Viperish Night stands in the gladiator's quarters hallway. He had been walking to the bath in a haze when a familiar voice stops him. "Viperish Night." He turns his head and Titumus stands at the door his haggard eyes locked on Viperish Night.

Viperish Night looks down at his claws his head swimming. "I..." he trails off. There is so very much blood.

"Turn around and look at me," Titumus says softly. Viperish Night slowly turns around. "What did you do," Titumus says.

The world seems to swim as Viperish Night stares at his friend. "I killed Valsvis." he hisses.

Titumus stares right back. "You did not have to kill him that way."

Viperish Night's eyes narrow. "You know what he did. What he took from me!"

"Viperish Night!" Titumus snaps, causing Viperish Night to step back a pace. "You butchered him, tortured him. You made his death agonizing."

"He never showed me mercy." Viperish Night hisses angrily. "He never showed Rishima or Denros mercy. Or any of the other slaves he hurt and killed. Why should I have given him mercy, when he did not deserve it!"

"Because you are better than him," Titumus says. "Or at least I thought you were."

Viperish Night reels back in shock. "Titumus..." he says weakly.

"Tell me you lost control," Titumus says. "Tell me you were lost in madness and pain and had no real idea of what you were doing."

Viperish Night looks down. The blood streaking his claws, his scales. He remembers the early days of the arena. The fog of near madness that covered him, drove him to fight like a rabid animal. This... what he had just done was not that. He killed in icy rage and hatred, not fiery anger and berserk rage. He let the icy river take him and nearly drive him into the abyss. Slowly he raises his head to look at his friend. One thing he cannot do is lie. He cannot give Titumus what he wants. "I knew what I was doing." Viperish Night slowly says. "I was trying. And then all I wanted was to make him suffer, so I did."

"Viperish Night, what you did... how you did it, do you have any idea what it could do to you? What you could become?" Titumus asks.

Viperish Night looks at Titumus in confusion. "All I am is a slave, Titumus. There is no road out, save for death." Viperish Night starts to say something else, but a thought pauses him. What he felt at the end of the fight, did he imagine it? He had not felt it for a very long time, since before he came to this accursed place. Without thinking his claws touch the collar around his neck.

Titumus freezes. "Viperish Night did it..."

Viperish Night hisses. "Of course not. It never comes off, it never will." The collar around his neck has been there so long, it has become a part of him. A part he has at times hated, and other times been oddly grateful for.

"And if it does? What will you be?" Titumus asks.

What will he be? Chills rack Viperish Night as he thinks back to something he said to Fernthorn. That he fears the day he fails. But he has not failed. Yes, he let the river wash over him, but he backed away in the end. In the end, all he can do is look at Titumus. He has no answer.

"One more question," Titumus says. "If you could do it over, would you kill Valsvis the same way?"

"Yes!" The answer just bursts out of Viperish Night without thought.

Titumus's face darkens. "You don't regret it at all, do you?"

"Why should I?" Viperish Night hisses. "Valsvis deserved it! He deserved worse! They all deserve..." He trails off.

"Valsvis deserved death," Titumus says. "But no one deserves the kind of death you gave him." He starts to ask something else then stops and just sighs looking tired. "I fear for you, Viperish Night. If you truly do not regret this...May the divines have mercy on you." He turns and walks into his room leaving Viperish Night standing out in the hallway.

Viperish Night stares at Titumus's door. His friend seemed to have lost all faith in him. Confusion crosses his face. Is this all it took then? Viperish Night turns his head swimming as he walks away from Titumus and into the bath.


The hot water surges all around Viperish Night as he lies at the bottom of the bath, the water washing away the blood. His shoulder and side hurt, but he could not stand the thought of anyone touching him right now. The way he killed Valsvis plays before his eyes over and over again. Titumus's accusatory words echo in his head. Despite the heat of the bath Viperish Night is wracked with chills.

Zan'tabe walks into the bath and sits near the one Viperish Night is submersed in. "Zan'tabe overheard a little of what Titumus said. He was too harsh... This one thinks you... well, that was..." he sighs. "Zan'tabe is still here for you, my friend."

Fernthorn is the next to come in, she moves to the far wall and sits, arms curled around her legs. "Come back to us, Viperish Night," she says softly. "I told you there were enough monsters. You can still come back."

Qa'Dar walks in next and sits by Fernthorn. "Qa'Dar is here too. This one is not sure what to say besides that. Qa'Dar's words fail."

