-16 Undeniable Truth-

-The Cave-
Mannimarco's hands are bound to the cave wall and he's stripped of his robe and shirt. Crackles of energy shimmer all around him, causing intense agonizing pain. Swims-in-Silence stands before him, eyes narrowed. With one motion of his claw, the energy stills briefly and Mannimarco's head falls. "You will speak of your machinations, Mannimarco," Swims-in-Silence hisses.
Mannimarco slowly raises his head. "I...have none. Do you think I am that foolish twice?"
Swims-in-Silence hisses in anger and the energy flares once more causing Mannimarco to scream in agony for long moments before it stills again. "I would be a fool if I believed you," Swims-in-Silence says as he starts to stalk in front of Mannimarco, icy eyes never leaving his. "I always knew my son and mate wanted to kill me, but how far did it go?" Swims-in-Silence asks and then a ghastly grin crosses his face. "The look on Viperish Night's face when I spoke to him last. He has more than just a desire to kill me. He has a plan, or is it Jeziasi who does?" Swims-in-Silence stops and moves closer to Mannimarco, claws moving to touch his face. "He loves her. A weakness not yet drowned or destroyed. All you did to him, all I did, and yet that one weakness remains."
Mannimarco focuses a murderous glare at Swims-in-Silence. "You'll use it against him, naturally."
"Truth mixed with deception. She is the cause of his life magic fighting, screaming against the horrors he has done, the reason his mortal side yet clings to life. But if he could stop, it would cease causing him pain." Swims-in-Silence says.
Mannimarco's eyes widen slightly. "Life and death could coexist. If Viperish Night could maintain a balance... but the Daedric..." Mannimarco trails off as he realizes what Swims-in-Silence has done.
"It took you this long to see this, Mannimarco? You helped me every step of the way, and yet you did not see." Swims-in-Silence says with a laugh. "Life and Death magic would have been enough. Stalks-in-Darkness never used the innate magic that came from his tribe. But I made sure my essence was in the mix. Enough to ensure this was the result."
"You are...mad," Mannimarco says. "Again, you went to unnecessary lengths. You wanted to hurt her. Not enough to do what you did in Shadowfen to her, not enough to hide her son from her, not enough to corrupt him...you had to make sure there was no way she could ever save him. No way he could ever escape the fate you wanted for him."
"She bested me. She stopped my plans," Swims-in-Silence hisses. "For a time, I respected that. A mortal being strong enough to stop my plans, strong enough to defeat me in my realm." Swims-in-Silence falls silent and slowly tilts his head. "I refused to give up the souls of Nirn, so this was my next plan."
"A plan that did not have to involve her," Mannimarco says. "But once you forced part of yourself into mortal form..." Mannimarco barks out a weak laugh. "Oh, how far have you fallen. All this...seeing a Daedric Prince reduced to petty revenge is worth it."
Swims-in-Silence hisses and snaps his hand around Mannimarco's neck, the claws sinking into the side, blood welling and dripping down his neck. "You will silence," Swims-in-Silence hisses. "And if you think it just for revenge, you are mistaken."
Mannimarco's eyes lock onto Swims-in-Silence's, daring to stare into the unfathomable depths where ice and madness dance. "She made you submit. The Prince of Domination, falling at a mortal's feet. Of course, it is more than that."
Swims-in-Silence's grip tightens and Mannimarco hisses in pain. "She submitted to me in Shadowfen. In so very many ways." Swims-in-Silence hisses.
"Yet you had to bind her to keep her on her knees," Mannimarco spits. "You had to wait until she was blinded to trick her, then you had to leash her before she saw the truth."
Swims-in-Silence snarls and the energy spikes. Mannimarco throws his head back and screams for long minutes before Swims-in-Silence stills the energy and steps back. "I will take Viperish Night, and she will follow him. She will submit to me fully." Swims-in-Silence hisses.
"For him..." Mannimarco weakly says. "Not for you. Never for you."
Once more the energy surges, once more Mannimarco's screams fill the cave. Once they fade, Swims-in-Silence stands before Mannimarco. "You will tell me what I want to know. Their plans, if Jeziasi is truly still leashed."
"Why...would I ever do that?" Mannimarco says. "You will never let me go. If you said you would...never believe you. I am but a toy you can dangle in front of my former student."
"You will submit, eventually," Swims-in-Silence says, and the energy courses again, and screams fill the cave once more.

-Elden Root-
Sleep clings to Theodyn, and he finds it hard to rise. To stay here besides Rufico is so very tempting. To give in to the sleep and fall back into it. But the sound of a door opening and footsteps approaching the bed slowly starts to chase sleep away as a familiar voice pierces through the comforting fog.
"Wake up, both of you. It as if we do not have a war to fight." Iveryni says.
Iveryni. It dawns on Theodyn and he bolts right up in bed and grabs the sheets, turning a brilliant shade of red. "Iveryni!" Theodyn manages to spit out.
Iveryni's eyebrow raises. "Nothing I have not already seen," Iveryni says and then gives her words careful consideration. "Well, first time seeing a Breton or Imperial like this."
Rufico stretches out in bed, the sheets falling to his hips. "Get a good look. No one's touching all of this but Theo," Rufico says with a laugh as Theodyn turns even redder. "A few more moments, Iveryni," Rufico says.
Iveryni frowns and then turns toward the door. "Be ready and in the meeting room after those moments." Iveryni scolds them as she walks out the door, and her light laughter is heard for a few moments.
Theodyn stares after Iveryni. "She did that on purpose!" Theodyn says.
"End of the world, Theo. Take what happiness you can get." Rufico responds.
"...Rufico?" At Rufico's questioning look Theodyn moves his eyes from the door to Rufico. "She did say a few moments right?"
"I think I'm making you a scoundrel," Rufico teases as he pulls Theodyn down and the sheets fly as they take their moments.

