The portal opens on the shores of Summerset just after dark. The Maormer Commander Ikhil is waiting for them in a small cave near Lillandril and Viperish Night moves to speak with him.
Jeziasi watches him for a moment before moving to the shore, the tide lapping near her feet. The ocean is so dark at night, the sounds of the waves a peaceful melody. It has been years since Jeziasi has graced these shores, found old and new friends, fought against The Court of Bedlam, against Nocturnal...and killed the girl who had once been a friend to save it all. Veya had been lost to hate and rage, far beyond Jeziasi's ability to save. Jeziasi softly swallows. Viperish Night, her son was even more lost, had done even worse things. But this time... she refused to fight against him.
Tyranius moves to stand beside her, helm under the crook of one arm. "Too many memories, wolfy?" he asks.
"...Yes," Jeziasi says softly. "I thought never to return here. Yet, I am here. And I am to set it to ruin."
"Wolfy, I'd tell you to drown those emotions of yours but..." Tyranius trails off and falls silent, leaving it unspoken. What one could become without part of who they were.
"You turned on your Prince," Jeziasi says changing the subject, "For such a simple reason as you like my son better. Was it just that?"
Again, Tyranius falls silent. "No, Wolfy. I'm a bloodthirsty bastard, I'll kill anything and anyone and never shed a tear, but I don't care for curs who think they can force themselves on others. They force their ideals on others, force men to kneel, and every other way they think they can dominate others." Tyranius glances at Zirasha, who's some distance away sitting on a rock, lost in her memories. "Members of the Zero legion did that. Not the ones under MY command, I would have executed them. Molag Bal did that as well. Viperish Night... he does not. So..." Tyranius shrugs.
Jeziasi turns to stare at Tyranius. "Strange sense of honor, Tyranius," Jeziasi says, and then smiles slightly. "I thought you might have one, under all that brutish blood lust."
Tyranius laughs. "The dark sides more complex than you thought, Wolfy?" he asks.
Jeziasi just shrugs at that and then turns back to the ocean. "...You don't mind how this will end?" Jeziasi says softly, her words almost lost to the waves.
Tyranius turns to look at the ocean as well. "No, Wolfy," Tyranius answers. "Had a good run. Go down as I live, seems fitting enough." Tyranius gets up soon after to leave Jeziasi to her thoughts.

Tyranius moves to Zirasha, and she hisses softly at him. Tyranius crosses his arms. "Do what you got to do, girl. We don't attack till tomorrow night. The night is young."
Zirasha glances at Tyranius, her memories have tormented her since they arrived. Summerset had been her home, but it never had felt like it. She never had fit in, and when she broke and limped home, no one could even see the pain and fear that was crystal clear in her eyes. All they cared is she live up to their ideal. Be perfect, even when she was broken in too many pieces to ever be made whole again, the way she was before. "Brute..." Zirasha breaths. "We can't give our plans away. We can't let them know we are here." Her eyes move to Viperish Night. It was strange to her, to know she valued her pack over seeking revenge on her parents for not loving her, not seeing how much pain she had been in. Just wanting her to be perfect.
"We trust you," Tyranius says. "Besides, those bastards seem to find us either way." Tyranius glances at her. "Do what you got to do," he repeats before he moves to the cliff and leans against it.
Commander Ikhil stands in front of Viperish Night. "We stand ready far offshore, Viperish Night," Commander Ikhil tells him. "Our storm mages stand ready to unleash their magic. Tomorrow at dusk, they will cast their magic and fog will roll in covering our entrance, we will strike at Lillandril and rid it of the Altmer." Commander Ikhil crosses his arms across his chest. "Should we need it, the storm mages will summon a storm to strike at them as well." Commander Ikhil stares at Viperish Night. "You will honor our agreement, Summerset will be ours, correct?"
Viperish Night smiles, fangs glimmering. "Until our allegiance is broken, and we come for you," Viperish Night agrees. "My undead stands ready, and my pack is set to bring fangs upon them all." Viperish Night turns to the ocean, the sounds of the living do not reach this far, save for Commander Ikhil and Viperish Night's pack. Viperish Night turns from the commander and moves to his Egg-mother.
Viperish Night comes to rest beside her, standing with his claws sinking into the soft sand. Without needed to ask, he knows what plagues Jeziasi. "Memories," Viperish Night hisses softly. "As if they seek to drive us mad, drive us further in the depths."
Jeziasi's eyes move to his. "I saved Nirn more than once, Viperish Night. But I always, always failed to save those who fought beside me, failed to save my friends," Jeziasi whispers, pain crossing her face. She cannot lose Viperish Night as well. Even knowing the truth of it all, how it may end as soon as tomorrow night should they be discovered and set upon as they were in Reaper's March. Forces were gathering against them like an ocean wave against the shore. The inevitability of it all grips her soul and she puts her thoughts into words. "I cannot lose you," Jeziasi breaths. "Any of you."
"Then we will have to kill them all," Viperish Night says. "End their pain, their madness, their continued existence and threat against us."
When her son said things such as this, the madness in his eyes seemed to grow. Corruption at the deepest level, woven into his very being and the band made it all utterly inseparable, made it impossible to fully reach him, to bring him out of the depths. Jeziasi takes his hand in hers. Smooth claws, rough scales. So very different than her own but as he returns her grip she knows he loves her, knows that speck of light still lived, that he even wanted it to live. The two stare into the ocean darkness, bound by fate. One that cannot escape it, one that refuses escape from it.

