-The Cave-

Mannimarco sits on the floor arms draped over his knees. His head is tilted slightly as he watches Swims-in-Silence. Time and time again Swims-in-Silence has vanished. But to do what? A small frown crosses his face as he tries to puzzle it out. When that fails, he probes. "You disregarded her. After being so obsessed with both of them," Mannimarco asks, coloring his voice with more confusion than is warranted.

And as he expects it attracts Swims-in-Silence's attention as he turns towards Mannimarco, a faint smile crossing his fanged face before vanishing. "Jeziasi is the Vestige. Reborn in MY realm," Swims-in-Silence tells him.

"You are not suggesting she's immortal, as if she is one of the Daedra," Mannimarco responds.

Swims-in-Silence tilts his head as he regards the necromancer and gives him his answer, "Never before has one of my soul shriven been revived from my realm. Never before have they taken their soul back."

The glimmer in the Argonian's eyes has Mannimarco raising an eyebrow. "So you, at one point, did respect her strength. Even when..." he trails off at the angry hiss that follows.

"No one dominates the Lord of Domination," Swims-in-Silence snaps and then settles. "Still..."

"I will take that as a yes," Mannimarco says with a smirk and before Swims-in-Silence can turn on him he continues, "If Jeziasi falls...she may very well be reborn in your realm. But azure plasm exists in all the planes of Oblivion. She could just as easily be reborn in Hircine's realm since he has claim on her." A frown crosses his face. "But how can that happen if the collar destroys her soul?"

Swims-in-Silence turns his head from Mannimarco steaming to look far away. "If my mate is weak enough to be destroyed then I have no further use for her," he answers.

"Desire, I think you mean," Mannimarco says with a small smirk. "As twisted as your interpretation of that may be." Swims-in-Silence stills utterly before appropriately turning and vanishing through a portal and Mannimarco swears softly. "So you have a way to see her. To see her drown in the dark." He knows it is a weakness. To be so obsessed with Viperish Night and Jeziasi. One he fully intends to exploit.

-The Marsh - Coppertail Tribe -

The feel of water and mud under his claws, the musky smells of the swamp. The crash of vicious animals in the distance and the chirp and buzzes of swamp insects that soon fall silent as the portal closes behind Viperish Night and his pack, and the necromancer stills a moment taking in what is so very familiar, and so very hated. His eyes dart to the luminescent plants and the glow of the moons that filter through the marsh trees and he hisses softly as Tyranius's heavy footsteps stop behind him, followed by Zirasha's barely noticeable ones and Duskhollow's padfalls. "This... this is where we start," he hisses as his eyes move toward the tribe that sleeps so unaware. This is where he was hatched, though his egg was created far from here. The tribe he grew up in, the tribe that sent him and Tree-Minder away. The first tribe to reject him, but not the last. "I was sleeping under the river here, but all my aspects shared our hatred. The desire to drown those who rejected us," he falls silent briefly before he slowly starts to step forward and then pauses his eyes glancing back at his pack.

"We know," Tyranius says with a dark laugh as he withdraws his scythe. "Kill them all. Up for some lizard blood, girl?"

Zirasha starts to answer then gasps and Duskhollow growls low in her throat as what seems to be a spirit appears before them, an impossibility since Argonian's never become such. Viperish Night snarls softly. Again, she appears as she appeared when the Death aspect was in control. Tree-minder. But she was no spirit, just an unwanted memory the Hist breathed to life. As he stares at Tree-minder with narrowed eyes filled with hate she stares back for long moments before lowering her head in abject despair as she starts to speak. "Even we did not understand that you were not one, but three. All the Hist sensed was utter corruption that would consume us all."

"If you had not rejected Keerasi-Zish I may have never risen from the depths. The Hist planted the first seeds of betrayal, and it became all we knew. Betrayal at every corner. Even those Keerasi-Zish loved betrayed him or died," Viperish Night says and laughs at Tree-minder's silence. "Nothing to say? Not going to beg and plead for me to alter my river, aspect of the Hist?" His eyes start to glow as the dead move from the marsh's waters and come to his call.

Tree-minder makes no move as the dead rise, and she answers Viperish Night. "There is no altering your river. You, who are without hesitation and mercy. Even those around you follow you into your depths. They will even drown for you."

Viperish Night smirks his eyes filled with twisted amusement. "They are my monsters," he replies as more dead rise.

Tree-Minder suddenly jerks her head up and her eyes glow eerie green and Viperish Night freezes as he is trapped in their glow...and the dead all around freeze as well. "He is beyond hearing. Beyond knowing. For a brief pause, his river is quieted." Tree-Minder says in a voice that strains with keeping the necromancer in this state.

Tyranius steps forward menacingly his heavy boots squishing in the mud, his scythe gripped tightly. "Let him go, or we'll see if this scythe can dispel you into pieces," he threatens. Duskhollow's growl echos the threat and Zirasha moves to the other side fangs bared.

"You could end this," Tree-Minder answers.

"Why don't you?," Tyranius asks, laughing when Tree-minder fails to answer. "That's what I thought," and then he glances at Zirasha's confused look. "Not strong enough. And something makes her... it, hesitate."

"His death could doom all we are," Tree-minder answers in a voice that echos sorrow. "The Daedric corruption runs soul deep. If his blood is spilled upon the marsh and his body sinks into it...it could consume all The Hist is. We cannot risk such a thing. But we do not control your choices. You are not truly his monsters."

Zirasha hisses angrily. "We will not do that," and her words are echoed by Duskhollow's growl and Tyranius's determined stance.

"The harder river than," Tree-minder says. "We abandoned Keerasi-Zish. We will despair until our last moment for this. A diseased branch must be cast off, but perhaps by doing so we ensured THIS outcome," despite the grim words she smiles softly before speaking again, "But to know he found a family willing to swim with him until the end. Even if it brings nothing but despair."

"Enough talk, let him go. Won't ask again," Tyranius growls.

"A moment. We ask for a moment. We have stilled the Daedric aspect, though you are correct. We lack the power to destroy him, even if we would risk it," Tree-minder says as she raises her head. "If the life aspect exists still death will now be free to seak him out temporarily unbound by the Daedric aspect. Let us give Keerasi-Zish this last mercy. For when Viperish Night breaks free of this, he will come for the Hist, and The Hist's children, and we will answer with our full force. But this... this we owe him this last mercy."

Tyranius slowly lowers his scythe, though his gaze never leaves Tree-minders as does Zirasha's and Duskhollows.

-In the Depths-

Keerasi-Zish watched from the depths as Viperish Night entered the marsh with their pack. Knew that he would soon start slaughtering Argonian's starting with the tribe in which he hatched. Once, he wanted this. Wanted to drown them all in his river for abandoning him and casting him into a world that hurt him in so very many ways. But as the memory of Tree-Minder appeared to Viperish Night, Keerasi-Zish feels a pang in his spine. Until the Hist had banished him, she had raised him, had tried to find a tribe that would accept him, even if it meant hiding part of who he was. He never should have had to hide, but long-forgotten feelings still stir upon seeing her, even if it was just the Hist, just a memory. "Do I still wish to drown them?" he speaks as he looks up at the blood moons in the sky. Slowly he lowers his head and closes his eyes. The Hist... had to choose on that day long ago. To protect Keerasi-Zish, or to protect all of the Argonian's and The Hist. It was not fair. It was not something Keerasi-Zish could yet forgive. But he found now, that perhaps he did not want to drown them as much as he once did.

Footsteps crunch across the sands and Keerasi-Zish opens his eyes and looks up at the Argonian that is walking toward him. Ebony scales shot through with crimson that seems to twist and move. Pitch black eyes that speak of The Void Itself. At last, Death has come before him and as he looks up at the aspect a jolt of realization shoots through him and his eyes widen. "You...do not come from our Egg-Father, do you?" Keerasi-Zish asks.

Death stares down at him for a moment before speaking, a melodious voice, that would lead you into the deepest abyss if you followed its song. "Our Egg-mother is life. Our Egg-father is Daedric and our Egg-Father's stolen form, death. The Deathfang tribe communes with The Void and was rewarded with death magic for it, as long as they continued tribute to Sithis and The Void," Death tells him.