Kigum-dar is the last to walk in. He shakes his head at Zan'tabe. "Titumus will not answer," he says. "Rayrl and Israean will not come, either. This one is not sure why." He sits on the other side of the bath.

"Titumus will come around," Zan'tabe says. "None of us have given up on any gladiator, we will not start now.

Viperish Night can hear his friends from the bath. Their words soothe him, though his mind remains in turmoil. One thought is foremost in his mind. He does not regret it. Should he? The lines of what's right and what's wrong blur in this place and tonight seems to have blurred them to the point he can hardly tell. Za'gh and Fernthorn have killed brutally as well but as he thinks back on all their fights, he realizes one thing. Yes, they fought as monsters, one in actuality and one in pretend, but they did not drag out the matches, they did not cause undue suffering upon their foes, and the killing blow was swift and just, even if some of their foes ended up in their bellies. Even when he was killing in half madness, he never did to any foe, what he did to Valsvis. The thought threatens to tear him apart, made all the worse in that he still did not regret it. How could he feel this way? He finally rises from the bath to look at his concerned friends. He lowers his head as water drips from his scales.

"I do not regret it. I should." Viperish Night quietly says. "I slip into the darkness and it is all I can do to hang on."

"We are here for you, no matter what," Zan'tabe says.

"Not Titumus." Viperish Night says, raising his head. "I failed him, and I cannot even say sorry, because I am not! I should be and I am not!"

"Titumus is here for you," Zan'tabe says firmly. "He needs time, he is unwell but refuses to consult Mosien. He will realize you need him and he was too harsh with you."

"You tried" Fernthorn adds. "I saw you tried, you kept your promise." she pauses for a moment. "I will not fight as I did before. I am just a pretend monster, and I no longer want to be that. I don't want you to be a monster either, fight with us. Fight to be as you want to be."

"This one is here for you," Kigum-dar says. "Warriors and brothers and sisters stand together. You have done nothing to betray us. Just lost your footing."

"You scared Qa'Dar!" Qa'Dar says. "But this one does not run from you. So do not run from us."

Viperish Night nods tiredly. "I will try still. All of you...is how I hold on."

"Zan'tabe says get some rest. This one will send for Mosien to take care of your back and side."


Rayrl and Israean watch from the doorway, unknown to the others. Rayrl is the first to go and Israean follows her to her room. "I sense nothing," she says quietly.

Israean leans against the door. "Are you sure of what you sensed?" he asks her.

Rayrl shakes her head. "I am unsure. Less than a heartbeat of time. You know I never pursued the magical arts."

"You would have if things had gone differently," Israean says thoughtfully.

"There is no use in what-ifs, Brother," Rayrl says. "Even if I did sense magic around Viperish Night, it is no longer there. The collar is fully functioning in that regard. I must be wrong."


Viperish Night is at the window, his injuries having at last been tended to. The night sky is dark and heavy with clouds. He touches the bars with one clawed hand. Did he feel what he thought he felt? And if so how? Why? He rests his head against the bars. It must have just been his imagination. Viperish Night softly sighs. His soul feels torn asunder, he is cast adrift in the rapids. And this time, he leaped in on his own. All he wanted was that monster to suffer. How could one single desire cause this kind of darkness? He has done something very wrong, he knows this. But he still does not regret it. He is through blaming himself, beating himself up. Thjonwulf was right about that. Finally, he lies down and sleeps comes far easier than he thought it would.

Viperish Night's eyes open to the glowing blue of necromantic light. Stalks-in-Darkness is standing before him, his eyes glowing in the light. Silently he moves closer to Viperish Night until he's side by side with him, and he puts his claws on Viperish Night's shoulder. "It felt good, did it not Viperish Night?" he whispers. "Finally making someone suffer who has done so much to hurt you. Being strong enough to bring utter fear in Valsvis's eyes as he slowly, painfully died."

Viperish Night's eye focuses on Stalks-in-Darkness, and he does not say a word.

Stalks-in-Darkness circles Viperish Night. "Is he the only one who should suffer?"

The crowds who cheer, cheer for his death, or for him to kill for them. Viperish Night's eyes narrow slightly. Bad thoughts. Very very bad thoughts.

Stalks-in-Darkness smiles. "I thought as much." he stops in front of Viperish Night. "This is the last time I will disturb your dreams," he says. "The next time we meet, it will be face to face. You will eventually seek me out."