Later into the night, Zirasha walks to the edge of camp. She glances at her pack before turning and misting, flowing down the ocean cost toward Alinor. The city streets are quiet, only the guards seem to be around this late at night. Zirasha reforms away from any guards and silently walks through the city, keeping to the shadows. Alinor is familiar, and yet not. She grew up here, was trapped here. It...had never been home, however. She never felt like a proper Altmer. Zirasha moves to the upper levels and soon stands before her parent's house. It is just as she remembers. Perfectly maintained state of perfection. Zirasha moves around back to the servants door and silently picks the lock, and enters the house. Inside is just as she remembers it as well. Nothing out of place, not a single speck of dirt or dust. Utterly perfect, the Altmer creed. Zirasha slinks to her room, or what had been her room before she left.
Here, here is change. Not a single thing familiar, nothing of her is left in this place. Zirasha stands at the doorway, a lost look on her face. She had made herself imperfect and so her parents erased her once she left as if she never existed at all. Zirasha hisses and turns moving toward her parent's room. She would show them how utterly glorious imperfect she was, that she existed even if they denied it, and then she would kill them and swim in their blood.
"Zia?"
Zirasha freezes at the name, a long-forgotten nickname one of the Khajiit servants used to call her when she was a child. Zirasha slowly turns around. The Khajiit's fur is soft brown with black speckles, now streaked with grey. Her golden eyes are wise and kind, though sorrow flickers through them. "Habasi," Zirasha breaths. Zirasha remembers her before Habasi left to care for a ailing son back in Northern Elsweyr when Zirasha was twelve. Zirasha blinks, memories surfacing. Habasi had always been kind to her, never scolding her for her messes as her parents did. Just let her be who she was, not who others thought she should be. Suddenly, Zirasha is all too aware of her fangs, her monstrous red eyes, her unnaturally pale skin, the fact she had killed so very many Khajiits. Habasi must see this, must know this. She will flee, and she should. Zirasha is a glorious monster.
But Habasi does not flee, instead cautiously approaches Zirasha, and when Zirasha is still Habasi moves a gentle paw across the hideous scar Zirasha had torn into her flesh on her last day in Summerset. "This one returned after my son died," Habasi says softly. "Elsweyr no longer felt like home, the memories. This one returned to work here." Habasi's eyes sadden. "Your parents said nothing. This one found all your things gone."
"As if I never existed," Zirasha hisses angrily.
"Zia, what happened?" Habasi asks. "This one knows you struggled against the Altmer way of life but..." she trails off
Zirasha knows what this kind Khajiit cannot say. The whole of Tamriel knows of Viperish Night and his pack, knows of her and all she's done with them. Zirasha turns from Habasi, snarling softly.
Habasi purrs, "You spit like a young cub!" Habasi says, then her voice turns serious. "Zia."
"...Bad things," Zirasha whispers. "Things no one cared to ask me about. They just tried to fit me in their mold, ignoring the fact I had been utterly shattered." Zirasha swallows. "Fear is all I knew until I was transformed. Only then was I free."
"Oh, Zia," Habasi breaths, and she quiets for a few moments. "What do you intend to do here?" Habasi asks.
"You must know," Zirasha responds, her crimson eyes locked on her parent's door.
Habasi follows her gaze. "Will it help?" Habasi asks gently.
"I... do not know," Zirasha says.
"Zia, this one thinks they don't deserve your attention." Habasi takes a deep breath. "They do not deserve to see you again, my Zia. They are unworthy of you if they could dispose of you so easily."
Zirasha is silent. If she came her months ago...Habasi's words would hold nothing for her. But now? Zirasha thinks of her pack. The brutal Imperial of the Zero Legion Tyranius who gave her justice for what had been done to her, who pushed her toward control but made sure she was safe and taken care of in that cave, Tyranius, who discarded his own Prince for this pack. Viperish Night, the one she followed because he promised her such carnage to a world she hated so much. But Viperish Night was not some evil creature, but a tortured soul who no longer knew any way to be, no other path to travel down. His darkness sent delightful chills down her blood but part of her felt his pain as well. And Jez... Zirasha never had many friends and no close ones at all. The moment Mannimarco brought her helpless and unaware to Viperish Night Zirasha wanted to take care of her, for she reminded Zirasha of herself. Broken past the point of a perfect recovery. No one had been there to help Zirasha when she shattered, she had decided that Jeziasi would have someone looking out for her, someone who would not mind if she pieced herself back imperfect. And when Jeziasi at last woke, Zirasha just wanted to be near her. Jeziasi was fire and wild and her love knew no boundaries. Zirasha never knew love like that, never knew a mother could love their child to the extent Jeziasi did. Zirasha had told Jeziasi they were not friends...but they were. Zirasha turns back to Habasi. "I should, but they will die when Viperish Night sets his armies loose," Zirasha whispers, and suddenly she wishes Habasi could avoid the storm that was to come. Habasi had always been kind.
Habasi hears it in her voice. "That is what you want?" Habasi asks.
"Once..." Zirasha hisses. "But now... I just want to be with my pack." Zirasha's eyes move to Habasi and they start to glow as Zirasha takes control of the Khajiit's mind. "Sleep, Habasi. When you wake you won't remember this night. You won't remember I was here." Habasi turns from Zirasha and pads quietly to her room and Zirasha looks once more at her parent's room before bursting into mist and heading back to her true family.

Zirasha mist in front of the cave and Viperish Night is sitting on a rock as the first faint traces of light emerge on the horizon. Viperish Night looks up at her and tilts his head as he regards her. Zirasha moves to him and sits on a nearby rock and lowers her head. "I...they don't deserve to see me, Viperish Night," Zirasha whispers. "Even in their last moments. Let your armies be the ones who end them. They are not my family." Zirasha looks over at Viperish Night. "This pack is my family," she states firmly.
Viperish Night's eyes stare into hers. "I could never do that. Never let another kill my Egg-Father or my former mentor."
"They hurt you, Viperish Night," Zirasha whispers. "Hurt you, destroyed you, shattered you. Broke you in every way that matters, they deserve nothing less." Zirasha brings her knees up and wraps her arms around them. "I destroyed the ones who broke me, but my parents did not destroy me. They just did not love me, or care that I had been broken, and when I made myself imperfect, they forgot all about me." Zirasha's eyes turn from Viperish Night's to stare into the early morning. "I still hate this world, though." Zirasha hisses.
Viperish Night slowly blinks a few times. "This world is torture," he replies. "I must quiet it but..." Viperish Night's eyes move to Zirasha. "My pack...brings me a small drop of peace." Viperish Night turns his eyes from her and lowers his head. "If it was enough to stop the screaming, the agony...maybe." Viperish Night hisses, the sound of the waves nearly drowning out his whisper.
Zirasha's hand clenches and unclenches and she slowly moves it to put it over Viperish Night's. "We'll stay with you until the end, Viperish Night. No matter how it ends." Zirasha swallows. "This is the first time I've been any kind of happy in so long. Even with the pain, even with all the horrible things, there is still joy in this. It's so strange."
Viperish Night smiles, fangs glimmering in the dawn's light. "It is so very mad. We will swim in it until we drown everything, or until it drowns us."

Night falls the following night and thick fog rolls in soon after covering the shore and all those who came to wage war on this part of Summerset. The Maormer ships sail in silently and scores of the sea elves congregate on the shores even as Viperish Night raises the undead from land and sea. Long lost sailors, strange creatures from the deep, and the dead of Summerset, all come to his call, bones rattling and eyes glowing with the familiar necromantic glow. Viperish Night and his pack march toward Lillandril with the undead and the Maormer all around them.
It is so very quiet, almost too quiet. Viperish Night's eyes dart around and then he turns his head to regard Tyranius. "Pup, don't like this," Tyranius responds to Viperish Night's questioning look as they reach the docks of Lillandril, where not a single soul stirs strange for a dock even this late. Before Viperish Night can respond a blinding flash of golden light suddenly bursts into existence blinding and all-consuming. When it finally fades Viperish Night and his pack find themselves out of Lillandril in the hilly plains. Viperish Night hisses and his staff glows as he summons his undead to follow them up into the hills. Down in the docks Commander Ikhil turns to follow the undead, shouting orders to his storm mages to break a storm down upon Summerset. But his orders come far too late, for silent shadowy figures come out of the gloom and fog, and dark blades find their way across the storm mage's throats, and into their hearts silencing the storm before it can even begin. A battle cry echos from the fog next, and Lion Guard and Dominion forces descend upon the invading Maormer.
In the hills, Viperish Night steps forward, his eyes narrowed as he hisses. The fog starts to dissipate as Iveryni walks from the darkness staff in hand, her crimson gaze narrowed right back. As the dead start to stream up the hill to their master Iveryni's eyes start to glow and she tilts her head back and screams and flames erupt from her staff and from Iveryni herself to lash out all around the hilly plains, setting it all to tinder the flames growling as they feed on Summerset. The flames fan out too quickly for anyone to react, setting some of the undead ablaze and to so much ash. The flames streak toward Viperish Night's pack and they are forced to scatter as the flames pursue them and cut them off from one another.