Keerasi-Zish frowns as he puzzles over the information. Always, always their Egg-Father instigated that Death was his domain. But this was a new truth, one he had not known. So how did Death know it? "How do you know this? We searched for answers, but never found this one," he asks.

Death smiles, a smile of fangs, and the promise of the end. "You never found it. But when we visited Deathfang's tribe their song of The Void reached me subconsciously. Now that we each have our own form...it sings to me clearly,." he answers before tilting his head slightly. "Another truth. The Death magic Deathfang commands is not necromancy. But it somehow blended in with the power of the Daedric aspect and became ours. It is why commanding the dead was so very easy for us."

Keerasi-Zish takes in these truths and then starts to tremble slightly as he lowers his head, his claws digging into the bloody sand. "It...we could have been made without our Egg... without Molag Bal possessing Stalks-In-Darkness," he utters as more truth surges through his spine.

"Molag Bal could have bargained with any of DeathFang tribe to seduce our Egg-mother," Death agrees, "But Molag Bal...seeks utter domination. In taking over a mortal body, that became obsession, so he sought The Vestige, the one who had bested him, in the way he did."

Keerasi-Zish hisses angrily. "You are not upset over this? The depths of harm he did to our Egg-mother, to US?"

"You feel the emotions of life," Death responds, "I am beyond such, as is The Void. What was done, was done. We are who we are for it."

Keerasi-Zish feels fear shoot down his spine for the next question he asks, which is the question he dreads the answer to. "You will side with Viperish Night then. With the Daedric aspect," he whispers in a broken hiss.

Death's eyes darken. "You fought me, Keerasi-Zish. We could have been in balance." Again Death tilts his head. "The question is how much of our war was your doing, and how much were the machinations of Viperish Night? I refuse to decide until I know the answer to that question. And..." he trails off and stares at Keerasi-Zish for long moments before continuing. "And until I know you will not war with me anew if I decide to war against Viperish Night."

Keerasi-Zish stares into Death's eyes, remembering back in Daggerfall how death sang to him...but how he feared it, and in the end run from it. But how could anyone run from what was an essential part of who they were? And so he speaks the truth, "Waring with you only caused despair, madness, and unending agony. I will try a new way."

Death studies him before answering, "I believe you, I think. My answer remains the same. Until I find the truth of Viperish Night." He turns and pauses. "Even if Viperish Night fueled our war, made it so very much worse...if you are not strong enough we will fail. I will not be cast down as you are. Prove your strength unless Viperish Night... The Lord of Domination's son has all our strength." Death slowly fades until Keerasi-Zish is alone once more.

-Coppertail Tribe-

The light in Tree-minders eyes slowly starts to dim. "Viperish Night is breaking free of our hold. Strike this memory down with your scythe. Pretend to be his monsters until the very end. Know that you have chosen the harder path. You... embraced Keerasi-Zish when we could not. Gave him love when we could not. Find him, if you can. Save him, and you may save us all," Tree-Minder says.

"Don't care about the rest. Just this pack," Tyranius growls before his scythe sweeps through the air and through the Hist's memory which breaks apart in final shards of energy that vanish into the night air.

Viperish Night startles awake the moment Tyranius's scythe flies and the dead start to move forward again, only pausing when the threat is cut down. His eyes move to his pack in turn and then he hisses before stepping forward with a wicked laugh. "The Hist cannot, will not stop me," Viperish Night hisses, "So let us rain blood upon the marsh and take this tribe and its Hist into death...so they may rise as mine," and with that, he moves to the tribe and his pack follows.

-Deep in the Dark-

The suffocating quiet is broken. Not with a bang but the slightest noise, the slightest change. Jeziasi tenses a snarl forming on her face. Of course, he would come here. Of course, he could. He made the collar that bound her here, after all. Jeziasi's hands curl into fists. "Swims...," she starts to growl and then pauses. It is easier to call him that, in a way, it is even true. He is almost a different being in some regards in this form, but it is not the truth. Truth... Jeziasi had hidden from much of the truth, too much, and slowly she stands. "Molag Bal, I remember everything now." The sound of his claw steps circling her but Jeziasi stays utterly still. This is beyond the physical plane and somehow she knows he cannot physically hurt her here...as for other ways, she no longer will let him. The past would forever haunt her but she was through running and hiding from it.

"Jeziasi," Swims-in-Silence hisses. "I hoped you would, one day. Tell me, my mate, does the truth cut you as deeply as I had hoped?"

Jeziasi clenches her fists tighter then releases them. "Yes," she admits and turns toward the sound of his footsteps as they come to a halt. A growl from her throat interrupts his pleased laughter. "How?" Clawsteps resume as he moves closer to her, his claws reaching out to her with their vile touch, but Jeziasi does not so much as flinch at the icy touch.

"How what my mate? You will have to be more specific," is Swims-in-Silence's answer.

A few moments to compose herself then she speaks again. "Willing union. I may have been foolish enough to go with you at first, but you did something to make me want to bond with you, and you...," she trails off with an angry growl before being able to continue, "I know what I said that night you let me wake. I know Viperish Night's egg was created long after that night."

Swims-in-Silence is silent for a few moments before he moves even closer to her and he whispers in her ear, "My mate, you wanted to bond with me, your wolf did not. And you wanted to forget...for you wanted to stay in the world I created for us. I indeed used something to quiet your wolf. Used the compulsion bond to silence your memories, but the conditions of the band were met," he steps back slightly and laughs, "Now you will growl at me and tell me it is not true, that I am lying, won't you?"

Jeziasi lowers her head silently. Truth... she would not run from it. Never again. To run would damn her, would let the sleep of oblivion take her. Truth... she ignored her wolf. Back then she had been lost and so very lonely. Truth, she wanted to hide from her memories. Even if it meant... a tear falls down her face and then she raises her head staring into the darkness able to remember with crystal clarity Swims-in-Silence face even in this place without light... and the face of The Daedric Prince Molag Bal. "Truth," she utters in a voice filled with steel and she can feel his shock at her answer. "You are the Prince of Schemes and you trapped me in this one. But I let myself be trapped. I wanted to run from so much. Nothing mattered back then but hiding from the pain and thinking no harm would come of the way I decided to hide from it," she growls softly before continuing, "A mistake, grievous one I will never fully recover from." she pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing, "But I do not regret it, Molag Bal. To regret it would be to regret my son. Keerasi-Zish. Viperish Night. I will never regret him, in all his aspects, in all his shattered pieces. I will never abandon him, I will never give up on him, and I will find a way to him, or die trying. Stop me, and I will show you no mercy." A feral grin crosses Jeziasi's face. "In fact, even if you stand back and do nothing I still will show you no mercy for what you have done to our son. I made my choices, you denied him his." Before Swims-In-Silence can speak again Jeziasi's eyes flare with a golden glow that can be seen through the dark and suddenly a burst of energy flares from her banishing him from this place and his enraged howl is the last thing she hears from him before silence falls again.

Jeziasi allows herself to exist in the silence for long moments before she turns around. "I know your there, Mannimarco," she says before softly growling under her breath. "...Thank you."

Mannimarco's laughter pierces the dark. "You know I did not do it for you, Jeziasi. Still an excuse to banish him from this place and make him think you did it. Yes, this will work. I do not need his eyes on me when I work on breaking the collar's magic," he says.

As much as Jeziasi wants to believe she can escape this darkness on her own, she can feel the magic binding here is stronger than even she can break. Beyond her power has a growl set deep within her, anger stirring that she has to rely on one of her greatest enemies, and one who hurt her son so much to break it. But all this started not just from her pain, but her pride in her strength, and never once reaching out for help. "Get me out of here, Mannimarco, and name your price for it," she replies.

Mannimarco laughs, "Working on it, Jeziasi. As for the price... I'll wait to tell you that. You are not going to like it but you'll pay it all the same." Again he laughs as he fades leaving Jeziasi once more alone in the dark.

