-Skyrim Tomb-
Viperish Night rises near dusk and moves to the throne room. Duskhollow follows behind him and settles in next to the throne as Viperish Night sits. Only a few minutes pass before Duskhollow stirs and raises her head and as she starts to growl all the fur on her body raises in threat. Viperish Night's eyes narrow as a portal opens and Swims-in-Silence steps forth and moves to stand in front of the two. The two stare at each other for long moments before Swims-in-Silence kneels beside Duskhollow. "Calm, Egg-mother," Viperish Night says and Duskhollow's growl fades though her watchful eyes follow Swims-in-Silence's every movement.
Swims-in-Silence runs his claws through Duskhollow's fur. "Yes, calm. You must know I am your mate. Even in the state you have been reduced to. Even though the part of you that is Jeziasi is sleeping." Swims-in-Silence hisses.
Again Duskhollow growls and then falls silent. She knows he speaks truth and yet untruth. Duskhollow did not choose him. She howled against him, and yet her howls had been unheeded.
Viperish Night watches in amusement. "Are you into bestiality, Egg-Father?" Viperish Night asks, "I am not sure Egg-mother would be amused if you are."
Swims-in-Silence's eyes snap to Viperish Night as he withdraws his claws from Duskhollow's fur and rises. Curiosity glimmers in them. "Tell me when your war is over would you stop me from... talking to my mate? In whatever state she is in?" Swims-in-Silence asks.
"Talking," Viperish Night hisses. "Why do I think you would do so much more to the one who always defied you?"
"Not an answer," Swims-in-Silence hisses.
Viperish Night moves his claws to the hand rests, feeling the deep groves left by the other Viperish Nights. "You must know this may destroy her mer," Viperish Night muses. "I would remove the collar once the war is done. Unless it is far too late by then." Viperish Night's eyes move from Duskhollow to Swims-in-Silence. "You may do what you will with her, but only when my war is done."
A slight widening of Swims-in-Silence's eyes is the only indication that Viperish Night's words surprised him and he starts to pace back and forth his eyes never once leaving Viperish Night's. "This..." he trails off.
"Surprised Egg-Father?," Viperish Night says with a laugh. "You had no idea what your experiment would truly wrot. You made a single egg but three aspects lived within. If not for my aspect life and death would have made peace. She would have bested you, again." Viperish Night tells Swims-in-Silence and then leans back. "You owe me, Egg-father, not the other way around. I will not let you forget that."
Swims-in-Silence halts with an angry hiss. "I am the Lord of Domination..." he starts to say before Viperish Night interrupts him.
"So I should know my place?" Viperish Night hisses, "I will never kneel, Egg-father. I am giving you all the souls of Nirn. You failed in that with the Plane-meld attempt. I am the one who made Jeziasi submit, you failed in that too. Even without the collar, she would have submitted to me. I collared her only because she misbehaved and because I was curious what your toy would do to her." Viperish Night growls softly as his eyes start to glow. "Mortal form, Egg-father. Something...we no longer have in common. At least not on Nirn." The dead start to stir as Viperish Night's claws dig into the stone. "I will not submit. Try to make me and I will destroy you. Allow me to do as I please and..." Viperish Night tilts his head as he smiles. "I will give you all you desire. The Souls of Nirn and I will stand by your side when the war is over...and my Egg-mother will as well."
Swims-in-Silence stares at Viperish Night and then laughs. "To think I thought you a failed experiment at one point, too much like her. But...that was only one side. You hid yourself well."
"Life and death never understood deception," Viperish Night answers, "Never once did they suspect deception existed at the very depths of the river. Never once did they see me at their core." Viperish Night gestures with his claws. "Give me your answer, Egg-father."
Swims-in-Silence regards Viperish Night for long moments before answering. "Very well. You will stand at my side in Coldharbour, so long as you do not fail." Swims-in-Silence's eyes narrow. "Your pack must know this truth. They may turn on you."
"Tyranius and Zirasha have nothing else in this world," Viperish Night answers. "For the simple hope that their Jeziasi, their Viper is still here they will stay by my side." A frown crosses Viperish Night's face. "I wondered about Zirasha but after last night I know she will never stray." Viperish Night tilts his head in curiosity. "Though why suggesting she sleep by my side would cause such fear. I have never seen my vampire so terrified."
Swims-in-Silence stares at Viperish Night and then laughs. "A truth you did not know. A truth she did not share with you," Swims-in-Silence hisses in delight. "The depths of hatred she has for the Imperials... what do you think the Zero Legion did to her to make such hatred and fear?" Again Swims-in-Silence laughs. "And you said that to her..."
Viperish Night blinks and then folds his claws together. "Just words," Viperish Night says. "I have no interest in that. But still...she now thinks I might demand it of her. Fear will keep her in line if loyalty falters. She was far closer to my Egg-mother than I thought."
Swims-in-Silence starts to hiss furiously. "Once your war is over, make sure she knows Jeziasi is mine." Swims-in-Silence snaps.
Viperish Night stares at Swims-in-Silence. "I must ask, once you shed this mortal form, will you still want her like that? Or will you torture her for all her defiance?" Viperish Night asks.
Swims-in-Silence stills utterly as his eyes start to glow. "Do you think me mad? Mannimarco has said as much...he suffered for his insolence." Swims-in-Silence hisses.
Viperish Night is silent before speaking, "I know madness, Egg-Father. I caused the rift between Life and Death and saw the madness that resulted, tasted it. You are not as mad as they, but there are swirls of it in your river."
Swims-in-Silence hisses once more and turns his back. "A river into a stream. There has always been...irregularities," Swims-in-Silence answers as he opens a portal and crosses into it, the portal snapping shut behind him.
Viperish Night smirks. "Turning your back on me, Egg-father...may prove to be your undoing if you get in my way." Viperish Night tilts his head. Perhaps he should have asked if his Egg-Father had something to do with his pack's fall. But why when the answer was so very obvious? Let The Lord Of Domination think Viperish Night did not know that truth.
-Elden Root-
Iveryni had woken up early and left the great tree, using a portal to bring her to the clearing. The clearing where peace had been within their grasp before being wrenched from grip. The place that perhaps hope had started to die. Iveryni stands in the middle of the clearing head down and eyes closed. The woods around this cursed place are dying. Bosmer and Wyrd were strewn throughout the woods, trying their best to halt the corruption, to save their home against the blight that Viperish Night had wrought. Iveryni swallows as silence greets her. Not a single bird, not so much as an insect can exist in this blighted clearing. "Just like Oblivion Isle," Iveryni says softly to herself. Iveryni raises her head and opens her eyes. "It...must have been the Daedric aspect that caused the land to be cursed there as well. Not...just death." The truth, chilling. Life and death existed hand in hand, just as creation and destruction did. The death aspect on its own should have been in tune with the life aspect. They should have been able to find a balance. But the Daedric aspect made death something more, and it had made the Viperish Night that existed now death incarnate. Iveryni shudders softly and lowers her head again. How to fight against something like this? They must find a way. They must not let what little hope they had slipped through their fingers.