Iveryni sinks to her knees, the flames encircling her, protecting her from sight and attack. Softly-Speckled-Crab, Theodyn, and Rufico appear from the flames behind her. The inferno Iveryni has unleashed is Daedric flames, and she is in full control of them. They will harm their enemies, but her allies will be able to move freely through them. "You know who to target," Iveryni says. "Follow the plan this time, and we will win. As soon as I recover my strength I will join the battle. End this and take them down before Viperish Night sets his army loose upon all of Tamriel."
Theodyn stalks toward the flames, Rufico at his back, a silent shadow, until he feels the need to ask. "Theodyn, have you recovered enough from that neat teleporting stunt you pulled?"
Theodyn pauses briefly. "Yes," he says tightly. "Let us finish the damn necromancer so I can go after the Vestige."
"One-track mind," Rufico mutters under his breath as he follows Theodyn through the flames.
Softly-Speckled-Crab spares Iveryni a worried glance before she sets out. "Iveryni, will you be alright?" Softly-Speckled-Crab asks.
Iveryni lowers her head. "As long as I serve my Prince, this body will contain me, and all the power I now wield," Iveryni says softly, her words almost lost to the sound of the inferno she birthed.
Softly-Speckled-Crab frowns at her words before turning and walking through the flames.

"Damn fire witch," Tyranius growls as he glances around, finding himself alone and cut off from the others, again. Tyranius turns as footsteps step from the flames and the lithe form of Softly-Speckled-Crab stops before him. Tyranius stares at her. "Huh...I expected you brats to divide and conquer again, but did not expect you to be the one to face me." Tyranius tells her as he raises his scythe.
"Is that not the point?" Softly-Speckled-Crab says, as her claws grip her staff. "I would ask you to stand down, but there never has been mercy in you, has there?" Softly-Speckled-Crab hisses at him.
Tyranius shrugs. "Mercy is for the heroes," he tells her, "heroes end up dead or broken. Not for me."
The ground starts to shake and roots surge from it so fast, Tyranius has no time to react as they wrap around him in an intensely tight embrace. "You talk too much," Softly-Speckled-Crab snaps, then blinks. "You will forgive my tone. All of nature is in pain from my friend's fire, but it was the only way, and they will still fight for me, and fight your kind of evil."

Zirasha stands alone, her crimson gaze glittering as they come from the flames all around her, encircling her. Fighters Guild, various races, but all armed with crossbows pointed at her. Zirasha smiles. "So you must be so-called vampire hunters," Zirasha hisses. "You can try, but you still will die." The hunters let loose the cross bolts at her and Zirasha mists and reforms, again and again, to rake her claws across their throats, blood spraying into the air as they fall backward. More cross bolts fly and Zirasha dodges before plunging into their midst like a tornado of fangs teeth and bloodthirsty delight.

The tiniest flash is the only sign of danger. Viperish Night spins and one of his undead skeletons that survived the flames onset springs forth, taking the dagger meant for him. Rufico leaps back and regards Viperish Night, the black blade shimmering darkly in his hand. Viperish Night hisses as the sound of a sword being drawn alerts him to the danger behind him. His eyes dart back and he turns slightly. Theodyn with Dawnbreaker in his hands is glaring at them with utter loathing and hate. So this time they come for him, instead of his Egg-mother. Viperish Night's fangs shimmer as he smiles at them. "I will rend you to silence and death for putting your hands on my Egg-mother," Viperish Night hisses with deadly intent.
"She chose this!" Theodyn snarls at him. "Chose you over Nirn, you, an abomination that should have never been hatched."
"Enough, Theodyn," Rufico says. "Silence and death are all he should receive from us."A cry from beyond the flames that quickly changes into a howl ensnares Theodyn's attention and his eyes move from Viperish Night to the flames and what lies beyond him. "Theodyn, do not do it," Rufico says. Too late, for Theodyn suddenly dashes from the fight and through the flames. "Damn it..." Rufico says as he turns attention back to Viperish Night.
Viperish Night laughs. "So much for your pack. To leave you alone before me." Viperish Night hisses as more undead surge from the ground and moves to encircle Rufico. Rufico turns attention to the skeletons and spins into deadly motion as the undead come for him.

Theodyn did intend to follow the plan. But the howl of the Vestige enraged him and he ran through the flames to find her. She's standing over a small group of the Lion Guard, all of them are dead at her feet. "VESTIGE!" Theodyn snarls and Jeziasi's attention snaps to him. Theodyn charges at her, Dawnbreaker swinging in a deadly arc. Jeziasi snarls and ducks under it. Theodyn's rage blinding him and Jeziasi takes advantage of it as he stumbles from the missed strike she slams her paw into his helm, driving him to the ground with a clatter.
Jeziasi stands over his fallen form and growls softly as he lies there out cold from her heavy blow. Jeziasi's golden eyes stare at him. Easy prey now...and she knew it would come to this. Knew her jaws would have to snap on their necks. Jeziasi wills the wolf to take over utterly as she kicks him over on his back, exposing his throat to her fangs. She prepares to leap upon him and end him but a golden shimmer pauses her as Darien appears before her. "Can you see me? Please tell me you can see me, Jeziasi," Darien pleads.
Jeziasi stumbles backward and her fur melts into flesh as she stares at the transparent figure before her. "D...Darien?" she breaths.
"In the flesh!" Darien declares, then pauses. "Uh...well not in the flesh." Darien shrugs. "Just hanging on Jeziasi. Trying to smack some sense into Meridia's new champion. You really pissed Meridia off, you know?"
"I..." Jeziasi trails off.
"I know, Jeziasi," Darien says. "Not going to judge. Just wanted to, you know, see my friend again."
Jeziasi closes her eyes briefly remembering Summerset, Darien sacrificing his life to help her stop Nocturnal. Jeziasi slowly opens her eyes. "I..." she starts again, but again words fail.
"Missed me?" Darien says with a small laugh. "I know, anyone would miss this handsome mug." His voice turns wistful. "Never got to buy you and Leythen those drinks."
"Darien," Jeziasi says, "You helped me back then. Helped save all of Nirn, but you died." Jeziasi's eyes cloud with sorrow as she thinks of the past, of those who fought by her side, only to fall why she lived.
"Hey!" Darien says. "This should be a happy reunion!" At Jeziasi's stare, Darien shrugs. "Right...this..." Jeziasi stares at him some more and he shrugs.
"I...have to get back to my son," Jeziasi says softly as her gaze turns back to Theodyn. "I have to protect him."
Darien follows her gaze. "Do you have to kill him? Could you maybe wait?" he asks. "Meridia broke him. I kinda want to try and fix him first."
Jeziasi snarls softly. "Let him go? Do you have any idea..." she growls more. "I will not risk him killing my son."
"Jez..." Darien says, looking at her with a lost gaze. "That's going to happen regardless of who's the one to do it."
Jeziasi's eyes darken. "Don't you think I know that?" Jeziasi says. "No way out, no way to save him. But I will still try, even if all I can do is stay by his side."
"Stay by his side and comment atrocities, mass murder, Jeziasi, this is not you. You're a hero." Darien says.
"Not anymore. Not if it means turning my back on my son," Jeziasi says.
"It's going to destroy you," Darien responds. "You have to know that too."
"I know, Darien," Jeziasi says softly. "I... no longer care if it does. As long as I am with him until the end. And I will do anything to stay by his side, anything for him."
"Viperish Night... he must be worth it then," Darien says and shakes his head. "You always did go all out. You make a scary villain, Jeziasi. Glad I don't have to fight you. Not sure if I could." Jeziasi stares at him and smiles briefly before her eyes start to shift from crystal to gold as she turns from her friend to Theodyn. Darien steps in front of her. "Please, Jez. Just let him go once. Just once! I won't ask this again."
"Darien," Jeziasi breaths, agony in her voice. "I cannot for so many reasons. And you cannot stop me, you know this."
Darien gazes at her lost and starts to speak but a low growl interrupts him as a flash of tawny fur leaps through the flames at Jeziasi. Jeziasi turns as the Khajiit leaps upon her and the two tumble to the ground in a mess of fur and blades. Darien yelps and then watches face full of regret. He remembers the Khajiit Razum-dar from Summerset, he and Jeziasi had been friends. To see them like this, trying to kill each other. The world seems to shake and Darien finds he can no longer remain in form and vanishes back into Dawnbreaker.
Razum-dar's claws at the side of her throat, the bright flash of pain. Jeziasi snarls and throws him off, Jeziasi leaps up, blood dripping from her neck. "Razum-dar," she breaths, head spinning. Running into both on this night... almost too much.
Razum-dar walks toward her and withdraws his sword. "Old friend," Razum-dar says coldly. "Fight this one as you are, or will you turn your wolf on Razum-dar too?"

