Her mind was ruined, too. Any semblance of empathy, of love or humanity, had been crushed by the weight of sheer hatred that now filled her mind and soul. Deep, deep in her psyche, locked away behind layers of darkness, Nyx herself remained, trapped in the prison of her own mind. She was powerless to stop the demon that had taken over her body, driven her to hunt down any that weren't like her and infect them. But there was one place she couldn't enter - the caverns which she had made her home over the last few weeks, where she knew her father hid beneath layers of rock and stone. She wanted him; wanted to bring him down with her, to let him taste the hell that she was going through. Oh, Nyx would never have wanted to hurt her beloved sire, but she could do nothing to stop the beast inside that drove her broken body towards Nato's scent - it was almost as if the infection knew how to hurt its host the most, and that was by targeting the one she loved above all. She reached the hole in the ground and her rotting lips peeled back to expose bloodstained teeth, one tarnished hoof moving to try and enter the cave system.

But she couldn't. There was something about the Sanctuary and its adjoining caves that she couldn't defeat, some all-consuming goodness that the wraith could not break past. She couldn't return to the caverns, and she couldn't reach her father and all the others who remained quivering beneath the surface of Helovia. A hiss of disgust fled the creature's lips and she spat a stinking ball of blood onto the ground in front of her. If I can't come to them, they'll come to me! And they would, she knew it; they thought they could cure her, remove the infection that had become her. They know nothing. "Come out of your burrow, little rabbits," she cooed, her voice sing-song and scattered with shrill cackles of madness.

It hadn’t been long since the soldier had sprinted across the lands and into the way of the caves; away from that madness that darkness that now plagued his home. He had grown angry with himself, with life in general for being so cruel, for using karma and taking the one thing in life he had left. Nyx never made it out of the darkness; it had consumed her in what seemed like moments. He wanted so desperately to stop, to turn around and look upon the form of his demon daughter. With a broken heart, he fled away from her, when he wanted to stay. To protect her, to take the illness away; the demon never thought he’d feel the warm blister of tears rolling down his face; but he was now.

Standing in the darkness of the cave, the masculine coward pressed his skull against the cool cavern wall. Lobes aloft back, pinned in shame. He had not slept in days, had not bothered to drink or consume what little protein existed in these hollow walls. He didn’t bother anymore, how could he go on living knowing that Nyx was out there lost inside the demon that had become her.. was there any fixing that? Was she gone forever? The pit of his stomach churned as his skull pressed harder against the wall with his body mass. Tears rolling down the sides of his shadowed face, lost again and to be alone with every last life of his family gone; through staggered breaths he whispered the name of his lost daughter, with a soft apology.

Come out of your borrow little rabbits..

They had come, an evil laughter come to mock his very loss of his daughter. Once somber crimson eyes, became something more deadly, stricken with anger and pain. Without thinking twice, the stallion pushed his weight off the wall and breathed deeply with irritation, he was seeking vengeance for his daughters life. He moved, quickly; pushing himself though the winding darkness- hooves clacking against solid stone as he charged to the cave entrance. He wanted to kill the being, he was going to rip it apart, till its bones could no longer plague this earth. The light of the cave mouth ahead, shone upon his misty eyed visage as he changed into the blurred vision of the demon.

The smell of decay and death was all too much, made him not want to breathe, but more than anything he wanted it dead. Drawing out from the cave with a bountiful leap, he landed and stood, panting his jaw agape as his mind began to scream. No.. no..no no no. Tears streamed his cheeks, it was overwhelming to see your child like this, with flesh bleeding from her sides, as if she had been dead for months. If he could have thrown up, he would have done so; his stomach was in knots. His mind, was beyond fixable at this point. The feeling of anger, fear, desperation clouded his eyes as he whispered under his breath, the name of his daughter.

"Nyx.." His lips trembled, teeth flashing to the demon that had taken her daughter captive, had killed her image; although she was very much alive. "What have you done with My daughter!?" The stallion barked at the demon, in a rage he launched forth, his hooves kicking out like daggers aiming to stomp into what used to be his daughters fleshy left shoulder. So conflicted, the crimson orbs bleed sorrow, begging for forgiveness as he gazed into his daughters lifeless eyes.

