold of her for a second, she would drown. She had told him he was not a strong swimmer. And that night... he could not force his body to recover from a lightning strike. He could not of known the horror that awaited them that night. Because of Valsvis. He raises his head, his eyes glowing with murderous rage.

"Good, Savage Argonian," Thjonwulf says. "I won't order you to tear Valsvis apart with your claws. I'll even let you go in armed. You kill him how you think he should die."

Viperish Night tilts his head slightly. "You will not force me to be a monster?" he says confused.

Thjonwulf's eyes flash golden just for a moment. "You have a monster inside of you, Viperish Night," he says, surprising Viperish Night by using his actual name. "It's not so bad, being a monster. It makes you strong. It makes people fear you. And it makes it so you can make them suffer when they wound you."

Viperish Night stills. All this time, strength has been thrown in front of him. He's been shown it, told he should grab it, told its worth more than anything. Confusion crosses his face and he shakes his head growling. "Always strength and power," he says.

"Without it we are weak," Thjonwulf says. "Sheep, milk drinkers, stepping stones for those who are the wolfs." he regards Viperish Night in utter seriousness. "My clan was Nords. They should have been strong. But they were weak. Turning cheek for the stronger clans, when a way to be the strongest was right in front of their faces. I took that strength, I took the beast blood and became the wolf. They still refused to see the truth, so I slaughtered them like the sheep they were."

Viperish Night's eyes widen in shock and he stares at Thjonwulf. "You murdered your family?" he says. It had to be like Za'gh. It had to be because he lost control. Why else would someone murder their family, their friends, their clan? "You lost control..." Viperish Night says trailing off as he sees the terrible truth in Thjonwulf's eyes.

Thjonwulf grins, the grin of a wolf, of a merciless predator. "I never once lost control," he says. "They were weak, so I purged them from this world. Our neighboring clans found this offensive, called me a clan breaker, and the like, and set out to murder me. You know the rest."

Viperish Night looks away. He knew Thjonwulf to be an actual monster, but this...this was truly monstrous. And this was the man he had agreed to stay with until the fight. Suddenly all he wants to do is be with his friends, but he stays silent. His desire to murder Valsvis overrides every other want and need. But his head is so full its throbbing and he gets up and walks quietly back to the room he stayed the night before.

As he lies down staring at the wall he waits for the click of the lock, but it never comes. Thjonwulf knows he will not leave. He could remove all the guards, and still, Viperish Night would stay. Stay to get his bloody revenge on Valsvis. Did that make him a monster? Or just a broken lizard tired of letting others hurt him? Viperish Night closes his eyes. The line between them is so very thin. And he is being pulled in two directions. Kill Valsvis quick with mercy he does not deserve, or make him suffer? He knows what his friends would tell him. His heart beats with such agony and rage and he still has no idea what to do. He knows he needs to speak to Titumus, but doing so means giving up on revenge. Valsvis would get away with it. Finally, sleep takes him, though his sleep is deeply troubled.


Viperish Night wakes the next day to find Thjonwulf gone again. Food and water have been left out and the guards... Viperish Night looks out the window and then tries the front door. It opens and there are no guards outside. He walks into the grass, closing the door behind him, and sits down in the grass, wet from dew. It's a test. To see if he'll forsake his revenge to run or return to his friends. No doubt the guards are near. So he just sits in the grass, the overcast sky above him. It starts to rain, and still, he sits the rain washing down his scales. And this is how Fernthorn finds him, sitting in the rain, staring at nothing, his thoughts turned inward.

Fernthorn used the tunnel again to sneak out. The guards are posted all over the place, but Fernthorn was a hunter once, deep in Valenwood. The Orc guards have nothing on a Bosmer of the deep woods. "I could run," she whispers to herself as she hides up a tree from a passing guard. But they inspected the boats so carefully. She had gone to the docks after finding the tunnel the first time to try that very thing. But... she thought she might get caught. And she thought she was not strong enough by half to get her revenge. And... as much as she wanted revenge, she had no one back in Valenwood. Her gladiators had become her family, as much as she tried to be a monster around them and everyone else.