Iveryni walks into the meeting room and Softly-Speckled-Crab tilts her head at the small smirk on Iveryni's face. "A strange happy smile," Softly-Speckled-Crab remarks as she munches on a piece of bread slathered with sweet butter.
Iveryni sits at the table, hands folded. "One must find amusement when one can," Iveryni responds.
A short time later Theodyn and Rufico enter the room, Theodyn avoiding Iveryni's amused gaze as he sits down at the table. Rufico stands behind Theodyn's chair, arms resting on it. Softly-Speckled-Crab passes out bread to all who will take it and as Theodyn munches on it his eyes move to Rufico. "Don't drop any in my hair," Theodyn says.
"But if I did, we would be so so messy," Rufico says. "We would need another bath."
Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes seem to smile as she gazes at the two, then she eats the final bite of bread, and all smiles fade at her words. "The orbs no longer function. Razum-dar told me today." Softly-Speckled-Crab says softly and all eyes turn to her. "They will never function again."
"How is that possible?" Theodyn asks.
"Daedric magic," Iveryni says. "Molag Bal would be my guess."
Theodyn growls softly at the mention of the Daedric Prince, and Rufico puts one hand on Theodyn's shoulder. Theodyn turns to look at him with eyes on the verge of being lost. "Are they working for that monster?" Theodyn asks. "P... Meridia told me they must be, but tell me truth, Rufico. I trust you, not her. Never her again."
"Theo," Rufico breaths, and Theodyn reaches up and puts his hand on Rufico's, the lost look in his eyes slowly fading. Rufico nods and then glances at Softly-Speckled-Crab, the one who seems to understand Viperish Night best out of all of them. "Are they?"
"He hates his Egg-father to the depths of his soul," Softly-Speckled-Crab says firmly. "But... if Viperish Night destroys his mortal side then what becomes of his emotions, who he is now?"
"Hate may vanish," Iveryni says grimly.
"That would be bad for everyone," Rufico says. "If they remain at odds with the Prince of Domination..."
"We stand more of a chance," Theodyn says.
Iveryni places both palms on her table. "Moving on, Theodyn..." she trails off and then continues. "I do not wish to ask this of you, but can you contact your Prince?"
"I do not want to," Theodyn snarls, his eyes darkening.
"Well, Sheogorath was blocking her," A voice proclaims and Softly-Speckled-Crab starts, her eyes blinking rapidly. Iveryni stands up, her hands going for her staff as the transparent form of Darien suddenly appears by Theodyn's chair.
Rufico crosses his arms across his chest. "So it was you I sensed in Theo's room," Rufico says. "Just who are you?"
"Darien. He was Meridia's previous champion. He's stuck in Dawnbreaker." Theodyn answers. "Uh...I forgot to mention him."
"Yes, you did!" Darien says. "But you had other things on your mind." Darien's eyes move to Rufico and he grins. Rufico smirks as Theodyn starts turning red.
"Never get tired of that, Theo," Rufico says.
"Rufico!" Theodyn says and only Iveryni's cough brings things back into focus.
"Summerset, you fought with Jeziasi," Iveryni says and Darien's smile fades and he nods.
"I..." Darien says and gives a helpless shrug, the sorrow clear in his eyes. "My friend's in a lot of trouble. I know what all of you have to do. I just...wanted to talk to her one last time. And knock some sense into Theodyn." Darien smiles faintly. "I talked to her one last time. As for the second... Well, Rufico was better for that than me." Darien's form slowly starts to fade and he looks surprised for a second before shaking his head. "I'm going to try to stay until the end, but manifesting takes more and more energy each time." Darien's eyes move throughout the group of heroes. "They cannot speak to you anymore. I'm not sure why. It is not because of Molag Bal. Someone else." Darien says before he vanishes back into Dawnbreaker.
The room is silent for a few long moments before Iveryni speaks. "Well, that clears that up. We are on our own now. It..." Iveryni's eyes move to Theodyn, "may be for the best," she says.
"It is past time to go," Softly-Speckled-Crab says softly as she stands. "Iveryni?"
Theodyn looks back at Rufico and Iveryni shakes her head. "I know what that look means. Razum-dar has given me who needs the most help today. A scourge of undead griffins are in Summerset, and they are far too near to Alinor. Lilmoth is also in danger of being overrun, by the undead creatures of the swamp and more in Murkmire. Mammoth and Giant skeletons march on Riften, and a horde of undead spriggons in the outer reaches of Grahtwood." Iveryni tells them, a dark expression on her face. They are needed everywhere.
Rufico's face darkens as well. "Splitting up to that extent is dangerous, Iveryni," Rufico says.
"And yet, it is necessary," Iveryni says. "If the undead manages to take an entire city, their numbers will only grow and it will strike a demoralizing blow to all of Tamriel. Forces are at our command in each location." Iveryni looks to each of her friends in turn and the hard look in her eyes softens slightly. "Be careful. If Viperish Night and his pack show up, kill them if you can. If you cannot...run. It may take all four of us to finish this, we have to hope we are given a chance with all of us at some point in this war."
Rufico fingers one of his daggers. "It seems as if we are at every disadvantage, but keep in mind the fact Viperish Night shows up in the battles is also a weakness. He does not need to place himself in harm's way for this war."
"Then why is he? Why risk it, if he truly wants to kill everyone?" Theodyn asks.
"It calms him," Softly-Speckled-Crab says, and Theodyn's eyes turn to hers. "It is part of the reason," Softly-Speckled-Crab lowers her head slightly and slowly continues. "Perhaps...part of him wants it to end, but he cannot end it on his own. He is in so much pain and on the brink of destroying part of who he is. To destroy an essential part of oneself... it is beyond imagining."
Theodyn slowly stands. "The Vestige..." Theodyn slowly starts trying to put thoughts into words. "If Viperish Night destroys part of himself, will she do anything differently? Will it change her mind?"
"No," Rufico says and at the quick answer, Theodyn turns to him. "It is not her mind, but her heart she follows. Love, Theo."
Understanding dawns on Theodyn's face as he, at last, can see Jeziasi's truth. Truth Meridia blinded him to for so long. "She'll destroy herself for him, follow him into Coldharber for him." Theodyn breaths. Theodyn nearly stumbles, but Rufico grasps his arm. "I understand. Meridia would think she did this for other reasons, but that is why. It...is not a reason to hate her for."
Rufico smiles at Theodyn. Another step out of the light, further from Meridia. "Good, Theo," Rufico says and Theodyn looks at him, returning the smile before they focus back on the group.
"Love can save or destroy," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "All our fates may come to hang on that one simple thing."
"I rather end this with a blade to his heart, Softly-Speckled-Crab," Rufico says. "It may have been Molag Bal who started all this, but the end result is the same. All of them must be stopped. All of their souls must face the void."
Iveryni turns slightly, a strange expression on her face. "It seems to come down to that. Destruction, to save the dawn." Iveryni says and at everyone's puzzled glances she shakes her head. "It is time to go."