-Coppertail Tribe-

The stench of death and the swamp permeates the air as somehow does the silence. There had been growls and screeching, screams and agony. Claws and fangs, blades and steel, and the endless flood of the dead, far more than was needed to drown Coppertail tribe. Zirasha's eyes are on Viperish Night as blood drips from down from her into the water. They all had killed so very many. Enjoyed the carnage every time, but this time Viperish Night's delight in the excess sent chills down her spine. The very way he seemed to drink in the screams and death that followed. Slowly she moves to Tyranius as Viperish Night moves away from them to the Hist. Once out of hearing range she turns to her pack brother. "Tyranius," she breaths, "Our Viper reveled in death, killed so easily just as we did but..." she trails off and he finishes her thoughts.

"This Viperish Night has the heart of a monster, one born not made into one. No mercy, nothing but his singular goal to not only drown the world but make it suffer as much as possible," Tyranius answers her. As Zirasha looks away he glances away from Viperish Night to her. "You were created to, girl. Wolfy just made you remember when you were not a monster. She made Pup remember too."

Zirasha glances back at him. "And you?" she asks. She knows he never was broken as she and Viper were. By his claims, he was a natural-born monster too. But she had seen more of him than that. So very much more. And so she asks the question and waits for the answer.

He pauses before answering then shakes his head. "...Wolfy made me wonder what it would be like to be something other than a monstrous brute whose sole purpose was for war, war of any kind... Just for a moment," he answers her and then turns attention back to this Viperish Night. This one who thinks they are his, who believes they have the heart of monsters just as he does. This Viperish Night cannot feel the emotions that Jeziasi brought back to life in them, and in the case of Tyranius, showed him what such emotions were. Family, pack, love, and loyalty. For all of these reasons, they will continue down the river. For hope that somehow they can find those lost in the depths and darkness.

Duskhollow watches silently, blood matted in her fur smelling of wet dog and swamp. Her pack's words still blend together. Still are beyond her full understanding but she knows the meaning of them. And she knows the missing part of her has awoken. Still trapped deep in the dark, but now she can feel her again. She wants to howl in joy but fears the bite of her son. Fears he will know why she howls and will hurt them again. He must not know that she is stirring. Because it is she that can find her true son. The one who loved her. The one she would howl until the Moons faded to dust for. A wolf mother's love knew no bounds, and she knew her pack sister and brother hunted for him, that only showed throats to THIS one so they had a chance to.

One last Argonian left alive, the current Tree-minder of Coppertail tribe. Not their Tree-minder of days long past but a new younger one of smaller stature with her copper-colored scales bright against the dark grey. Viperish Night studies her as he holds her by the neck, her clawed feet dangling over the shallow water, blood from numerous slices running down her arms. A grim smile comes across the necromancer's face as he speaks to her, "You, you will remain alive for a bit longer," he says delighting in the pain and fury in her eyes. She had, after all, just seen her tribe decimated down to the very last Argonian, not even the eggs had been spared and she struggles under his grip even as her strength slowly leaves her and he tightens her hold to cut off any words she might utter. "No more words of despair, of lost hope, of pleading for a different river. I am the abomination the Hist feared and for that betrayal, I will end the marsh, the Argonians, and the Hist and then raise them to end Nirn. You, my betrayers, will be my final army, and the Undead Hist I will create will sing a song of death to enslave and ensnare any Argonian in my path...and they will walk willingly to their deaths and be added to the numbers." The vicious grin on his face causes abject fear in her eyes and as his eyes start to glow he tosses her at two of his undead who hold her as he stalks to the Hist and plunges his claws into it causing necromantic and death energy to course into the tree. An unnatural scream, if such a horrific sound can be called that, pierces the marsh and causes even the dead to tremble as this Hist dies and then returns to its new unnatural undead life. The color fades into shades of grey shot through with eerie blue veins and the roots erupt from the ground twisting to the necromancer's song. Viperish Night throws his head back and starts to laugh but pauses and tilts his head frowning. "I thought the corruption would spread through the ground, perhaps to every Hist in the marsh. Perhaps I need to end more of them first," he hisses before turning to the Tree-minder who is slumped in her captures arms, all traces of defiance lost in despair. He snaps his claws and the skeletons release her and she moves to the Hist as if entranced allowing the roots to wrap around her neck until it snaps. Viperish Night then turns to his pack. "We move towards Mossyrocks next. They, who never accepted us. They who listened to the Hist and abandoned us," he hisses and then laughs. "Though there are tribes on the way. We will end them as we go." he turns and heads deeper into the marsh and his pack silently follows him to the next massacre.

-In the Depths-

All the Hist are connected. Throughout the marsh, their roots stretch deep. Keerasi-Zish knows this and he knows The Hist was right. As he watches Viperish Night corrupt Coppertail's Hist he knows it will slowly spread throughout the marsh and he hisses. Part of him still wants them to drown. Never being accepted by his kind, the betrayal he suffered, the very first one still stings so very deep. But... thoughts of his Egg-mother intrude in his dark thoughts. How far she went for him, how close they had been to a different path. How he had been ready to let go of his desire to drown the world even as the madness threatened to overwhelm him and so he rises and his eyes start to glow a brilliant green and the energy flows down him into the bloody sand and with all he is he wrenches against the stillness of this memory he is trapped in and the energy responds and flows to the body of Fernthorn and she rises her eyes glowing green briefly before it fades.

Keerasi-Zish studies her, his eyes filled with sorrow and the deepest regret and he finds himself moving toward her. "Please... help me. I do not deserve it, but I ask all the same," he whispers. Fernthorn looks up at him and it is as if she is alive again, briefly. Is she truly just a memory or has a spark of her soul returned here? He is not certain...not even fully certain of how he did this. All he knows is his despair and hope and Death's words have caused him to break through the memory. Have caused this in desperate need.

"Viperish Night," Fernthorn quietly says with sorrow, "I never wanted you to truly be a monster. But you had one in you, one you could never outswim."

He blinks rapidly. Trying to blink away the despair that wants to engulf him, the regret that wants to drown him. "I never was strong enough," he responds.

"But you are trying to now. Tell me what to do. Let me help you. Let me forgive you."

He starts at her words and then shakes his head. "I do not deserve forgiveness. I have not even earned it. I do not think I ever can," he whispers eyes closing briefly but he pushes away the despair to open them again. "Move to Coppertail's Hist. Hold back the infection as long as you can. Keep it from spreading throughout the marsh. I must slow him down. I must prove to Death I am strong enough to. So I can save my pack."

Fernthorn smiles, a sad smile filled with regret and loss at what could have been but also something more, hope. "You asked me for help. Monsters never do that. You can be more than what the world made you. I'll fight as long as I can for you." Fernthorn glows a brilliant green and then vanishes away from the memory, to do what was asked of her.

Keerasi-Zish watches her go and then sinks to the ground exhausted. It took all he had and more to break a piece of this memory off for his purposes. And he would have to do it every time Viperish Night murdered a Hist. He would have to face those who had been his friends, those his undead had killed. Those...he killed. "I may not be strong enough," he whispers as his eyes close and tremors wrack his spine. "But I have to be. My pack...my family fights for me. Suffers for me. Are lost in the dark because of me... I must be strong enough."

-Near Mossy Rocks-

Iveryni stands near the edge of a glowing barrier, staring out at the marsh. Mages from the mage guild were working to keep the barrier in place to hide them and hide the allegiances forces. The depths of magical knowledge and power it was needed to not only hide their presence, but their very life energy was taxing. Not all the mages would perhaps survive this gargantuan effort. Should she care? Iveryni knows she should but emotions are still buried under the fire she let engulf her in Southern Elsweyr. Clawsteps in the shallow water has her head turning to see Softly-Speckled-Crab approach and she quickly turns from the Argonian. "I...," Iveryni says. At a loss for words, still.

Softly-Speckled-Crab stops behind her. "We are in pieces, Iveryni. Once, before, most of us were whole. But all that has happened has shattered who we once were. We share that in common with Viperish Night and his pack," she says quietly.

"Most?" Iveryni asks.

"Rufico was in pieces when he found us. Broken long before us, in the depths of the sewers where nightmares lurked during the Plane-meld. He may never speak of the depths of that time. He may never be able to," Softly-Speckled-Crab says and then moves closer to Iveryni. "Theodyn broke during the training. You and I broke during this war. But Rufico now?"