Viperish Night turns his head as the rustling in the grass catches his eye. Fernthorn is in the deep grass staring at him. He shakes his head. No guards. She comes to sit by him in the wet grass under the rain. "Viperish Night, your not locked up," she says, confused. "Why don't you come back with me. I can get us past the guards. They'll figure it out eventually but you'll have a little while."

Viperish Night turns his gaze from her. "No.," he says.

"Why?" Fernthorn asks. "Don't you... want to be with us?" When Viperish Night does not answer she looks away. "Thjonwulf told Titumus what Valsvis did."

Viperish Night lowers his head, shivering slightly. "He'll let Valsvis go if I do." Viperish Night says. "That is why there are no guards. No locks." His eyes track her expression. "You'd stay to if it meant revenge."

Fernthorn's hands curl in fists. "No, I would not. I could, maybe. Thjonwulf does not know about the tunnel. But I won't leave them."

Viperish Night is in a bit of shock. He knows how strong the desire for revenge runs in her veins, and she had said she wanted to go home in the past. Viperish Night's eyes show confusion. She glares at him.

"They are all dead anyway. My family, my village! And so are the ones who killed them. You know that! I know that! They lost the war over four years ago. There is no one left for me to kill, to eat, to stop this pain inside of me! The only thing that helps is you guys." Fernthorn bursts out. "I will never run. I would rather stay here as a slave and die in the arena, then leave my family. Because all you idiots are my family, including you. You are like my brother." She staggers to her feet. "I'm tired of pretending to be a monster. I saw what it did to Za'gh, what it almost did to you! Why would you WANT that?"

Viperish Night stares up at Fernthorn in shock, and he just now sees how young she is. "How old were you when they brought you here?" he asks.

"Fifteen," she says softly. "I told them I was older. I told them I'd eat them all. That's why Thjonwulf bought me. It's not like he would have bought a frightened young girl. They would have made me a house slave! I did not want to be a pet for the Dunmer. I wanted to hurt people." Viperish Night rises and stands in front of her. She looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "Why do you want that?" she asks again. "There are enough monsters in the world, Viperish Night."

Viperish Night looks down at her. "I know," he says. "I know there are. All they ever do is hurt me. And even though there are others out there who do not, the world seems to drown them too." he pauses. "I cannot return with you. I will try to keep Titumus's advice in my head, and all my friends in my heart. I will try not to drown in the river. But I need to kill Valsvis."

"And Thjonwulf?" Fernthorn says angrily. "He'll hurt you. Send you in there with nothing so you have no option but to tear Valsvis apart with your claws and fangs."

"Thjonwulf is a monster. More so than you know." Viperish Night hisses. "Clan murderer. It was not out of control rage. But he will not hurt me or force me to fight as he wishes. He's letting me fight my way."

Fernthorn's eyes open in shock. "He..." she trails off. "What is your way, Viperish Night?"

Once more he has no answer. He knows what he should say. What he should do. But he cannot bring himself to say it, lest it be a lie. "I will try." Viperish Night says. "I always try. I fear the day I fail."

Fernthorn glares at him and then turns her back on him. "You are stupid," she says. "You risk falling by doing this. You had no choice with the Orcs, you had to kill them. The only choice you had was how. Now you actually have a choice and..." she trails off then turns around and throws her arms around him. "You are a stupid lizard," she says. "Come back to us, now or later. Don't forget us when you fight him." She turns again and runs off down the hill leaving a bewildered Viperish Night behind.


Viperish Night heads in some time after that, sitting in the mess of the room. Evening falls and his head turns to the door. Thjonwulf will return soon. The werewolf's behavior puzzles him. First, he drives Viperish Night to be a monster, and then he backs off? Viperish Night slowly hisses. Does Thjonwulf think he'll go berserk on Valsvis? Viperish Night sighs. He's not even sure what he'll do in the arena. All he knows is he will kill Valsvis. Viperish Night's claws curl in anger, his eyes filling with bottomless pits of hatred.

The door opens and Thjonwulf enters, one of the guards behind him to deliver dinner. Viperish Night eats, his eyes tracking Thjonwulf.

"You did not run," Thjonwulf says. "I think, my Savage Argonian, if I told you you had to kill Valsvis by ripping his neck open with your fangs, you'd do it. You'd do anything for his head."