-Skyrim Tomb-
Viperish Night stalks the throne room as he waits for his pack. He wanted nothing more at this moment than to go, to let the dead wash over him as he silenced the living. Silenced the thoughts and lies in his head. Viperish Night hisses. They had to be lies, they had to be. Viperish Night pauses and his head turns as Tyranius enters the throne room.
Tyranius looks at Viperish Night and leans against the wall. "Agitated more than usual, pup?" Tyranius asks as he crosses his arms.
Viperish Night stares at Tyranius before he turns and stalks to him. "How do you sort truths from lies?" Viperish Night demands. Tyranius always seems to know the most impossible things, just from watching their eyes.
"Damn it pup, they call him the God of Schemes for a reason. He deceives." Tyranius says. "Best not let him in your head."
Viperish Night has tried. Tried to tear the words his Egg-father hissed at him from his head. His claws are bloody from tearing at the walls when sleep utterly failed. "So all he says is lies?" Viperish Night asks. At Tyranius's look, Viperish Night hisses. "That is what I thought." Viperish Night turns his back and heads to the throne, standing before it.
"Truth mixed with lies, pup," Tyranius says. "It is all aimed at deception, to get one too...submit."
The black ebony throne seems to swim before Viperish Night's eyes. "You submitted once," Viperish Night tells Tyranius.
"He picked me out of the crowd. I refused to kneel, he made it hurt...and at the same time showed me the power he offered," Tyranius admits.
Viperish Night turns his head to regard Tyranius. So very strong-willed, yet he kneeled to Viperish Night and did the same for Molag Bal before him. Viperish Night tilts his head, a flash of curiosity crossing his troubled face.
"It was submission or death, pup." Tyranius continues. "Molag Bal was never going to take no for an answer from me. Did what was best for me at the time."
Viperish Night looks away. "Power or death." Viperish Night says softly. It is not in reference to Tyranius's choice, but what he wants. Of course, Tyranius knows what he means.
"Like killing, pup. Love war. Way I must have been made." Tyranius shrugs. Viperish Night is silent and Tyranius cautiously speaks again, "Pup... submission is not what's best for you. Not that I'll ever order you around, tell you what to do. I follow you lead. For me, same as it is for your Egg-Mother, for Zirasha as well. We'll follow you into Oblivion if that's what you want us to."
Viperish Night turns and looks at Tyranius again. Once he swore never to trust another again, not after being betrayed time and time again, even by one he thought was a friend. Viperish Night blinks a few times, it has been a long time since that one crossed his mind. He shoves it aside and focuses fully on Tyranius. "I..." Viperish Night trails off and flinches. For a moment focusing on Tyranius kept the screams at bay, but they seek to cloud his thoughts.
"Decide later," Tyranius says and moves from the wall. "Zirasha and Jeziasi are coming. Let's go kill a bunch of these fools." In response, Viperish Night just turns and opens a portal as Jeziasi and Zirasha enter the room.
"Going right now?" Zirasha asks in surprise, though a small smile quickly crosses her lips, showing her razor-sharp fangs.
Jeziasi looks at Viperish Night in worry, all too well remembering last night. Her gaze turns to Tyranius who gives her a small shake of his head. Let whatever this is go...for now. Jeziasi's eyes move back to Viperish Night and she follows him without a word into the portal followed by the others.

-Murkmire, north of Lilmoth-
The warm humid air and drown of night insects, the smell of the marsh. Jeziasi looks around and then moves to Viperish Night who is standing so still even as skeleton Wamasu and other skeletons come from all directions, drawn to their master. Tyranius glances around and swats at an insect. "So this is the edge of Black Marsh...too many damn bugs," Tyranius remarks.
"Murkmire," Viperish Night hisses in a low voice almost drowned out by the night marsh noises.
Jeziasi stills, remembering what her son told her. Here, was where Mannimarco betrayed him, sold him out to the Dunmer slavers. Jeziasi's fists clench. What she would not give to have that mer standing here before her in the flesh. Viperish Night glances at her, the same desire in his half-crazed eyes. Being here unsettled him, and yet it was here that he had decided to bring them. Jeziasi frowns slightly as she puzzles on this, her eyes looking deep into Viperish Night's, but he gives her no clue as to the why of it.
The question in her eyes, why? Because memories haunted him on this night, and he was fighting with the madness to get a clear view as to why. But all he tells her is "Let us hunt, Egg-mother. I need to drown out thoughts and memories."
Jeziasi starts to speak, then stops and just nods. And then the time for words is utterly past as a great roar comes from all around them as Argonian's surge from all around. Some with dark scale colors and chameleon-like heads and others with bright patches on their scales and feathery headdresses. Viperish Night's eyes glow with necromantic power as the skeletons surge around them and more rise from the swamp. "The tribes of Murkmire," Viperish Night says. "Dead-water and Bright-throat. Kill them all."
The wolf takes Jeziasi then as fur replaces flesh and she gives a howl as she charges at the closest Argonians. Viperish Night watches her plow into them, then heads toward her, swords already in hand. This night he intends to do the same and a group of Wamasu follows him to protect him. Zirasha glances all around and decides to take on a group of Bright-throats, laughing as she mists and reforms in the middle of a group. Tyranius charges after a group of Dead-waters, his scythe flashing as they dive all around him and strike back with incredible fury and speed.

On the edges of battle, Iveryni watches the chaos. Viperish Night is in the midst of it, surrounded by many skeleton Wamasu, who no doubt will withstand her flames as the Minotaurs withstood it. How was he doing it? Iveryni glances at her side, where one of the Dead-Water tribe waits beside her. "Take word to your tribe Xemclesh," Iveryni says. "I need one of them divided from the rest."
Xemclesh's eyes move across the battle. "Only one?" Xemclesh replies. "The necromancer?" Xemclesh gives a hissing rattle. "I hiss at him for causing this."
"No..." Iveryni says. "Every attempt at that has failed. He protects himself, he transforms, his pack spring to his side."
"They protect each other," Xemclesh says.
"Yes," Iveryni agrees, "So any attempt to divide them will have a very short window. I intend to do my best to end one of them on this night. Viperish Night is stronger with his pack." Iveryni falls silent and then speaks again. "...The werewolf. Cause a distraction, divide her from the rest, and I will take her on."
"Even now more of our brethren wait in the deep holes," Xemclesh says. "I will give the order and they will spring up and distract the battle. Our Bright-throat neighbors will drive the wolf over there." Xemclesh points to a small grove of swamp trees. "We will keep the rest distracted as long as we can."
Iveryni's eyes glow with crimson fire. "The fire will keep them back, at least for a while. It will aid in that." Xemclesh nods and leaps into the fray to give the orders and Iveryni moves to the trees to wait.