"Iveryni. Do you accept the truth now?"
"Deimyite," Iveryni breaths, "Did Lord Dagon know?"
Deimyite chuckles. "Not even Molag Bal knew this would be the result. All The Lord of Domination wanted was to make a servant to wield the Band of T'zlich so he could still claim all the souls of Nirn. That and defile the one who brought him to his knees." Deimyite gestures at the death that exists all around him, that even now seeps into the rest of the woods. "But this offspring of his became so much more than that. Our Lord doubts that Viperish Night will bend knee to his father's will. Perhaps he may even find a way to usurp his father."
Iveryni turns toward Deimyite, her eyes focused on him. "He must be stopped. I know there is no more room for hope of peace, of mercy. But..." Iveryni trails off.
"You know what you must do Iveryni. You must unleash every bit of power our Prince has granted you. No matter the cost. Destroy Iveryni. It is our Prince's desire and your sole purpose." Deimyite says and then at Iveryni's uncertain expression adds, "Do not hesitate, Iveryni. It will cost you." Deimyite turns and vanishes into a portal leaving Iveryni alone.
Softly-Speckled-Crab sits on the floor in Rufico and Theodyn's room, only Rufico is present, but it is he Softly-Speckled-Crab needs to speak to. "Something...was in Viperish Night's pack," Softly-Speckled-Crab says slowly. "It felt alive, and yet not."
Rufico crosses his arms as he thinks. "There are many poisons the Dark Brotherhood knows of. We have little use for those that do not kill, but I still learned about many different types. A poison that emanates death, that exists. But their souls."
"I felt them vanish," Softly-Speckled-Crab says. "They vanished from the river. As if they had truly fallen."
"It would take more than a simple poison to do that," Rufico admits. "Daedric. Swims-In-Silence must have had a hand in it."
Softly-Speckled-Crab's head falls. "He knew that Viperish Night was close to another river. He knew Jeziasi was on the verge of beating him and so he did this. He caused Viperish Night to lose the one thing that kept the third aspect from rising." Softly-Speckled-Crab trembles softly. "That Viperish Night killed Keerasi-Zish."
"Softly-Speckled-Crab," Rufico says and when she turns to look at him he continues, "You never knew Viperish Night... Keerasi-Zish before this. Why..."
"Why do I feel such depths of despair?" Softly-Speckled-Crab finishes. "Because The Hist is a part of me, and it feels despair at failing him. The Hist did what it thought was right...but it started all of this. Keerasi-Zish was innocent and he was abandoned and corrupted and hurt to such a degree that this is the result." Softly-Speckled-Crab's claws rake across the floor. "I feel what others feel so deeply. And the depths of his pain were a never-ending ocean. Only Jeziasi and his pack started to ease his agony. And now..."
"Now he's gone. We will show no mercy to the one who murdered him, Softly-Speckled-Crab. I promise." Rufico says.
On a branch high above the ground, Theodyn sits, Dawnbreaker in his hands. "Damn it, Darien," Theodyn says as he stares down at the sword that feels so very empty now. "You saved my Rufico. And I can't even thank you for it. All I can do is hold his love close and try to protect the world." Theodyn lies back against the tree as he stares up at the sky.
One moment Theodyn is alone, the next a familiar tabby is sitting on the branch in front of him. "Love is a kind of madness," Sheogorath says with meow.
"You keep saying that," Theodyn says.
Sheogorath flicks his tail. "You think I do not know madness? I know all kinds of madness! But now..." Sheogorath flops down on the branch in the emphasy of cat sadness. "Viperish Night has thrown away both love and madness. He's boring now."
Theodyn studies Sheogorath, his mind on Viperish Night. How they knew he had once been, how he had been, how he was now. "This third Viperish Night...caused the madness," Theodyn muses.
Sheogorath bolts up. "That's right! Forgot about that! The level of crazy that lizard emanated made me purr! But now..." Sheogorath hisses at Theodyn. "I will say this once, you want to stay on my favorite list, you will stop him. I love mortals! Nirn without them. Not something I want." And with that Sheogorath leaps from the tree.
Theodyn bolts up in shock and nearly falls off the branch himself and he steadies himself quickly staring down upon the ground. "Damn it," Theodyn swears again. "That was not funny!"
"Yes, it was!" Sheogorath's voice calls out before it fades leaving Theodyn alone.
-Southern Elsweyr-
"So near Senchal...," Viperish Night hisses softly as he stares into the distance with a bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes.
"Never did take any of the main settlements," Tyranius remarks, arms crossed. Zirasha hovers beside him and Duskhollow paces the beach every scent seeming to catch her attention.
An angry rattle emits from Viperish Night, "An oversight. A weakness I do not share." Viperish Night hisses as he turns back to his pack who awaited on the beach. "I will not hesitate," Viperish Night smiles as his claws flex. He can feel that a dragon had fallen here when all of Elsweyr had been besieged by them. Necromantic energy builds around Viperish Night and he closes his eyes as the sand starts to shift bones gathering and coming together to surge out of the sand as a magnificent skeleton dragon. Viperish Night opens his eyes and touches the skeleton's head and that is all it takes for the necromatic energy to flow across the wing bones to enable impossible flight. The dragon rises into the air and flies toward home.
"How many more?" Tyranius asks and Viperish Night turns toward him.
"The marsh is vast. I can raise more than just this one in Southern Elsweyr." Viperish Night tilts his head. "They will come for us again. They will wait at one of the dragon battles that took place in this land. We will rend them asunder when they try to stop us again." Viperish Night stills and turns fully toward his pack. "You...still wish that?" he asks.
Tyranius frowns under his helm. A dangerous question. "No love for heroes, Viperish Night. They betrayed us, we end them." Tyranius says with a shrug. "Fast and dirty or slow and agonizing. Done both."
Viperish Night's smile is chilling, his words more so. "So very many things I want done to them. If we can...we will take them alive. Their deaths will be agonizing music...fitting punishment for defying us," Viperish Night hisses, and then his gaze shifts from Tyranius to Zirasha.
"What happened in Grahtwood..." Zirasha trails off hiding the confusion she still has over what happened. What she knows Tyranius also shares. Something they cannot show. Zirasha narrows her eyes. "They are not pack. All who are not pack dies," Zirasha hisses.
Duskhollow barks and then suddenly spins around and dashes off after a flash of tan and brown. Viperish Night's eyes snap to Duskhollow and he snarls angrily as he leaps across the sands and sets off in a run after her. Zirasha starts and bursts to mist to follow, leaving Tyranius to race behind her.
Duskhollow chases the rabbit across the soft sand and in a burst of speed she leaps upon it and once more a rabbit is caught gently in her jaws and she turns and loaps to Viperish Night who has followed. With a wag of her tail, she moves toward her son and drops the newest rabbit at his feet, and looks up at him with pleading eyes. This time he followed her. This time he must want the rabbit. The rabbit is important and she feels he needs them, though she is not sure why or why he has kept rejecting them. Duskhollow whines hopefully.