Ooc: -tears- poor Nato xD

The creature remained outside the cave, pacing back and forth until her stained hooves had created a small path, a scar upon the earth. Still she wandered, stopping every so often to drag in a ragged, rasping breath. The longer she paced, the more chance of one of the uninfected coming above ground - oh, she could hardly wait to spread her disease! One nip, one cough, one gust from her phlegm-riddled lungs, and she could take anybody down with her. They could suffer the agony that Nyx had, being forced into the tiniest corner of her consciousness whilst some demon ran around wearing her skin like a torn fancy dress costume; making her do things the steel soldier would never have dreamed of doing. But the creature was her now; she had been devoured body and mind. Her only duty was to spread what had taken her, until Helovia itself was consumed by hell.

She could smell him now, and her tattered nostrils flared, ears pivoting towards the sound of his hoofbeats. He came, and the beast inside her roared its pleasure - now she could take him down, make him like her, drag him down into her darkness. He spoke, and the creature's rotting lips peeled back to expose her bloodstained teeth, tongue flickering like that of a lizard. "She's in here, somewhere...oh, you should hear her scream!" A fetid giggle fled her ragged jaws, followed by a bellow of disgust as the man kicked out at her shoulder. Chunks of meat fell from her as his hooves made contact, but she felt nothing, she simply continued to cackle like a deranged hyena. His wits must be broken! she decided, as why else would he optionally touch a beast who could infect him with a single breath?

With great pleasure the bitch opened her jaws wide, preparing to spit a fleck of blood in his direction. But before she could she caught the scent of another; loitering down the cavern, out of sight but not safe from the nostrils of the tattered demon. "Come out, little one, don't be shy!" she cackled, obsidian gaze shifting from her father to the mare cowering in the tunnels.

Her eyes were black, lifeless and empty. The contact the warrior had upon his (or what was) his daughters shoulder would probably scar the stallion for life. Horrified as the rotting flesh sliced off and clumped upon the cold floor, the stallions jaw dropped as he stumbled back. Spooked, unsure of what to do- his body trembling with adrenaline while his mind fought of a decision. The bloody lips, rotting flesh was a new image of his daughter he would never forget. It’s voice haunting and showed no sign that its statements were true. He felt disgusted with himself. He was attacking his own blood, but what choice did he have?

Calking his head back as the demon prepared to spread its plague upon him, he braced himself almost openly taking fate. But something else lingers in the air, it smelled alive; and that must have been enough for this thing to shift its attention to the shadows. The painted warrior turned his crimson gaze into the darkness, unsure what the demon was seeking. But now was his chance, it was do or watch her suffer. He had to knock her out, to figure out what to do, to by him some time.

While the demon had its head turned, being side-tracked. Nato lunged forth again, blood stained hooves stop into the earth as he charges into the demon, using his massive size and weight to hopefully topple her over into the earth’s dusty blanket. He gave it all, his weight slamming into the demon-child. He could feel the blood smear across his chest, lips parting as teeth snapped at the demons head in hops to make her buckle to the floor. If anyone was going to bring her down, it had to be him. Heaven help anyone else knocking around his little girl. "I'm sorry." Words whispered from his lips, as his hooves, like dagger shaped hammers, lifted from the earth and kicked up once more toward her head. If he missed, he'd try again. But if he made contact, it'd either knock her head off, or she'll be out cold.

Any scrap of humanity left in the demon would have been appauled by what was happening, but there wasn't enough of Nyx left for her to care. Her nares continued to dilate, trying to detect the other mare hiding in the shadows, and she stole her attention from Nato for the tiniest of moments. The scent moved, and Nyx's attention was lost, however as she turned to redouble her efforts to poison the black stallion, she felt his weight crash into her rotting shoulder. A chunk of meat fell from her and hit the ground with a sickening thud, and her lips peeled back to expose her sharpened, stained fangs. Her hooves scrabbled on the ground but her balance was compromised and she felt herself falling, Nato's teeth rasping against her face as she did so. They tore at the skin beneath her left eye and a great flap of flesh peeled free, exposing the bloodied muscle and skull beneath. The eye clung to the socket by the merest straggle of sinew, but the black iris of it still pivoted to focus on Nato, a sick, giggling gurgle spewing from her jaws.

