Chapter 42 - Cycle of Life

Unknown

Robert was shoved down, and violently dragged forward until he came to rest by the roof's edge. A hand that felt more like bone than flesh grabbed his neck, and held tight. Another bony appendage seized his side, and squeezed. Pain dug deep as the bony claws cut through clothes, fur, and flesh. A pained scream ripped through his throat as he writhed in pain, and his paws tore at the shingles of the roof.

The claws stopped squeezing, the pain ebbed for a moment, and a voice whispered near his ear, "Watch, Robert, watch. The Master will be back soon, and then you'll see."

"Conrad, please... It's me, Robert... This isn't you, my King. Listen to me-"

The claws around his neck tightened to the point where Robert's voice cut out.

"I told you, Robert... But you didn't want to see the truth, not even now."

"Can't... Can't you remember?" Robert wheezed.

"Oh, I remember quite well... Being locked in the castle, forced to read your stupid books, and listen to your stupid stories, all to create a 'good' king. Duty, honor, fairness... for the 'people', of course."

"I don't believe you!" Robert snapped and winced as the claws pinched his side.

Robert was hefted up without warning, and his head was forcefully moved to stare toward the giant obelisk that loomed outside the city. Flashes of green light arced from the obelisk's wounded midsection, and focused on the center where a new vortex had formed.

"I'll make you watch, Robert, until the very last person in Dracwyn is dead, and then-"

The word caught in the former king's throat, and a surprised gasp followed. Robert tried to glance back, but his attention stayed focused on the obelisk as something began to happen.

The vortex within the obelisk began to shudder, and the arcs that supported it grew wild. Great bolts of energy slammed into the ground, and ripped new valleys into the earth. One of the bolts slammed into the obelisk itself, and a great boom followed as giant pieces of obsidian were torn loose. The midsection of the obelisk began to glow ever stronger, and a high pitched noise grew on the wind.

"This can't be happening, the Tower... It's falling! The vortex is-"

The grip on Robert loosened and he found himself standing by the strength of his own two legs. He glanced back in silence, and saw the former king stumble to the side.

"Master!" The creature cried and raised his arms as if pleading to a god.

The whine on the wind grew and became a painful shriek that kept getting stronger. The arcing bolts of light tore at the ground, and the intense light made it seem as if a second sun had risen. Survival instinct struck as Robert threw himself down, lay flat on the ground, and covered his ears.

What followed was a blast that was felt stronger in his body more than his ears could hear. The ground shook, his teeth sang from the vibrations, and his eyes saw white light despite being closed. Heat bombarded his back, radiated through his fur, and made his skin feel as if singed by hot water.

Seconds later the noise of the explosion began to fade, and was replaced by the low rumble of an encroaching storm. Slowly, and carefully, he raised his gaze to look back. The upper half of the obelisk was no more, a giant crater surrounded it, and the base had settled like a slanted tower. A mushroom cloud of smoke rose high into the sky, but had also torn open a ring of clear sky from which the sun now shone through.

Something still moved though, and it made him peer at the sky in wonder. His eyes widened as he focused on an object that was quickly growing larger.

"Oh shi-" Robert scrambled back, stumbled onto his back, and felt the earth shake once more as a giant piece of obsidian struck the city.

A cloud of debris scattered throughout the air, and a gust of dust briefly blinded him. Blinking, and now shaking as his tail twitched, he opened his eyes to find himself staring at a giant shard of obsidian that had crashed nearby. It had flattened a pair of nearby houses, and jutted out of the ground like a tall sword that cast a shadow over him.

As he looked up once more, he saw more pieces, big and small, that were still falling toward the city.

Unknown

Raymond clenched his teeth. Despite his best efforts he'd done it yet again, even after Avery specifically told him to stay out-of-the-way. Hiding in the blimp's cargo bay was desperate, and it had almost worked... until he heard the lock being turned.

A bumpy ride followed, and he had the time in silence, clinging to the tight ropes that held cargo in place. There had been a tremendous crash. The floor buckled from the impact, crates had been crushed in the process, and he had thrown around with so much force that he had no idea where he was.

When it finally seemed to be over, he noticed a chill in the air. An icy presence that pushed through the hull of the blimp, and whispers that emerged from the darkness.

The Master's presence...