"Almost anything." Viperish Night admits, looking down.

"That is why I will not tell you to be my savage Argonian," Thjonwulf says. "I want to see how you kill the bastard." He focuses his intense gaze on Viperish Night. "There will be no punishment if you kill him the way you killed the Orcs. You are free to make up your mind."

Viperish Night almost asks why. Almost. But with a chill, he suddenly knows why. Thjonwulf thinks him a true monster. Thinks that is what he is at his core, that he will let himself be a monster when he faces Valsvis, who took so very much from him. "I am not a monster." he hisses

Thjonwulf leans against the wall. "You don't sound all that sure."

Viperish Night trembles, just a bit. He remembers what Stalks-in-Darkness asked him. If he wanted to be a rabbit, prey, weak. And he said no. That did not make him a monster though. But the fact he even answered...Viperish Night growls low. "I do not want to talk about this anymore."

"Then ask me," Thjonwulf says. "I could see a question in your horrified eyes last night. Ask me what you wanted to. What you were afraid to."

Thjonwulf's past, this monster was a murderer. Killed his family because he thought they were weak. "I know why." Viperish Night hisses. "But how could you kill your own family?" Viperish Night remembered how others spoke of their family. None of them would dream of hurting them. Za'gh had only done so due to being infected and cursed with vampirism. And he had never gotten over it.

"Sentimentality. Blood ties." Thjonwulf says. "All I see is strength and weakness. I did not want to be blood to the sheep. So I culled the herd." At Viperish Night's horrified gaze, Thjonwulf smiles. "You murdered those Argonian's in the mine. From what I gathered, one was even from your tribe. How is that different?"

Viperish Night hisses. "Mossyrocks was never my tribe. Neither was any of the others, including the one I was hatched in. And none of them was my blood, my family."

"You hate Argonian's, don't you?" Thjonwulf says.

Viperish Night looks away. The Hist rejected him. So did nearly every Argonian he met. "I don't know," he says softly. "They don't accept me. They never did."

"Then they are weak." Thjonwulf growls. "Not you. You are the wolf among the sheep. Do not forget that!"

A period of silence passes before Thjonwulf breaks it. "Argonian's are not like snakes, are they? Hatch and abandon?" he asks.

Viperish Night looks up. "No. Argonian's bond. Sometimes for life, sometimes for a season. The young are raised in the tribe. Usually, the egg-parents are from the same tribe. If they are not, then they are just with one egg-parent and their tribe."

A puzzled look crosses Thjonwulf's face. "Then where are yours?"

A coldness sets over Viperish Night and he hisses. Part of him does not want to answer. Wants to stomp off to his small room. But the thought of being alone for so long before the match makes his stomach ill so, despite the fact he should not tell this monster anything like this, he speaks. "...I do not know. S... An Argonian who knows me claims they were culpable. I guess that means they just abandoned me. Did not accept me even before I was hatched." he closes his eyes.

"Viperish Night. Open your eyes and look at me." Thjonwulf commands. Viperish Night slowly opens his eyes, slowly brings them to Thjonwulf's gaze. "If you find them, would you accept them? Or would you tear them apart for abandoning you into the hell your life seems to be?"

The coldness spreads and Viperish Night's eyes widen in shock. He never once thought about looking for them. Nevertheless what he would do if he found them. If they did abandon him. Did the Hist tell them he was an aberration? Or did they just know he was too different to ever be accepted by any Argonian? "I am not like you." Viperish Night hisses and leaps up. Being alone sounded better than this all of a sudden. Viperish Night starts to stalk to his small room, but halts at Thjonwulf's final words.

"Think about it, Viperish Night. If I were you, I'd hunt the cowards down to the ends of the earth and rip their hearts out. If the sheep are too cowardly to raise a wolf...they deserve to be culled."

Viperish Night flees to the small room and slams the door. He moves to the far wall, leaning his head against it shaking. How could anyone suggest he DO that? But... Viperish Night shudders. No, there is no but. He tightly closes his eyes, but he cannot help to wonder, if he had not been abandoned, would his life of turned out differently, or would the rejection by the Hist been so much worse if his egg-parents had been there to go along with it? The Argonian's followed the Hist. Suddenly...he thought perhaps he did hate them. Bad thoughts. But ones he could not escape.


