With the warg, the monster, already having shaky control - it took just one thing for it to completely snap. One push for Mesec to find the strength. It was Zero’s attack, another foolish and brave action of Mesec’s dear friend, that provided the last push. He had known Zero to be brave, to be an incredible and intelligent boy, but this was heart-breaking, the point to which the younger stallion had been pushed was farther than anyone - especially the innocent, sweet boy who tried to talk down the monster at the start of all this - should ever be pushed. As Zero’s jaws snapped they caught on the already loose-hanging jaw and tugged it further from the joint. The physical pain that resulted was agonizing but it was also nothing - not when Mesec knew he deserved so much worse. The scratches and bruises and broken jaw that he would walk away from here were ghostly echoes of what he should have received.

Every sensation he felt, and not in the absent-hazy manner of a few moments ago. Mesec was in control. Everything was crashing around him as he regained the ability to move his own body.

As he watched the broken Zero get pushed to his limits, get dragged back to his feet with sharp bloody claws, get pushed so far that he actually snapped and fought back, Mesec wanted nothing more than to die. It was just a quick thought but as soon as it entered he knew it was true and it settled in his mind with certainty.

He only had to hold on for a little while longer, to make sure that the monster that had taken over did not return, to make sure Zero made it somewhere where he could be healed. Everything else could fall away after that.

His children had their mother, they would be fine. His mother could breed another child of the night, a darker power to provide balance. It only seemed right - Israfel and Hototo had died, it was Mesec’s turn now. He’d fall into the shadows and be no more. Perhaps demigods were not supposed to live this long.

There would be no forgetting this, no escaping from the horrors that he had done. The weight of it was settling on him and Mesec, truly Mesec, woke as though from a slumber and found that he had control of the form. Whispers in his mind reminded him that the monster was not completely gone - it egged him on, encouraged him to finish what had been started - but he wouldn’t.

Given the choice, Mesec would always choose Zero’s life over his own.

After wrenching his aching face away from Zero and carefully retracting his claws, Mesec’s warg form stumbled backwards. He shook but it was not from anger - there was no anger left in him. No strength left in his body - just a sadness so raw and powerful that it left him empty as he stared at his friend, silver eyes glossy with tears as they took in every wound, every smear of blood, on his friend’s form and as he realized the copper taste in his mouth was Zero’s blood.

Very carefully, Mesec lowered his trembling form to the ground - forfeiting this terrible fight. He couldn’t even apologize with his lower jaw hanging where it was but even if he could, he didn’t know where to begin.

Perhaps by telling Zero he’d never hurt him again.

Certainly by lying and saying it was all okay now. When they all knew it wasn’t - it never would be.

Lucius, hopping over to his bonded with his broken wing trailing on the ground behind him, cried out for him - a long, mournful note. As happy as he was to have Mesec back, to know this was over, there was no celebration on this new day.

They were only allowed that one, fraction of a reunion before Mesec closed his eyes - letting his body convulse in pain that he welcomed. Too exhausted, too broken, the warg form dissipated and Mesec proper was left in its place. On trembling legs he rose, sad eyes focused on Zero. Still unable to speak - his jaw hanging grotesquely loose in this form as well - Mesec lowered his head in apology, in submission, and began trying to figure out how they were going to get Zero somewhere safe.

And then after that? He did not know... but he imagined there would be nothing but darkness from here on out. The rising sun through the trees felt like a betrayal now - as though it was just another sunny day.

-------
Mesec does not attack/he forfeits to Zero

784/800 words using wordcounter

injuries for our clarity
- shallow cut and bruise on right cheek
- bruised hip
- bruised ribs
- cuts and pieces of flesh/fur hanging off neck
- dislocated/broken jaw
- minor electrical burn on left shoulder

+ Lucius has several scratches and a broken wing


<3333 THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE MUTUAL DESTRUCTION CHARKS