Raymond clutched his head, and he had to stifle the urge to beat himself. The ship had somehow fallen into the Master's grip, and he was in the middle of it. He felt ready to cry when he noticed that there muffled voices echoing from the outside.

Maybe they don't know I'm here?

Raymond kept still, barely breathed, and after a while the Master's presence began to wither.

Did Avery do it? Banished the Master? Is it all over now?

Raymond started searching the dark and cramped bay out of hope that he might escape. Part of his mind told him that he should have banged on the hull, but the shame burned and he couldn't bring himself to do it.

The silence from outside was short-lived as the blimp suddenly rocked back and forth. Within moments gravity changed once more, and the entire blimp seemed to dip. Loud cracks and booms echoed through the hull. Boxes started falling, and metal groaned around him.

Raymond quickly grabbed hold of the ropes he could find, and held on tight as he felt the ship falling. A minute later, still clinging to the ropes, a thunderous roar shook the ship. Raymond lost his grip as the world shook, crates came loose once more, and he felt himself hurled through the bay.

Confusion, pain, and a head that felt as if it had been crushed in a vice. Raymond groaned as his waking mind seemed to flutter back and forth. The first crash had hurt, and this one made it worse. He could hardly breathe as his left side screamed with pain.

Raymond's mind finally snapped out of its daze as he noticed light and warmth seeping into his chest. The light dotted the inner hull of the cargo bay, but rather than the white light of the sun, it was an angry red hue that invaded.

As he stared in wonder there was strange sensation tickling his hand. He lifted it, looked, and saw what looked like thick blood. It glowed with a red hue and glittered a little as if filled with miniature crystals. In horror he recoiled with the thought that it was spilling from his own body. But as the liquid coated the floor, and began to rise, it made it obvious there was far too much of it. The air filled with the scent of iron, and a tingling presence of magic that caught in his throat.

Raymond pushed himself up from the floor and looked around as the bay grew brighter. The holes were small, but the red liquid flowed from each one he could see. Rather than search the already overflowing floor, he began looking for a hatch to the upper floor. Moments later, while working his way around a tall crate, the blimp began to tip. Liquid violently rushed from one end of the blimp to the other.

Stumbling and wheezing, Raymond made his way to the middle portion of the ship, and noticed a large wooden hatch. His knees sloshed through the liquid as he rushed to the hatch, and grabbed hold of it. A simple push didn't help, so he crouched, put his back to it, and pushed with both his legs.

Fortunately it worked, but a sudden wave of reddish liquid came rushing out of the hatch and caught him by surprise. It flowed over his upper body, yet he kept pushing, and forced the hatch to open wide.

Once open he scrambled through the hatch and found himself in the main compartment. The front of the blimp was no more, and it seemed to have landed in a deep cavern that housed a large pool of crimson.

A beach of glimmering crystal surrounded the pool, and massive red crystals grew along the walls like giant conduits. Some of them had been crushed, and others had broken apart as large jagged pieces of obsidian.

The ship tipped further, and the rushing torrents moved against his body. Raymond struggled, intimately aware that he couldn't swim, and felt panic in his heart. He lunged in desperation at the crumbling remains of a crate, and held on. Seconds later, amidst a frothing wave of bubbles, the ship disappeared around him and sank.

Raymond began to row with one arm, slowly inching him toward the beach. While rowing, he looked high and low in search for some sign of the others. He had almost reached the crystalline beach when he noticed a large lump on the beach that sort of looked like a body.

His paws found footing, and he climbed out of the pool. Within moments he was on his way toward the object he'd seen. It was motionless, and reached outward with an arm, as if desperately grasping for something.

A trail of liquid followed in Raymond's wake as he moved closer, eased himself down, and reached out to the body. His hands touched the blood soaked figure, and he felt fur. It made his arms tremble as he rolled the figure onto the side and saw the face of a wulfkin. Raymond tried to sniff, to catch the scent, but the scent of blood, iron, and sting of aetheric energy made it hopeless.

He inched closer, and his throat tightened as he extended one finger, and pulled up an eyelid. A red eye, as rich a crimson as the blood that surrounded them. Raymond began to rock back and forth as he pulled Avery into his arms. This couldn't be happening.

Raymond felt the jugular, listened to the chest in search of a beat, but there was nothing.