The gladiators sit in quiet silence before bed. The special match is tomorrow evening. Fernthorn had told them what happened when she went to find Viperish Night. How Thjonwulf had given him a choice, to have his vengeance or to return to them. It stings that he decided on the former, but every one of them can understand it. The need for vengeance, to wreak havoc on those who took from you, and in many cases what they took was one's whole world. Shattered into a thousand pieces never to be put back the way it was. Every one of them knows that kind of pain. Their worlds were whole once, and then out of the blue everything they held dear was taken away from them. Home was a distant memory, and even those who still had home and family out there had no way to free themselves to find it.

Fernthorn sits on the table and when Qa'Dar had climbed up on the table too, instead of snapping at him all she did was lean against his back, legs curled up under her. Rayrl and Israean sit side by side, Kigum-dar leans against the wall, arms crossed and Zan'tabe is next to Titumus who looks more tired than any of them has ever seen him. "Qa'Dar thinks it is too quiet." Qa'Dar quietly says. When the others look at him he shrugs. "Qa'Dar was just thinking how creepy it would be to have a sleepover with a werewolf. But if he could, he would, for then Viperish Night would not be alone with that dog."

"I have never heard of Thjonwulf having any gladiator in his cabin," Israean says.

"Is Thjonwulf really going to let Viperish Night chose how he kills Valsvis?" Rayrl asks, turning to Titumus.

"If that is what he told Viperish Night, then that is what will happen," Titumus says. "Thjonwulf is many things, but a deceiver has never been one of them. It's more of a Dunmer trait, and all of you know how much he hates them."

"Then what will Viperish Night do?" Zan'tabe says. "He took out the Orcs without resorting to falling back to savage ways...he'll do that again," Zan'tabe says uncertainly.

"You don't know!" Fernthorn suddenly says, she's been so quiet since speaking of her meeting with Viperish Night. Zan'tabe looks at her in confusion. Fernthorn clenches her fists. "You know the sting of being taken by slavers, we all do. But you do not know what it feels like to have your whole world destroyed by someone. Only some of us know that. It...can destroy who you are. And you have no idea who you will become, or even if you want to be that person."

"Fernthorn is right," Qa'Dar says. "Qa'Dar had it easy before this. So did Zan'tabe. Qa'Dar was just a tail-chasing no-good thief who chased after the wrong tail."

"And Zan'tabe was a carefree Khajiit who wanted to wander far from home. This one never thought it would keep him from home forever." Zan'tabe says. "We do try to understand, but our hearts do not know that kind of sorrow. We never lost our families, and our homes are still standing, even if they are beyond our grasp."

Titumus suddenly gets up and paces before ending up by a window and looking outside. "Titumus?" Israean asks

Titumus looks out at the night. "The past haunts me lately. I had a family. The day before they sold me, they took great delight in telling me they had been put to death for my treachery. I got them killed, for doing what was right." he sighs. "I had to. I swore to serve the Empire, to protect the citizens. I never thought the day would come when I had to chose between those two things. But..."

"Sometimes you cannot forgive yourself," Fernthorn says. "I ran away. If I stayed I would have died, there was nothing I could have done. But...I still hate myself for running. And for getting captured and failing to kill any of them myself."

"We blame ourselves for hiding. Even if it was our father that made us." Rayrl says. "Perhaps we should have argued more. Ignored him. Even..."

"Even if that meant our deaths," Israean says. "It is a hard thing to bear."

"Kigum-dar could have been stronger. That is what this one thinks, but the number of Daedra was beyond counting. Kigum-dar blames himself for failing against impossible odds."

The room falls silent for a time before everyone starts to get up to head for bed, to await the next day. "We will be there for Viperish Night," Zan'tabe says. "He knows we are there. It will have to be enough."

"It will be," Titumus says. "It must."

Qa'Dar starts to head toward his room, but Fernthorn suddenly grabs his tail and gives it a yank. "This way," she says quietly as she heads toward her room. Qa'Dar turns and follows. "And do not TRY anything," Fernthorn says. "I just want someone warm tonight. That's... alright with you?" she turns to look at him.