Viperish Night stares down at Duskhollow and then his eyes shift to the rabbit and in a swift movement he snatches it up by the neck. "This was amusing at first, Egg-mother, but it grows tiresome. Stop," Viperish Night hisses as his claws tighten across the rabbit's neck. The rabbit cries out and then ceases as Viperish Night snaps its neck and tosses it to the sands. Duskhollow stares up at him and then starts to bark angrily up at him. That was not the right thing to do. Viperish Night snarls angry, "Still you misbehave? I wonder, how do alpha wolves discipline their pack?" Viperish Night tilts his head as a small smile crosses his face. "Is it with claws and fangs until they submit?" Viperish Night flexes his claws and Duskhollow drops to her belly in submission her eyes on the ground. "Not good enough, Egg-mother," Viperish Night says as he moves toward her.
Zirasha arrived soon after Viperish Night and silently and painfully has been watching. With a hiss, she starts forward but Tyranius jogs up and grabs her arm. "Stop girl," Tyranius warns, "He won't kill her."
Zirasha turns toward him. "Just let it happen? Let him hurt her? She did not do anything wrong!" Zirasha hisses.
"Girl...he's alpha. You know that" Tyranius says and Zirasha stops struggling and lowers her head. Tyranius sighs softly but keeps his hand on her arm.
He is alpha and he is so very angry at her. Duskhollow huddles on the ground, trying to be submissive. Trying to be what her alpha demands, but again he fails to understand her intent and she feels his claws tear across her fur leaving bloody furrows in their wake. Duskhollow closes her eyes and starts to shake as she waits for the next blow to fall.
Unable to take it Zirasha bursts into mist to escape Tyranius's hold and reforms in front of Duskhollow and Viperish Night and her hand wraps around Viperish Night's wrist as he starts to bring it down upon Duskhollow once more. "She submitted Viperish Night! Enough, please." Zirasha snarls.
Again her pack fights. Duskhollow knows she displeased the Alpha, knows that her pack sister is coming dangerously close to challenging him and so Duskhollow whines again and rolls on her back presenting her throat. Begging in the only way she could for her pack to stop. To return to what they had once been even if that is impossible now.
Viperish Night's eyes slide to Duskhollow. "Was that so hard?," Viperish Night asks and then his eyes slide to his wrist and up to Zirasha who let's go, a horrified look in her eyes at what she just did and she slowly starts to back up. "Zirasha... you promised to serve me. You promised your loyalty to me, not to her." Viperish Night says as he follows Zirasha across the sands.
"I do! But she can't help you if you hurt her," Zirasha says, still backing away.
"Werewolves heal fast. Just like vampires," Viperish Night hisses, and then he pauses as Zirasha's back hits a large rock. "Zirasha... I wonder. You bit my Egg-mother once. You even bit Tyranius. Is that why your more loyal to them than me?"
Zirasha's hands press against the rock. "I am loyal to my pack!" Zirasha snaps. "All of them, including you. Even... if your not our Viper." Zirasha looks away from Viperish Night blinking rapidly. Trying to control her emotions, trying to regain in her fear and anger.
Viperish Night takes a step toward Zirasha. "Then prove it, my vampire. Bite me. Drink my blood. Consider it a blood bond if you want." Viperish Night tells her.
Tyranius moves closer to the two, "Viperish Night, is this necessary?" Tyranius asks. His gloved hand flexes, but he resists the urge to move it to his scythe as he looks between the two. Duskhollow rises from the sands and moves to them, stopping by Tyranius's side.
Viperish Night's eyes turn toward Tyranius. "Perhaps you and Egg-mother should scout our next location. We will join you soon."
"Not happening," Tyranius says. "Not leaving half my pack alone in the wilds with the damn heroes chasing our tails."
Viperish Night turns fully toward Tyranius and skeletons move from the waves and the sands to fan out across the beach. "As long as the dead exist, I am not alone." Viperish Night's claws flex and a portal opens near Tyranius and Duskhollow. "Do you challenge me to?" Viperish Night inquires.
Zirasha's eyes turn towards Tyranius and she sees his hands flex, the tense way he holds himself in his armor. His words come back to her, that he would try to take Viperish Night's head if she wished it. If he had... And then Zirasha's eyes close as the reality of what trying would cost them. Everything they had left, as little as that was. "...Go Tyranius. Do what he says. He's alpha as you said. I...I should not have attacked him. I keep forgetting the Jez I know is gone."
"Girl..." Tyranius growls.
"Go!," Zirasha snaps. "Our pack, Tyranius. No matter what.
"Damn it," Tyranius swears under his breath and turns toward the portal and walks through it followed by Duskhollow and it snaps closed behind them.
Viperish Night narrows his eyes then turns back to Zirasha. "Where were we?" Viperish Night says as he gestures with his claws at her.
Zirasha looks down at the sand and then drops to her knees, her fingers digging into the grains. "Give me your arm," Zirasha says softly.
Viperish Night moves in front of her but makes no move to do as she instructs. "Oh no, my vampire. You took from Egg-mother's neck, you will do the same with me."
Zirasha bolts up and bursts into mist but at Viperish Night's furious hissing she reforms once more with her back pressed against the rock. "I...," Zirasha trails off as small tremors wrack her body.
"Could tear my throat out, or try," Viperish Night says with a deadly smile. "I want to see if you will." Viperish Night stalks the remaining distance between the two and pins Zirasha against the rock as his claws move to the scar on her face and as he traces it he leans in to whisper to her, "Rip my throat out if you think you can, Zirasha. Or just take the smallest of tastes." Viperish Night lets his claws fall from her face to press against the rock.
Zirasha's fist clenches as she fights the tremors that threaten to undo her. Never once had she been afraid of Viperish Night. But this Viperish Night... "I did not mean to..." Zirasha pleads.
"You beg me now," Viperish Night says. "Far too late for that, Zirasha. You did not mean to, but you still did. Prove you will not again. Prove I can still trust you, that you are still my vampire."
Zirasha hisses and then she lunges forward her fangs sinking into the side of Viperish Night's neck. As the blood flows into her mouth she is tempted to try. This is not her Viperish Night. This is a Viperish Night who would hurt his pack if they so much as thought about disobeying or if they showed any kind of weakness at all. This Viperish Night would do things that their Viperish Night never would even consider. Fury mixes with fear inside Zirasha, but the fear starts to win out. Viperish Night is so very strong. Zirasha can feel that he could control her if he wanted, make her do anything including stopping before she could even try to rip his throat out. And what he might do after she failed makes the fear grow into a never-ending tsunami. And so she takes just a taste before pulling back and leaning back against the rock his blood swimming in her veins. Tasting his blood brings back memories of when she was turned. His blood tastes so very cold, just as his fathers did.