Viperish Night finally speaks. "Why would I do that?" he snarls. Then he thinks about it and his eyes narrow more. Is Stalks-in-Darkness one he wishes to kill? One he should hunt?

Stalks-in-Darkness laughs. "You will seek me out, Viperish Night. For that reason, or another. I have given you what you need to find me." he turns from Viperish Night. "Remember one more thing. Go back to the place you were hatched as well." The lights fade and all goes dark.


A few days later Viperish Night is training with Kigum-dar, the other gladiators sparing around him. He glances at Titumus once, then focuses on his training. He has not spoken a word to him since that night. He is the only one treating him so differently, although Rayrl and Israean gave him a strange look before settling into the normal routine.

"Titumus" Zan'tabe says, who's sparing with him. "You must speak to him. He is our friend, he needs guidance. Not just harsh words."

"I know," Titumus says.

"You know he was hurting." Zan'tabe continues. "And there is no telling what nonsense Thjonwulf filled his head with."

"If only," Titumus says, looking toward Viperish Night. At Zan'tabe's questioning glance Titumus's gaze comes back to him. "If that was the case, he would show regret or remorse over it. Over brutally torturing Valsvis in the arena. He does not regret what he has done."

Zan'tabe is quiet for a few moments. "He knows what he did was wrong, Titumus. It may not be the same as regretting it, but he at least knows that. And it was Valsvis, a man who took much from him. His hatred of Valsvis, the shock of what he learned drove him to do it." Zan'tabe insists.

Titumus's eyes turn back to Viperish Night, studying him. The hatred he saw in Viperish Night's eyes that night. It was focused solely on Valsvis but when Valsvis was dead it did not fade but seemed to swell as Viperish Night's eyes looked onto the spectators.

"What is it, my friend?" Zan'tabe asks seeing Titumus's troubled gaze.

Titumus tiredly shakes his head. "Nothing. Your right." Titumus walks over to Viperish Night and Kigum-dar, who pause in their training. Kigum-dar nods, and moves to Zan'tabe to give them space.

Viperish Night turns to look at Titumus, his friend's words from the other night still stung. He wants to look away but Thjonwulf's words echo in his head. He is not a sheep, though perhaps he once was.

"You've changed," Titumus says, noticing the slight change in Viperish Night's stance.

"I no longer blame myself for failing to do what I could not possibly do." Viperish Night says. "Its monsters like Valsvis that are the ones to blame. For Rishima, and so very much more."

"And if you face another monster in the arena?" Titumus asks.

Viperish Night slowly shakes his head. "I do not know. I know it was wrong, I know I will never regret it, and I know I will try not to again. I always try. I just..." Viperish Night trails off, words failing him. His eyes seem lost as he searches Titumus's gaze.

Titumus takes a deep breath. "You must try, Viperish Night. You must not become like..." he trails off.

"Like who?" Viperish Night hisses.

Titumus shakes his head. "Forgive me, I should not have said that."

Viperish Night realized something at that moment, he stares at Titumus. "You are afraid of me." Viperish Night says. Valsvis had been afraid of him too. So very afraid.

"Not of you, of what if," Titumus says.

Viperish Night suddenly growls. "There are no what-ifs!" He growls again and then sighs. "All I wanted after I learned what Valsvis did... that he was the reason why she died, was to talk to you. But I had to have Valsvis! I had to. And after..." Viperish Night trails off again, looking a little lost. "You wanted nothing to do with me after." Viperish Night steps back from Titumus and his eyes narrow. "You look at me as if I am a monster. As if I'll hurt you, the others. I just wanted to hurt Valsvis! Not any of my friends! That will not change, even if you do not believe me." Viperish Night hisses and darts for the door, slamming it closed behind him.

Titumus sighs again. "Damn it..."

Zan'tabe looks over at Titumus. "That could have gone better."

Fernthorn halts her training with Qa'Dar and slips out the door following Viperish Night.


Viperish Night paces in the hallway and suddenly halts as the front door opens and Thjonwulf walks in. His eyes fall on Viperish Night and he walks toward him. "You look a little angry, my Savage one.

Viperish Night growls softly and then looks at the training door. He relied on Titumus this past year so much, they had become friends. He trusts him, and it hurts to know that he cannot even speak with him any longer without it going utterly wrong.