"For you, anything," Qa'Dar says seriously. "Your not a tail to chase. Your something more." He follows her into her room.

Sleep does not come easy for the Imperial. Titumus paces his room. Thinking what he said to Thjonwulf less the two days ago. It's not easy to admit he is afraid. Afraid of what Viperish Night could become. But the fear makes little sense. Viperish Night has shown him that he is capable of honor and courage. Of changing and keeping from the darkest of paths. Why is he so worried? He should have more confidence in Viperish Night. Damn it, he did before the memories started coming back to him. Things he had not thought about in a long time. He had put them in the back of his mind, least they destroy him. He had found purpose here in guiding the other gladiators. It was all he had, and he was grateful for them. Finally, he lies down, unable to stay awake for a moment more.


The next evening Viperish Night waits by the gate, waits for it to rise, and spill him upon the sands. His thoughts are in utter turmoil, and he struggles for calm before the fight, trying to cease the war within him. Vengeance, mercy. But how does Valsvis deserves mercy when he showed none? When he took what Viperish Night loved beyond all else. Viperish Night shakes. There is far too much in his head. Titamus's advice and guidance. The things Thjonwulf told him. Stalks-In-Darkness's venomous words. They swirl in his mind like uncontrolled rapids. His blood burns with hatred and icy cold rage. The gate starts to rise and Viperish Night slowly breaths, his honed instincts finally placing him in the mindset he needs to fight.

Viperish Night walks onto the sands, the roar of the crowd greets him. It's smaller than usual, but they still come for blood and carnage. Viperish Night's eyes dart to the pit. Titumus and the rest of his friends await within. Their heartbeats seemed to beat with his own in the match with the Orcs, but now it's disjointed. His heart beats out of rhythm as the icy rage courses through his blood. Valsvis enters through the second gate and six guards walk with him, surrounding him. Viperish Night's and Valsvis's eyes lock onto each other, both run with untold depths of hatred. Viperish Night flexes his claws and then withdraws the twin Redguard blades, the very same ones he killed the Orcs with. Weapons ground him. He promised he would at least try. Viperish Night's eyes dart to Thjonwulf in the stands and they are not filled with anger but excitement and blood-lust. He hates the Dunmer, all of them. And he wants to see their blood spill on the sands. He wants to see how Viperish Night will kill them.

"Kill the damn lizard!" Valsvis orders. "I want his worthless blood on the sands."

The six Dunmer fan out and circle Viperish Night. Viperish Night's eyes narrow and he races to the first guard only to dart to the side surprising the second, his blade cutting through the Dunmer's throat, and in a spray of blood, he drops. The first guard's flying at his back, his sword slicing through the air. Viperish Night ducks and turns, another slash, another spray of blood as the first guard falls as well. The remaining four circle him, more cautious now that he's dispatched two of them in mere moments. The third charges him, and their blades clash against each other, Viperish Night's eye's dart to the fourth and he slams the third into sand and turns, burying his sword in the fourth's guards chest. The fifth guard gets in close, far sooner than Viperish Night thought and his sword plunges into Viperish Night's shoulder. Viperish Night snarls and throws him off, finishing him off with a quick stab. The third and sixth guards come at him from either side, Viperish Night throws one sword, it buries itself in the third's neck, and as the sixth comes at him Viperish Night swirls around, the blade cutting through his neck.

Viperish Night suddenly hisses a blade sinks into his side glancing off his ribs. He whirls and kicks, sending Valsvis stumbling in the sand. He had snuck up as Viperish Night had dealt with the guards to launch a cowardly surprise attack. Valsvis leaps up and backs away from Viperish Night. "Damn you! Damn you to Oblivion!" Valsvis screams.

Viperish Night turns to Valsvis. His eyes briefly slide to the pit and he can just see Titumus with the rest of his friends around him. The Imperial's eyes are bloodshot and as he watches the fight his advice echo in Viperish Night's head. Viperish Night's eyes slide back to Valsvis. His blood is full of burning hatred and icy rage, threatening to spill their banks until they overwhelm him. Viperish Night growls. He will not fall to madness again. He will not act like the animal Valsvis thinks he is. He stares at Valsvis and see's hatred, but something else. Fear. "Rishima." Viperish Night hisses. "Never did anything to you. You could have left her out of it. Could have just sent them after me."