He held him tight, squeezing, and couldn't care as it hurt his own chest. A scream waited in his throat, but it was a whimper that escaped. His eyes searched the surroundings, but there was nothing but endless crystals in sight. No exits, no way to escape, and no way to get help.

As he rocked back and forth, feeling as if his mind was being unraveled, there was a sound. It was the sound of shoes walking upon a crystal, and it made his ear perk up as he heard it. The gentle hum of a melody followed, and Raymond looked toward the source in wonder whether he had gone mad.

There was a fur walking along the crystalline beach. A coyote similar to Talwin, with a narrow snout, brown fur and rich textures. The coyote's tail arced wide with every step, and he wore a stylish robe that flowed, but also maintained the shape of something more akin to a uniform. An aura surrounded the person and the crystals he walked upon glittered as if reacting to his presence.

The coyote walked up to an outcropping of blood red crystal, reached out with one hand, and caught a small growth of crystal with two claws. A crack was heard as the crystal loosened, and the coyote brought it to his muzzle. He studied the crystal as if inspecting a glass of wine, and then gave it a gentle lick. His lips curved in delight for a moment, and he closed his eyes as if to savor it.

Raymond merely stared and reasoned that anyone who could stand unharmed or untouched in the ruins of this world was a force to be reckoned with.

The coyote clasped the crystal in his hand, and slowly turned his head to focus on Raymond. The stare made Raymond freeze in place, and he could feel it probing his body. It felt like a knife one couldn't see. It brushed along his fur, made his ears tingle with sparks, and poked at his chest.

After a few moments the sensation faded, and the coyote frowned as if annoyed, "I expected the blimp, but not a stowaway..."

Raymond merely stared, and held Avery tight.

The coyote bared his teeth for a moment, discarded the crystal in his hand, and then tipped his head, "Though, this does present an opportunity."

"Who- Who are-" Raymond was interrupted.

"Tell me, Raymond, if you could save your brother, would you?" The coyote asked, and approached with slow but long steps.

Raymond's eyes widened, and his chest tightened as he forced himself to croak out an answer, "Yes... Yes, I would."

The coyote stopped outside reaching distance, held his hands behind his back, and gently leaned over to loom above Raymond, "Even if it cost you your life?"

Raymond gulped once, and searched his heart. A flurry of sensation and emotion trickled through his mind, but in the end, the answer seemed obvious, "Yes."

A toothy grin grew on the coyote's muzzle, "Why?"

Raymond blinked, "I... He..."

The lips of the coyote curled upward as he bared his fangs, "Clock is ticking, Raymond. Little Avery doesn't have a lot more time."

Raymond swallowed hard, and dropped his gaze, "Avery gave me another chance. He could have beaten me, punished me, killed me. I deserved it, but he didn't."

"How sweet... Now let him go and stand up," The coyote said.

Raymond didn't hesitate, if the coyote could do what he claimed, then whatever happened next was worth it. He gently eased Avery to the ground, winced as he pushed himself onto two legs, and faced the coyote.

The rather short coyote was forced to look up in order to face Raymond. An annoyed frown followed as the coyote quickly added, "On your knees."

Raymond reached down with one arm, eased his knees onto the ground, and looked up once more to meet the coyote's gaze.

"Obedient, that's good. In comparison to Avery. I mean, he did good work, but he can be quite unruly, even destructive at times, " The coyote mused.

Raymond gritted his teeth, "Who are you?"

"Me?" The coyote smirked, "I have been called many things. Savior, hero, lord, ruler. Of course, when they figured out what really going on, then they started calling me some less appealing things. Generally I'm known as Aeternus, 'the eternal one', which is quite a joke since I'm only a few centuries old."

Raymond blinked in confusion, "... I don't understand."

Aeternus sighed, averted his gaze, and raised his hand, "Obedient, but not very bright."

A sphere of energy grew in Aeternus hand and string of arcane letters began to flow like text out of a book. They locked in place as Aeternus focused and formed what looked like finely etched marble. With the hint of a pleased smirk, Aeternus turned his attention to Raymond once more and aimed the sphere right at him.

Strange sensations flooded Raymond's body. Warmth tingled in his skin and radiated through his fur. A nervous pinch in his gut began to radiate outward, and as he watched there was something lifting from his own body. At first it was little more than a reddish haze, but within moments it became an eerie visage of his body being sucked out.