"The Imperial," Thjonwulf says and laughs when Viperish Night's head snaps around. "He liked you better before you figured out you are a wolf."

"That's not it!" Viperish Night snaps. "He just..." Viperish Night stops at Thjonwulf's growl.

"Do not make excuses for others." Thjonwulf growls. "If he has a problem with you as you are, that's on him, not you."

Viperish Night's expression grows troubled. Others always wanted him to be something else. He thought Titumus was different. He had to be. "It was just this once." Viperish Night says.

"Is that what you want, or what he wants?" Thjonwulf says.

Fernthorn darted into one of the rooms when she saw Thjonwulf, and is listening in to the two talking. "Damn it Viperish Night," she whispers. "Do not listen to that mutt." She takes a deep breath and walks into the hallway. "Viperish Night, come train with me!" she calls and he turns to look at her.

Thjonwulf's eyes focus on hers then shrugs. "I need to talk to all the gladiators anyway," he says.

The three return to the training room and training pauses as Thjonwulf follows Fernthorn and Viperish Night in.

"Gladiators!" Thjonwulf says. "The five-year celebration is next month. Therefore, no games this month. But many games next month!"


In the dining hall, Zan'tabe is explaining. "Every five years the arena has a celebration. It started long before this one's time." Zan'tabe says. "This one did not think they would hold it again. But it's here!"

"Kigum-dar was at the last one," Kigum-dar says. "As was Za'gh, and others, now fallen. Kigum-dar's first arena match was during the celebration."

"I did not think they would hold it this year," Titumus says. "The Ebonheart pact must have moved onto another region to patrol."

"So many matches," Qa'Dar says. "We will be too tired to move!"

"They will not have us in all the fights," Kigum-dar says. "Gladiators from other lands will fight us yes, but also fight each other. It's a spectacle."


The night before the celebration is to start, Viperish Night is at the window, unable to sleep. He has not been back in the arena since Valsvis. His relationship with Titumus is still strained, though things have returned to normal. But was it normal, or was just that the surface calm, and below rapids raged? As Viperish Night stares into the night he realizes something. He had come to accept this life. Being with his friends, training, battling for the bloodthirsty crowd. It had become his life, his whole world. But after killing Valsvis the way he did... that world was shaken. But it could not remain so. There was no way out save for death, and Stalks-in-Darkness had mocked that. Viperish Night turns from the window and walks into the hallways to stalk them until he's tired enough to sleep.

"You must keep your senses open tomorrow."

Viperish Night pauses by Rayrl and Israean's door, they too are up. He is about to quietly go back to his room when Rayrl's answer shocks him to a stop.

"I will, Israean" Rayrl answers. "But I told you, I must have been mistaken. I have never once sensed magic around Viperish Night, the collar prevents that. How it could have been... I will say it again, I was mistaken."

Viperish Night's eyes widen in shock. He thought he imagined it. He thought it was just a memory from a time that seems very long ago. He should go in. He should speak to them of it. But something stops him. Rayrl and Israean never mentioned this to him. And after he killed Valsvis, they had kept their distance unlike the rest of his friends. His eyes narrow and he quietly returns to his room.

In his room, Viperish Night paces back and forth growling to himself. What could he have done to cause this? Did this collar... could it... Viperish Night snarls and slams his fist against the wall. Not once in all the time has he been here has this happened. He cannot think it will just break. And even if he did, what would he do then? He could not possibly escape, could he? Escape this life, this island with his friends? Viperish Night leans against the wall, breathing heavily. The ground is crumbling around him, he wants out. He accepted this life, but now he wants out. How? He could not even ask Stalks-in-Darkness, for he had told Viperish Night he would never enter his dreams again. Viperish Night starts to shake. Stalks-in-Darkness, he must know that Viperish Night was close to something. Viperish Night slides to the ground closing his eyes. Thinking back to every time Stalks-in-Darkness had come to him, everything he had said to him. Viperish Night's eyes bolt open and chills run through his body. Break your bonds. Stalks-in-Darkness had said this to him on more than one occasion. Viperish Night had dismissed Stalks-in-Darkness's words as Stalks-in-Darkness trying to drive him mad or turn him into a monster. But... Viperish Night's eyes flood with confusion. Why would Stalks-in-Darkness let his former mentor sell him out to the Dunmer, then encourage him to break free? And as Viperish Night thinks back to all those nightmares, he realizes that Stalks-in-Darkness thinks he can. Thinks he can break free, not just metaphorically but in actuality. "There is a way to release the collar" he breaths, his eyes wide. But what is it? All the times Viperish Night has killed, the blood that his claws are soaked with not once has anything happened. Not even when he murdered that Orc over a year ago. Only when he fought Valsvis. Viperish Night frowns, thinking. He never killed anyone in that way before. It was very wrong, and yet for a brief moment, he could feel his magic again. Viperish Night's claws move to his collar. What did Stalks-In-Darkness say the very last time he came to Viperish Night? Submit to the icy river. His hand falls and the chills grow and he clenches his eyes shut. That is not the way to escape. It's the wrong way to do things. Viperish Night moves and lies on the floor quaking until sleep takes him.