Iveryni, at last, understands and turns to her friend. "The Brotherhood... somehow put him back together," she answers.

Softly-Speckled-Crab nods, "Yes, and Theodyn is the one that keeps him balanced. In his shadows, but with soft warm light to beckon him home if he strays too far in the dark. Rufico will return that as well, being the shadows to balance the light, and he has helped Theodyn piece himself back together."

A look of loss crosses Iveryni's face. "But what of us? I cannot see any path out of the darkness I am cast in. Even those who should be my light, I can hardly feel. And you..." Iveryni again trails off.

A shudder briefly crosses Softly-Speckled-Crab's body before she steadies herself, but the sense of fear in her eyes stays and she looks away from her friend. "He broke me, and I am terrified," she admits as her claws flex in the air. "Every time I close my eyes I return to that river of fear and despair when I feared I would never be found. I was free of that when I was with the Valenwood and when I was called to return I almost did not. I had to, but I almost did not."

The despair and pain in Softly-Speckled-Crab's voice shakes something loose in Iveryni and with a flash shards of emotion surface and a tear falls down her cheek as she moves in front of her friend hesitating only for a moment before she places a hand on Softly-Speckled-Crab's shoulder. "How are we to be anything but broken? What puts us back together?" Iveryni whispers. "Who saves us?"

Softly-Speckled-Crab places a scarred hand onto Iveryni's. "I do not know," she whispers. "But we must fight through fear and despair. We must try. Or we will lose what we have left." A warm hand on her shoulders, it is not enough. Without another word Softly-Speckled-Crab wraps her arms around Iveryni, almost falling into them and after a brief hesitation Iveryni returns the hug and the two share their pain for a brief moment before reality intrudes once more.

Rufico glances over at the two girls and his face softens briefly. Theodyn looks at him with a small smile. "Hope," Theodyn softly says. "Even that was lost in the blinding light of Meridia. She let hatred overwhelm her...and me."

"It will end one way or another," Rufico responds and turns fully to Theodyn. The shadows of the Dark Brotherhood had done what nothing else could do, they let him face the nightmares of his past and put himself together into someone who was not only useful but was full of grim purpose. Being one with death allowed him to remember the horrors of the Imperial Sewers and fully face them so they would not terrorize his nightmares any longer. He was now a monster in the dark, and he understood them. And yet, one could not live utterly in the shadows without losing something. He had, perhaps, been close to losing it before Theodyn. The Breton boy who was so very shattered by Meridia, by the light, WAS his light. And he could see his beloved slowly putting himself back together, becoming who he was. He hoped that the girls could do it as well. Iveryni had been so structured and controlled before her training in the darkness and destruction of the Deadlands. She had come back as a wildfire, such a split from who she had been that perhaps shattering was inevitable. And Softly-Speckled-Crab, she like him had come back better for their training but the torture under the hands of this Daedric version of Viperish Night had done what the war could not do, it broke her. Unlike the Dunmer, the Argonian's breakage was silent. Less an eruption and more of a withering. But the truth was in the way she held herself now, the stark fear and despair in her eyes. And yet, both fought. And now...

Theodyn takes Rufico's hands. "Our happy after," Theodyn quietly says. "If we fail, I'll find you in the depths of Coldharbour, no matter what form we are in, no matter what tries to stop us," he frowns a little thinking of what just would happen if they would lose. Of how hard it would be to keep that kind of promise when Viperish Night would most certainly not forget those who stood against him, even if they died and were traped as Soul Shriven in the depths of Oblivion.

"Let us just say we'll win, Theo," Rufico insists, his grip strong and warm on Theodyn's hands. "But if we don't...I'll fight The Void if it tries to take me from you. I did once, thanks to you. I'll do it again."

The two are quiet for long moments until Theodyn speaks again. "Can...can Iveryni and Softly-Speckled-Crab find their after?"

"I hope so," Rufico whispers, and the two press close together before regrettably letting go as the girls approach.

The four heroes face each other, expressions grim. Iveryni is the first to speak. "We know where he'll go. We have that information, yet we are here instead." Iveryni says. "Are... are we sure? I know I was willing to destroy so much to end this. But this is similar. Are we sure?" she asks.

Rufico hardens his expression. "Sacrifices for the greater good. We have little chance to end this now. Emotions, regrets, those are for after," he answers.

Softly-Speckled-Crab dips her head in an expression of utter despair. "Viperish Night will expect perhaps we are not as stupid as he hopes. He would expect us there. When we do not show he will think he has won. It..." she breaks off a tremor passing through her as such unending sorrow crosses her face. She can feel her people dying. Can feel the dead denying them a return to the swamp so they may rise again to fuel Viperish Night's unholy army.

Rufico gently places a hand on her shoulder. "It gives us time to set a trap. Softly-Speckled-Crab felt his pack, so we are facing them as well. If they did not turn from him when this Viperish Night took over, there is no chance they will now. This is our last chance. We have to make it count, no matter the sacrifices."

Theodyn's eyes are on Rufico before he turns them away. No matter what. As much as they dreamed of an after, it is meant an end to this war any one of them would lay down their lives to stop this. No matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, it was victory or the end of Nirn. Facing an evil greater than they ever expected, facing impossible odds, this was the cusp of the final battle. "May our light and shadows bring peace to those fallen, and end this," Theodyn says.

Before anyone can say anything else further Softly-Speckled-Crab screams and collapses to the ground. Iveryni is by her in a moment but Softly-Speckled-Crab bats her hands away. "No, no, no!" she hisses. "Do not...do not touch me. I can feel it on my scales. Agony, corruption...he has taken one of the Hist."

Theodyn stares at her in horror but it is Rufico who puts the horror into words. "Taken. You cannot mean..." Rufico stares off as Softly-Speckled-Crab staggers up.

"He has murdered The Hist of Coppertail and returned it to undead life," Softly-Speckled-Crab hisses, her tail flashing back in forth in agitation. "How could anyone do such a thing? It will spread its corruption through the marsh, to ALL The Hists, to the source of it all! All this...despair, agony, no longer any hope at all!"

The sheer terror in her eyes, the shudders wracking through her body. On the verge of breaking again, past any point of recovery. It is Theodyn who moves forward to grip her shoulders, despite her protests. Theodyn who stares into her eyes. "Softly-Speckled-Crab," he says, "Come back into our light and shadows. We are still here. So is THIS tribe. How long until it corrupts this tribe?"

Softly-Speckled-Crab stares into Theodyn's eyes and slowly the tremors stop and the terror fades to be replaced by utter shock. "It...is not spreading!" she says and then closes her eyes and what she feels causes her to settle and when she opens her eyes they are filled with wonder and hope. "Something is slowing down the spread. I do not think Viperish Night even knows something is. It...he can't feel it. It is full of life magic."

"Life magic?" Iveryni says. "You cannot mean..."

Softly-Speckled-Crab nods firmly. "Keerasi-Zish is alive within this Viperish Night. He is fighting. Not against Nirn, but FOR Nirn. Against Viperish Night, against the drowning of the world."

"Might just be fighting for his pack," Rufico remarks. "But the outcome seems the same," he crosses his arms and smirks. "Viperish Night's pack...I wonder if they are on his side or Keerasi-Zish's side."

"More than we dare to hope for but still..." Iveryni says. "If they along with Keerasi-Zish are truly against him, then Viperish Night is alone in this. And he does not even know it."

"Then we are agreed," Theodyn says. "We will keep our hope until the end. Even if all fails. Until it does...there is light in the darkness, and shadows in the light." The four heroes in all their pain and all their frail hopes stay together for long moments. Until it is time to break apart and prepare. Prepare for the final battle.