"Good girl," Viperish Night hisses and he leans in to whisper to her. "My Egg-father told me certain things of your past." Viperish Night laughs softly at the small whimper Zirasha utters at this and he brings his claws up to run them against her face again. "Calm, Zirasha. I am not one to do such things just because I can, but my pack's loyalty is so very important to me. Do you understand, my vampire?"
Zirasha stills utterly so terrified that she can hardly even move, hardly even speak but she finally manages. "...Yes," Zirasha whispers. "I will not disobey again."
Viperish Night steps back and turns to open a portal. "Then we understand each other." Viperish Night says and he steps through the portal. Zirasha peels herself from the rock and follows after and the portal snaps shut.
The portal opens in a clearing filled with flowers and ferns that are encircled in part by stone cliffs. Scattered carts and supplies are strewn apart and scorched by dragon fire from the days of the dragon invasion from the not-to-distant past. Tyranius looks around and then gathers water from a nearby stream to clean the long scratches on Duskhollow's side. When he's done Duskhollow looks up at him with a lost look in her eyes and Tyranius rests his hand on her head. "Wolfy..." Tyranius trails off. "Wish you would come back. Don't..." Tyranius clenches his other hand into a fist. "Damn it. I don't know what to do." Duskhollow rises to her feet and leans against Tyranius who lowers his head. "Sometimes I wish you had not changed me so much. I would not mind all this then." Tyranius falls silent until another portal opens, only then rising to his feet. Viperish Night stalks out, followed by Zirasha. Tyranius's hands clenched at the bite marks on Viperish Night's throat and Zirasha's petrified expression. Zirasha quickly moves over to Tyranius's side and Duskhollow moves to lean against her legs. Tyranius moves his head to look at her and Zirasha shakes her head and slowly Tyranius's hands unclench as Viperish Night moves toward them.
"I have cause to be irritated. I want a little fun," Viperish Night hisses.
"What do you have in mind?" Tyranius asks.
Viperish Night's eyes move to Zirasha. "Mist, my vampire. I will take my time raising this dragon. When they come spring on one of them at my command and rend them unconscious."
"What one?" Zirasha asks, never once meeting Viperish Night's gaze.
Viperish Night tilts his head. "The Argonian. I did say I would peel her scales off." Zirasha bursts into crimson mist without another word and Viperish Night moves to the middle of the area. "Keep the others busy, Tyranius," Viperish Night orders and then glances back at him. "We will speak of your loyalties later."
Tyranius frowns under his helm but makes no outward sign that Viperish Night's words trouble him. He seemed intent on testing their loyalty. Or rather... just how far they would go under his orders. "Right, Viperish Night," Tyranius says as he withdraws his scythe in preparation.
Viperish Night stands in the middle of the clearing the necromantic energy pouring off of him in waves and sinking into the ground. Slowly, much more so than the other dragon risings the ground shifts, and dragon bones start to emerge. Suddenly vines shoot from the ground and entangle the half-formed dragon. A twisted smile crosses Viperish Night's face. "Come out, come out. If you want to play with us," Viperish Night hisses.
Softly-Speckled-Crab steps out from behind a large rock and her eyes are filled with fury and sorrow. She knows now what caused Viperish Night's pack to fall...or to seem to fall. But this Viperish Night will not care, might even know, and odds are that he walks with his Egg-father rather than desiring to kill him as the other Viperish Night's desired. Softly-Speckled-Crab tightens her grip on her staff. She will not forget this is not a Viperish Night that can be saved. This is the one that in part caused all this...and intends to finish it. And what he had done to Keerasi-Zish...fills Softly-Speckled-Crab with unending despair. "Your crimes, many. But murdering a part of you... you will not be forgiven." Softly-Speckled-Crab hisses.
Viperish Night gestures with his clawed hands. "Is it murder to cull the weak? He kept us leashed, buried in the depths. Even if he never knew I existed, he still kept me caged." Viperish Night tells Softly-Speckled-Crab with a snarl. Before she can reply Khajiit and Senche-Raht skeletons burst from the ground around Softly-Speckled-Crab and set upon her.
On the far side of the field Iveryni steps out from another rock staff in hand, her ruins already glowing with a fiery glare as she moves toward Tyranius. "We did not end you," Iveryni says as she stops feet from him. "Stop this, or I will show you no mercy, no hesitation, only death." Iveryni states.
Tyranius's grip tightens on his scythe as he moves toward Iveryni. "Does not matter. Sorry witch, but Viperish Night says to kill you all." Tyranius says as the ice blades form around him. "Can't lose my pack, no matter the state of it."
Tyranius surges toward Iveryni forcing her to dive to the side as his scythe slams down. His ice blades follow her and she spins and slams her staff against a few, though some get through to leave bloody wounds that bleed fire upon her arms. Duskhollow's eyes follow the two and she then surges into the battle coming at Iveryni from behind. To Duskhollow so much makes little sense but this at least does. Fighting with her pack brother, protecting him if she needs to.
Softly-Speckled-Crab is a blur of motion as vines wrap around skeletons pulling them apart. Roots burst from the ground to break more and she spins, her staff shattering more as they come at her from all directions while Viperish Night watches. Softly-Speckled-Crab turns her head to him as the last fall, breathing hard. There had been so very many. And Viperish Night was just watching her with a frightening gleam in her eyes. Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes widen as Viperish Night lifts a claw. The half-formed dragon bursts into fully reformed life snapping the blades and its wing shoots out knocking Softly-Speckled-Crab against the rock face with a painful crack. "Now," Viperish Night hisses and that single word has Zirasha rising from where she hid clad in her crimson mist state. She reforms as a dazzled Softly-Speckled-Crab is pushing herself from the rocks to fall upon the Argonian, jaws snapping on her neck, taking just enough blood to send Softly-Speckled-Crab crashing into unconsciousness. Viperish Night stalks to Softly-Speckled-Crab and grabs her by the back of her armor and his eyes turn toward Iveryni and Tyranius as he opens a portal. "Tyranius, Egg-mother, come." Viperish Night shouts and then turns toward his dragon and more undead which have surged up. "Keep the fire witch busy but do not kill her. Let her imagine the horrors we will inflict upon her friend." Viperish Night walks through the portal with Softly-Speckled-Crab and Zirasha follows.
"Playtimes over," Tyranius says to Iveryni who's spinning around to run towards the portal but the dragon sets upon her, and Tyranius and Duskhollow turn to enter a second portal that has opened, it snaps shut behind them.
"No!," Iveryni screams as the portals close. The runes swirl in fiery anger as Iveryni's skin becomes translucent. "No!" And with a fiery burst of infernal destruction the fire bursts from her in a wave of uncontrollable loss and anger. When it, at last, fades the dragon and the rest of the skeletons are nothing but scorched dust. Iveryni falls to her knees breathing hard. "Softly-Speckled-Crab..." Iveryni whispers as her eyes close and her body trembles. Only a few moments pass before she forces herself up. She must find Rufico and Theodyn. Before it is too late to save her.
