A/N: I purposely changed Scar-tail's personality. The way he was presented in the game didn't really seem to work for this story. Oh yeah, and I forgot to date this chapter, so I went back edited it.

Mid Year 14, 4E1

(Learns-fast)

Tension and anger were building inside of me gradually as I was embarking on my return to Cheydinhal. Lachance's words were coming back to me, with the instant of offense that followed them also being recalled. As I was getting closer, the memories and expectation became more and more real. Every step my horse took brought me closer to taking matters into my own hands.

I had to keep my heart and ego hard for this, and my mind sharp. I needed to be sure nothing could taint my dedication or judgement. Ideally, I'd never want Lachance to even know I was there, but if he did, I wanted more than anything to inspire a fear in him, restoring the sense of dominance of the Argonian Royal Court in their alliance with the Dark brotherhood.

I didn't want to let go of the anger, even when Cheydinhal was still such a distance away. I had gained access to the battlefield, saying I was heading to Cheydinhal to make sure the "Goes-in-heavy situation" didn't spin out of control (which was the truth, but not the whole truth), and already appointed a replacement, but had not yet made a plan of attack. And no plan of attack seemed to form in my head.

My thoughts just kept cycling through Lachance's words. I could feel my heart rate increase as I recalled the situation, time passing while my thoughts stayed the same as my horse trotted on. Maybe I needed to be patient, maybe I needed to see the situation before I started to plan, but I wasn't sure.

I had brought another Shadowscale, a 16 year old boy named Surveys-from-above, but I was reluctant to let him in on the grand scheme of my plan, just like Stabber. He would be my tool, not a person I could confide in or trust.

I knew, if I couldn't think of a better plan, I could at least spy on Lucien, wait for a weakness, and attack when the time was right.

(Fights up close)

I'd noticed how accustomed to Cyrodiillic terrain I'd gotten. I was no longer used to leafy plants hitting my legs, or soggy terrain below my feet. It sunk with each step, and was an irregular mix of plant parts and dirt, unlike that of most of Cyrodiil. As before, my pants and tail seemed to be mysteriously accumulating mud, but I had to simply think of them as extensions of me, rather than part me, to proceed forward. I was constantly having to do physical feats to dodge the plant life, and didn't even bother to do anything about the bugs.

Tienaava's plan was to search the area methodically. We were supposed to cover all of Bog Water by moving in an 'S' pattern, but we weren't even a quarter done with our searching. Though it was stress relieving to know exactly how to search for him, I wasn't looking forward to walking the distance we just had at least 7 times over. Then again, we were unlikely to get even half of it done before we went to bed. I just had to keep pushing forward in a zombie like state.

It was then that I saw something which broke the pattern of trees and leaves. Another person, a finned guy. It was a relieving sight to see such a face, as I was getting so used to seeing no one else but Tienaava. I knew a split second later it was Goes-in-heavy, but his expression was unsettling. Then, he bolted off, as expressionless as a deer bolting from a hunter. My instinct told me to run after him.

I bolted in his direction before he could get out of view, and I could tell by the noise to my left, Tienaava was too. The swampy ground made the motions all the more strenuous as I pushed my legs of the ground with all my might, pushing my capabilities to their limits. Doing my best to push my now aching legs, I presued the slowly shrinking figure. I knew I couldn't run faster than him, but with all the hidden rocks and trees, I just had to hope he'd fall. The mystery was why he was running in the first place. Almost half the chase was spent in the air as I leapt over obstacles. My throat was starting to feel cold and dry as I ran, the wind blowing against me. I continued to viciously fight my own fatigue as I ran, hoping to see his figure hit the ground soon.

His form was becoming less and less recognizable through the leaves, and the noise of Tienaava running behind me had, for some reason, already disappeared. But no matter how strong my will was, I knew I couldn't run any faster. It was beyond my limits.

Then it came. The movement that was "Scar-tail" seemed to disappear into the shrubbery at my feet. I knew he'd fallen. I continued to run in my direction, noticing my pounding heart as I gradually slowed, the cool wind turning into an encasing of heat around the covered parts of my body. My breath was very slowly restoring it normal rhythm, as were my footsteps. Now it was time to find out what the chase had been all about.

Goes-in-heavy was wiping his face of dirt now, visible cuts mingling with the swamps filth. A nasty fall, and I had no idea what he was trying to avoid. Had he gone mad? Was he up to something nefarious? I hated to think either were true. Either would be an issue I could never put behind me. The contents of his back pack had flown an even farther distance than he had during his fall. His long sword was too far away to grasp, thankfully.

I unsheathed my shortsword, boosting my advantage in the situation hugely. Always a good way to take a control, and always a great way to get someone to listen. He turned to look at me, still wiping dirt from his mouth. Things were in my hands now, so I could relax.

"I guess you haven't been ordered to kill on sight." He said, his tone straight and serious, unlike the usual loose feel of our conversation.

"Kill on sight?" I replied. "Why? The Argonian Royal Court has been looking for you." I was getting nothing from the conversation so far. It was all still a mystery. His clothing was tattered, some pieces stained crimson, yet he still carried his backpack. His grave and serious manner was contagious.

"After the others never came back...nevermind. Just listen to me. I know we were supposed to meet in Leyawiin, but please, listen to me." He hadn't gotten lost. I didn't know exactly what was going on yet, but I could feel a bitterness start to build up between us already. He had broken our trust. I could feel a sickness starting to form inside me as he continued, knowing I'd never see him the same way again "There's a lot they haven't told you, because they knew this would happen. That's why they teach you not to ask questions, its not about trust."

"Knew what would happen?" I asked, even though I thought I knew the answer. For a change, our meeting was becoming one of hurt, anger, and sadness.