Viperish Night quietly eats his food, his thoughts troubled from what he finally figured out last night. A way to escape, but it was not something he could ever do. Valsvis...Valsvis had hurt him so much he could with him. But even then, in the end, he stopped and ran from what he did. He slowly puts his food down and starts to look at his friends. Fernthorn is somehow content to stay here with her family until she falls in the arena. Kigum-dar has a family that he thinks he will never see again, as does Zan'tabe. Rayrl and Israean and Titumus have nothing to return to, but they cannot be content to stay here until they fall in the arena. Qa'Dar will be happy as long as he is with Fernthorn. Viperish Night tilts his head. "Do you want to go home?" he suddenly says.

Every single gladiator stops eating and falls silent at Viperish Night's question. It's not one that is ever asked, and their eyes show confusion at him asking that, but in many longing. Kigum-dar suddenly gets up and walks out of the room. Fernthorn picks up a roll and chucks it at his head. "Viperish Night!"

"That was not nice, Viperish Night," Qa'Dar says. "You made Kigum-Dar run away."

Viperish Night gets up. "...I did not get enough sleep.," he says and runs out of the room too.

Viperish Night runs right into Kigum-dar, and freezes. The Pahmar regards him. "This one is not sure why you asked such a thing," Kigum-dar says. "You know the pain it causes."

"Death is the only escape" Viperish Night hisses. "I know."

"Then why ask?" Kigum-dar says, a great sadness in his eyes. "You know the answer."

Viperish Night looks down. He does, everyone would want to escape this life, this slavery. Even Fernthorn, if she could go with her family would. "Apologies" Viperish Night says and quickly walks away leaving a hurt and puzzled Kigum-dar behind.

The door is unlocked and Viperish Night walks outside in the grass. The arena is in the distance, he will fight tonight as will some of his friends. Fight for the ones who keep them bond, in which the only escape is death. But why should it be theirs? The world swims and Viperish Night tries to drive the bad thoughts away.


"The first night of a month-long event of fights!" Thjonwulf roars. "You will see all my gladiators fight, and more than that, gladiators from all over Nirn! The first match is the battle of the lizards, my Savage Argonian vs Beast-Of-Swamp!"

The crowd is roaring and Viperish Night walks out of the gate, swords in his hands. His hands tremble and he looks up at Beast-Of-Swamps, he's very large for an Argonian. Thjonwulf's words suddenly pop into his head. Do you hate Argonian's? Viperish Night grips the swords trying to push the thoughts away. He promised he would try. But... he could perhaps break free, set his friends free. Was that not worth a broken promise? Viperish Night stares into Beast-Of-Swamps eyes and snarls. He surges forward as does Beast-Of-Swamps with a bellow. The two meet, Viperish Night's swords clashing with Beast-Of-Swamps's rather large claws. Viperish Night's heart beats wildly, he can hardly concentrate, he has to concentrate. He has to...His eyes narrow and he snarls and slides under Beast-Of-Swamps's powerful swipe and slashes both swords across the backs of Beast-Of-Swamps's legs. Beast-Of-Swamps roars and falls, struggling to get back up. Viperish Night turns around and just stares at Beast-Of-Swamps for a few long few long moments before his ragged breath calms. Argonian's despise him. He should hate them all. His eyes glimmer with ice and he runs forward and slashes Beast-Of-Swamps's arms before turning around and slashing his legs. Beast-Of-Swamps is trying to get up. He will not get up. Viperish Night is a blur of speed as he slashes the swords over and over, the blood flying up and Beast-Of-Swamps's roars turning to screams. Finally, Beast-Of-Swamps's eyes roll up and he collapses to the ground, twitching a few times before dying.