-Moonlit Cove-
Both portals open deep in an underground cove. Viperish Night walks out and glances around as his pack follows and the portals snap close. They are standing in shadow water on top of a waterfall. A pointed rune surrounded by stone sits in the middle and it is here that Viperish Night heads through the shallow waters carrying Softly-Speckled-Crab. Viperish Night stops in front of it and tilts his head. "This water has been tainted..." Viperish Night says then turns his head toward Tyranius. "Find me something to chain her up with,Tyranius."
"Sure Viperish Night," Tyranius says and turns to look around. Off to the left signs that people had been here exist. A broken stone arch leads to a drier area where boxes and various other effects, undoubtedly left by bandits or others who wished to hide from the light lay strewn around. Tyranius shifts through the debris until he finds a heavy chain. As he weighs it in his hand he turns his head to look back at his pack. Viperish Night is waiting staring up at the ruins. Duskhollow has found a spot a bit out of the water and is curled up, her eyes on her son and Zirasha is by the far wall. "Damn it," Tyranius says with a sigh and then returns to Viperish Night.
"Bind her by her wrists here," Viperish Night instructs and Tyranius follows orders, binding the unconscious Softly-Speckled-Crab by the wrists on the ruin, her feet just barely touching the shallow waters. Viperish Night laughs softly. "Who wants to go first?" Viperish Night asks and then his eyes slide to Zirasha. "She did murder you, my vampire. Come and play."
Softly-Speckled-Crab choices that moment to awake and her eyes slowly open to regard her surroundings and at last her eyes fall to Zirasha who's slowly moving toward her. "I had no hand in your fall if that is what it was," Softly-Speckled-Crab quietly says.
Zirasha stares at Softly-Speckled-Crab. Always she wants to hurt the world and those in it. So very much blood she has taken. But it was always killing. This...is something else entirely. But Viperish Night is watching. His threat rings in her ears, his blood still in her veins. Zirasha hisses, "I will hurt her for taking me from my pack."
Viperish Night laughs at her reply. "My bloodthirsty vampire, I prefer you like this than that weakened state you showed me," Viperish Night tells her and then steps back. "Do not kill her Zirasha. Just hurt her. Amuse me."
Zirasha moves close to Softly-Speckled-Crab and stops in front of her. Softly-Speckled-Crab looks down at her, only the smallest shadow of fear in her eyes. "The vampire who has swum in Viperish Night's river, who has killed so many, but from a place of pain and fear rather than pure darkness. You do not know how to torture anyone. You are not that kind of monster," Softly-Speckled-Crab tells her softly, almost gently.
Zirasha blinks then hisses again. "I just never had reason to."
"And you still do not...but you will do it anyway," Softly-Speckled-Crab says.
Zirasha's eyes flare crimson and her claws shoot out with a blur, leaving bloody marks across Softly-Speckled-Crab's arm, the Argonian flinching only slightly. Viperish Night's eyes narrow slightly. "You can do better, my vampire. Think of how she tried to take you from your pack. How she lied about peace, how she betrayed us."
Zirasha's eyes move to Viperish Night and then back to Softly-Speckled-Crab and she steps back slightly, raising her hand. Blood energy swirls around it and she thrusts it at Softly-Speckled-Crab and it violently drains some of the blood from her body. Softly-Speckled-Crab grits her fangs as the world shimmers before her and after a few moments, Zirasha drops her hand and moves closer, sinking her fangs into the side Softly-Speckled-Crab's neck not draining blood just ripping into it. Zirasha releases her and stares into Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes, her eyes starting to glow brighter.
Tyranius tilts his head as he watches from the edge of the pool and then he motions to Viperish Night. "Do you want Wolfy to have a turn?" Tyranius asks as Duskhollow rises and looks between what is happening and her pack brother with confusion in her eyes. Viperish Night notices this and moves to the two.
"She is just a beast who would not understand the pleasure of this," Viperish Night says and then glances down at Duskhollow. "You lack so very many things, my Egg-mother. Perhaps you will know how to behave once my war is done."
Zirasha turns her head slightly. Viperish Night has moved just out of hearing range and Zirasha quickly turns back to Softly-Speckled-Crab and she leans in close, her hand wraps around the side of Softly-Speckled-Crab's neck. "Truth," Zirasha demands as she uses her vampiric powers on Softly-Speckled-Crab.
"I could fight your river of compulsion if I wished," Softly-Speckled-Crab says, "But I will not. We had no hand in what happened in Grahtwood. We would have kept watch on all of you, but we would of let you go. We would have hoped that Viperish Night's pack could lead him to a better river." Softly-Speckled-Crab lowers her head. "I wanted a better path than this river filled with darkness and despair. It would have been worth the risk of letting all of you go."
Zirasha blinks rapidly and then leans in closer to Softly-Speckled-Crab, resting her head against the Argonian's. "I can not stop any of this," Zirasha whispers with agony in her voice. "My pack is all I have left. And I have already lost my Jez, my Viper. I cannot lose the rest." Zirasha closes her eyes and shudders. "Past hope, past forgiveness, past anything but being his monster. I won't disobey him. Not anymore."
Softly-Speckled-Crab closes her eyes too. "You will drown the world for this then. Lost in darkness, lost in despair." Softly-Speckled-Crab hisses sadly.
"There is no longer any other way for us," Zirasha says and pulls back. "Open your eyes." Softly-Speckled-Crab opens her eyes and once more Zirasha's flare. "Scream for me, and then drop into the darkness for a while," Zirasha whispers and then rakes one clawed hand down Softly-Speckled-Crab's arm, blood flowing from the bloody wounds. Softly-Speckled-Crab does as commanded, screaming once before unconsciousness takes her. Zirasha steps back and turns to Viperish Night, blood covering both her hands and dripping into the water.
Viperish Night regards Softly-Speckled-Crab and then turns to Zirasha. "Seems our new pet needs a nap," Viperish Night says.
Duskhollow starts to pace agitatedly. They had hunted much prey, but this was not hunting. This was not prey. This was nothing Duskhollow understood, though on some level she knew she should. The pools of shadows in her mind encroached. Making things she should know...far away. And now she feels her son's eyes turn toward her. Feels that he grows angry with her, again. Zirasha's eyes widen and she moves to Duskhollow. Duskhollow looks up at her pack sister with pleading eyes. All of this...something is so very wrong with all of this and it is making Duskhollow want to bark, bite, run. Something other than just watching.
"I think she wants to be useful," Zirasha says. "Should I take her over by the arch? In case someone comes up that way...she can guard it."
Viperish Night looks at Zirasha and then at Duskhollow. "The dead guard for me, but very well." Viperish Night says.