-In the Depths-

Keerasi-Zish watches as Viperish Night and their pack march through the marsh. The Argonian's never just surrendered. They fight with all they are, the Hist commanding them to righteous fury. But they are no match for Viperish Night and his army of undead...and... Keerasi-Zish closes his eyes and makes a small keening noise. Tyranius, Zirasha, and the wolf that was all that currently existed of his Egg-mother. They fought just as savagely as Viperish Night. Without hesitation, without mercy. As they always, always had. And yet he somehow knew that they did not truly fight for Viperish Night, but for him. "I am not worth this," he whispers. "You who are my family. You who followed me in the depths. You who would have ended Nirn for me. You...who would have put aside your need for war, for vengeance if I wished another river." With agonizing pain, he opens his eyes to the horrors Viperish Night is unleashing. And knows that he will always in part be responsible for what has happened. He lost his will to fight for a better river. He let the pain and rage consume in and let Death take over. And when they thought his pack gone...they let the true serpent in the depths take control. The one who would hurt their pack until they bowed to him. The one who would do things even Keerasi-Zish and Death would not have done. The one who would let their Egg-Father have everything...before he tried to take the Daedric Prince's head if such a thing could be done.

At last, the Zikisizia Tribe falls, and their Hist along with them. And once more, it rises to Viperish Night's twisted song. Keerasi-Zish turns to the sands and once more breaks a piece of the frozen memory off, once more baids one of those he betrayed to return. Qa'Dar rises as Fernthorn did and walks across the stands to stand in front of him an angry glare across his feline face. "You killed my Fernthorn. My Fernthorn! She left herself be mine and you killed her!" the Khajiit hisses.

Keerasi-Zish lowers his head. No words can be enough. Never enough. "Qa'Dar..." Keerasi-Zish whispers.

But the Khajiit interrupts him. "BUT!... my Fernthorn forgave you. This one can understand what it is like to make stupid choices," Qa'Dar finishes.

Keerasi-Zish slowly raises his head. "You'll help?" he asks.

"Yes!" Qa'Dar spits out. "All Qa'Dar did in his life was steal and chase woman. And then all Qa'Dar was a slave that killed. No way out. No hope. Friends! Friends saved most of us. But...not Za'Gh. Not Titumus. And not you. We failed as much as you did."

Keerasi-Zish blinks rapidly at Qa'Dar's words. "No one failed as much as I did," he hisses. "I still am a monster. I just..."

Qa'Dar gives him a small sad smile. "You just want to be something else. This one will help you. This one would like to be something good in the end. Not just a thief. Not just a slave. Not just a gladiator. Something good. Something that would have been worthy of my Fernthorn. Be worthy of those you love. Or This one will come back and haunt you!" Qa'Dar vanishes in a burst of green light just as Fernthorn did. To slow down the corruption of the marsh, in the hopes that this could be ended another way.

Rayrl and Israean are called next and they stand in front of Keerasi-Zish, the anger and hatred palpable in the air. Necromancers had taken everything from them save each other...and then Viperish Night had taken even that in the end. Israean is the one who finally breaks the silence. "Know this, necromancer. We will do as you request. Not for you, but for Nirn. To stop the undead scourge you brought into this world."

The use of necromancer instead of a name, the anger and hatred righteously deserved in his voice has Keerasi-Zish lowering his head. "I know what I did. I once did not want this river. Somehow it became all I could see, all I knew," he quietly hisses.

Israean nods once and vanishes, but Rayrl stays a moment longer. "I can never forgive you. Never," she says in a voice filled with such overwhelming anger.

"I know," he quietly responds, "Some things are beyond forgiving." Rayrl turns from him and vanishes after her brother and he, at last, raises his head. He had not known if they would even consider helping. But the Zitari and Zatari tribes were close together, they shared bonds and so he had no choice but to call on the twins, the least likely the help and yet the ones who had reason to help. Slowly he sinks to the sands and closes his eyes to rest. Viperish Night was moving so very fast. The next tribe would be all too soon. He would have to call on yet another of those he betrayed. To face the accusing eyes, to face all he had done.

-Some distance from Zitari and Zatari tribes-

Viperish Night sinks to a sitting position on a rock. Battle after battle, raising The Hist in undead glory after he drowned all the Argonian's it sent to stop him. Yet still, the corruption was slow to spread. Hissing softly he closes his eyes. He would perfer to move on, but needs a moments rest...and he can hear a song being sung to him, beckoning him.

-Above the Depths-

Darkness light by necromantic light. Viperish Night's eyes glance around before focusing on the Death Aspect that stands before him that seems to be one with the shadows and he slowly tilts his head regarding Death in curiosity. "You came silently to me when both you and life surrendered. Now you summon me, speak to me?" he hisses.

Death regards Viperish Night in turn and then answers, "I would have been content sharing with life if he had not fought me. You...do not fight me," he responds.

"I understand the power you can offer us. Combined with my Daedric power we are unstoppable. All of Nirn will drown in our river, and then we will take Coldharbour for ourselves," Viperish Night responds.

Death tilts his head in turn, "You wish to BE the Lord of Domination?"

Viperish Night pauses. "That is what our former mentor wanted. I want my own titles. Not our Egg-father's. Perhaps the Lord of Undead and death. Regardless of what we call ourselves..." a savage grin crosses his face, "We will have everything."

Death is silent for a moment. His desires are so much simpler than the Daedric's aspect. He wants simply to call forth the dead to rise, to bath in the power it gives him over life and death. It is true all the world under his control, all of it undead, and answering his song of death appeals to him. Emotions may belong more to Life and Daedric, but the betrayals the world gave them... he shared the desire for revenge, for the desire to drown everyone...but when life started to awake again, even though they wared fiercely enough to push them into madness, he felt what Life wanted. A pack, a family. One who accepted both aspects of life and death, one that would never abandon them. If they could have had both... it may have been enough to end the war. To walk off into the sunset and leave Nirn in peace. But this was not something the Daedric aspect knew. They should share thoughts, memories. But the Daedric aspect had managed to hide, all of that from them. And Death...when he started to hear the faintest traces of another song subconsciously, started to do this as well. And so he gives Viperish Night the answer he wants, if it is only part of the truth, "I simply want my dead. Want to let my power flow. Life...tried to deny me this."

A grin crosses Viperish Night's face. "I knew you would see my side of things," he hisses.

Deception was this creature's bread and butter, not Death's. And yet he plays this game. "I have... since you helped me wrest control from the Life Aspect. He fought so hard against it even with all the brutality and pain he suffered." Viperish Night looks startled briefly and Death continues, "I...did not know there was a third in the depths. But something...faint traces of song not of life, not of death."

Viperish Night laughs. "Even sleeping in the depths I dreamed. Dreams of freedom, dreams of drowning the world, and dreams of how I would play once free. My ripples were small back then but enough to cause rifts to ensure this outcome."

Death stills. It was true then that this aspect fractured them. Made them more than one being. Caused the seeds of madness, the cracks that would lead to shatter. Could... he and life ever have come to accord if not for Daedric? And yet... Viperish Night could still give him what he wanted. Or...some of what he wanted. With a small pang, he understands. He wants what he wants. But he also wants their pack...and he wants to be one with life. Not split in this unnatural divide. Part of him felt missing as if he had been torn asunder. But this aspect before him...did not fell that did he? Did not want to be one with the other aspects. Even though Death walked with him, he was not truly one with him. "Life is weakness," Death utters.

"You understand," Viperish Night hisses delighted. "He will drown in the memories I trapped him in and be no more. And then we will have everything."

Those eyes that promised Death everything. But the truth was cast in stark light. As soon as Life vanished, Viperish Night would find a way to take Death's power and then destroy his aspect. To align with him was to ensure his destruction. And yet was life even strong enough to overcome this? Death lowers his head in an act of false submission. "I understand everything. Drown all the world and cause the dead to rise." The shadows break as Viperish Night returns, as Death returns with him...at least for now.

-Some distance from Zitari and Zatari tribes-

Tyranius watches Viperish Night. The necromancers dead are all around him as he rests. But it seems more than rest. It seems as if he has gone someplace else. Slowly he moves back toward Zirasha, out of hearing range. "The Depths," he says quietly and then glances at Duskhollow his mind puzzling over it till it clicks. "Pup and wolfy exist in some form inside Viperish Night and Duskhollow."

Zirasha looks startled and then kneels beside Duskhollow looking deep into the wolf's eyes. "Can...can Jez hear me?" she asks. Duskhollow looks back at her pack sister.

"She remembered things when she was first brought to us," Tyranius remarks as he looks at the two, though he also keeps watch on Viperish Night.