The crowd roars at the sheer brutality of the fight. Viperish Night's narrowed eyes stare at the crowd, sheer hate in his eyes. For a brief moment, he can feel it, feel it calling to him. A siren song of death.

"VIPERISH NIGHT."

Viperish Night's head turns to the pit and the feeling fades as Fernthorn is trying to climb out of the pit, only Qa'Dar is holding her back from doing so. Viperish Night steps back the swords nearly falling from his hands. How can he say it's for her, for all of them that he has done this? He turns and leaves the arena shaking. The thought of heading into the pit, having to look into his friend's eyes. They will want to know why he did this. He cannot tell them why, they would talk him out of it, or try. He wants to return to his room, but a shadow stops him. He looks up to see Thjonwulf has come down to speak with him.

"So you have decided to be the wolf and not the sheep. And not just for that damn Dunmer you slaughtered."

Viperish Night cannot speak of why he did this to Thjonwulf either. He is their slavemaster, he keeps them bound to this blood-filled life. Slowly he growls.

Thjonwulf grins. "You know you cannot leave. Go to the pit. If your friends cannot accept you as you are, are they your friends?"

Viperish Night growls louder. "I would do anything for them," he says.

"Almost anything," Thjonwulf says. "It's always almost. Trust me on that. Now go."

Viperish Night turns to go, then stops. He should not ask this. He must. He has done something very wrong, twice. What he wants to ask will make it so much easier to keep doing it. "Can you put me with more Argonians? Orcs and Dunmer, if there are any of those?"

Thjonwulf laughs. "Got a taste for their blood, my Savage Argonian? I will see what I can do."

Viperish Night walks away and heads into the pit. He sits, his eyes tracking his friends. Rayrl is looking at him strangely again, she must have felt the same thing he did, and her brother is looking at her. Fernthorn is next to Qa'Dar, she glances at him in confusion. Titumus gives him a cold look and shakes his head before turning around. The rest of the gladiators are behind gates, awaiting their matches.


Fernthorn finds him before his next match a couple of days later. He had been avoiding his friends in all the chaos of the celebration. "Viperish Night, why?" she asks him as he pauses at the entrance to the tunnel that leads to the gate, the arena. Viperish Night freezes and turns his head to look at her. "Trust me." he hisses and turns his head back, walking down the tunnel.

"Trust you? What?" Fernthorn yells after him.

Thjonwulf has found a Dunmer for him. Viperish Night's eyes focus on the Dunmer whose gladiator name is Twisting Death. His dark skin, his eyes. Valsvis blurs in front of Viperish Night's eyes and he lets it. It will make this easier.

The fight is a whirlwind of blades and blood. Twisting Death is an expert with the twin blades and manages to disarm Viperish Night. Breathing hard with various shallow cuts, Viperish Night suddenly dives at Twisting Death then rolls. The blades pass over his head as he surges up and snaps his jaws on Twisting Death's right wrist, shattering it. The blade falls on the ground and Viperish Night pushes the attack, slamming him to the ground. The second blade goes flying and Viperish Night slams his fist into the Dunmer's head before leaping up. Twisting Death slowly rises. Viperish Night stares at him shaking. He must... this thing is just one of those Dunmer, just like Valsvis. Viperish Night's claws and fists descend on Twisting Death until he is just a bloody corpse.

Viperish Night breaths hard and raises his head. Just like before he can feel it, but just like before just for a heartbeat till he fades. He howls before calming himself and returns to the pit once more to the confused and worried eyes of his friends. He cannot meet their eyes. Any attempt by them to talk to him ends only in Viperish Night's angry hisses.


Viperish Night is in the bath, he came in after the others were done. He sinks to the bottom, the water cleaning the blood from his scales. Always so very much blood. He cannot continue like this, but he must. Why won't it work? He kills just as he killed Valsvis. Why is it not enough? What is he doing so very wrong? It's been nearly two weeks of this. Two weeks of brutal fights in which he takes his time killing his foes. The faces blur together until it's just a swirl of red. His friends are busy with their matches, but they have tried to talk to him. Their eye's so full of confusion hurt and fear. Titumus is the only one who does not attempt to speak to him, he just watches every one of Viperish Night's matches with hard eyes.