Argonian's fall left and right. Jeziasi huffs and looks around for the next. All of a sudden even more Argonians start to leap from the deep holes sprinkled throughout the marsh and the battle suddenly is filled with twice as many of them as it was before. A flash of color has Jeziasi's head turning as her wolf eyes take in one of the Bright-throats tribe, sneaking through the marsh. Jeziasi growls softly if they think to take any of them by surprise. Jeziasi starts to stalk the Bright-throat and leaps upon them, they leap back and dash for a group of trees and Jeziasi follows. As soon as she is certain of her footing she leaps and falls upon the Argonian, her fangs snapping down on their neck, ending it. Jeziasi turns back to the battle just as a wall of fire streaks across the water cutting off her path.
"It is too high to jump over, and I made sure you could not jump through it. Unless you want to be nothing but ashes." Jeziasi turns and snarls, her golden eyes lock onto Iveryni's crimson ones. "I am alone," Iveryni says. "Your son has forced us to divide this night."
"Why...tell me that?" Jeziasi growls, searching for a lie and finding none.
"I will end you this night, Jeziasi," Iveryni says. "I want your full attention." At Jeziasi's confused look Iveryni grips her staff in hand, her tattoos glowing brighter. "You saved the world more than once, Vestige. I will honor you in what way I can, but I cannot let you continue to destroy the world you once protected."
She wants a fair fight. Jeziasi blinks a few times before dropping to all fours, her fur bristling on her back. "End me, if you think I can." Jeziasi growls.
Iveryni's tattoos flare and flames gather all around her and with one motion of her staff Iveryni directs it at Jeziasi.
Jeziasi howls and throws herself to the side and she quickly turns and springs upon Iveryni, sending both crashing down in the water, tumbling in the water as speaks of fire rain down upon them. Jeziasi snaps at Iveryni but refrains from biting, remembering Zirasha's scream of agony when she tried to feast on the Dunmer's blood. Iveryni takes advantage of Jeziasi's hesitation and wraps her hands around Jeziasi's scruff and it starts burning through fur and Jeziasi springs back in pain, her feet skidding in the shallow waters. Slowly Jeziasi starts to stalk around Iveryni. Iveryni's fire is unnatural... even the damp marsh trees burn under her flames. It as if fire runs through Iveryni's veins instead of crimson blood. Jeziasi growls softly, already her paws are burned from the strikes she made at the mage and from the water that's approaching boiling from the intense heat all around them. This is not a fight for the wolf Jeziasi decides and shifts back, her hands already reaching for her daggers as she faces Iveryni.
Iveryni slowly puts her staff on her back and withdraws her twin axes. her crimson gaze follows Jeziasi. "I would give you one last chance to stand down, but you will not and it is far too late for that. You know that." Iveryni says. Not a question.
Jeziasi just growls softly in response as her body tenses, her eyes searching for an opening, any weakness to spring upon. A slight misstep by Iveryni in the uneven marshy ground has Jeziasi springing toward her, her blades slicing through armor and flesh. With a quick jerk, Jeziasi springs back before Iveryni's simmering blood can splash on her. Iveryni's eyes narrow and she is next to spring and Jeziasi meets her lunge, daggers clashing on axes each taking any chance they can get to draw blood, though no opening for a fatal blow presents itself as the two continue their vicious dance.
Iveryni's ax sinks into Jeziasi's shoulder and Jeziasi growls and slams forward, sending Iveryni stumbling. Jeziasi viciously strikes at her, her dagger slicing deep into Iveryni's side. Jeziasi springs back after the strike and throws the dagger into the water where it sizzles, a half-melted pile of ruin. Jeziasi's eyes find Iveryni's. "What did you let Dagon do to you?" Jeziasi breaths as her eyes search Iveryni. Is she even mortal anymore?
Iveryni's hand moves to her side and her eyes glow even brighter with sudden and barely surpassed rage as she uses fire to cauterize the wound. "Did to me?" Iveryni snaps. "It is what your son did to me that caused this to be the only way I could come back!" The runes flare with golden light and Iveryni's skin starts to faintly glow.
The anger and fury in Iveryni's voice have Jeziasi starting back. Jeziasi swallows, memories of Craglorn surfacing. Seeing Iveryni fall with such horrific injuries, not the first one her son had hurt, not the last. Multitudes. The world seems to swim before Jeziasi's eyes before she shoves the memories to the side and she softly growls. There is no words for what Iveryni has said, for it is truth.
"You know what your doing is wrong," Iveryni says. "All for love? Love would be putting him out of his misery!"
Fury builds in Jeziasi and the growl intensifies, her crystal eyes moving closer to the gold of the wolf. "You talk like a damn Daedra," Jeziasi snarls.
It's Iveryni's turn to flinch back. Not the first time someone has told her that. Iveryni swallows. Her soul is as it always was, a mortals soul...for now. The rest of her? Complicated, so very complicated and it had tied her to Dagon more than she would ever admit to anyone. She pushes the thought to the side. "You are mad," Iveryni says. "Mad for allowing this, mad for following him. The world saw you as a hero, Jeziasi. Now? Do you even care about the horrors you are helping him drown the world in?"
"I never wanted to be seen as a hero," Jeziasi says. A glimmer of loss passes through her eyes. "And more than you know. I know I will drown for this, but he is my son. My pack is my family." Jeziasi hesitates, then speaks again. "If I could save him from this fate, I would. If I could stop him without killing him, without betraying him."
Iveryni's eyes turn utterly dark and cold as she stares at Jeziasi. "Excuses. Damn you all to Oblivion then. All he has done and you...death is the only way this ends." At the last word, Iveryni's staff is once more in her hands and she starts to glow with the unforgiving light of the dawn and fire as a firestorm erupts from her staff, from Iveryni herself and engulfs the area, heading toward Jeziasi to devour her utterly.
Jeziasi's eyes widen and she turns and dashes through the marsh, the firestorm faster than she can run, and soon it will engulf and destroy her. At the last moment, a deep hole catches Jeziasi's eyes and she flings herself into it as the firestorm roars overhead. Jeziasi dives deep to avoid the scalding heat and Iveryni's voice is carried to her, even underwater. "You are not an Arognian, Jeziasi. You will need to surface to breath and when you do my flames will end your existence."

