Going Deeper

[Nox]

Nox braced himself for the multitude of deaths he was about to feel. He swallowed deep and then sent the command to push further into the lava.

There was a resistance to the command, the hoard's instinct was to survive. It was a fight of wills, but some of the weaker minds dashed into the lava without hesitation. They screamed a horrifying sound that pierced through the air and shook the rocks around them, but it shattered inside of Nox's mind as the whole of the pain flooded his body. He looked down to find that his feet were alive and well and not a melty pile of goo as they felt from the creatures.

Nox sent the command again, and more followed the brethren but more slowly, they still fought and Nox held on as their feet touched the molten lava and the screams began.

Sweat poured off of Nox's forehead, the heat, the pain, the exertion from sending the remaining hoard to it's death straining his resolve.

Nox collapsed to one knee and a hand on the ground and he pushed his will harder into the remaining hoard. They all obeyed save one and the howls and the stench of their burning bodies filled the cavern and the cherufe looked on as the hoard piled into the pool of lava save one...

Nova yipped at Nox's feet. It wasn't that Nova's will was strong, but Nox's was weak. This was the last of his family. The last of what his sister had love. A tear slide down his cheek as he whispered "I'm sorry my friend." He sent the command but Nova did not go. His former companion yipped again and Nox felt the tears flowing as he stood up. One more... one more... He couldn't think about who it was. Or what he was about to do as he picked up his former puppy by the scruff of his neck and with tear filled eyes and as much strength as he could muster he flung the mutated dog into the fires and as the pain scorched his body in phantom pains Nox bent over and hurled.

Nox collapsed to the ground in silent sobs. His body wracked with the pain of the deaths, and the hardest thing he had to do since killing Aria. There was a simple thought he heard echo in his head. His father's voice... You could end it here...