Brameth sat alone atthe edge of the netherstorm, staring into the void below. Greatchunks of rock floated peacefully below him as a light breeze stirredhis fur. But he really didn't see the sight below him, or feel thebreeze. His mind was focused inwards.
Chatter from hishearthstone drew him momentarily from his thoughts. One of the manyfists on the go was in dire straits and could use assistance. Hecould mend them back together, such was his specialty, and his duty. Sighing, he laid his hand upon his hammer but did not lift it fromthe ground. Instead he glared at it angrily as it shimmered silentlywith power.
How long ago had heleft The Grim behind? His grip tightened upon the shaft of thehammer as he snarled to himself. What had The Grim represented? Allies. Honor. Purpose. Friends. Hadn't that been enough? Whatof this hammer, these new vestments, that he had traded all that for? What did they represent? Greed. His face would be terrible tobehold, if there any around to gaze upon it, as his hatred focusedinwards. For greed, he had traded allegiance. For greed, he hadbroken his pact. Greed swayed him, replaced his honor... Greed.
The hammer sailedfar out into the void, fading quickly away as it was swallowed byinfinity. He was standing now without realizing it, rage boilingwithin him. He had torn off his tabard and thrown it to the ground. He stared at it now as one stares at a hated enemy. Who were thesepeople he served? How had they so easily bought him? They didn'thave honor. They weren't his allies, or his friends. The tabardlaid there, its emblem mocking him even as he stamped on it with hishooves, grinding it into the dirt.
“Brameth? Answerus damn you! Dammit! Nether take you you bastard, we're dyinghere!” He looked down at his hearthstone as a torrent of profanityspewed forth from it. Yes, he thought. Let the nether take me. Hejumped.
He watched as theisland grew smaller as he fell. At any moment, he could savehimself. He'd been this far below the floating islands before. Hecould just take his crow form and return to the safety of land, maybecircle about and see if his hammer had landed anywhere safe. Belowhim the void boiled with energy, certain death. Beautiful. One lastchance. Shift now, and live.
He closed his eyesand continued to fall...