She staggered, lurching drunkenly as her forelegs buckled and she crashed to her knees, grazing them and feeling the wet sensation as a fountain of blood poured down to her hooves. She hissed up at Nato, drawing her neck back like a snake in preparation to spit infection at him, feeling scarlet phlegm gather at the back of her throat. But before she could release it, before she could poison him and watch as he was devoured by the infection, his hooves appeared from nowhere and collided with her head. The sound was a muffled thud, like steel striking flesh, accompanied with a resounding crack as the creature's neck bones snapped with the force of the impact. Like a sack of meat the beast slumped sideways to the floor, her head bent at a disgustingly wrong angle. A cackle died in her throat as she fell, and her black eyes never left Nato's even as she felt unconsciousness grip her. Her skull slammed into the soil below and her breathing slowed, blood pouring from between her teeth as she lay prone and broken. The impact would have killed the none-infected Nyx, but the infection was not so easily killed; she was comatose, but for how long was anybody's guess.

Her loose eye snapped fully from its socket, and rolled a few feet away on a string of muscle and flesh. It came to a halt, a gruesome blot on the blackened landscape.

The sickening sound of his hooves against her skull, exploded in his mind as her blood coated his chest and stained his hooves. Part of him considered just killing the demon, to set his daughters soul free of this madness. His heart was breaking, for every drop of blood, for every scratch he had placed upon her, he died on the inside. Is demons screaming of forgiveness, and his body trembling with regret, it was all too much. But the stallion did his best, in these blurred moments to remind himself this wasn’t Nyx he was fighting against. It was something darker, that leached in her blood and made her demonic, undead and twisted.

As his hooves crashed into the earthen floor, everything following seemed to roll in slow motion. He had done it, the worm bloody flesh, strung like ripped leather at his hooves, as his teeth remained bared, fangs tainted in her blood dripping fluidly as lobes crushed into his skull. He could feel her blood running down his chest, dripping from his lips as he did his best to shake it off, disgusted, confused and full of rage. He stood firm, as he listened to the wicked shrill from the demon as his daughter’s body fell upon the earth. Broken, but not dead, death would not come for her this hour. She was out cold, her breathing limited, as lay upon the ground.

Lobes lifted from his skull, as the snow around him fell, a cold silence fell over him as he watched the snow gently fall upon her rotting corpse, and melt away into nothing. Steam rolled off his lips as he took deep staggering breaths, fighting back his emotions as his mind raced. He had to get her in out of the cold, he had to figure out what to do now. The scent of the one lingering in the caves returned, and he turned his eyes away from Nyx and gazed into the shadows, coated in blood of what would look like a murder scene; not a very open invitation. But he needed help. Stepping closer, horrified as Nyx’s eye had detached and rolled in a sluggish fashion before her. A single tear rippled from his crimson eyes, leaving a black streak through the dust and blood that coated his face.

The beast kneeled down, his blood stained lips pressing against her shoulder, the stench was almost too much to bear, but the chilling winds from the north helped take that away. As the snow began to fall heavily, dusting the ground with crystal powder, he opened his jaws grabbing her by the base of the throat, where the muscle was thicker, and wouldn’t tare as easy. The taste of her bood in his mouth was almost like a primal feeling, even though it was his daughter he knew this feeling all too well. Holding her, his haunches shifted, and like a lioness dragging a kill home, he reversed and started to drag Nyx into the cave.

Their bodies dusted in snow, as he dragged her with careful steps and strength, as not to wound her already mangled body. The smear of blood, trailing behind her clumped tail as he closed his eyes, groaning in anguish as he used all his body strength to pull her deeper into the shadows; he could only pray now that the beast wouldn’t awaken her.