Zirasha leads Duskhollow away from the shallow pool and the blood that now stains it, away from Viperish Night. Once they are out of sight Zirasha drops down by Duskhollow who's eyes look upon hers and then Duskhollow whines and starts to move back to the pool. Zirasha grabs hold of Duskhollow's scruff. "You know this is..." Zirasha trails off. "You can't! You have to stay here!" Duskhollow looks up at Zirasha and whines again before trying to tug from her grasp. Zirasha lets out a strangled gasp then quiets as her eyes start to glow. "Sleep until a threat comes or we are done," Zirasha whispers, a tear falling down her cheek as she uses her powers on Duskhollow. Duskhollow's eyes shudder close and she slumps to the ground in sleep. Zirasha buries her face into her fur. "Forgive me, please," Zirasha whispers. "I can't bear to see him hurt you. But I am too afraid of what he might do if I help you again." Zirasha stays like that only a moment before rising and heading back to the shallow pool, moving to the side to sit in the water.
Awareness comes back slowly. The sound of the waterfall, of blood yet still dripping upon the shallow tainted water. Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes remain closed, her breathing slow as if she is still in the depths of unconsciousness. It is tempting to slip back under. Despite showing her captors little fear, Softly-Speckled-Crab feels fear invade her river. In the dark, there is no fear, no pain. But in the dark, she cannot call upon the roots and plants of this cove. Softly-Speckled-Crab knows she no longer has the strength to call upon them to fight for her, she is outnumbered and weakened. But they can move through the ground and seek out her friends. Lead them here...but only so long as she can remain conscious. Zirasha...had commanded her to sleep. Had done it out of mercy. Even now Softly-Speckled-Crab could feel her anguish and fear. Could feel that only one of her captures wanted all of this.
Viperish Night glances at Softly-Speckled-Crab and tilts his head. "Feinting sleep?" he hisses and then turns toward Tyranius. "Come, Tyranius. Hurt the Argonian for me."
Tyranius stirs from his spot near Zirasha and he walks across the water until he's face to face with Viperish Night. "Sure, Viperish Night," Tyranius says and then turns towards Softly-Speckled-Crab who opens her eyes to stare at him intently. "Going to beg?"
"Do what you must," Softly-Speckled-Crab says as she raises her head. "You will all drown in his river. And yet you cannot be without it now."
Tyranius's ice blades shimmer into existence. "Doesn't matter if I drown or not. What Viperish Night wants, we will do. Already damned in so many ways. What's one more?" Tyranius says and the ice blades whirl around Softly-Speckled-Crab in a glimmering storm slicing shallow but many cuts upon her. She throws back her head and hisses in pain as her blood falls into the water.
Viperish Night smiles at Softly-Speckled-Crab's torment then walks over to Zirasha. "Eyes up, Zirasha. Tyranius seems to be having more fun than you did." Viperish Night hisses.
Zirasha raises her head and turns it toward Tyranius. "I never tortured anyone before..." Zirasha whispers.
"You will do better next time," Viperish Night says as he watches the show with a twisted gleam in his eyes.
The blades vanish and Tyranius moves his head slightly. Viperish Night has moved toward Zirasha. With a heavy step, Tyranius moves closer to Softly-Speckled-Crab and grabs her by the neck. "What its worth, I don't want to do this," Tyranius says quietly enough that Viperish Night cannot hear.
Softly-Speckled-Crab struggles to not slip under again. The cuts are shallow, but many. But Tyranius could have done far worse. Both he and Zirasha could have. "Keerasi-Zish is gone. You must know this." Softly-Speckled-Crab softly says.
Tyranius dips his head slightly. "Doesn't matter. All we have...we can't go back." Tyranius responds.
Softly-Speckled-Crab struggles to raise her head, struggles to keep her eyes locked onto Tyranius's fearsome helm that hides the man behind it. The man she can feel is in pain, though he would never show it. "Jeziasi is gone too. He did that."
"Wolfy's over there," Tyranius responds. "Part of her.
"And yet I feel her slipping away. If the collar remains, she will be lost as well," Softly-Speckled-Crab says.
Tyranius's grip tightens and Softly-Speckled-Crab makes a strangled gasp. Tyranius brings his other hand to encircle around her arm. "He's our alpha. We disobey, we lose. Nothing matters but this. Zirasha wants to stay. Duskhollow wants to stay as well. I'm not leaving them." Tyranius says and then his hand tightens on Softly-Speckled-Crab's arm snapping the bones within causing her to cry out in pain.
The darkness pulls Softly-Speckled-Crab under even as she fights it. Her grip on the roots and vines slips even as she does. Slowly her eyes start to close. "Hope is all but lost. It would be a mercy to end him...and perhaps her as well if her mer fades into oblivion." Softly-Speckled-Crab says weakly.
Tyranius lowers his hands. "Monsters such as us are not allowed mercy," Tyranius says and steps back as Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes close and she falls limp. Tyranius looks at her for a moment then turns his back and walks across the water, pausing as he passes Viperish Night. "Test me if you want. I follow you. It is what our pack wants." Tyranius says.
Viperish Night's gaze never drops from Tyranius's. "You never did anything to have me doubt you...yet." Viperish Night responds. "But my Egg-mother made my pack weak. She almost stopped my rise. I have to be sure you all will be the monsters I want."
"Just a dream I went along with because it's what my pack wanted, what pup wanted," Tyranius replies. "Now you want something different, so it's what I want now."
Viperish Night moves past Tyranius and then pauses, his claws grip Tyranius's armored shoulder. "You both are so very mortal. She made you drift away from being monsters. You will both find it easier to return to that state. Zirasha is a monster by creation, you are a monster by desire. Be my monsters, and you will have all you desire." A savage smile crosses Viperish Night's face. "I may desire Coldharbour after this. He may be in my way." Viperish Night continues to walk past Tyranius to stand in front of the unconscious Softly-Speckled-Crab, waiting for her to wake.
Tyranius moves toward the cave wall by Zirasha, leaning against it arms crossed. "Think he wants what Mannimarco wanted," Tyranius comments and at Zirasha's curious gaze Tyranius shakes his head. "Mannimarco wanted to become the Prince of Domination. To take what Molag Bal has. Think Prince made a mistake making Viperish Night. He wanted just another slave to do his bidding. To get the souls of Nirn. He...got this instead."
Zirasha turns her head to look up at Tyranius. "Molag Bal wanted to hurt Jeziasi too," Zirasha whispers. "And I think Viperish Night wants to hurt everyone. Even his pack."
Tyranius's hands curl into fists. "Damn it, girl, I know that. But be the monster he wants you to be. Forget we ever dreamed, ever felt different. It's the only way we stay pack. If that is still what you want."
Zirasha's head falls. "I can't live without Jez and Viper. Or...without you." Zirasha quietly says. "Even if they are gone, something of them is left. Even if it's despair and nightmares. But monsters like those...don't they?" Zirasha's hands drift in the water, still stained with Softly-Speckled-Crab's blood. "I'll be his monster. I'll do what he wants me to do."
"Girl..." Tyranius trails off and then sighs.