"That was different!," Zirasha hisses. "I briefly...was in such a state after... I snapped out of it faster, but I remember fragments of when I was trapped in my mind. Daedric footsteps, laughter, screams. And then silence as they left me to...die," she stands and glances back at Viperish Night. "But I only remembered after I snapped out of it. Not during. During was just... darkness that kept the world away. Kept the fear and pain away."

The expression under Tyranius's helm is one of anger. He had hunted the Zero Legion for things they did, even though he had very much been one of them. Or had he? He just wanted war, but some of them wanted so much more. Some things they should not want. "Someone else trapped Pup and Wolfy," he says. "A cage in the depths, the darkness, whatever you want to call it. Not sure if they are even aware of the outside world. But if they can fight in there, they will. Those two...not sure they know how not to fight."

An expression of loss crosses Zirasha's face as she turns back to Tyranius. "Our Viper stopped fighting. Because he thought we died. How...how can we matter that much to him? To Jez? We are just monsters," she whispers.

Tyranius's answer is a shrug. "Beats me girl. No one's cared for this brute before. Never cared either," Tyranius lowers his head briefly. "I never felt much for anyone else either. Damn Wolfy for that."

"You don't mean that!" Zirasha hisses and Tyranius chuckles and shakes his head causing Zirasha to smirk. "Did not think you did."

The group is interrupted from further talk when Viperish Night snaps his eyes open and leaps up. He stalks to them and smiles as if he has won a great battle. "Xikizasi Tribe is next," Viperish Night. "They will bow to my song of death and rise for me." and with that he turns and heads ever deeper into the swamp, leaving his pack no choice but to keep following him further into the dark.

-In the Depths-

Kigum-dar sands solemnly in front of Keerasi-Zish arms crossed. "The things that you have done. What became of you. None of us wanted this," he says.

Wanted... Something Keerasi-Zish did not want to admit. But he must. No more hiding, no more surrender. "I...did," he says, "I wish I had not wanted it. All I saw was betrayal and despair. All I wanted was to be free at any cost...and make everyone drown for all that I suffered. I still want that in part...but I want my family more, even if I do not deserve them."

Kigum-dar's expression softens slightly. "We all deserved more than the world gave us. But once we lose hope in Jone and Jode, in what is true, that is when all is lost. You know that. This one cannot fault you for breaking. Kigum-Dar will aid you."

Keerasi-Zish looks up at the Khajiit. Remembering long ago days spoken of his family. How he never could return to them for the slavers had taken that from him, how he never would return to them because of his actions. "I... if I can stop Viperish Night, if I can even live through it, I will return to Oblivion's Isle and I will return all of you home," he vows.

"This... this one would very much like that. To have what remains of this one with his family," Kigum-dar whispers and with that, he closes his eyes and vanishes.

-Emerald Feathers Tribe-

One massacre after another. The Argonian's of each tribe fought with such ferocity, such strength, only to be utterly overwhelmed by Viperish Night's power, pack, and undead army. And he was driving his march of death through the marsh without pause, without break. Zirasha felt as if her blood was on fire. Argonian blood surged through her, the hectic pace left little room for thought or worry. Again she found herself amid battle, but this time in her pursuit of an Argonian with a brilliant emerald crest she finds herself far too near the egg nest and she surges forward and snaps her hand around his neck lifting him. Her eyes lock onto his and then glance towards the eggs. There must be no hesitation now. After she killed him she must...

But before she can even finish her thought blades of ice flash through the egg nest destroying every one of them. Zirasha's eyes move to Tyranius not daring to show the relief she feels though despair soon follows and so she buries it as she always has for so long in blood and carnage and sets upon the Argonian with savage fury. Only when he is dead and she's dripping in his blood does she drop him and walk over to Tyranius, aware Viperish Night is near. Aware his eyes are on them. "You stole my dessert," she hisses at Tyranius.

Tyranius laughs. "Enough lizards for all of us, girl. My ice blades were hungry."

Duskhollow looks up from her prey. Her pack brother struck down the young but he smelled of regret and not victory. She wants to howl for the little ones gone. She wants to bound to her pack brother and sister and press her fur against them, give them comfort. But somehow that is now weakness...something their pack leader will never abid. Her eyes move to Viperish Night, who's watching the two a twisted smile on his face. She did not truly understand deception, but she knew her pack brother and sister was acting one way, but feeling another. All to pretend obedience to their pack leader...who was not their true pack leader. A pang deep inside her almost sets a whine loose, though she contains it. She wants her son. Her true son. And she wants her other half.

-In the Depths-

Zan'tabe stands in front of Keerasi-Zish. "My friend. Viper... Keerasi-Zish. This one seems to know things he can not know. But this is your memory after all," he tells him.

Keerasi-Zish momentary looks and feels so very lost as looks at the sooty grey Khajiit, who still calls him friend. "Are...you must just be a memory. Forgiving...helping...calling me friend after all I did. I..." he says in a voice filled with so much pain.

Zan'tabe interrupts him with a shake of his head. "My friend, answer Zan'tabe this one question. Do you want forgiveness from us?"

"No," Keerasi-Zish answers, "I do not deserve it. Not for this betrayal, not for all I and my other aspects have done."

Zan'tabe smiles, though it is tinged with sadness, "There you go, Keerasi-Zish. You called for us and we returned for you. To aid our lost friend, to be something better than gladiators and slaves."

Keerasi-Zish looks down. Once more uncertain how he deserves this blessing. Deserves people who loved and love him. Words fail, but the Khajiit understands and no words need to be spoken.

A few moments later Zan'tabe breaks the silence, "Is this one the last one?" he asks.

Keerasi-Zish stills. "I...and Death make peace with Titumus before the Daedric aspect...before we let the Daedric aspect take over. I cannot even bring his memory back for he has gone beyond my reach. And knowing you are truly Zan'tabe, as the others are truly, I cannot bring Za'gh back for fear my Egg-Father would know and tell Viperish Night. He must not know I am doing this. He must not know I am trying to be strong." he answers.

Zan'tabe shudders at the word Egg-father. Again knowing what none of them knew back then. The true nature of Keerasi-Zish's Egg-Father, the true horror of it. He turns his thoughts away and asks his friend a question, "And what of..."

Keerasi-Zish looks away. "I can hardly stand to face all of you. You who saw me kill, who saw my savage side. How could I bear reaching beyond this memory to Denros and Rishima and show them what has become of me? The monster I still very much am?" he whispers.

Zan'tabe moves closer and puts a paw on Keerasi-Zish's shoulder. Even though the touch is gentle, Keerasi-Zish flinches at it and an expression of pain crosses Zan'tabe's face, for all that his friend has wrot, he has suffered so much as well. "This one could point out many things, but Zan'tabe will not. You know. So Zan'tabe will simply ask how many more of these Hist remain? You need all of us, including them." At Keerasi-Zish's silence, he laughs. "You could always call Thjonwulf back." Keerasi-Zish turns his head to look at the werewolf's bones and Zan'tabe looks alarmed. "This one was just kidding!" As his friend looks back at him Zan'tabe nods. "Now my friend, Zan'tabe most go to aid you. To aid Nirn." and with that, he vanishes.

-The Cave-

Mannimarco's head is down, his hair covering his face. As if he is in abject despair as if he has given up. Swims-In-Silence had returned and was on the other side of the cave staring at nothing, a look of pure fury in his eyes...and more than a little madness. A momentary chill passes through his veins at that. The madness in those eyes had grown. mortals could hardly contain anything of Oblivion's power, and it seems the reverse was also true. A mortal vessel was far too little to contain even a part of a Daedric Prince. Swims-In-Silence suddenly turns and opens a portal, leaving him alone again. Only when he is sure the Prince is gone does Mannimarco raise his head and his fingers move in the air forming symbols. "Daedric locks," he softly murmurs. "If I had not managed to destroy one of the symbols on that damn collar and replaced it with an enchantment to allow me to work on it here, I doubt even I could unlock this. At least in time for it to matter." a frown crosses his face. It would still take longer. Molag Bal did not want the collar to break until he decided to remove it... he doubted even Viperish Night knew that his Egg-father had made it so only HE could remove it, not Viperish Night, not anyone else. "Foolish," he murmurs. "And both want me on their side. I just decided my best chance at escape is with the Vestige."