"They knew we wouldn't go a long. Why else do you think they've been keeping us in the dark? It took me a few days out of the sanctuary to realize it, but I did." He had betrayed Argonia. All the sudden I had a horrible sinking feeling. I knew I'd never look at anything the same way again.

"You...realized what? You're afraid, now?" I knew this had been the end of our trust, friendship, and something deeper. He may have been talking, but he was already dead to me. I could say goodbye to 13 years of understanding and peace within the family. I only had the Dark brotherhood to trust now. From what I gathered, he had proven to be one of the others, the cowards.

"No!" He said, almost defensively. His voice cracked slightly. He seemed to be just as troubled as I was "We never protect anyone as Shadowscales, we..." The words were infuriatingly baseless. I hated to hate him now, but I couldn't help it.

"Then why did our parents present us to the Argonian Royal Court!? Huh!? The whole country needs us! The tribals can't take care of themselves, and they know it, and you know it!" I said, my voice showing similar signs of pain. I knew I was holding back tears due to the sudden, unexpected emotion I was experiencing. Passion was building inside me, confident in my own words, infuriated and saddened that such basic truth wasn't enough to keep Goes-in-heavy in our ranks. I had been deceived by him for so long. I thought he was trustworthy.

"No. We weren't presented. They have to kill to get their recruits. Kill to get us. They take every Shadow they can get their hands on. Its just so few." His voice sounded weak and feeble like mine, but it was a mask for his insidious lies. The horrible accusations made my blood boil.

"Then why are their Shadows living in Gideon? Shadows who don't work with us?" I retorted, arguing mercilessly, eager to hear his response, or lack there of. I was thoroughly in combat mode, at least on a verbal level.

"They won't take anyone in who's old enough to remember the outside world. They don't want us to remember. They don't want us to know anything but their version of the truth." I was now shaking, adrenaline filling every fiber of my body. I thought I'd have come here to rescue him, take in a new family member at the sanctuary, but it was nothing like that. And his argument left me at a loss for any kind of response. It couldn't have been true though, if it was that simple, I would have realized it.

"They have let us see the outside world, Goes-in-heavy! You would have seen it just the same if you'd gone to the Cheydinhal sanctuary!" Hating every word of this argument yet refusing to even consider letting him win it, hating the fact that he kept pushing the issue, making me feel so helpless to turn him back. My urge to kill him was growing stronger. He seemed to realize this, and slowly lifted himself from the ground, standing up straight, but making no sign of intention to escape or grab his sword. That was good move by him, as anything was ready to set me off.

"That's because they don't care anymore. You're not even fighting for the same people there! We're a currency to them, that's it." It all seemed so vague, I didn't know what to make of the words. I just couldn't assign them any solid meaning in my mind. I couldn't tell if he was making sense. I could feel an aching lump in my throat though. So much of my spirit for my job was getting crushed, not by his words, but by his betrayal. I had believed I'd only be among loyal, untainted people when I was in the sanctuaries, and I was wrong. I just stared silently. "Think of all they've tasked you with. Was it driven by anything but greed? If not, what else? The Dark brotherhood serves anyone who pays, and the Argonian Royal Court? The Argonian Royal Court serves no one but themselves." That last, harsh line stuck with me. I was deeply offended. I did as he dared, and thought back to my assignments recently, the Dark brotherhood ones. I had killed an amoral pirate Captain, an old Elf in a very mysterious manner, and a prisoner who had plans to make his name known once he got out of prison. Though I had to admit, I couldn't feel anything for my second assignment, not knowing what it was about, the first and third clearly had good motivations. And Argonia, my last 3 assignments were the assassination of Varo Taradius, the destruction of the Gideon over-look post, and spying on the Countess of Leyawiin; they were all Imperial targets, but that had just been another part of "easing into Cyrodiillic culture". I had known little about all those assignments, true, but I couldn't see any selfishness in them. He was either refusing to listen to me, or trying to play mind games with me, saying things even he knew weren't true, yet seemed impossible to argue against. Either way, it hurt, confused, and angered me.

"So you came here just to hide?" I said, eager to prove the falseness and cowardice of those who went against us. But right now, I wasn't sure if I should feel more or less proud to be a Shadowscale, seeing as someone who I trusted for years had wimped out on me and was trying to make excuses.

"As long as they can't use me for their agendas, I'm helping someone. That, I know. The Dark brotherhood has eyes everywhere, and I can't accomplish anything alone." Oddly, he made some sense. But he was still a traitor, and it made me sick to find out this was how our reunion in Cyrodiil would begin. Maybe even end.

Then I heard rustling in towards my left side. I could see Tienaava emerging from the bushes. I looked back at Goes-in-heavy. He looked like he was ready to run. In a moment of merciless impulse, I swung my sword at his back before he could get a way. It made a clean cut.

His spine severed, he flopped to the ground as lifeless and oblivious to his own death as so many other targets. Once a great friend and courageous servant to Argonia, then a deserter and traitor, now degraded to a lifeless, thoughtless, feelingless mass of flesh. His soul released itself so quickly it was as if it was never even there. He was gone. Permanently. He died as a traitor. I was a prisoner to these circumstances.

I looked down at the lifeless body, entranced. Near it lay some of the contents which had fallen out of his back-pack during his fall. Two books: The Eastern Provinces Impartially Considered, The Brothers of Darkness, and Sacred Witness: A True History of the Night Mother. I noticed the third item, the iron longsword was blood stained. He had killed them. All vile pieces of corruption that had devoured him, and needed to be destroyed.

My life may as well have started a new; everything from my past was gone now. I suddenly felt very cold. I dreaded the moment that all which had happened would truly start to sink in.