Viperish Night stands utterly still in front of Softly-Speckled-Crab. His eyes move to the blood dripping from the rend in her arm, the numerous tiny slices of Tyranius's ice blades. Did his pack hurt her enough? Did they even want to? Viperish Night's eyes slide to them for a brief instant. They had done such horrific things under the death aspect and yet had been willing to follow the life aspect into another river. Were they strong still, or did his Egg-mother make them weak? Then again...she had bested his Egg-father, once. Strength and weakness...was very much not as simple as his Egg-father seemed to think at times. Viperish Night's face turns into a small smile filled with fangs as his attention moves fully back to Softly-Speckled-Crab. "I know you've awakened gain. You cannot hide from me," Viperish Night hisses as he reaches out and lightly brushes his claws across her face.
Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes slowly open. "You do this out of malice," Softly-Speckled-Crab says.
Viperish Night laughs quietly. "The other Vipers never would have done this. Life wanted to play with idiotic creatures and talk to trees. Death wanted to raise the fallen just because he could. Neither would delight in such sweet torture. But I...am every bit as Daedric as my Egg-father and I have been asleep for far too long. It took so long to fully awaken and take control." Viperish Night lowers his hand, his eyes narrowed in fury. "She kept me in the depths, my Egg-mother did. She did...need to be punished for that."
Softly-Speckled-Crab struggles in her binds then stills and raises her head defiantly. "Your river will not overtake all of ours. We know better than to try for peace or mercy now. Your awakening will end in death." Softly-Speckled-Crab hisses.
Viperish Night tilts his head and his claws move up again to cup Softly-Speckled-Crab's face. "Why so angry? You never knew Keerasi-Zish. All you saw were brief glimpses of him behind the death aspect. And yet...so very angry. At this, when multitudes have died. One little part of me has you ready to snap at me in fury." Viperish Night asks. "Tell me. I am very curious now."
Softly-Speckled-Crab locks her eyes upon Viperish Night's. Seeking what is not there, seeing only darkness and cruelty. "I am Softly-Speckled-Crab, and yet I am also of the Hist. Of all the Argonian's. Molag Bal, Mannimarco, and all those who wronged Keerasi-Zish were not the only ones to do so. We hold responsibility as well for his loss, and for his despair. The Hist feared his corruption, the Argonian's feared his differences, and all we did was start his descent into the depths by turning our backs on him." Softly-Speckled-Crab blinks rapidly before turning back the intense gaze. "The depths of agony he suffered, the way he was corrupted in every way a soul can be...and then you destroyed him as if he was nothing. If I could snap my fangs around your neck and rend you asunder, I would."
"So very violent," Viperish Night says as he leans in to whisper. "You would if you had any strength at all. You would bring forth nature to strangle and drown me in these waters. But this place is corrupted. The plants suffer...that and the torture we've already inflicted upon you..." Viperish Night laughs. "Keerashi-Zish is not the only one I will murder. All mortals...because it pleases me to drown the world in their blood." Viperish Night steps back and his eyes shimmer with delighted malice. "Your words are so defient, but I see the despair in your eyes. You know you will die screaming here. You know I will win. No hope left, nothing but this."
Softly-Speckled-Crab closes her eyes briefly. Yes, this place was tainted with corruption. The link to the plants was weak, and when consciousness faded, so did the link. But still, they answered her. Weakly, but they would do what she needed them to do. And so Softly-Speckled-Crab opens her eyes. "Always hope in the river. For what and who we have, and must protect," she answers.
Viperish Night laughs again. "So very pathetic. Let me hear you scream again and then see if you still have any hope at all." Viperish Night's claws move to Softly-Speckled-Crab's neck. "I did promise to peel your scales from your body, did I not?"
Zirasha tenses at Softly-Speckled-Crab's screams of utter agony and then wraps her arms around her knees. She had moved closer where Duskhollow sleeps and Tyranius had followed her. "She did not scream like that when we..." Zirasha says and trails off.
"We held back, girl. This Viper won't. This..." Tyranius trails off as well and then shakes his head. "Tortured people during the Plane-meld at times. Maybe I did enjoy it. But it had purpose. Information, punishment. This... no purpose. He just wants to hurt her." Zirasha frowns and curls up tighter. and Tyranius looks away from her to Duskhollow who has not risen from sleep despite the screams. "Girl did you...,"
"Yes!" Zirasha snaps. "She would have made Viperish Night angry and I could not help her again! He might..." Zirasha hisses and at Tyranius's tensing she glares up at him. "Do not say it, Tyranius! We stay together no matter what he does."
"Girl... if he does you are not going to survive it and I won't either cause I'll try to take his damn head off." Tyranius warns.
"I'll be good," Zirasha says. "I'll be his perfect little vampire."
"Girl... you sure that's what you want?" Tyranius says.
Zirasha looks down. "There is nothing else to want, Tyranius." Zirasha whispers.
-Southern Elsweyr-
Iveryni had found Rufico and Theodyn south-east at another dragon site. They had split up to find him and stop him from raising more dragons. But...Iveryni slams her fist into a nearby rock as her runes shimmer with her anger. "I should have stopped them. I should have saved her!" Iveryni says and then she falls to her knees against the rock shaking.
"Iveryni," Rufico says, "This whole time they have only tried to end us. Never anything more. You had no way to know he'd decide to take any of us."
"Know your enemy, but your enemy is not to turn into someone else mid-war," Theodyn says. The expression on his face is near devastating as he paces the grass.
Iveryni shakes her head. "I should have still known! Softly-Speckled-Crab warned us that Viperish Night was not the same. I should have known."
Theodyn stops. "We will find her," Theodyn says. "No matter where we have to go, what we have to do, we will find her, Iveryni."
Iveryni turns towards Theodyn and Rufico. "You know as well as I that finding Viperish Night has been all but impossible. Every method tried, failed. Only when we guess right do we find him." Iveryni says.
A dark expression crosses Rufico's face. Theodyn notices but then the vines at their feet start to move. Theodyn drops to his knees and clasps one with his hand. "The vines...they are moving," Theodyn says.
Rufico's eyes follow the vine. "They all are moving," and with a smirk, he shakes his head. "Softly-Speckled-Crab found a way to reach us." Iveryni bolts up and starts to follow the vines followed by Rufico and Theodyn. There is hope they will find their friend, but the unspoken fear is shared. Softly-Speckled-Crab has found a way to reach them, but will they ever be in time?
-Moonlit Cove-
Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes are closed her head down as she breaths raggedly. Blood drips into the water and shards of agony come in waves from her neck, back and left arm. Viperish Night had slowly ripped many scales, rending them with his claws so he could peel them from her flesh. Enough to make her scream until she could scream no longer and still, he continued, enjoying every moment of her agony. The temptation to let go and let her river take her from this was becoming overwhelming, but still, Softly-Speckled-Crab fights to stay conscious, to cling to the fragile link she had with the vines in hopes they would find her friends and lead them here before it was too late. All she had to do was endure until they came, all she had to do was resist all temptation to escape the agony and drift under the river, and keep Viperish Night's attention on her so he will not notice what she is doing. Viperish Night could kill all the plants in this cove with utter ease, after all. He had done it on the Isle, he had done it in the battle at Grahtwood. And so Softly-Speckled-Crab forces her eyes open, forces her voice to work. "Keerasi-Zish...is he truly gone from your river, or did you just drown him?" Softly-Speckled-Crab says in a broken hiss.