The ice blades spin into existence slicing through the roots. Tyranius stomps on them and then looks at Softly-Speckled-Crab. "Did they feel that?" Tyranius says with a laugh.
Softly-Speckled-Crab snarls. "You are cruel without cause or reason," Softly-Speckled-Crab says and vines emerge from the ground to try and ensnare Tyranius.
Tyranius slices through them with ease with his scythe and laughs again. "They sent the nature lizard after me, really?" Tyranius says. "Bad news for you, lizard. I'm the gardener." Tyranius slices his scythe through the air as he stalks toward Softly-Speckled-Crab and then charges at her in a burst of speed.
Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes never leave his, even though Tyranius's helm hides his eyes. Softly-Speckled-Crab raises one hand and the ground shakes violently before a tree erupts into being from the ground. Tyranius's scythe slams into it and sinks deep into the bark. Tyranius snarls as he tries to pull it out but Softly-Speckled-Crab summons more vines and roots to wrap around his limbs and his neck. As they tighten and slowly start to choke off his air, the ice blades waver and vanish.

Many of the Fighters Guild lay dead at Zirasha's feet and she starts to leap from the rest when the flames intensify and streak out. Zirasha leaps back at vampiric speed, but the flames are somehow faster and soon encircle her completely. Zirasha whirls around, hissing angrily.
"Vampires do not care for fire, do they?" Iveryni says as she steps in front of Zirasha the view in part blocked by the flames. "Even an original can perish in my flames," Iveryni says. "You will be nothing but ash and dust when I am done with you."
Zirasha stills and smiles at Iveryni. "I did not make the same mistake as last time," Zirasha says with a hiss. "I feasted before the battle on Altmer I found alone in the dark!" The night before as Zirasha returned to her pack, she feasted on Altmer she found wandering in the night. Combined with the Fighter's Guild blood running through her, it's more than enough. Zirasha throws her head back and laughs. "See if you can burn my glorious imperfect monster up, mage! Just see!" The transformation once more grips her and the monster emerges from the woman. Zirasha laughs again and leaps through the flames at Iveryni.

The last of the skeletons fall and Rufico once more turns to Viperish Night. "You may be right about us, but I have another family. One who won't turn tail on me." Rufico's voice is cold, but a trace of hurt runs through it. Rufico stares at Viperish Night as shadowy figures emerge from the flame, silent and deadly garbed in the Dark Brotherhood armor, hoods pulled up so only their cold eyes can be seen. The bloody work of dispatching the storm mages done, they now come to help murder Viperish Night. "We are aware it was Molag Bal who took our brother from us. We'll deal with that in time after we deal with you. You want silence so badly?" Rufico smirks. "We'll give it to you."
Viperish Night's eyes dart from him to the assassins approaching from all sides. Far too many, far too few dead, for the flames, incinerated most of them and it will take time for the skeletons Viperish Night called to replace them to come. Viperish Night knows it's too soon since the last time and the last thing he wishes is to surrender, to submit, but either he submits to death now, or the monstrous form that forces him into the furthest depths. Suddenly the Dark Brotherhood members move, springing on Viperish Night from all sides. Viperish Night's blades are out in moments and he dives from the first, engages the second and his sword is soon buried in the assassins' chest. The rest converge on him then, throwing knives with deadly precision to slice into flesh and scales, blades seeking his death from all sides. Viperish Night snarls and a burst of necromantic power flings the assassins from him as he transforms, once more diving back into the furthest depths to escape certain death and silence those who would silence him.

Jeziasi's daggers clash with Razum-dar's sword, a dance of steel and resolve, once friends now bitter enemies. Jeziasi springs backward and narrowly misses his next strike, her eyes lock onto Razum-dar's. The last thing she wants is to kill him, but even though the flames, she can feel eyes upon her. Even fighting Razum-dar as she is a weakness she cannot afford. Pain crosses her eyes and she springs at Razum-dar and the two once more crash to the ground, weapons flying off into the dark. Jeziasi snatches Razum-dar's ear with her hand, even as his claws dig into her arm. "He is always watching us. I cannot fight fair," Jeziasi snarls softly before she rolls away from Razum-dar and springs up the same moment he does. Her eyes glow golden and her form shifts to become the wolf once more.
"Oh, dear..." Razum-dar breaths, Jeziasi's whispered words echoing in his ear, as well as blood. Even in her mer form, Jeziasi has always had sharp nails.
Jeziasi curls her muscles up to pounce, but a Nord battle cry comes through the flames and Jorunn the Skald-King comes charging through the flames to enter the fray, his battle ax slamming down upon Jeziasi. She turns and her claws fly, hitting the battle-ax with a mighty blow, sending the ax flying into the flames. Jorunn roars again and grabs Jeziasi by the throat and slams her to the ground. "You was an ally to all of us once, now you are our enemy." Jorunn states. Jeziasi snarls and breaks free from his hold and leaps upon him and the two crash to the ground in a rolling frenzy. Razum-dar scoops up his sword and as the two break free from each other and spring up Jorunn turns to Razum-dar. "Get the boy out of here. We'll finish this." Nords pour through the flames armed with every weapon imaginable, and Razum-dar looks at Jeziasi one last time before running past her to grab Theodyn and race to escape through the flames.

The assassins lie dead or near death at Viperish Night's feet and Rufico stands among them, blood dripping from various wounds. His eyes are filled with dark anger as he snarls. His sanctuary was near the ocean, keeping the Maormer down and ensuring they brought no more storm mages that could douse Iveryni's flames, but other sanctuaries had sent their own at Rufico's unusual call, for these most unusual times. To be set to war like this...was not the Dark Brotherhood's way, but still, the Night Mother baid them for she and The Dread Father would not let Molag Bal's insult to them stand, nor would they let him claim all the souls of Nirn for Coldharbour. Viperish Night hisses and turns toward Rufico. "Damn it, Theodyn." Rufico breaths. This was why they needed Theodyn here, against Viperish Night. Why...Rufico needed him by his side. Rufico's eyes dart around, some of the assassin's still live. So Rufico flees through the flames, and just as he hopes Viperish Night leaps in after him, the Daedric flames having no effect on him in his current form.