Dropping her upon the cave floor, he turned to gaze upon a dapple mare, his appearance would be enough to worry anyone, so much blood, his eyes confused and terrorized. Had she watched this happen? Why didn’t she help? "Help Me. His tones trembling, and deep as he begged for her help. He snaked his head away from the mare, and grabbed the demon again by the throat, and began to heave into the direction of the mare, praying she would assist.

The stallion stood with his daughter’s throat within his jaws, awaiting the dapple mare to assist him. Her words seemed blunt and cold as she moved alongside him and scuffed her nose to the scent of rotting flesh. Of course, if their anatomy would allow them to vomit, he would have already done so several times. It wasn’t his choice to taste his daughters decaying blood, her rotting flesh tainting his lips and gums. He too, was amazed that the disease, this plague of infection had not taken him. Was it a slow process, would it fight his immune system later? He did not care, not for himself. For now, his daughter’s very soul rested in the hands of the black knight, and he would do his best to defend it.

Unsure if he should trust the dapple woman, his crimson eyes never left hers as she spoke about the healing waters. Something he was unsure of, he did not know the location, but as she lifted Nyx by the doc of her tail, he didn’t question her motive, but followed her lead eager to save his daughter from damnation. They had only walked for a moment or two, before another appeared, one from the Edge he had seen within the meeting; the final time he had seen any of his herd mates. It was nice, even if he was equine, to see another living soul from the Edge. Even his hound was not too far off from his side; he asked if someone should send for help, he assumed the dog, if not then who? But the pale mares reaction set him off, this was not the place to be asking who is who.

He turned and gave her a dangerous glare, his eyes laced in sorry, hurt and disappointment. If she wanted to play the name game, he would continue into the darkness alone with his daughter. Shaking his head, not uttering a word, he lowered his head and snaked his muzzle under her body, his thick muscular neck lifting the demon from the floor and upon his back. She wasn’t as heavy as expected; the rotting flesh that had fallen from her bones, her weight had dwindled to nothing, the boney beast of his daughter dropped over his back like a fresh killed doe. It was gross, disgusting, as her flesh and blood coated his black coat. He stood firm, and turned to gaze at the painted stallion, giving him a nod, should he wish to send off for help. A passing glance was given to the mare, beckoning her to follow him into the dark cavern.

He did his best, not to let the being slip and slide around upon his back; his steps were careful, but eager to get moving. He wanted his little girl’s smile, his warrior to return to this world. Every so often, he would turn his head back and nudge her back upon his withers. He was coated in her filth, and knowing his luck, he would have to bathe in these black waters to keep him from death. He could smell them now, the liquid must that lingers, the pool of black glinting like smooth tar. Climbing down, the near lifeless demon upon his back bouncing with his stride, her head crashing upon the rock walls as he tried to be delicate to no avail on the slippery floor. He paused, gazing upon the pool as if to question if it would actually work. If he dropped her in this ominous pool of obsidian acid; would it work? Would it be renewed.

There was no going back now. He was unsure, but it had to be done. Nearing the waters edge, he lowered his head letting the demon slide from his back and into the pool of blackness. It seemed to consume her like a thick clay, swallowing her hole.

He stood, paralyzed.

Blood dripping from his body, crimson pools gazing upon the onyx waters as if it was his last good bye to the last thing he had ever loved.

Ooc: I know it sounds weird for a horse to be able to pick her up, and walk on. But per Nyx, I have permission. And its just in his nature to be rude and take things into his own hands, so I hope no one minded!!! If so I can edit. <3

She knew nothing of what was happening, her broken neck keeping her rendered in a state of deep unconsciousness. Her dreams were nightmares, haunted by hideous images of rotting flesh and broken beasts, yet her sanity remained buried beneath layers of the demon beneath her peeling skin. The first thing she felt was water lapping at her body, and her broken neck snapped back into place with a hideous crack as the healing properties of the pool worked its magic on her body. Her eyes snapped open, black turning to blue and the missing iris growing back into the empty socket to replace the gory orb still rolling around outside. Ripped skin healed itself, ribs and bloodied bones hidden behind a thick layer of muscle and flesh as her rotting body repaired itself, bloodstains washing away to expose the steel grey of her fur beneath.