More and more Argonian's surge from the marsh, even as the fallen ones rise on Viperish Night's side. Zirasha fed till bursting, then transformed and she is tossing Argonian's to either side, claws rending fatal wounds upon them. Tyranius's scythe is a flash of icy silver, even as his ice blades also swirl around him in a deadly shield. Viperish Night's Wamasu protects him as long as they can until they are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and upon seeing the last fall Viperish Night embraces the river and transforms into the bone colosses form to deal with the plague of Argonian's. Flame starts to spread among the marsh trees and even the water itself, lightning up the battlefield in Daedric fire.
A pause in the midst of battle has Viperish Night looking around wildly as he notices the flames grow, they mean that one who hunts them is HERE. Viperish Night's eyes fall on Zirasha who towers above the Argonian's making her easy to see, Tyranius's ice blades provide bright flashes of blue that catch his attention next, but there is no trace of his Egg-mother. "Find her!" Viperish Night hisses and Argonian skeletons break through the Bright-throat and Dead-water lines to seek out Jeziasi.
"You could let her die," The icy voice of his Egg-father hisses, and Viperish Night spins around, though where his Egg-father's voice is coming from is unclear, so easily does he melt into the shadows of the night marsh even bathed in flames. "I'm sure I could call her soul before Hircine ever got ahold of it. She was reborn in Coldharbour, after all during the Plane-meld and we are bound. You could finish your war in peace...and then I would return her to you."
"Silence!" Viperish Night howls and the Daedric energy pulses off of him in violent waves shredding any Argonian too close. His head turns toward a grove of trees as one of the skeletons he sent suddenly is lost in flames. There. Viperish Night plows through any who block him and surges through a fire barrier that threatens to end him. Only sheer force of will and the power he holds forces him through to emerge nearly unharmed on the other side. Viperish Night's eyes glow as he takes in the scene. A firestorm pulses, one he can hardly withstand. Iveryni hoving in midair with Daedric runes covering her face and body pulsing bright red. Her skin seems nearly translucent, revealing the fire that flows through her. Her eyes are merciless cold as she stares at a deep hole.
Iveryni's head turns toward Viperish Night, her eyes glowing white-hot, the pupils lost in the searing heat. "You could let this end tonight," Iveryni says, her voice echoing strangely. "Your pain would end. This would all end. Some part of you must want that."
Viperish Night hisses and surges forward, so very fast even in this form. His hand shoots out and Iveryni turns but not fast enough and it slams into her sending her flying through the flames to land with a splash in the water and the flames slowly die. Viperish Night dives toward the deep hole and his hand reaches in. Only when he feels a weak grip upon it does he lift it out of the hole to place his Egg-mother gently on the ground. Viperish Night turns toward Iveryni as she struggles to get up and his murderous eyes flare blue. He roars in utter rage and a burst of Daedric energy streaks toward her. Iveryni turns and opens a portal, diving through it before the Daedric energy can hit her, the sound of Viperish Night's fury following her.
With the flames silent, the sounds of battle have also vanished, as well as the living that fought them. Viperish Night transforms back and kneels at his Egg-mother's side as she breaths in the air and starts to stir and recover from being nearly drowned. "You cannot bring me pain. You cannot cause the screaming," Viperish Night whispers.
Viperish Night's whisper as Jeziasi slowly opens her eyes. What did he say? She slowly rises and Viperish Night presses his forehead against hers and she leans into him. "Your alright?" Jeziasi whispers.
"You ask me that..." Viperish Night hisses as he stands, helping Jeziasi up. "I will end that fire witch, Egg-mother. I will tear her apart for this."
Jeziasi stares into Viperish Night's eyes. The ice, he must have transformed. But he thawed faster this time. "Us or them," Jeziasi whispers. "They will never stop until they are dead or we are."
Viperish Night looks at her and turns. "Let us end Lilmoth, Egg-mother. The ones who tried to stop us are dead or have run."
"Not much need of that, pup," Tyranius says as he walks up to them, followed by Zirasha who also has transformed back. At Viperish Night's glare, Tyranius shrugs. "Evacuated why we fought. Distraction to save the town."
"They died to protect the town," Zirasha says. Her eyes move to Jeziasi's, anger, pain, and something else swimming in them. "I should have noticed sooner. There were so many..." Zirasha trails off as if she wants to say more than hisses and looks away from Jeziasi.
"We caught on to them dividing us," Tyranius says. "Guess the fire witch figured if only one of us was divided it might work. Almost did, wolfy."
Jeziasi glances at Zirasha for a few moments before she looks back at the deep hole and pushes wet hair out of her face, thinking of Iveryni's words. "She came back from the Deadlands as something other than mortal," Jeziasi says. "Something made of fire instead of flesh and blood."
Viperish Night's memories take him back to a time in Rivenspire, before he started to hunt the vampires. Of seeing another plane of Oblivion briefly, of the creatures that dwelled in it. "She...reminds me of a flame atronach." Viperish Night says and then he takes Jezasi's hand, the burns healing but still visible.
"You or me pup," Tyranius says. "Best chance of fighting her, next time. We'll know what to expect now."
Viperish Night turns and opens a portal. Zirasha moves through it, giving one last glance at Jeziasi, followed by Tyranius. Viperish Night starts to head toward it then turns his head toward Jeziasi. "Do not do that again," Viperish Night hisses. "Do not leave me," he turns his head and starts toward the portal.
The pain in his voice, and something else. Jeziasi moves with Viperish Night. "You never answered me, Viperish Night." Jeziasi whispers.
Viperish Night halts. "I need to make sense of thoughts that plague me, Egg-mother. I just needed the screams to quiet. I will take what remains of the night to do so," and with these words, he walks through the portal followed by Jeziasi.

-Elden Root-
Iveryni stands a distance away from the great tree in what remains of the night. Her skin still lightly glows, the runes that cover her face and body are still pulsing dimly. Iveryni's head moves slightly as Rufico walks up to her.
"You did not come back right," Rufico muses, as he leans against a tree, his eyes on her.
"Tactless as always," Iveryni says as she turns her head to regard him. Those eyes of his, that missed nothing. He acted so clueless before Craglorn, though some of it was just an act.
Rufico shrugs. "Never was very good with that. Not a skill assassins need."
Iveryni's eyes narrow at the question in Rufico's eyes. "It will not kill me. There is no need to worry about it," Iveryni says. "It does not pertain to our war. It just is."
Rufico crosses his arms. "Don't give me that. Sheogorath seems to want to stay away from you, Iveryni. Made reference to Red Mountain as it were." Rufico's eyes darken. "When a Daedric Prince expresses caution about your state of being, it is our concern." Rufico unfolds his arms and one hand drifts down to his side, gracing the dagger on his belt.
Iveryni turns her head away. "I can control it." Not enough, Rufico's silence tells her that much. Iveryni lowers her head. "Viperish Night killed me, Rufico. My blood was splashed on the peaks of Craglorn and the only reason my body remained unrotted and frozen at that moment was because of Daedric magic. Mehrunes Dagon's doing." Iveryni wraps her arms around herself, trying to will the glow away. Trying to will the tattooed runes away. "It is just a shell fueled with Daedric and elemental essence so my soul stays moored in physical form. So I can be what I need to be to help end this war."
Rufico is silent for long moments before he speaks. "I did not know, Iveyrni. None of us did. You hid it in your shadows." Rufico says.
"All of us have things we do not speak of, Rufico. Years of training while half a year passed on Nirn. Training no mortals are truly meant to endure." Iveryni says.
Rufico's thoughts turn to The Void. Sometimes...those memories woke him from sleep. Things that had happened there... "I understand. But we must be together in this, Iveryni." Rufico says. "Can you control it? Or are you one step from erupting?"
Iveryni laughs a little. "When did you get to be the responsible reasonable one, Rufico?"
Again, Rufico shrugs. "Practicality, Iveyrni. I can see the world in two shades now. Makes things simpler." Rufico's gaze sharpens. "Answer the question."
"I can control it," Iveryni says. "As long as keep my focus on the dawn, I will remain as thus. There is no going back for me, but this will never end this strange existence I find myself in now."
Rufico frowns at her word choices. "There are things you are not saying. That you cannot say." Rufico states. Iveryni just looks at him briefly before turning away. "No more poking, gotcha," Rufico says and turns back to the tree. "Come in soon, Iveryni. The others will be back soon. Theo will be back soon."
"You saved him," Iveryni says.
Rufico looks back at her. "He'll save me as well. I can live in the shadows, but after this war, they might decide to devour me. I think Theo can keep that from happening. Remind me there are colors beyond black and white." Rufico turns back and starts walking back to the great tree.
Iveryni stares at the night, willing the dawn to come, not yet turning to return to the great tree. She can control it. All her life she has been in control. But this power was akin to a wildfire, a force utterly uncontrollable. She had still kept control. But her anger... she had more anger at Viperish Night than she realized. Iveryni swallows slightly. The truth she did not mention to Rufico was her control kept her flames from hurting her allies. If she lost control for even a moment, her flames would destroy everything in their path, enemy and ally alike. Iveryni closes her eyes for a moment. She will not let that happen. At last, the glow fades and the runes darken and Iveryni turns to head back to the great tree.