Jeziasi slams her head into the Skald-King's head and sends him staggering back and Jeziasi then spins upon the Nords, slicing at them with claws and leaping to set jaws upon their necks. More come, and still, she fights, becoming a whirlwind of claws, fangs, and fur. Her eyes burn with the fires of the hunt, her fur almost seems to glow in the fire's light. Strength flows through her and the Nords before her fall left and right before her, though she does not remain unscathed, numerous slashes from swords and axes dot her pelt, staining it crimson. Jorunn shakes off her blow and stalks toward Jeziasi and she whirls and smiles the wolf's grin. This is truly a hunt, against worthy foes. Jeziasi lets it take her and howls as she surges at Jorunn, dodging his blow from his battle-ax. Her jaws snap on its long hilt and she snatches it from his grip and flings it into the flames. Jeziasi pounces at Jorunn and he pounces back and the two wrestle, Jeziasi's jaws snapping at his face, his powerful grip keeping her claws from her flesh. A snarl from Jeziasi and with a mighty shove she pushes him to the ground and prepares to pounce, but before she can descend on the kill Thalmor forces surge through the flames followed by Bosmer archers. One arrow hits her shoulder and Jeziasi howls in pain before turning on the new threat.

Viperish Night pauses in his chase as Jeziasi's howl of pain rings out across the battlefield. With a surge of power chilling screeches rip across the night and griffin skeletons pour through the flames with such speed they endure the fire to join in on the chaotic battle. Viperish Night turns on Rufico again and charges giving chase through the Daedric flames that no longer seem so painfully hot in this form.

Tyranius struggles against the vines and roots and black spots start appearing before his eyes. He tilts his head back trying to regain enough air to summon his blades but the vines just tighten more. A shadow bursts through the fire followed by a roar straight out of Oblivion as Rufico races past Tyranius, followed by Viperish Night in his nightmarish bone colossus form. Viperish Night's glowing eyes dart to Tyranius, then fall on Softly-Speckled-Crab and he leaps landing before her and lashes out with his claws, slicing through her scales and flesh and sending her flying backward. Rufico swears and leaps, catching her in his arms, and sets her down. Softly-Speckled-Crab's hand presses against her bloody shoulder. "Still good," she hisses as she stares up at Viperish Night. As soon as she speaks the words, mages from the guild and Dunmer from the Ebonheart pack stream through the flames.
The vines and roots give once Viperish Night attacks Softly-Speckled-Crab and Tyranius shrugs out of them before summoning his scythe to his hands. "Hope you can stay that way longer now, pup," Tyranius says as he re-summons his ice blades which spin around him. The Mage's waste no time in letting loose with all their fury and Viperish Night roars, pulsing energy flowing around him and Tyranius, blocking the first volley. Skeleton griffins suddenly burst through the flames and set upon the mages. Tyranius tilts his head back and laughs and his ice blades flash ahead of him as he charges into the mage's mist with his scythe, bringing bloody ruin to them as he dodges their varied attacks.

The Bosmer archers scatter as the skeleton griffins leap out of the flames upon them, tearing them with beak and talon. Jeziasi whirls and turns on the Thalmor and with a mighty roar she leaps into their mist with wild abandon causing bloody carnage to those who had come for her pack on this night. A few Nords stumble up, and grab their king, moving him away from the fight, despite his protests.

Flames surround Zirasha and lava pools at her feet forcing her into the air where Iveryni deludes her with fireballs. Zirasha whirls from the intense blasts and snarls. Her form seems to shimmer as with an intense burst of speed she bursts through the firestorm and is upon Iveryni in an instant her fangs sinking deep into the side of the Dunmer's neck. A moment later Zirasha stumbles back from Iveryni and shrieks in agony, continuing to stumble backward until she falls to the ground convulsing and clutching her throat as her monstrous form leaves her. Zirasha's head hits the ground and her eyes roll backward. Iveryni stalks toward her. "Some things you should not eat," Iveryni hisses as her eyes glow red, her staff burning with intense light as she prepares to end the vampire in Daedric flames.

Jeziasi's head snaps up from the ruination she made of the Thalmor as Zirasha's utter scream of agony pierces through the flames. Jeziasi spins and runs in the direction bursting through the fire ignoring the searing pain as she skids to a stop. One look tells Jeziasi all she needs to know. Zirasha sprawled on the ground, Iveryni about to end her. Jeziasi howls and leaps and Iveryni swirls and flames engulf Jeziasi. Jeziasi's eyes glow as Jeziasi powers through and throws herself on Iveryni, her jaws snapping around the Dunmer's robe. With a mighty swing of her head, Jeziasi throws Iveryni through the flames. Before Iveryni can come charging back a shadow falls over the battlefield as Viperish Night's skeleton dragon dives from the sky straight for Iveryni, who dives to the side as the dragon crashes down and charges her.
Jeziasi lunges to Zirasha's side. Zirasha's throat is horribly burned and Jeziasi snarls and uses her fangs to rip open one of the wounds in her arms wider and the blood wells up and courses into Zirasha's mouth and before Jeziasi's eyes Zirasha starts to heal. Zirasha's eyes slowly open. "Her...blood's fire." Zirasha breaths. "Don't bite her, Jez."
Jeziasi gives a werewolf's huff. "Viperish Night's pet dragon can bite her now," Jeziasi says and then a low growl builds up in her throat. "Besides, we have our own things to hunt."
Zirasha stumbles up and hisses as Orcs and Redguards come from the flames to surround the two. "Could use more blood," Zirasha hisses.

Lithe shapes come from the fire and dart in between the mages. Tyranius turns on them, his scythe cutting one down to fall before his feet. "They are sicking their lizards on us now, pup," Tyranius says with a laugh. "I get to kill everything tonight!"
Viperish Night hisses as a feral grin crosses his face. He surges forward and grabs an Argonian by the throat, holding him up in the air as he kicks at Viperish Night's grip. "I like killing Argonian's" Viperish Night hisses as he snaps the Argonian's neck before turning on more of them as they surge toward them in a blur of claws and various weapons.
Tyranius beheads a Dunmer and shouts back at Viperish Night. "Bit too many pup. Can you give us some friends?" His head turns toward the far end of the battle, where Rufico and Softly-Speckled-Crab are standing, so far they've not joined in, save for Softly-Speckled-Crab using vines to drag injured allies past the flames to safety.
In response to Tyranius's request Viperish Night's eyes glow and Welwa skeletons burst from the ground and charge the Argonian's, Dunmer, and mages, knocking them down and savaging them with bone claws and fangs. Tyranius laughs and leaps to the side amid the mages who are preparing a larger spell, his scythe and ice blades fly as he savages them. Viperish Night turns toward the remaining Argonian's, his hand rises and a glowing blue orb of Daedric energy erupts from it and sends the Argonian's flying in every direction. Viperish Night throws his head back and laughs at the utter carnage.