Inside her mind, the infection recoiled with a bloodcurdling scream, and Nyx rose from the ashes.

Suddenly she was self-aware again; suddenly her limbs were hers to control, no longer held captive by the demon inside. She was underwater, liquid pouring into her eyes and nose, and with a gargled string of bubbles the soldier began to panic, unable to tell which way was up despite the shallowness of the pool. At last her hoof struck stone and she used the solid ground to boost herself upwards, her horn, skull and then shoulders breaking the surface and her nostrils flaring as they dragged great gulps of air into her starved lungs. She was in the caverns, but couldn't remember how she had got there, save for some vague memories of demonic cackles and gruesome insults. There was her father, along with a mare she didn't recognise and a painted stallion; tears glistened in the grey girl's eyes as she left the water and flew towards Nato with wild abandon. He was coated in blood and looked absolutely wrecked, and Nyx couldn't even contemplate what he had been through. "Father!" she exclaimed, seeking to embrace him with her muscular neck and find solace in his strong form, as she had done when she was a filly. "I'm so sorry," she added in a whisper meant for his ears only - sorry for not listening to him and running, sorry for forcing him to watch her transform into a beast, sorry for everything he'd had to do to heal her.

She pulled away, fur wet against her body as she looked to the other two. "Th..thank you. All of you." And she looked again to Nato, gratitude evident in her newly-functional eyes. Without all of them, she would still be naught more than the basest creature in Helovia, sworn to do nothing but roam around and inflict her misery on any who came near. She shifted back to her father's side, his loyal minion and most gracious child; she would never forget what he had done for her to save her from the disease.

What were only mere moments to everyone else surrounding him, every ripple of that black pool waved in a rhythmic slow motion, what little light there was in the room glinting off its tar like surface. His breaths staggered as he listened to the dead air around him, chest slowly rising and falling with sour anticipation, wondering if the rumor held truth. The trauma of what just happened only moments ago, the sound of her bones breaking, the slick slab of flesh that had fallen from her body, the blood and stench of damnation that coated him still.

Those who had tried to help him, standing in the shadows of the background, though he would not admit it now, he was thankful for their assistance, no matter how little it was. In a way he would never be able to forgive himself for attacking his own daughter, for taking her down like she was just some stranger, a demon. How was he to feel about these things, had it all just have been a dream? Lobes draped in black pealed back and lay against his skull, blood stained lips lowered to the floor. It had been done, this was it, his daughter’s body now mangled but masked by the blackness of the liquid that consumed her.

Slowly turning his head his weight began to shift, as he was going to turn and walk out of this place, to leave Helovia, his life mattered not anymore. But the sound of sloshing water, a gasping breath caused a glance of hope to be shot back to the obsidian pool. Crimson eyes were shocked as they rested upon his gray daughter, her eyes repaired, her skin wet and vibrant with healthy life. The blood, scars and broken bones had been repaired. His once sour face, has turned into a expression of joy and love for his daughter. Their embrace, savored, as Nato for the first time in his life, thanked the Gods for the healing of his daughter. Father!

”I thought I’d lost you” His voice raspy, broken with emotional joy. Her demons blood still caked upon his back, mud and melted ice dripping from his winter coat. When she stepped back to thank everyone, his eyes turned to the duo as well, a thankful expression upon his stained face as he turned to glance upon his daughter again. She was thankful, it shown brightly on her beautiful face. And he, couldn’t be more proud. Her silent apology was waved, as she didn’t need to be. If he would have been alone, he would have turned to fight as well. He ran for her, and she decided to fight.

Realizing he still looked a mess, he turned with a noble stride and moved to the side of his daughter. He needed to wash up, and would have to venture down to the falls to do so. Just when he thought all was going to be lost, the stallion felt as if he was born again, given a second chance at life.

@[Nyx]
Ooc: Omg, the wait. I’m sorry!