The warmth he'd felt faded suddenly as if hit by a bucket of ice water, and a desperate, almost panicked sensation of imminent doom squeezed his heart. A split second later it was over, and the visage disconnected from his body. He wanted to scream, fight, shiver, or even do as little as gasp for breath, but for each attempt his body promptly refused, and he felt himself leaning back against the ground. The ghostly visage that had left his body flowed into Aeternus orb, and the coyote smirked in amusement.

"Now, now..." Aeternus mused as he dismissed Raymond, and stepped up to Avery's body.

Like the first time, Aeternus reached out, concentrated, and formed a new ball of energy in his free hand. He then aimed it at Avery, and gritted his teeth. Moments passed as Aeternus carefully moved his hand, and pulled back as if struggling with something delicate. Suddenly, as if something came loose, black whisps of vapor began to emerge from Avery's body. It seemed to resist at first, but as Aeternus kept tugging, the vapors kept flowing, and entered the orb. The orb steadily grew darker, and as the last of the vapors entered, it had grown pitch black. Aeternus held the black orb in front of his muzzle, and carefully observed the now writhing mass as one would a fine piece of art.

"Didn't like that, did you?" Aeternus whispered and then clasped his hand shut. The orb seemed to compress from Aeternus actions, and suddenly imploded with a puff of smoke as it disappeared.

Aeternus crouched next to Avery, held up the red orb, and tapped it with a claw. The orb proceeded to crack, and Aeternus guided the vapors with one hand as it escaped. Like a moth seeking light, the contents of the red orb rushed into Avery's body, and faded from sight.

"It's such a shame that you can't manipulate minds without damage. It would make things so much easier for everyone involved," Aeternus said as he observed Avery's body in what seemed like a moment of reflection.

Raymond stared in silence from the ground, and struggled to keep his eyes open as sleep beckoned. Fear still rippled through his insides, but for each passing moment it seemed to dull, just like everything else.

"I'm not saying Avery wasn't useful, but the circumstances that were necessary to motivate him were troublesome. Getting rid of that overly emotional coyote would help, but I'm afraid that would risk destabilizing Avery. Not to mention that the others would be less than enthused that I killed the only remains of the bloodline."

Aeternus rose, turned around, and idly started to wander while nibbling on a claw, "Amarok's son will do well though, and he's quite obedient."

Within moments Aeternus stopped, froze in place, and then turned around to focus on Raymond, "I almost forgot about you... The once hated brother, mutilated by the Master, and now so pitiful that even Avery couldn't cling to his hatred. You'll serve well as Avery's motivation when I need it. But I can't let you die, can I? Nor can I let you live for that matter, and throwing you into the aether would work against me."

"Fortunately, I have a solution," Aeternus whispered as he stepped closer, raised his hand, and plucked the air as if grabbing hold of a fly,

Raymond couldn't see the magic coursing through the air, but he could feel it as an invisible hand grabbed hold, and proceeded to lift him into the air.

"Few know it, but concentrated life energy is actually an excellent preserving agent," Aeternus mused and moved his hand outward.

Raymond found himself drifting through the air, and it didn't take long before he found himself staring at the blank surface of the cavern's blood red lake.

"It'll preserve your body and mind, and it is unlikely that Avery has realized what you did. Even if it did cross his mind, then he'd surely assume you'd be dead."

Raymond forced his gaze upward, and he caught sight of Aeternus standing by the beach. The coyote looked awfully pleased as he carefully motioned with his hand, and then let go. A rush of air followed as Raymond fell helplessly, and hit the surface. The thick liquid slammed him in the chest, seemed to almost bounce for a moment, but then opened up as the viscous liquid caught hold.

Pure instinct triggered what little energy and willpower that remained in his body. He tried to paddle with his hands in desperation, and raised his neck in panic. It didn't work. Even in his most desperate attempt to stay afloat it still flowed over his back, trickled into his muzzle, clogged his nostrils, and caught in his throat.

Raymond stared at the beach, clinging to hope that Avery would somehow bolt into action, even as the liquid poured into his ears and silenced the world. But nothing happened, and his thoughts screamed: Hear me! Please!

Yet as those thought kept repeating, the liquid of the lake flowed over his muzzle, stung in his eyes, and flowed over his scalp as it left little more than a few bubbles on the surface.

