[b][u]Chapter 1 - My Poison, My Pride[/u][/b] [i][b]Verse 1:1 A war of love[/b][/i] Curling green flames filled the sky which was decorated only with clouds of black smoke. The smell of decay and rot filled the air and screams of pain echoed like a chorus. All was well, all was beautiful. A slender winged creature writhed and gasped as it tried to crawl from it's pursuers to higher ground. It was arrayed in sparkling glorious armor. The very sight of such a thing seemed so out of place, so wrong. It was noble, it was intelligent, it was strong, but most importantly it was filled with sweet delicious light. This miserable thing had been captured and drug into the ascendant realm by the Wizards as a feast for their growing brood. Over a dozen Thrall clawed at it wripping the armor from its frame and tearing its skin. Barely able to contain their hunger and excitement, they fought each other over the suffering feast. Alone their strength had not been enough to bring down their prey but together, they worked as a torrent of pain. "How utterly adorable!" cried one of the wizards. "Come now, don't let your meal get away. If you are to be strong you must take what is yours. No room for sharing" said a Knight who sat and watched the spectacle from a high perch. All of the Thrall fought for their meal but one. A single Thrall stood aside and watched, it studied the others. As it observed the others prove their right to feed, the ground began to shake. A hollowed archway behind the assembly burst into green flames and shrieks sounded from them. "It is the High Coven" yelled the Knight as he lept from his perch and bowed. From the portal emerged Wizards of terrible power and age. At the rear however was the greatest of them all. It was the first Wizard, the mother Savathun. She slowed her glide and watched the Thralls ripping the light from their meal. Her eyes lingered for a moment as she studied each one. She frowned and quickly turned her head to the Thrall who stood alone. "My child why do you not feed?!" she demanded to know. At the sound of her shrill voice the rocks shook and clouds twisted. "Mother, I have filled my belly with much richer light than these could imagine. I found a feast in the ninety seventh warmoon which has satisfied my hunger" said the Thrall carefully. The others stopped feeding. Their Wizard mothers cut open a wound in space and flew inside followed by their starving children. When the assembled Hive had departed only Savathun and her child remained. She smiled and glanced at her spawn. The Thrall eyed the near dead creature and let out a howl of joy as it lept upon it and devoured its light by himself. "Your trickery has given you sustenance. This is impressive." Savathun was happy to see that her child had learned cunning so quickly. The small Thrall stood at Savathun's tattered robe of bone and chitin and asked a question. "Mother, what is love?" Savathun thought hesitantly for a moment, considered her answer. "It is to wage war my child. It is to wish death and suffering upon those whom you love. My brother and sister waged war against me and one another for centuries out of love. This is how we worship the Deep through bringing death and pain. These things are absolute and true. We fight a war of love against life; against the Sky and its lies of peace and prosperity. We... Savathun stopped speaking and touched her chest. She felt her worm knawing at her. "Even now does my worm devour me in its unquenchable hunger" she said coldly. "Why does your worm devour you so? Are you not the greatest wizard and most cunning creature to exist?" asked the Thrall. Savathun hissed at the questions and flashed her long claws. The Thrall retreated backwards seeking safety for fear of its mother eating it. "I am eaten because Oryx has crippled my tribute son! He has done this out of love. He wishes to try me...to kill me. I wish the same for him." She turned her burning gaze upon the Thrall. "This is why I gave birth to you. You will be my unseen poison. You will be my lie to Oryx. He has designed his lineage to live on endlessly and gather tribute. You will poison his kingdom slowly and secretly tithe the blight that belongs to Oryx to your mother. For this cause have ai begotten you. You will be my secret weapon snd you will not be a failure as your cousin Crota. You are cunning and wise even in your Thrall strength. I have given you nothing except knowledge. You will use this to show Oryx how much you love him." The Thrall remained silent. It stared into it's mother's fiery eyes and said "yes mother. I will not fail and prove my love for Oryx...and for you as well."