Prologue

~ ~ ~ Unknown ~ ~ ~

"Pain is a mere tool that separates the weak from the strong. Those who survive are destined to be great. Those who die were never worth living in the first place."

Rain... How I hated the rain. And here I was now, running through this festering swamp while the skies above poured their filth upon me. I could feel something on my shoulder, was it another spider? My head turned to the right, my hand clawing at my skin to pull the wretched arachnid from my flesh. A hiss broke from between my teeth as I flicked the bug away and kept pushing through the water, feeling the swamp water lap at my waistline. Mud was threatening to enclose my feet as I waded through, rocks prickling the soles of my feet.

I could still hear the sounds of a search party in the distance. Even through the thick trees of Black Marsh, the light of fire could be seen, a warm glow in the distance. I gritted my teeth as I pulled myself onto the shore. Stubborn Argonians. Far too determined for their own good. No wonder father wanted an alliance with them. I almost laughed at this thought but caught myself quickly.

A rustle was coming to my left, catching me by surprise. What a fool I was to rest for even just a moment! Move! My mind screamed at me but my feet refused to act. A hand shot to my back, reaching over for the crude blade I had acquired during my time here.

"Xhuth, naktis," a voice hissed from the darkness and I calmed… For a moment. "I am not here to fight you, thux."

"Khani, Seevara, kaoc' theilult!" The Jel tongue rolled off my lips like I was born to speak it, but I could feel the language was still crude to the reptile's ears. He stood opposite me, red-scaled, scars across his features and his eyes golden and boring into my own.

At my words, he merely chuckled and smirked, like the idiot he is. But an idiot he may, he was the closest thing I had to a friend in this distant land. "Why do you run, naktis? Is the truth too much for you to bear?"

"Waxhuthill, Seevara, you know why!" I couldn't help but snap, the effects of the swamp had become a infectious wound on my mood.

The Argonian's face didn't change and he stepped closer, his clawed hand resting upon my shoulder. "I do not blame you."

I shrugged his hand away, the comforting effect lost on me. "Yet they do. They see me as a monster, a pawn, a tool! I did what they asked and they spat it in my face!"

He blinked once. "Perhaps."

"Is that meant to make me feel any better?"

"No."

His words irked me and made my skin crawl. I turned my head and walked away, feeling his eyes on my back. I could hear him calling from behind me, his footfalls soft against the soil as he followed.

"Do remember we have done much for you, egg-sister! Kreen-Shei, Sun-Belly, Ulann-"

"I will not deny that," I interrupted him, causing the lizard to hiss lightly.

"You act as if you didn't know the risks."

My eyes met his own and my teeth bared. "The risks were clear."

Seevara sighed, the frustration in his voice apparent to me, but his next sentence was said with clear empathy. "They will find you. You know this. We were trained to never fail."

"As was I."

We stared at one another, black meeting gold. His eyes were emotionless and I knew my own mirrored that. We both knew what emotion was in our trade - Weakness. Neither of us could afford to show that weakness.

"They'll kill you if they know we have spoken," I said plainly.

The Argonian chuckles. "I am not afraid."

"You should be," I vexed, grimacing and walking away from him. He didn't follow, but I could still feel his presence in the vicinity. I could hear the nix hounds screeching in the swamps, their horrible insectoid's cry causing me to cringe. Their call was one I had heard many times before in our clan… They were hunting.

I looked towards the fire light in the distance, now closer than ever before, and then back to my only friend in this land. His face was stern now, as if he was scolding me. "Do not blame yourself, this was not your fault, naktis. How many have we killed together? Ten, twenty? Fifty? Thier lives were destined to end by our hands. Fanik tahrinn la zantel. What does it matter now?"

My eyes closed and I lifted my head towards the sky. Through the trees, I could see a slim sliver of starlight shining down towards us. It calmed me so, even though the rain was splattering my eyes. I raised a hand, shielding them, and pondered the Argonian's words. But even so…

"Their deaths are mine to carry, saxhleel. This is the burden I carry. I cared for my brother and sisters, like they were of my own kin. They did not deserve this… This… This… Gah!" A cry broke from my throat, echoing to the stars above, before I descended into child-like whimpers.

Seevera sighed and turned away, his eyes falling closed and his hand sliding upon the hilt of his sword. "Then run, thux. Run and do not turn back. For I will kill you if they do not." His eyes open and they turn to me, his expression serious.

The moment of weakness I had shown was enough for my brother to give me what I need - An escape. My cries are silenced and I turned away, my feet moving of their own accord, taking me away from this wretched place. Their pace quickened and I broke into a run, my chest heaving from the effort and I ran, ran like the coward I am, and into the night I bolted. A thunder crackled echoed above and soon, the sound of my own footprints was faded out.

God, I hated the rain.