-Spiny Vines Tribe-

Dawn draws ever nearer, but there are many shadows in the swamp. As Viperish Night springs his pack and undead army upon Spiny Vines, an Argonian watches from the shadows, his grey-blue eyes nearly glowing in the gloom, a fanged smile across his face. "Weakness...this one has none," Swims-in-Silence hisses. The true scope of Viperish Night's plans, the way he raised The Hist in an abomination of life it eased a small bit of anger that swam in his river. How had his mate found the strength to cast him out? He knew she could not escape the dark. Could not break the collar, he had made sure of it. He knew it could destroy her mer, but if she was not strong enough to fight the all-consuming shadows, then she was weak. And if she was not? His eyes narrow. He had to find a way to shatter Hircine's claim upon her. Had to find a way to break her further, and this time rebuild her as he desired so she would walk with him. The utter corruption of the Vestige, the former hero of Nirn. She already had set upon ending it of her own free will...if the part of their son that was not abject weakness had decided to fight the path of destruction he was on. He laughs quietly. That he had not expected. That Jeziasi would plunge into the depths after Viperish Night. That she would murder for her son, bend the world to his will for him. Now if she would only do that for him. He growls softly. He would have to make sure Viperish Night knew his proper place after the war was ended. He melts into the shadows leaving his son to his war...for now.

-In the Depths-

Keerasi-Zish sinks to the ground and once more looks lost. How long can he hold Viperish Night back? How long can the fallen hold back the infection? For a brief moment, it seems so very hopeless until a single thought crosses his mind. Would the heroes believe Viperish Night was truly fallen? The prophecy his Egg-mother told him...but such a slim hope to cling to. Still...he forces himself to rise and moves to the bones of the werewolf and with a moment of hesitation he, at last, pours the green energy into the sands and bones, calling forth not one of the friends he betrayed, but one of the monsters who helped make him such. As the bones reform and fur flows over them Thjonwulf returns.

Thjonwulf looms over Keerasi-Zish before transforming back and he crosses his arms as he regards him. "The monster who took me down. Never thought I'd find a bigger one than me! And now you want me to help save a bunch of lizards? And Nirn?" he bellows a laugh. "I am a monster! I am a clan breaker! And still? You ask for my help?" Again he laughs as if he finds this oh so amusing and Keerasi-Zish just calmly regards him, calmly waits. The Nord settles and regards him back. "To think I thought you a milk-drinker when I saw you huddled in your cage on the slavers' boat," he says with a savage grin, "For the last fight you gave me, allowing me to die the warrior, the hunter's death instead of going grey and forgotten, I'll help you."

Keerasi-Zish nods slightly. Some hate for this monster remains but it is faded with the passage of time, and much more hated monsters to rage against, as he did against Nirn. "Go then," he says and when Thjonwulf turns his back he adds, "I will hunt down and kill my Egg-Father. He did worse than abandon me. But my Egg-mother never did. She never even knew I existed, and when she did...she stayed by my side. She loved me. She never abandoned me. You were wrong about that. And she is not weak. She is...far stronger than I ever was."

Thjonwulf turns his head to look at him again. "Never figured you came from such stock. Stock of heroes and nightmares. I know! Being here I know! Can't call your sires weak, unlike mine," he laughs once more. "To think I fought against a monster born of a Daedric Prince and the Hero of the Plane-Meld! No greater death than that!" and with that, he vanishes.

Keerasi-Zish once more sinks to the sand this time allowing himself to rest and gather his strength...and gathering his courage. Denros is beyond this memory. Rishima is beyond this memory. And yet, they were a part of him and his past. A part he rarely thought of for the agonizing pain of what had been and what could have been. But he needs them. He can see Viperish Night's unchecked rampage. There are more tribes, more Hists, more to hold back. As long as he can, in the hopes, Viperish Night can be stopped.

-Just outside the Iziksi Tribe-

"Viperish Night," Tyranius says and the necromancer turns to him. "Rest. Briefly."

Viperish Night's eyes narrow and then he turns and stalks to a patch of drier grown and sits. "Briefly. I will not pause long." the necromancer's eyes close.

Tyranius looks at him for a moment before he moves to a tree some distance away and leans against it. A tinge of fury had been in his voice. But why? Everything had been going just as Viperish Night had wanted and the Argonian army had grown, with the Hist's being left behind to ensnare any Argonian unlucky enough to go near them. Tyranius folds his arms across his chest. "Girl, know anything about these lizards?"

Zirasha had come over to him and crashed down on her back on the ground, her eyes on the sky and the coming dawn. She thinks for long moments. "I talked to one once back in Summerset. Was our gardener before my parents fired him for clipping a tree wrong." Briefly, she hisses. Still, the thought of Altmer perfection set her fangs on edge. "He said the Hist and the Argonian's are all connected."

Tyranius thinks. "All the Hist's?"

Zirasha's eyes move to his as Duskhollow pads over between the two of them giving off a wolf sigh before curling up in a ball for a quick nap. "I...think so?" An expression of confusion crosses her face and then realization and she sits up and stares at Tyranius.

Tyranius chuckles darkly. "Somethings getting in the way," he says and then glances at Viperish Night before returning gaze to Zirasha. "Be ready, girl. Might have a chance."

Zirasha stares at Tyranius and slowly nods before returning to rest. Forces against them, but forces also helping them. Helping the monsters.

-Deep in the Dark-

The darkness has been lifted by the smallest amounts. Jeziasi holds up her hand and she can see the outline of it and soon she can see something else. The shape of a wolf padding towards her and her heart stills. "Duskhollow?" she quietly says and Duskhollow bounds to her and stops staring up at her with hopeful eyes. Slowly she brings her hand up and places it on the side of Duskhollow's neck. "I failed to listen to you once," she quietly tells the wolf. "You knew he was our enemy. You knew he would only do us harm. You knew better than to bond with him, but I cast you aside for what I thought I wanted." With those words, she leans down putting her head against Duskhollows. "I am sorry I did not listen to you. But I can't regret it. You know why. Our son is worth all of this."

Duskhollow presses against Jeziasi's forehead and whines in agreement. At this moment she almost feels whole. She knows she will be pulled back up and that her other half will still be trapped. But the bars are becoming brittle, perhaps enough that soon they will be one once more. Duskhollow barks a little and licks the mer's cheek.

"Take it you forgive me," Jeziasi says as she pulls back. "I'll always listen to you from now on. We will be one, and we will save our son if it's the last thing we do. Once Mannimarco weakens the collar enough, nothing will stop me from shattering it." Duskhollow growls softly at the name and she laughs. "Yes, I hate him too, but if he's the only one I can turn to for help, then I will do it. I never asked for help before, even when I should. And I...needed help back then, and I need it now. Hate him, Don't trust him, but I'll take his help." Duskhollow gives one last bark before she is pulled back once more leaving Jeziasi alone. Jeziasi looks upward. Freedom never seemed so far away and yet so close.

-In the Depths-

Green energy surged in every direction hitting the edges of the memory and traveling far beyond it. Time passes and Keerashi-Zish waits eyes closed. Watching as Viperish Night attacked another tribe, slowly making his way to MossyRocks. His thoughts are interrupted by light familiar footsteps but still, his eyes remain close. These... were more than memories. These were those lost on Oblivions Isle. Their spirits had fled the corruption he had unleashed upon the island but their spirits were still connected to that place, even as they traveled beyond it. Did they find their rest, or were they trapped between? Would bringing them home bring them true rest? A tremor passes through him, and still he was afraid to open his eyes. This was his depths, his memory. Those brought to it knew the total truth of him. the utter horror he had unleashed upon Nirn, the monster he had become. How could he face one who knew him before he was thus?

"Viper!," an all too familiar voice scolds him. "Come on, open your eyes. You are not gonna make me throw a carrot at you? Y'ffre would WEEP! And then smite me down for daring to harm a carrot!"