"She was just a worthless slave." Valsvis snarls. "All of you are worthless." Valsvis grips his sword tighter. "I could have, your right. But I wanted to make you SUFFER before you died!"

The words thunder in Viperish Night's head. Rishima was worth everything, worth more than the moons and the sun. He lowers his head and starts to shake. Forever seems to pass in a few short seconds. Memories flash before his eyes and the grip around his sword loosens...and the sword falls crashing to the sands. Viperish Night's head rises, his eye is shards of crystalline ice as he stalks toward Valsvis.

Valsvis backs up, the fear running through his eyes. He starts cursing at Viperish Night and swings his sword wildly at him. Viperish Night dodges and grabs Valsvis's wrist and viciously twists it. It snaps sending Valsvis's sword to the ground and Valsvis falls to the ground. "Get up." Viperish Night snarls as he kicks Valsvis's sword, it flies over by the wall.

Valsvis staggers up and starts to back away from Viperish Night cradling his right arm. Viperish Night's fist slams into his face, shattering his nose and sending him crashing to the sands. "Get up!" Viperish Night snarls again.

Valsvis staggers up a second time. "Bastard," he says. "Just end it you pathetic lizard."

Viperish Night tilts his head. Denros suffered. Rishima suffered. Viperish Night surges forward and grabs Valsvis by the neck. The Dunmer struggles in his grip, his one good hand clawing at Viperish Night's hands. Viperish Night could break his neck and the fight would be over. It's how he should do things. Viperish Night tightens his grip... and then he releases his grip.

Valsvis lands on his feet and staggers backward. "Mercy?" Valsvis says, mistaking Viperish Night's intentions.

Viperish Night hisses. "You deserve no mercy," he says and surges forward in a bolt of speed, his claws flashing like lightning as they rake Valsvis across the face. Valsvis screams and drops to the ground. He leaps up and tries to back up, but Viperish Night snatches his left arm and snaps it, causing the Dunmer to scream in agony. He throws Valsvis to the wall of the arena, Valsvis hits it hard.

"Get away from me!" Valsvis says, there is nothing but fear and pain in his eyes now.

Viperish Night bends down to pick up Valsvis's sword. He slices it down Valsvis's right arm, cutting through blood and muscle. Valsvis screams again and attempts to run. Viperish Night throws the sword and it buries itself into the back of Valsvis's thigh and he falls into the sands. Viperish Night grabs him by the back of the armor and throws him in the center of the arena. Valsvis tries to roll and fails, the snap of his left ankle breaking as he crashes to his side breathing hard. Viperish Night stalks to him and kicks him over, kneeling by him. His claws flash out, cutting through first the light armor and then Valsvis's back again and again, much as Valsvis's whip lashed him years ago. Valsvis screams over and over and Viperish Night only stops when Valsvis's back is a bloody ruin. He stands. "Get up." Viperish Night snarls. "You think yourself so much better than I, then Rishima, GET UP." Valsvis somehow pushes himself to his knees and Viperish Night walks in front of him. Valsvis's eyes are racked with agony and fear. Fear of him. Fear of the monster that stands before him. Viperish Night stares into those eyes, and then slashes Valsvis across the throat, the blood spraying into the air and Valsvis falls, dead to the sands.

The crowd roars and Viperish Night's eyes snap up to them, filling with bottomless depths of rage. They should be down here with him. Their blood should soak the sands, drown it. Valsvis's blood drops from his claws and he looks down at the drops on the ground. So very much blood. He raises his head to look at Valsvis. The man who took so much from him, who took his Rishima is so much ruined meat. And for a moment, just for a moment, Viperish Night feels something he has not felt in a very long time. His eyes widen and the blood dripping from his claws suddenly seems magnified and what he has done finally sinks in. Viperish Night takes a step back as the chills course down his spine. No madness gripped him. He never once was out of control, never once lost in a fog of rage. He just wanted Valsvis to suffer, it became all he could see. Everything else was lost in the dark. And suffer he did. His screams still seem to echo. Viperish Night backs away from Valsvis and then turns and runs for the gate and through it, running from the bloodthirsty screams of the crowd and the blood-soaked sands.