Zirasha darts amongst the Redguards, siphoning their blood and once she's regained enough blood she falls upon them, their screams cutting short as she savages their throats with fangs and claws. Jeziasi barrels amid the Orcs sending them crashing down upon the ground. Most rise and charge her once more screaming warrior cries as they eagerly face off against the werewolf, weapons flying. Jeziasi dodges and attacks right back, their blood spraying the ground, as well as hers. She howls into the night to her son, and in response, more skeleton griffins burst through the flames along with Welwa skeletons to come to her aid and set upon the remaining Orcs and Redguards.

Iveryni dives under the skeleton dragon's claws and fire chains erupt from the ground to wrap around the dragon. Iveryni grits her teeth as she contains its thrashing form. The dragon wavers before her sight, Iveryni knows she is at her limit, in fact well beyond it. From the flames, the Breton forces surge and the Lion Guard advance to help her against the dragon. "No," Iveryni snaps at them. "Go after the werewolf and the vampire, they are just beyond the flames. I'll hold the dragon back." The Lion Guard captain nods at her and they stream past her and the dragon to dive into the flames.

Jeziasi pants hard dead Orcs all around her, brutely savaged by her claws and fangs, and the undead sent to aid her. Her golden eyes stare at him, her wolf calls to her, calls her to feast and regain her strength and she finds herself tempted. Blood mats her fur from numerous injuries and her energy wanes. But since her wolf returned to her, since she has been following her son in bloody carnage, she has only fed the wolf after on prey that was not the innocent and the heroes she helped kill with her pack. It is a weakness to do this, she knows, but part of her cannot seem to help it and so she turns from the bodies to Zirasha, who's feasting on the last Redguard left alive.
A battle cry comes from beyond the flames and the Lion Guard stream from the fire at them. Zirasha drops the Redguard and hisses at the Lion Guard and Jeziasi steps forward, growling. The hunt continues and she feels renewed strength pouring through her as she howls a battle cry of her own. The dead Orcs and Redguards suddenly rise from flesh and blood as skeletons and Jeziasi spares them a glance. Her son's power only grows. He must be fighting his own battle, yet the dead still rise to aid her. Jeziasi pushes away a spike of fear at the knowledge and charges the Redguard with Zirasha.

The vines pull the injured through the flames and Softly-Speckled-Crab starts to step forward despite her massive injury to do more, but Rufico grabs her uninjured arm and holds her back. "Theodyn's down," Rufico states. "He failed to follow the plan, the idiot." Softly-Speckled-Crab turns to look at him, her eyes pleading to let her go. Rufico narrows his eyes. "How many of our forces are left? Enough to win?" he asks. Softly-Speckled-Crab closes her eyes and her head falls and she starts to shake, all the answer Rufico needs. "That's what I thought. Damn it. If Theodyn stayed with me we would have had Viperish Night. Damn him. Damn him to The Void." Rufico swears.
"What's done is done," Softly-Speckled-Crab hisses. "We cannot change it or bring back the lives lost." Softly-Speckled-Crab opens her eyes to behold the battlefield. It was not only people's lives that were lost. Iveryni had done this horror of fire, to try and stop Viperish Night's bigger horror. But there was still so very much death. Softly-Speckled-Crab sighs sadly and sends the intent for retreat through what remains of the green.
Rufico opens a dark portal and pauses, his back to Softly-Speckled-Crab. "We may be facing a unwinnable war," Rufico says softly as he crosses through. Softly-Speckled-Crab sighs again and turns to follow him. It cannot be that...for if they lost all would perish. Even the green would fall to the death magic that would infect Nirn perhaps forever. But all she can do for now is follow Rufico, and she feels what remains of their allies leaving as well through their own means and portals.
Iveryni releases the dragon and releases the flames. She opens a portal and sways slightly as she stumbles through. Her eyes are a fiery mix of rage and regret. They failed, again.

Jeziasi moves her head around watching the remaining survivors flee as the fires die down. Once more the hunt was won, they survived and won over the heroes. Jeziasi's head turns to the east and she bounds off that way, Zirasha following a moment later.
Tyranius kills the last of the straggles who failed to flee in time and turns toward Viperish Night, who's shedding his monstrous form to return to his normal state. "Damn pup, you bring me to the best battles," Tyranius says with a laugh.
Viperish Night's fangs glitter as he smiles and with a laugh tinged with frost the fallen rise all around them to join his army. Viperish Night turns from them as Jeziasi bounds to him on all four legs, still in werewolf form. She stops feet from Viperish Night, staring intently into his eyes. "So very many dead, Egg-mother," Viperish Night hisses. "They run from us, flee from my river. Nothing can stop us from swimming in their blood until all their screams cease." Jeziasi flinches his tone, so very cold, as cold as the ice in his eyes. Jeziasi slowly approaches him and then stands placing both front paws on her son's shoulders, her golden eyes inches from his crystal ones. Long moments pass before Viperish Night blinks rapidly, some of the ice thawing. "Egg-mother," he says softly.
Tyranius coughs slightly and Jeziasi drops in front of Viperish Night a growl building as Swims-in-Silence steps from the shadows, stalking toward him until he stops in front of Viperish Night and Jeziasi. His eyes lock onto Jeziasi. "Again?" Swims-in-Silence hisses.
"No." Viperish Night hisses definitely and Swims-in-Silence snaps his eyes up onto Viperish Night. "She has proven her loyalty time and time again," Viperish Night says, "She is my pack, as are the others. I will not collar her. She will never turn and bite me." Viperish Night's eyes narrow and he growls in anger. "Binding her would only be for your benefit, Egg-father. And I refuse to give you that pleasure any longer. She will heed my commands, so you have no reason to fear her bite. Yet."
Swims-in-Silence narrows his eyes in anger. "Such defiance. First, you break my toy, now this?" His eyes move to Jeziasi. "You are loyal to our son, my mate," he says.
Jeziasi slowly nods her head, though the murderous fury never leaves her eyes.
Swims-in-Silence stares into those eyes and then speaks again, softly. "Jeziasi."
Jeziasi freezes. His voice has changed, the tone he is now using... chills run down her fur as memories of Shadowfen threaten to overwhelm her. How when she was with him his voice would change when he told her to sleep, and she obeyed every time. What she did not know then was that he compelled her too, to keep her instincts at bay, to keep her from realizing the horrific truth of it. And what else had he done when she slept? A growl threatens to spill out over her, but this is the moment she knew was coming. He seeks to test her, to see if she will still be compelled by him. She can feel it now, the insidious nature of the bond he trapped her in, but she also knows now she can fight it, break any command he tries to give her. But... she must not. He must think he has her, has power over them all. So she hides her growl and just stares at him unmoving.
Swims-in-Silence moves closer to her. "You don't feast on your enemies any longer, Jeziasi," he says as his eyes dart to the grass nearby, where one of the Dunmer is still alive, abit barely. "Jeziasi, kill him, feast on him my mate. You like Dunmer."
Jeziasi turns toward the Dunmer and with one leap she's on top of him, her jaws snapping across his throat, silencing him. Then she buries her jaws into his flesh, feeding the wolf and pretending to be under thrall, as she was in Shadowfen. One day, her jaws would snap across his throat.
Viperish Night's eyes fill with anger and he stalks toward Swims-in-Silence. Necromantic energy flows down him and across the ground and the dead turn toward Swims-in-Silence with a bone-rattling hiss. "She is mine, Egg-father. You have no right to her. NONE." Viperish Night snarls.
"I wanted you strong, my son, but this level of defiance? I will not have it." Swims-in-Silence hisses. Swims-in-Silence's eyes glow and Viperish Night throws his head back and howls. "Kneel," Swims-in-Silence commands. "Submit."
Viperish Night tries to fight the agony coursing through his veins, but soon his Egg-father's voice is all he can hear and he's forced to his knees. Viperish Night digs his claws into the dirt as his head drops. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Zirasha and Tyranius start to move and he hisses at them, and they freeze.
Swims-in-Silence moves closer to Viperish Night and runs his claws down his face. "Do you think I would make a spawn I could not control? I would rather you keep doing what your doing, but do not think you can defy me as well," Swims-in-Silence says, his claws tracing over Viperish Night's scales. Viperish Night's eyes move up to Swims-in-Silence, filled with utter fury and rage. Swims-in-Silence smiles at it. "Tell me one thing. Would you relinquish this strength?" Swims-in-Silence asks.
Viperish Night's eyes widen slightly and then he drops his head. "No...Egg-father." Viperish Night whispers. "I need it. I need it to stop the screaming, stop this mad living world."
Swims-in-Silence laughs. "That is what I thought. You will have even more if you submit then if you fight me. Remember that." Swims-in-Silence turns and a portal opens, he crosses it and is gone.
Viperish Night hisses angrily as he staggers up and opens a portal back to their home, stalking through it. Jeziasi follows him, with Zirasha and Tyranius right behind her.

