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It was easier at night. Easier to focus and stay grounded without the abundant vivacity that was everywhere during the daylight hours. Even in the most remote and secluded places that the mare could find, there was still the overwhelming presence of life. But at night, the whole world was quieter. The emptiness was not quite so noticeable when no one was around.

At least it would have been so had it not been for the distinct and painfully vivid presence of another Azrein - the first Attie had felt in a long time. Sometimes, the odd stranger would stumble into her territory. She could usually avoid those. But other times, Azrein sought her out deliberately - a monster against whom to test their bravery. Really, what better way was there to prove one's courage than to face a real demon? Those ones, unfortunately, were more difficult to avoid.

It was not improving Attie's state of mind to find that this Azrein seemed to be heading straight toward her. Relishing what little sanity had come to her tonight, she was not particularly inclined to stick around and meet him and chance seeing his death. But there was another part of her that craved companionship, if only for a while. Just something to fill the void for a little while. Torn by indecision, she did not move.

When the dark stallion emerged from the night, Atropos realized how long she had been standing there in her indecision. Now, it seemed, the decision had been made for her. She could outrun him, of course, but what was the point? If he was truly determined, he would find her again. However, she could not help but notice how calm he was when coming face to face with her. Most were not so composed. The moon was full and there were no clouds, so it could not be from lack of sight. Perhaps he simply had a good poker face.

"What do you want?" she demanded at last, her voice oddly musical coming from the face of a skull.

As the mare considered his words, her expressionless somehow managed to give an impression of suspicion. It seemed very dubious to her that this stranger would feel a summons to meet her. Well, unless he had some sort of heightened sense that allowed him to feel her own strange nature.

Enough! It did not matter how he had come here, only that he had. She had no wish to see yet another death and already she could feel the pull of her power, the unmistakable sensation of a coming foretelling. Best she be rid of him before it came. Attie flattened her ears.

"I did not summon you nor have I any interest in making your acquaintance. You have seen me and assuaged your curiosity, now be gone."

Relieved that he was leaving, Atropos sighed softly. However, when he stopped and turned back around, she tensed, a sinking sensation filled her stomach. He was not going to leave after all. It would be so much better if he would just go. It would spare them both the pain. There were several reasons she lived in solitude. Mostly, however, it was to avoid situations just like this. Still, she was resigned. If he chose to stay, then it was he who would face the consequences.

If only she could believe that.

"You might not like what you find," she told him. "You have been warned."

The mare shook her head, fighting her power even as it drew her into its embrace. She did not want to know his death, and if it was taking this long for it to come to her, then it could not be a pleasant one. Sometimes, she would look at a being and simply know their fate as though it were common knowledge. There was no imagery, no sound, the knowledge was just there. For instance, that little mouse rummaging about by the bush was going to be snatched up by a hawk, swift and sudden. It was hardly a stunning revelation, just the way of life.

But other times, it was not so simple. Other times, the death would come to her in full technicolor, complete with sound and scent and taste and sometimes even touch. Usually, the most gruesome deaths reserved themselves for these types of grand revealings.

"Not this time," she said tightly, holding on for precious sanity even knowing that she had mere moments left before she saw what he had come for. "This time, you will wish you had never found what you were looking for."

She flinched at his words and hated herself for the weakness. She knew she was a monster, but to be called such so bluntly still hurt. It would serve him right if she told him. She could tell him all about his death and then make it come all the sooner. For a vicious moment, she truly considered it. But no. Atropos was many things, but a killer was not one of them. Not directly, anyway. Not if she could prevent it.

Instead, she gave in to the inevitable and and embraced the vision of darkness and blood, violence and pain and agonizing death. To Haides, it must look like she was stunned or perhaps in a trance, for while her mind was lost in the future, her body simply stood there, unresponsive and swaying slightly. In the empty sockets that were her eyes, a spark of light seemed to appear, dancing and swirling, oddly entrancing.

Chaos, blood, and slaughter. The rocky hillside was slick with blood and the air was filled with the screams of the dying. The followers of the Six had gone mad. Perhaps it was only a select group, or perhaps there were new orders from above, but there was wholesale slaughter on anyone and everyone that was not one of them. No longer where the neutral Azrein safe. They were being attacked with the rest. Unsuspecting lambs to the slaughter. Hoof and fang, horn and claw, those of evil alignment were tearing into their victims, and the dark stallion was amongst them.

Though he fought, he was no match for their brutality. All too soon, he was bloodied and broken. Unable to move, he was left to a slow and agonizing fate as others lost their own lives around him. It was not until after the last of the others had died and the evil Azrein had gone that his body gave out at last.

Atropos bowed her head as she came back to herself. Death was not a stranger to her. It was a fact of life. But it was no longer in her to stand idly by and watch impassively as the world died around her. Even if it was just the single Azrein in front of her, she had to at least try to change his fate. The problem was, if she told him what she had seen, he would only die all the sooner.