Unknown

I blinked in wonder. My body hurt, the aether felt weird, and my eyes revealed a strange almost otherworldly sight. There were tall spires of crimson crystal jutting out of a giant pool filled with blood, and the ground looked like a polished red mirror. I blinked in wonder as I had imagined something a bit more dismal, like a black abyss, filled with the madness of everyone trapped in the aether.

I clamped my eyes shut, and bit my tongue in order to make sure I wasn't hallucinating, but as I looked up once more, the world remained the same.

I don't get it...

My limbs felt sluggish, and even my fingers felt numb to the point of tingling as I tried to move. Even stranger was my own appearance as I seemed to be soaked from top to bottom with some kind of thick, viscous, red liquid.

Did I fall into that pool? And somehow crawled up here?

It caked in my fur, weighed me down like lead, and even my tail looked like a soggy lump. To my surprise it didn't smell like blood, but it did have the burning tinge of strong magic, and a hint of metal.

What is this even?

My tongue caught a droplet clinging to my muzzle, and I felt a spark of energy rippling through me.

This is... life? Liquid life crystal?

I slowly glanced back, stared at the pool, and felt my muzzle drop open as I realized what I was seeing.

A pool this size!? Full of it!? This is... hundreds... thousands of lives sacrificed and gathered in one spot...

I raised my gaze, saw cave walls reaching up into the distance, and squinted as I saw a bright blue sky glaring back at me.

Hold on... I'm not... In the aether? I'm in Everwinter?

The blimp was falling into what looked like a pit of magma... But... I guess it wasn't magma...

I looked around and noticed that some crystal pillars were darker, and that there were pieces scattered around the area. There was also a piece of fabric sticking to one of the crystal spires. It fluttered gently in the air, and looked as if it could have come from the blimp.

Those are pieces of the obsidian from the tower... And the blimp must have ended up in the pool...

Where it sank...

I pushed myself up to a sitting position, looked out across the lake, and felt realization dawning on me.

This means... That... I'm Alive?

I closed my eyes, wrapped my arms around me for a moment, and simply emptied my mind. I could feel the beat of my heart, hear the whisper of the surrounding cave, and drew a deep breath.

Relief. It was the same kind of relief I had felt when I escaped Everwinter. It was joy, at simply being able to exist. The moment passed quickly. I was alive, and I would revel in it at a later time, but for now I had to act. I rose on two legs, shook my body, and felt the clinging liquid spatter around me.

Time to go home...

I flexed my arms, stretched for a moment, shifted my focus to the aether, and started weaving a spell. To my surprise it felt like trying to wield a sword with paws rather than hands. The spell fizzled with a jab of discomfort that made me wince in pain.

That's strange... Is there too much energy in the area?

Or has the vortex's collapse already changed things?

I raised my hand and tried to focus on creating a simple light spell. It started well, energy was siphoned from within me, but something seemed to go horrible wrong. Another jab of pain shot through my arm, and a yelp caught in my throat as I clutched my arm in wonder.

There's definitely something wrong with me... But if I can't use magic, then...

My gaze lifted to stare at the almost vertical rock wall, and I gulped, "Yeah, there's no way I'll be able to climb that."

Though... There is plenty of aetheric energy here, and materials...

I walked over to a nearby pile of debris, grabbed a piece of crystal, a small slab of obsidian from the tower, and started looking for a small rock. Fortunately the collapsing tower had upset the cave structure and there were plenty of dirt and rock available spread through the area. The red crystal would act as conduits, and the rock proved hard enough to scratch the obsidian surface.

Runes should work... Though I'll have to be careful with this much energy just waiting to be used...

One fault, and all of Everwinter will... No, the entire mountain range will go up in smoke...

I scratched the runes into the obsidian, rubbed the crystal into the grooves, and completed the simple though hopefully functional construct.

All it needs now is a trigger...

I held my hand near the rune, and forced a spark of aetheric energy to get the rune going. It worked, perhaps a bit too well as the obsidian proceeded to grow as bright as the sun. It made me squint and cover my eyes until there was a loud crack as the obsidian shattered in my hand. The remains fell to the ground with a clatter, and I carefully looked down at the mess.

Runes still work... That's good... But...

A worrying sensation grew in my gut as I looked toward the large pool.

There could even be enough energy here to open another vortex...

I sighed, pondered for a moment, and felt an idea forming in my head.