-Skyrim Tomb-
Once they return Viperish Night moves to the throne and stands there looking at it and soft pad steps follow him as Jeziasi moves to his side and after long moments he turns to her and kneels, wrapping his arms around Jeziasi's furry form, shaking.
Tyranius lays a hand on Zirasha's shoulder. "Let's let them be," Tyranius says softly, and Zirasha nods and follows Tyranius out of the throne room.
Zirasha walks silently behind him until he gets to his room and he pauses at the entrance and glances back at her. Tyranius shrugs and enters, sitting on the bed. Zirasha comes in slowly and looks around briefly before leaning against the wall. Her crimson eyes lock onto Tyranius. "War is all you desire," Zirasha softly states.
Tyranius shrugs again and lies back, arms crossed under his head. "It makes me feel alive. Nothing makes me happier than bloody conflict, bodies dropping at my feet."
Zirasha laughs a little then winces. Her throat still tender from trying to drink Iveryni's blood. "Being free of fear...having others behold me and fear me instead...that's what makes me feel alive and not so broken." Zirasha falls silent, her thoughts turning to Viperish Night. "Viperish Night... do you think he feels joy in all this?" Zirasha frowns. "At times it seems so, but..." she trails off. During the battles, the times he's laughed, delighted in the carnage. And then after, quiet and brooding as if the bloody work starts to claw at him.
"He's a tortured soul," Tyranius says. "Tormented by demons real and imagined. Such men can bring the world to utter ruin with their madness." Tyranius glances at Zirasha. "You know as well as I do he's mad. That following him will likely destroy us all.
Zirasha hisses and crosses her arms across her chest. "I know my reason, but why?" she asks him.
"He brings the most bloodthirsty war I could ever want, girl. Good way to go out, if those brats ever get it together." Tyranius says with a laugh.
"...I don't want it to end, Tyranius." Zirasha whispers. "I do not want our pack to end." Zirasha bites her lip and looks away so Tyranius cannot see the pain in her eyes.
"Girl," Tyranius says, "You know this can't have a happy ending for us. We'll leave in boxes, one way or the other."
"I know that!" Zirasha snaps. "I will never leave this pack. We fall together. I just wish there was another way now." Zirasha hisses angrily, more so at herself than anything else. "It is foolish thoughts, I know this."
Tyranius is quiet before speaking again. "Pup got an unfair roll of the dices. Fitting he makes the world suffer for it. Least he has us and his Egg-mother. He won't be alone." Zirasha's eyes move back to Tyranius and he sighs again. "That's never going to happen," he says, changing the subject as he sees into her eyes a truth.
"I know!" Zirasha snaps. "It is enough she's my friend." Zirasha hisses at Tyranius, "And you should not just know that! No one should know that but me!"
"In your eyes, girl," Tyranius says amused.
"Change the subject or I will bite you," Zirasha threatens.
Tyranius laughs. "You already bite me, girl, but very well. Wolfy...glad I don't have to put her on a leash anymore. Pup played that perfectly. Defiance and loyalty to his pack, but a trace of submission that was not forced in the end."
"Can Jeziasi and Viperish Night break Swims-in-Silence's hold?" Zirasha whispers. "I'm still not sure I can, even transformed. I will try though. I'll be ready to try."
"Hope so," Tyranius replies. "Can't even test it until we're ready. One-shot at that bastard. One-shot. We'll have to hope we're all ready when the moment strikes."
"I want to kill him," Zirasha hisses, "But all we can do is help Viperish Night and Jeziasi."
"Their kill, girl," Tyranius says. "Us two are just backup. Keep Swims-in-Silence's Daedra and anything else he throws at us at bay so Wolfy and Pup can snap their jaws around his neck."
What he does not say, they both know. Even if they can kill Swims-in-Silence it will not change their path. It will not change the ending.

Viperish Night stays kneeling by Jeziasi for a time, his arms wrapped around her blood matted furry coat, his claws buried in her fur, and his head resting against hers. "I hate him, Egg-mother," Viperish Night breaths into her coat. "He is the cause of it all, but even killing him won't stop the screaming in my head, the agony in my spine, will it?" Jeziasi whines softly, the pain evident in her voice. She feels him shake with so much anger and so much pain. If she could take it away, promise that it all will be better once Swims-in-Silence is dead she would, but she knows the truth that both of them do, all too clearly. It will not remove the corruption, the part of her son that is so very Daedric, so very much of him.
Viperish Night pulls back to look into her golden eyes. The eyes of a merciless predator, but also the eyes of a mother who will love him even when there is utterly nothing she can do to save him. "It is enough Egg-Mother," he tells her, "Enough to see the love in your eyes. I will swim back from the furthest depths to you, no matter how hard it is. Until...the end." Viperish Night closes his eyes. "I no longer know how to be anything else but this. Forgive me, Egg-mother. I drown in the river, the river drowns Nirn, the screaming commands me, the ice lures me."
Jeziasi knows. The corruption and madness that grips him, the torment that causes him to scream and lash out, the ice that offers him peace in submission, and all of it drives him further into utter madness. Only her presence and that of their pack keeps him at least in part here with them. Jeziasi whines again softly, words fail here for she can promise no happy ending, only death awaits them at the end of the river. She once more presses her forehead to his. All she can give him, all she can promise him now, is her unconditional love.
Viperish Night leans into her. "Let me sleep here tonight, Egg-mother, by your side." Viperish Night whispers into her fur. In response, Jeziasi stretches out and Viperish Night rests his head on her back and drifts into an uneasy sleep.