Keerasi-Zish slowly opens his eyes. So long had it been since he heard the carefree Bosmer, the one who made the sun shine on the darkest days. And Viper... only Denros and Rishima had called him that. After he could not bear any other calling him Viper, not even his Egg-mother. The last time he had seen the Bosmer, had been on Denros's final day. Covered in blood, injuries to grave to survive. His final words, hoping Viper would not break. That he and Rishima could escape and find peace. Slowly Keerashi-Zish looks up at him.

Denros's expression saddens. "Thunderstorms. That's what you remind me of. I...hoped you and Rishima would find a way out. Or at least find a way to be at some semblance at peace in that horrible place."

Keerasi-Zish's claws move through the sand. Unable to speak the truth, but Denros knows because he was brought here. Knows what happened to Rishima. Knows what he did to the one responsible. Knows that he, at last, broke and tried to drown the world.

"Viper, or Keerashi-Zish now," Denros says softly. "Please talk to me. I never thought I would ever see you again. I'll help you. But I don't want to go in silence. I want to hear your voice, one last time."

"I...," Keerashi-Zish manages to say, "Denros. I did not mean to drown until I did."

The Bosmer sits in front of Viperish Night legs crossed and much more serious now. "They never gave you a chance to be. You would have been the Viper Rishima and I knew. We saw your flaws and accepted you."

"And yet, I failed you," Keerashi-Zish says quietly. "I know I could not save either of you. But I let go of the Viper you knew. I became a monster. It was so much easier...until my Egg-mother came. Until I knew something other than the icy depths."

Denros holds out his hand and after a moment Keerashi-Zish takes it. "You still fought. Some part of you still fought. If you had not, your Egg-mother would have had nothing to find."

His eyes on his claws, clean in this moment, but not. So very much blood. And he still felt the desire to drown the world, for it drowned emotions he once ran from. But he was fighting that with all he was. Fighting to be who his Egg-mother saw, who his friends once saw, whatever was left of that Viper. "You see me. Both of you always did." his eyes move upward and Denros sighs softly and the Bosmer stands and he follows.

"Times up," Denros says. "I'll do my best Viper," and again such a serious expression on the Bosmer's face. "Save them. But save yourself too. Please."

Keerasi-Zish stares at Denros. He never thought of after. All he knew is he had to drown Viperish Night in the depths once more no matter what. And if that meant destroyed ALL their aspects...

His friend sees this and the Bosmer's expression dims. "I'm so stupid. You can't promise that. But try, alright? Or I'll drag my spirit back to throw vegetables at you! I will DO IT." The shadow of a smile crosses Keerasi-Zish's face and Denros laughs. "You know, I never would have thought the Vestige was your Egg-mother. I bet you can make trees grow. Try to survive. I want you to make me a tree!" he turns to go and then looks back at Keerashi-Zish. "Don't be afraid to summon Rishima too. She loved you. She'll hate what happened to you, she'll despair over what you and your aspects have done, but she'll understand. I do. We only wished more for you." And with those words, Denros vanishes.

Keerasi-Zish stares at the spot he was for long moments before bowing his head. He never understood the depths that his friends felt for him. He had felt it too...but it had become lost in the depths. Lost in the pain and despair. Lost. Trying to find it now, trying to be something better, was taking all he had. But it was the only way he would see his pack again. The only way he would find his Egg-mother again.

Time passes and Keerasi-Zish rests. The distance between the last tribe Viperish Night had destroyed and the one before MossyRocks allowed him to rest. Allowed him time. At last, he calls to her, the Khajiit that was once his river, that once calmed the storm within him. This time he keeps his eyes open, even when he wants them closed. And when the familiar yet long-lost pad paws cross the sands he bolts up and stares into vivid green eyes, tinged with such pain and sadness but also... he blinks rapidly. "How can I still see that in your eyes? he rasps. How can love still exist? "I am not your Viper any longer! I am just a monster. Just one who has done so very many horrific things, and I am not even sure I regret it!"

Rishima's eyes soften and she closes the distance between them and takes his face in her warm soft paws. "Viper, my Moons," she whispers and presses her forehead to hers as he trembles under her gentle touch, one that a monster should never deserve and he feels her paws reach up to wipe the tears away. "This one can see what you feel in this moment. Just as this one can see all that has happened," deep sadness fills her eyes. "We all deserve to be loved. You keep seeing yourself as a monster. Perhaps... perhaps that is true in some regards. But you are more. You were my Moons. There are those who love you. Who see beyond this. You know this."

Her words echo words his Egg-mother told him. She never thought him an abomination. All he saw when he looked at himself, was thus. A monster, an abomination, something that never should have been. But those who loved him, who still love him... "I will never understand how you see that. How others see it," he rasps.

"So very much pain and despair," she tells him as she steps back so she can see into his eyes. Such tortured eyes, filled with pain and regret, sorrow and loss. "Rishima sees you. Rishima has always seen you. See yourself, my Moons." a small sad smile crosses her face, "If you were like the Daedric aspect, would you call to us for help? It causes you such pain to do so, yet you endure. You endure being judged by those close to you. You endure how our eyes see you now. You fight. Humor Rishima, tell this one why."

"You know," Keerasi-Zish says.

Rishima's nose wrinkles up and she places a paw gently on the side of his neck. "Tell this one still. Your words, and not just what this one knows upon being here."

He stills and closes his eyes. Why. "Viperish Night hurt my pack and will drown them in his depths. He...he hurt our Egg-mother and I could do nothing." Keerasi-Zish quietly says.

"Love," Rishima responds. "You love them, and they love you. As this one loves you, my Moons. Love, at times, is enough. But there is more."

Keerasi-Zish opens his eyes. "I... want...I think I want to be whole." a lost look passes through his eyes as well as realization. "I need Death. We are meant to be one. But we never have been. And I want..." unable to finish he lowers his head.

"You want a different river," Rishima finishes for him. "You do not think you deserve it. That you can ever make up for all of this. But how will you know if you do not try? And you are trying." her paws gently take his face in them. "It was not all your fault. This Daedric aspect, if not for that, if not for those who hurt you, you would have been the Viper this one knew perhaps."

Slowly Keerasi-Zish raises his claws to take Rishima's paws in his. Never did he think he would ever see her again. And never again would he. He knows this to the very bottom of his spine. This is the final time they will hold each other, be. "I love you, my River," he says softly. "I love my pack. My Egg-Mother is lost, and Tyranius and Zirasha will soon be lost as well. Viperish Night will never let them be who they want to be. Only who he wants them to be. I will fight for them. Anything and everything else will come after. If...there is an after." slowly he lowers his claws and steps back from her. She was his river once, he will always love her and never again push those memories away, but she is the past. And the only way out of the darkness is forward.

Rishima knows this as well and she steps back as well. "This one will remember you when Rishima, at last, rests in the Sands behind the Stars. Until then, this one will fight for you." Rishima's eyes shimmer with unshed tears. "Try to find your true river. Try to know that those who love you see not a monster, but one to be loved." With that, she shimmers and is gone.

Keerasi-Zish lowers his head and then raises it. Facing all of his friends, all those who loved him has been agonizing, and one of the hardest currents he had to swim against. But he felt...freer from it.

For long moments he stays quiet until a familiar song drifts across the sands and Keerasi-Zish turns to it. Death walks across the arena to stop before him and his ebony eyes bore into Keerasi-Zish's before he nods. "You are strong, Life," Death hisses. "The Daedric aspect did cause rifts. Did cause us to war. He will destroy you. He will destroy me. I will not be destroyed, and you have proven your strength." Death pauses and then tilts his head. "You will not war with me. I can feel it. We are in accord then. When the time is right, I will sing for you and we will war against Viperish Night. We will drown him and be one."

Keerasi-Zish nods in turn. "The Daedric aspect never should have been. We would never have split if not for him. I may have feared death, but in time I think I could have accepted this part of me." A haunting expression crosses his face. All the pain, all the despair. So very much. The song of revenge still sang to both of them, he could feel it. But there was more they wanted now. "You want our pack too," he says. "You want a different river."

Death blinks once and turns his back. "Emotions are your domain, not mine. But...they are our pack. I will not see them come to harm." With that Death vanishes and Keerasi-Zish settles back to wait to war against Viperish Night. To take back what he had let go, to become one as he was always meant to be...and to destroy the Daedric aspect which never should have been.