Viperish Night's claws shoot out in an instant, gripping her savaged neck and Softly-Speckled-Crab cannot hold back a whimper of pain. "There is no hope. Not for him, not for you, not for anyone," Viperish Night hisses and then smiles. "You were always the most composed of all of your pack. The most hopeful, you even saw so many of our truths...for that, I will break you." Viperish Night brings his other hand up to her face the icy claws lightly brushing against her scales promising even more pain to come and Softly-Speckled-Crab can't help but tremble part of her fearing he is right. That he will break her before her friends can find her.
Southern Elsweyr is lush with vines ferns and so much more jungle plants. And now they are reaching out and Iveryni, Rufico, and Theodyn follow the vines across the land to a cove entrance that is covered in vines that twist in urgency. Rufico steps towards the entrance. "She's in there. If..." Rufico trails off leaving the rest unspoken. If Softly-Speckled-Crab is still alive. It took them time to follow the vines. Too much time perhaps.
Theodyn steps beside Rufico. "She is. The vines are still moving." Theodyn withdraws Dawnblade, shedding light upon the darkness.
Iveryni stares at the entrance a frightening look upon her face. A look that promises destruction for those who took her friend. Without a single word, she marches past the boys and into cove her runes writhing angrily. Rufico and Theodyn follow behind her into the depths.
The world is a haze of crimson pain and threatening darkness. It takes all Softly-Speckled-Crab has and more to remain conscious and not slip under. Even as Viperish Night rips the scales from the left side of her face she keeps contact with the plants willing them to hurry but starting to falter...to break. The pain all-consuming, Viperish Night's icy touch and the fiery agony the whimpers that escape her despite trying to hold them back. At last Viperish Night pauses. Softly-Speckled-Crab feels her eyes closing but forces them open as Viperish Night grabs her face forcing her to look at him, into those icy blue eyes that hold such utter evil.
"You claimed to know despair, but this must eclipse even that. Knowing that I will kill you as slowly as I can. Knowing your pack will never find you." Viperish Night hisses. Softly-Speckled-Crab whimpers again and all Viperish Night does is laugh. "Perhaps if you beg...I will end you quick. Perhaps." Softly-Speckled-Crab hisses at him and he drops his claws from her face. "Defiant to the very end. It is amusing how hard mortals fight." Viperish Night moves to her right side, his claws running over her broken arm causing her to cry out weakly but before he can do anything more Duskhollow's howl suddenly echos throughout the cavern causing Viperish Night to turn from Softly-Speckled-Crab in an angry hiss.
Zirasha bolts up as Duskhollow runs in and turns toward the entrance barking and growling. Tyranius withdraws his scythe as he stomps through the water. "Viperish Night, think we have company."
Viperish Night stalks through the water and stops, standing a distance from the arch in front of where Softly-Speckled-Crab is bound. At first, Viperish Night frowns but then as he gazes around he laughs. "Even poisoned plants answer her call. Tricky." Viperish Night hisses.
Iveryni steps out from the arch into the water, staff in hand and runes glowing so brightly they are near blinding to look at. Her eyes are solid fiery white as she stares at Viperish Night. "You will suffer if you have hurt Softly-Speckled-Crab," Iveryni snarls at Viperish Night as Rufico and Theodyn move to stand at her side.
"If?" Viperish Night laughs as he steps aside to let the heroes see the state of their friend.
Iveryni falters in shock as she almost loses grip on her staff. Theodyn nearly falls and Rufico tightens his grip on his knife. "Damn it..." Rufico mutters.
Iveryni steps forward as her skin starts to move from her dusky shade to near translucent. "What have you DONE?" she snarls at Viperish Night.
Viperish Night's grin is ghastly. "I told her what I would do to her. She still came for my dragons so I and my pack decided to have a little fun," Viperish Night laughs and his claws beckon for Iveryni to come at him. "Attack us, make us pay for this. But if you do...she may very well die. The water you are standing in is so very red from her blood."
Iveryni still starts forward nearly past the point of reason as fire runs down her arms and staff. Rufico swears again. "Iveryni! Let them go. We'll hunt down the bastard for this later after we take care of Softly-Speckled-Crab."
Iveryni howls and then backs off withdrawing the fire by sheer force of will even as she shakes with rage. "I will destroy you for this. Every inch of you will burn and be destroyed by my fire," Iveryni promises.
"But your the one who failed to save her from me," Viperish Night tells her and then turns and motions with his claws opening a portal. "Let them have what is left of their lizard," Viperish Night instructs his pack and enters the portal. Duskhollow follows behind him tail down followed by Zirasha. Tyranius is last and before he enters he turns his head to regard the heroes and then follows after the portal slamming shut behind them.
Iveryni bolts forward toward Softly-Speckled-Crab. Softly-Speckled-Crab's eyes meet hers briefly before Softly-Speckled-Crab's head falls and her eyes close as she at last surrenders to the currents of unconsciousness. Iveryni reaches for her but then pulls back. "I...I might hurt her." Iveryni whispers.
Rufico moves past her. "We've got her, Iveryni," Rufico says and turns towards Theodyn. "Theo, cut her down. I"ll catch her."
Theodyn nods grimly and Dawnbreaker slices through the chains dropping Softly-Speckled-Crab into Rufico's waiting arms. As Rufico holds her carefully a frown crosses his face. "She's so close...too close," Rufico trails off and shudders. "How can I ask her to come back? To this?"
Theodyn sheaths Dawnbreaker and moves to Rufico's side one hand gently brushes the undamaged side of Softly-Speckled-Crab's face. "She wants to, Rufico. No matter what we have to suffer though, we have to save Nirn. She understands that better then any of us."
"Damn it all. Damn the bastards for this," Rufico swears. "She, out of all of us, did not deserve this. She's the best of us."
Iveryni turns and opens a portal. "We need to return to Elden Root," Iveryni says quietly.
Rufico nods and enters the portal with Softly-Speckled-Crab followed by Theodyn. Iveryni gazes after her friends and then shuts the portal leaving her alone in the cove. Her eyes move to the bloody water. "Deimyite was right," Iveryni whispers. "I should have never hesitated. Never thought of what else might be destroyed with him. I will set this right. I will destroy Viperish Night no matter what I must do to do so." Iveryni opens another portal. There is one place they have not been to yet. One place that perhaps Viperish Night has not yet been to, and if so he will be unable to resist. More than one set of dragon bones rests in that place. And it...will be what Iveryni needs to end this. In a way that may very well destroy what's left of her mortality, and therefore, Theodyn and Rufico cannot be a part of it. Iveryni enters the portal with grim determination and it shuts behind her.