It comes to a head the next night, after the fights when the gladiators are sleeping, for the most part. Rayrl and Israean are speaking in soft tones in Rayrl's room when Titumus suddenly opens the door and walks in. "What do you know?" Titumus asks bluntly. His eyes are bloodshot and bandages cover his chest and shoulder. He had been wounded in his last match and he should not have been. Tiredness and worry clouded his mind and he faltered. It's bad enough he will not fight till the end of the week.

Rayrl and Israean are silent at first, shocked by the sudden intrusion. "I could be mistaken." Rayrl finally says.

"Tell me," Titumus demands.

"I thought perhaps I could sense magic within Viperish Night. Only for a heartbeat. I must be mistaken but..." Rayrl trails off.

"The way Viperish Night is fighting," Israean says. "It is as if he is chasing something, regardless of the dark it takes him into."

Titumus goes still and the color drains from his face. He turns and runs out and stops at Viperish Night's door, banging on it. "Wake up Viperish Night. NOW." he thunders.

Doors are opening and the gladiators stream out. "Has Titumus gone mad?" Qa'Dar asks yawning.

"This one thinks it's about time," Zan'tabe says. "Viperish Night will not speak to us, perhaps he needs someone to yell at him. Before it's too late." The rest of them go silent. They have seen their friend fight these past two weeks. Brutally with no mercy. After promising to try, he has forsaken that promise for reasons they cannot fathom.

Viperish Night opens the door. He had been sleeping but it had been restless, dreams of blood and pain and then he felt himself drown. He struggles to meet Titumus's gaze.

"Why, Viperish Night?" Titumus asks. "Rayrl told me what she thinks your doing.

Viperish Night freezes, his claws moving to the collar around his neck. He never intended to tell them...and since he kept failing... "I can get it off! I know I can!" he suddenly hisses. "Then I can get us out of here."

"Not this way!" Titumus shouts. "How could you think any of us would want it if this is the cost? You will destroy yourself, and more besides."

Viperish Night's eyes dart from him to his friends. The question in his eyes, and a sense of being utterly lost.

"Many are slaves like us, Viperish Night," Zan'tabe says. "They do not deserve this. Zan'tabe knows you know this, my friend."

"I do not need it!" Fernthorn yells. "I already told you that!"

"You will destroy yourself, Viperish Night." Kigum-dar adds "We do not want that."

"I do not wish to be freed by the same magic that destroyed my family," Rayrl says coldly. "My brother agrees with me."

"Qa'Dar..." Qa'Dar trails off and looks at Fernthorn. "There are worse fates."

"You will die here." Viperish Night says softly. "We all will die here." he sags against the doorway as if the will to keep standing has left him. "I am tired of being bound, tired of this. Tired of knowing you will die and all they will do is cheer."

Zan'tabe hurries to his side. "Not this way, my friend. There is still time to stop this."

Viperish Night leans against Zan'tabe. "I want out. I want all of you out," he says. "I can feel it. Just out of my grasp..."

"Viperish Night," Titumus says. "Stop. Before it is too late to turn back." Titumus turns and heads back to his room.

Rayrl stares at Viperish Night before turning to return to her room, and her brother returns to his.

Fernthorn hurries to Viperish Night's side as well, looking up at Zan'tabe. "We will stay with him," Zan'tabe says. "Kigum-dar and Qa'Dar, return to your rooms. Try and get some sleep."

Viperish Night is near limp as Zan'tabe lies him on his bed and both he and Fernthorn sit next to him. Viperish Night shuts his eyes tightly, but he cannot hide from the images playing back in his mind. The fights this month, what he has done. Obsession gripped him, he thought he had a way out, but it seems like just an illusion now. No matter how hard he has tried to grasp it. He must be missing something, but he has no idea what and he cannot bear to keep trying, not if this is the result. He shivers. "...I am sorry," he whispers.

Fernthorn starts to stroke his feathered mane. At Zan'tabe's look, she shrugs. "My mom used to stroke my hair when I was younger. When I was scared." She softly sighs. "We all get lost sometimes," Fernthorn says. "I ate people why they cheered, so I could pretend the pain away."

"Zan'tabe acts like it does not matter when it does. This one means being here. Zan'tabe's head gets dark sometimes. This one does not share this." Zan'tabe lies down by Viperish Night.

The warmth of Zan'tabe and the soft feel of Fernthorn's hands finally lures Viperish Night to sleep.