-Skyrim Tomb-
Upon returning to the tomb Zirasha bursts into mist and vanishes and Tyranius looks after her and sighs. "Told you, girl," Tyranius says. "Love only causes pain." Tyranius glances back as Viperish Night and Jeziasi exit the portal. Viperish Night's eyes are an ebby of troubled thoughts and Jeziasi looks like a drowned dog. Still, victory was theirs. Tyranius smirks slightly. They kept coming out ahead. Until the day they did not. Tyranius turns and walks out of the throne room.
Viperish Night walks to the throne and then turns to look at Jeziasi. She looks at him and walks closer. "You need time," Jeziasi says. "Are you sure?"
Viperish Night moves to her and rests his forehead on hers, as he has done many many times. Taking in her warmth, her love. His eyes close and he stands there long moments before he moves away and sits on the throne. "Yes. You need rest." Viperish Night hisses and he looks up at her and repeats the words he uttered in Murkmire. "Do not do that again."
Jeziasi gazes into her son's eyes. How was she to promise such a thing? "I'll try," she finally whispers and walks to the doorway, turning once more to look at him before she heads to bed.

The throne room falls silent and Viperish Night leans back and closes his eyes. Already his thoughts were starting to cloud. The screams and the agony they brought at the edge of the river. The battle had calmed him, as it always did. But the why of it? Was it what he always assumed, that death brought blessed silence, or was the act of it drowning life, not without but within? Viperish Night hisses and lowers his head the world swimming before his eyes. It was just so hard to think. After battle the peace it brought always shattered, how was he to think with the screams, with the agony ever-present? Viperish Night's claws curl as his Egg-father's words echo through him. His Egg-fathers lies. His Egg-mother did not cause this, she calmed him! The mere presence of her let him breathe. Viperish Night slowly opens his eyes. Was that the why of it, or was it the life magic was what was calmed as well by her presence? It came from her, after all. Viperish Night throws his head back and nearly screams. Nearly. But if he does his Egg-mother may come back. He wants her too... but she confuses him now. Everything does. Viperish Night lowers his head and finally stands up, gripping his staff tightly. Necromantic energy flows down it and by his will a portal opens. Viperish Night raises his head to stare at it. He should not do this. It is a very bad idea. But...for a brief period of calm, of a small shard of sanity, just so he can clear his thoughts and dismiss the lies his Egg-father hissed at him. Viperish Night stalks toward the portal and it swallows him.

Jeziasi had moved to her room and changed out of her wet armor. Zirasha had not been there, and she thinks back at the expression in Zirasha's eyes. Just as angry as Viperish Night that she almost died. Did she... Jeziasi's eyes flicker and she sinks to her bedding and curls up. Sleep seemed to draw her and Jeziasi lets it, sinking into a deep sleep in moments.
Jeziasi opens her eyes and the glen opens up before her eyes. She looks around for her Prince but only silence awaits her. A rustle in the trees and Jeziasi turns to see Wyress Asteria step from the forest to move to her, sitting in the grass. "Champion of Hircine," Wyress Asteria says. "Prince Hircine will no longer speak to you. He cannot."
Jeziasi regards Wyress Asteria and her words. "You cannot tell me why, can you?" Jeziasi asks.
Wyress Asteria shakes her head silently and her eyes seem to shimmer with the light of the moons. "This is the last time you will return here, Jeziasi. The path before you nears its end, you who are a single drop in a river of darkness and despair." Wyress Asteria utters.
Jeziasi stills. The words are spoken by Wyress Asteria, but the message... Jeziasi has spoken to Azura, long ago. She knows these are Azura's words, given voice by Wyress Asteria. "Then... no more dreams, just..." Jeziasi trails off infinitely sadness passing through her eyes before they harden. "I should regret all of this, even... but it would mean regretting my son, and I do not. Even with all that has occurred and how it will end."
The moonlight fades from Wyress Asteria's eyes and she focuses back on Jeziasi blinking a few times before she speaks again. "I saw Viperish Night as you do, Jeziasi, once. Before the corruption overcame him." Wyress Asteria's face hardens. "There is something you must know."
Jeziasi's stomach sinks as she stares at Wyress Asteria. "What?" Jeziasi says softly.
"The life magic is fighting back, Jeziasi." Wyress Asteria says. "You brought it back from the brink of death. It fights, it screams."
Screams. Jeziasi goes deathly pale. "What are you saying?" Jeziasi breaths. "You cannot be saying that." Jeziasi leaps up and starts to growl, her eyes shifting from the mer to the wolf.
Wyress Asteria rises. "Jeziasi," Wyress Asteria says, trying to calm her. But how can one calm against something like this?
Jeziasi starts to pace. "My fault. My fault he's in pain? He's being driven mad?" Jeziasi snarls.
Wyress Asteria leaps in Jeziasi's path, halting her. "He would have fallen to the Daedric corruption long ago if not for you, Jeziasi. You kept his mortally alive. The part of him that never wanted this, that wanted a better path. You cannot think that is a bad thing."
Jeziasi snarls and her eyes are utterly lost. "It should not be a bad thing. But it causes him unending agony." Jeziasi throws her head back and howls, a broken painful cry that echos throughout the glen. As it fades Jeziasi falls to the ground, her hands clutching the grass. "All I wanted to do is stop his pain, but I am what brings it surging forth. I keep him like this." Jeziasi whispers.
Wyress Asteria kneels by Jeziasi's side. "Not you," she insists, "The part of him that fights the Daedric corruption.
Jeziasi closes her eyes, tears threatening to fall. "I just...brought it to the surface. The result is the same."
"What would you do, Jeziasi?" Wyress Asteria asks. "Will you surrender that part of him? Tell him to submit to end this agony and destroy an essential part of him?"
Jezaisi's fists clench. "No! But..." her eyes slowly open. "I knew there was no way out for us. For all of this. But...this. How long can one fight against such madness and agony? I cannot save him. No matter how much I wish to, no matter how much I try."
Wyress Asteria's hand moves to Jeziasi's. "At times there is nothing one can do. At times, all we can do is watch the world fall in front of us." Wyress Asteria bows her head. "If one is lost beyond the point of saving, they must choose to save themselves."
Viperish Night... thinks himself an abomination. Thinks he should have never been hatched. Thinks he's a monster that deserves nothing, not even love. How can he ever decide he's worth saving? Jeziasi staggers up. "Let me go, Wyress Asteria. If this is the last time I am to be here, let me return to sleep. I already knew the ways this could end. This just causes further pain." Jeziasi says.
Wyress Asteria rises. "And yet, you needed to know."
"Why?" Jeziasi snarls as her eyes open, full of anger and loss and unshed tears.
"So you know he fights," Wyress Asteria says. "He fights for you, and in some small part, he fights for himself. It is because of you that he resists the depths, resists his father."
"Even if it makes no difference in the end?" Jeziasi says.
"It is not yet the end of the river," Wyress Asteria says. "Follow your path, Jeziasi until the very end."
The dream fades, sending Jeziasi back to the darkness of sleep with the haunting words echoing in her ears.