-Elden Root-

"Again, failed," Iveryni says tiredly sitting at the table in the meeting room of the mage guild. Her eyes snap to Theodyn, and they fill with anger. "Why, Theodyn? Why? We could have had him but once more..." Iveryni slams her fist on the table and rises. "I set fire to Summerset so we could win. So you and Rufico could kill Viperish Night. Why was this so hard to understand?" Iveryni sits back down, nearly falling. "Must I set fire to all of Nirn to save it?"
"I would prefer you not," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. She sits on the floor, a plate of bread uneaten before her. All she can do is stare at it and remember the screams of the dying and the feel of nature burning. Softly-Speckled-Crab closes her eyes and lowers her head.
Theodyn glares at Iveryni. "It is what my Prince wants!" Theodyn snaps.
"That cannot be true," Iveryni insists. "The undead is what Meridia hates. Jeziasi may have helped cause this, but she is not the one raising the undead army!"
Theodyn throws up his hands. "The Vestige caused all of this, so of course it is her Meridia hates the most!" Theodyn argues.
Softly-Speckled-Crab opens her eyes and looks up at Theodyn. "Jeziasi," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "Her name is Jeziasi. The Vestige is just a title. She is more than that. She is a person like us. Tormented and tortured and forced down the only path she can see, for her love for her son blinds her to any others." Softly-Speckled-Crab lowers her head. "If you had a son or a daughter and if you loved them, could you kill them, even to save all of Nirn? Jeziasi is not without much guilt, but she is not the monster your Prince makes her out to be."
In response, Theodyn just folds his arms over his chest. Rufico, who has been so silent this whole time, finally speaks. "Theodyn... we could have had Viperish Night. Why?" Rufico asks.
"You know the why of it!" Theodyn says angrily.
"No," Rufico says. "I mean why did you not follow us?"
"It's..." Theodyn starts to say and then trails off. Rufico rises and advances on him, a frightening look in his eyes. Theodyn starts backward and Rufico continues to advance on him until Theodyn's back hits the wall.
"No answer?" Rufico says. "Is that all we deserve from you? Silence and my Prince this, my Prince that? Did she brainwash you that much, Theodyn?" Rufico's eyes narrow as a murderous fury fills them.
"My Prince did not brainwash me," Theodyn snaps, though there is a trace of fear in his eyes as he stares into Rufico's eyes and sees murder in them. "I am as she wishes me to be, as I need to be."
"Damn it, Theodyn," Rufico snarls as he moves closer to Theodyn, invading his space.
"Back off, Rufico," Theodyn snarls, his hand drifting toward Dawnbreaker's hilt.
Rufico makes no move to back off and is silent for long moments as he stares into Theodyn's eyes. "Where is the Theodyn I knew?" Rufico breaths.
"As lost as you used to be," Theodyn says coldly.
"The Dark Brotherhood did not destroy who I was, Theodyn," Rufico says quietly. "They pared me down, cut away the mask, the hollow jokes I used to throw around to mask the pain. I became who I was underneath it all. You? All Meridia did was blind you to your truth, covering you with a mask of righteous hate. This is not you, this is Meridia at her darkest."
"Shut up!" Theodyn shouts. "You don't know anything! You never did, Rufico." His fingers curl tighter around Dawnbreaker.
"Break the mask, Theodyn," Rufico says. "Break free of the light and be who you are at your core. Who the light revealed to you before Meridia corrupted it."
Theodyn starts to withdraw Dawnbreaker. "Back off Rufico, now." Theodyn orders.
Rufico smirks and his blade is in his hands in a heartbeat and Rufico moves as close as he can get to Theodyn, pressing the knife against Theodyn's throat. Theodyn freezes, Dawnbreaker falling back in its sheath undrawn. Rufico looks coldly at his friend. "If you are not with us..." Rufico breaths, leaving the threat hanging. Theodyn's eyes fill with more anger, but also a sliver of hurt. "There it is," Rufico says and leans in to whisper to Theodyn. "You're still in there, Theodyn."
Theodyn's eyes harden. "I will strike you down, Rufico." Rufico falls to silence, but his blade never leaves Theodyn's neck. "Back off now," Theodyn says again.
Rufico's knife presses against Theodyn's neck and a small drop of blood forms. "Will you make me then?" Rufico asks.
Theodyn's grip on Dawnbreaker tightens, his knuckles white upon it. "Damn it, Rufico," Theodyn says.
Again Rufico hears the anger, but also the hurt. Rufico smirks again and Theodyn starts to speak but Rufico interrupts him. "Silence," Rufico breaths and leans in closer his lips brushing against Theodyn's before moving in for the kill. Theodyn stiffens in shock and his hand falls from Dawnbreaker as he relaxes in Rufico's kiss, the tension slowly ebbing from him. Rufico breaks it off and stares into Theodyn's eyes, seeing the redness crossing his face. "Not destroyed. Come back to me, Theo," Rufico says before he lowers his knife and turns from Theodyn, walking out of the room.
Theodyn stays against the wall for long minutes, before he turns and walks out as well, not saying a word, a faint blush still across his face.
Softly-Speckled-Crab blinks and at last starts to eat a piece of bread. "That is one way to stop a fight," Softly-Speckled-Crab says.
Iveryni stares at her. "You do not seem that surprised."
Softly-Speckled-Crab munches on the bread. "I could see his pain when he returned and found Theodyn in the state he is in, Iveryni. He has loved Theodyn for some time." Softly-Speckled-Crab says.
"And Theodyn?" Iveryni asks. "He did not seem to...mind all that."
Softly-Speckled-Crab sighs softly. "Rufico is right. Theodyn's Prince blinded him. He needs to open his eyes, or we may all be lost." Softly-Speckled-Crab rises and turns to Iveryni. "I know your truth as well, Iveryni."
Iveryni tiredly rises. "Will you tell the others?"
"Do you wish them to know?" Softly-Speckled-Crab asks.
Iveryni shakes her head no as she heads to the door. "They will know at the end of this, Softly-Speckled-Crab. For now, let me keep my secrets. It does not affect our war against Viperish Night." With those last words, she too walks out.
Softly-Speckled-Crab watches her walk out and then turns back to the bread, though fails to take another piece. They lost, once more. The truth of it was that soon Viperish Night would unleash the dead upon Tamriel enmass, and the whole of Tamriel would be at war with the massive army. The only path to victory was them was to get to Viperish Night and kill him. If he had been alone...but he had a pack with bonds stronger than they currently had. It was enough to turn the tide, each and every time. Softly-Speckled-Crab closes her eyes and sinks her mind into the great Elden Root tree, trying to settle her thoughts and emotions within the living green.

Theodyn paces in his room and Darien watches, having recovered enough strength to come out of Dawnbreaker. He leans against the wall. "Why?" Theodyn snaps.
Darien stares at him. Even when in Dawnbreaker, he could see what happened outside of it. And he had seen just what Theodyn's friend had done. "You did not just ask that. You did not." Darien says. When Theodyn turns to stare at him, Darien rolls his eyes. "There is being naive, and being stupid, Theodyn. I'm going back into Dawnbreaker. Because you did not just ask that!" Darien throws up his hand and vanishes.
Theodyn shakes Dawnbreaker a few times before putting it on the bed and laying next to it, his eyes on the ceiling before he closes them to try and sleep. Try and forget about tonight. Though...he cannot seem to forget the feel of Rufico's lips upon his, and how the hate that filled him seemed to lift for a few short moments.