-Coldharbour-
Silence and frigid cold greet Viperish Night as he steps through the portal onto a cliff and it closes behind him. It numbs the pain, lifts the madness briefly and coats him in ice. A thin layer, but one that promises to deepen should he surrender to it. Viperish Night shudders softly then scans his surroundings. He is alone, and it seems as if he will remain that way. If his Egg-father knows he is here, he seems content to leave him alone for now. Viperish Night stalks forward and stops at the edge of the cliff and stares out at this nightmarish frigid land, his thoughts consuming him now the screams and agony have been brought to a temporary halt. For over an hour Viperish Night stands there not moving and hardly seeming to breathe as he sorts through his thoughts without the fog of madness the screams and agony bring interfering. At last Viperish Night's stillness is broken as he rapidly blinks.
Life and death wared within him. The life magic wanted him to stop, but even if he did would it ever stop screaming, torturing him for all he had done? And even if he tried, would it then be the death magic, the Daedric part of him that would start to torture him anew? Viperish Night growls softly as he corrects his thoughts. His Egg-father claimed the Death magic came from him, but... death and Daedric was... Viperish Night tilts his head. So many streams in him, all combining into swirling rapids of madness. The death stream was different than the Daedric one. Viperish Night lowers his head as the truth grips him and he starts to tremble. The truth he saw within, past the madness? There was no way out for him. No way past any of this. Unlike his life magic, he could not drown the darkest parts of him, for death had a friend with the Daedric stream intertwined with it, and it could not be purged. Viperish Night tilts his head back and his claws brush against the Band of T'zlich. This...was also a friend to death. There was no way life would ever win, his Egg-mother could never save him, even if he wished her to. The only ways out were to drown the life magic for good, destroy that part of him forevermore, or...death. If he destroyed the band, he would end the war, by destroying himself.
Viperish Night throws his head back and howls as the truth seeps into his spine, it is a sound of utter despair, endless rage, and pain beyond enduring. It echos throughout Coldharbour and when at last it fades Viperish Night turns and opens a portal. He knows he will not destroy the band, he will not let the world win, the monsters win. He could not bear dying knowing that, and he could not bear losing his pack, his Egg-mother. To destroy it meant never seeing her again, for he can never be reborn as a normal Argonian could. His Egg-father made sure of that. But even as he decides that he knows he will not just surrender to the furthest depths either. The pain, the screams, and madness, he would continue to swim against it, even if the inevitable outcome was the death of part of him. He would fight it until the river drowned it, just to have more time with his Egg-mother and his pack. Just for the chance to end his Egg-father for all that he had done and his former mentor. As Viperish Night stares into the portal, another thought crosses his mind. Perhaps the heroes of Nirn would end him. He would fight them until the end...for as he swam the river, one thing had always remained true. He always fought. It was, in the end, the only thing he knew to do. Fight even when he should just let them kill him. Fight even when he seemed to surrender. Fight the inevitable, until the furthest depths took him. Viperish Night steps through the portal and it snaps shut behind him.

-Oblivion's Isle-

Dawn is just rising and it is utterly silent. Not a single insect chirps, nor do birds sing for the sun. Viperish Night blinks rapidly as the portal closes and his head darts around. He meant to return to the tomb, not here. Never here again. His claws curl on the ground and as he glances down he realizes not a single flower or blade of grass is left. As he looks back up, the trees are dead as well. Everything is dead. With a tiny pang, Viperish Night remembers sitting under trees, long before he started to drown. How they used to soothe him, almost speak to him. Now? Only the dead speak to him without screaming. And everything on this island is dead, because of him. Because he surrendered to the depths on that blood moons night. Viperish Night turns and the arena is there. Just standing there silent, never to be filled with slaves and the screams for them to kill or die.
Viperish Night grips his staff, willing the portal to open and hisses softly when the magic refuses to work. A glimmer of movement has his head snapping up and he stalks toward the arena. Another glimmer has him moving to the back toward the mass gravesites. The soil is unearthed from when the dead rose at Viperish Night's siren call that night. All the dead of Oblivion's Isle rose for him to slaughter the living, save for those he could not bear to raise. Even...the one who betrayed him. Viperish Night stops feet before an undisturbed grave, his eyes widen as the glimmer of a soul forms before him. It should be impossible. The souls of the dead have fled this unholy place. To stay here could mean utter annihilation of that soul. But still, it is here. Viperish Night hisses, his eyes fill with murderous fury, but also confusion. "Why?" Viperish Night hisses. "Why summon me, when you betrayed me?"
The spirit of Titumus raises his head to regard Viperish Night. The last time Viperish Night saw those eyes they had been filled with fear, anger, determination, and justification. But also... Viperish Night tilts his head. There was also madness in Titumus's eyes that night. Viperish Night could not see it back then. And now? Titumus's eyes were filled with oceans of regret, and yet the same determination that had always reflected from the Imperial's eyes. When he was trying to help Viperish Night and when he set to end him. "I feared for you, Viperish Night," Titumus says. "I feared for Nirn. I thought my dreams of the past were sent by the Divine's to warn me of your threat. But when I died..." Titumus walks closer to Viperish Night, stopping as he gazes at him. "Something, someone else sent me those dreams. Sent me into madness, and instead of trying to save you, I set upon destroying you. I did wrong by you."
Icy dread courses through Viperish Night's spine and he nearly falls as the world spins and memories return. How suddenly Titumus had turned on him when Viperish Night started to slip into the furthest depths, driven by hatred, rage, and pain. That final night as the storm raged. Viperish Night throws his head back and howls, causing Titumus to start back slightly. Finally, Viperish Night lowers his head as he shakes. "He tortured you with dreams too." Viperish Night rasps. His head snaps up and his eyes fill with rage as he locks gaze with Titumus. He should have fought against it, he should not have betrayed him. But... a lost look comes over Viperish Night's face. "You were still right," Viperish Night finally says. "You saw that I would drown Nirn. My Egg-father tortured you to break my connection to you, to the others. But you were still right. I am a monster, and I will end this world if I am not stoped."
Titumus's eyes fill with sorrow. "I did not want to be right, Viperish Night. I saw a better man in you. I should have fought for you until the end. The madness, nightmares of war, of Mannimarco and his necromancers. They consumed my dreams, my waking thoughts. Until I lost all reason that night in the arena." Titumus lowers his head and raises one arm over his heart. "Forgive me. If I had been strong enough to fight through the dreams and my fear, perhaps things would have ended differently."
Viperish Night stares at the man who betrayed him and feels the all too familiar murderous rage but directed at his Egg-father and not this man. The world blurs and Viperish Night blinks rapidly. "It would have never ended differently," Viperish Night whispers as his eyes close before Titumus can see the pain within. "My Egg-father created me to be this. I fought against it until that final night. And now... I swim with the river he baid me into... but the furthest depths mean surrender and she keeps me from it. Keeps me fighting...even as I feel the need to drown the world. To kill everyone, as you feared I would." Viperish Night pauses and then continues. "No one could save me, not my river, not you, not even my Egg-mother. He made sure of that. I will kill him before I die. If..."
"If what?" Titumus asks.
Viperish Night opens his eyes to focus on Titumus once more. "If the furthest depths do not drown me." Viperish Night hisses. "Every day brings me closer. And I cannot stop this river, for madness and agony drive me as well. My mind is clear for the briefest of times. I will be lost again, soon." Viperish Night's eyes narrow. "You should have killed me, Titumus. But he would not of let you, even if you managed to get the best of me. He would have found a way to stop it." Confusion crosses Viperish Night's eyes briefly before he realizes the truth. "You know more than you should," Viperish Night says.
Titumus is silent for a moment before giving Viperish Night the briefest of nods. "One called my soul from here before it was destroyed." At Viperish Night's startled look Titumus shakes his head. "I could not move on. I knew when I died part of the truth. That I had been manipulated, that I had done a great wrong to a comrade. I could not move on. I would have stayed here until I was destroyed as penance, had I not been called." Titumus's eyes find Viperish Night and he looks into him. "I see what I feared in you, Viperish Night. Trained by Mannimarco, you have surpassed him. And yet I remember his eyes. Nothing but a sea of darkness that craved power at any cost. What I see in your eyes?" A shard of pain crosses through Titumus's eyes. "Unfathomable pain and darkness, but also the man I thought you could be. Nearly lost in what you call the depths. You are not like Mannimarco. You have been driven to this, you did not seek it."
"If you see that much, you know it is too late," Viperish Night hisses. "And if this one told you my truths, then you know why I have no chance at all. All that is left is the hope I will kill my Egg-father before the depths take me, that I will have some time with my Egg-Mother and my pack before I no longer care about them. Before the part of me that is not a monster is destroyed utterly."
"Too late is when you are dead. And sometimes not even then." Titumus says. "It should have been too late for me to speak with you one last time. To stand here and see if I could still see the good man within you. To apologize for something I can never make up for." Titumus's face grows serious. "Viperish Night, I was given this chance. And now, I must tell you what she told me to tell you."
"She?" Viperish Night says.
"It is not something I am allowed to speak of, her name," Titumus says. "But this is what she told me to tell you. A single star lost in the multitude of darkness. Even if the darkness covers it, never forget that it is there."
Viperish Night hisses again. Confusion words, confusing night. The screams start to scratch at the door and he turns his back on Titumus, then pauses. That night brought him so very much pain. Being betrayed, having to kill his friend...and how for a moment it felt good to kill who betrayed him. "I have killed so many friends, and countless more besides." Viperish Night whispers. "I am the one who needs forgiving, and I am the one who deserves no forgiveness. My Egg-father made me to be this way, but I gave in to the depths. It is so very much easier to kill them all, to think that the pain will stop when the world who hurt me nearly as much as my Egg-father and former mentor is filled with nothing of the dead." Viperish Night glances back at the man who had been a mentor, a friend, a betrayer. "It is too late for me. But you...I can forgive you. Madness drowns us all. It drowns the world. And he is the cause of both our falls. I forgive you, but I cannot forgive myself. And soon, I won't want to."
A look of peace tinged with sorrow crosses Titumus's face as he starts to fade. "Remember those words, Viperish Night. You need to remember them when all falls to darkness." Titumus says. And with those words, he is gone from this world.
Viperish Night stands there for long moments before opening a portal. This time, nothing stops him. Viperish Night stares at the portal and then turns away from it to look upon the place that had utterly broke him. Broke him enough for him to murder his friends, thinking they would betray him. Never knowing it was his Egg-father that broke Titumus, that caused him to go mad and betray Viperish Night. Viperish Night hisses softly. He should regret that. He should regret so many things. Once, he would have. Now? The ice had gained so very much ground, destroying the parts he sought to drown. He should be happy about this. No more pain, no more agony, no more ghosts haunting his footsteps should he give them notice. Viperish Night turns from the arena towards another part of the Island. A part he will not venture to, for there lies two more graves, two more he never called from death. Even when the depths swallowed him that night, part of him held back from disturbing Denros and Rishima from their eternal rest. He could not bear to treat their remains in the fashion he treated the rest of the dead. Viperish Night slowly lowers his head and closes his eyes. Trying to grasp what he once felt for them. It had been love, had it not? He could scarcely grasp that emotion any longer. Only his Egg-mother kept it alive. Viperish Night shakes softly. Surrender meant release from so very much, but the cost was also so very much. Viperish Night would not surrender, but deep in his spine he knew if he was not ended, the depths would take him and this time there would be no coming back. Viperish Night slowly opens his eyes and turns toward the portal, looking at it helplessly. Going back means the madness will swell, the pain and agony will return in force. The furthest depths will seek to claim him. He needs to talk to his pack, to his Egg-mother soon. He needs to tell them they must hunt his Egg-father, even if he knows their plans. Before...the furthest depths takes him and he is truly, and forever lost.