Unknown

I patted the large slab of floating obsidian in front of me, and felt a glimmer of pride. It was crude, horribly scratched, and it would have been considered a clumsy, power hungry, monstrosity under normal circumstances. But here, in the presence of so much energy, and unable to cast spells on my own, it turned out to be the perfect tool.

It's time to leave, and see if there's anything left of the world...

I leaned against the floating obsidian, waited for it to stabilize, took a deep breath, and then leaped up. The floating obsidian wobbled a bit, but I managed to wriggle into the center, and sat down in the very center.

It worked... My own floating little fortress...

I sighed in relief, and then looked around the crystal beach from one end to the other. There was a ring of runes scratched into it now, and once activated it would lock everything down.

And I'll be the only one who knows how to unlock it...

My gaze lifted and I reached out to the simple controls I had etched into the floating obsidian. Sparks of energy crackled against my claws as I ramped up the energy flowing through a conduit, and watched as the platform began to lift.

A nervous sensation filled my gut as I looked down and watched the beach growing distant.

If the runes fail... Then I'll be dead... For real this time...

I lifted my gaze and observed the cave wall moving beside me.

I... Hope they all survived... They should have... But...

I pushed the thought out of my head, raised my gaze, and noticed something in the distance. It looked like a tunnel that jutted out of the cave wall. It glinted like polished dark marble, and it reminded me of the pathway that had once led to the Master's tower. The same one that had housed the massive doors which Rastlin had given me a key to open.

The ceremony halls are near, and there used to be several transporter platforms nearby...

Hopefully they still work...

I adjusted the controls a little, and the floating obsidian shifted direction. A few minutes later it slowly rose to level with the tunnel. The sunlight from above bounced on the polished surfaces of the tunnel and helped illuminate it. It seemed safe, even if there was an odd odor emanating from the depths. A few adjustments to the controls guided the floating obsidian into the tunnel itself.

I eased myself off the floating obsidian and spun it around to reveal another set of controls. A simple touch provided the spark to activate it. The floating obsidian sang a melody that spread through the aether, reached into the spires, and activated the runes which now lined the beach.

A slight rumble followed, and the crystal spires of the cave began to glow. Trails of energy rose, crawled along the walls, and then joined to form a thick shield of transparent red. A flash of light signaled that it had completed its task, and the entirety of it all was now locked down as a gigantic aetheric construct.

That's that... Now I just need to-

My ears perked at the noise of encroaching footsteps. I turned the floating obsidian, activated another spell woven into it, and fetched a shard of obsidian from my pocket. A gentle crackle of magic could be heard as energy surged through my arm, energized the shard in my hand, and waited for a command to launch into the air. I then raised my hand, aimed the shard at the corner of the tunnel, and waited.

"It came from here," The voice of a male wulfkin whispered.

"Are you mad? We should head back," A second voice hissed in irritation.

Light from what looked to be a torch came closer encroached on the corner, and the first voice could be heard once more.

"We'll be beaten if we run back and this end up being another false alarm, do you want that?"

"Beats ending up dead or eaten!" The other snapped.

"Quiet," The first voice ordered.

The first one to appear held a torch high in one hand, while the other firmly grasped a sword held near his chest. It only took a split second for the wulfkin to see me, and his eyes widened in surprise as his hackles bristled. The second wulfkin peered beyond the first one and promptly reacted in the same way.

It reminded me of a stalemate between hunter and prey in the forest. The wolf would try to sneak up on a deer, the deer noticed, turned around, and time crawled to a stop as both sides waited for the first move.

I merely blinked, but the two wulfkins reacted with the kind of panic that made their claws scrape against the stone floor. While flailing with both torches and swords, they flipped around in a second flat, and were gone from sight with a cry of fright.

I'm surprised to see any of them alive... And if they ran from a fight... Must be younglings...

I wonder if they were blessed by the Master? If they were, then they wouldn't be alive any longer, right?

I tipped my head in wonder, and then looked down at myself.

Soaked in what looks like blood... Backed up by what looks like a giant floating artifact...

I guess I can understand their fear...

The floating obsidian followed in my wake as I tracked the wulfkins through the winding corridors. Within minutes I ended up near the ceremony halls, and discretely stepped up to the end of the tunnel.

"I'm telling you! It was covered top to bottom with blood and there was this giant glowing crystal behind it!" A voice snapped from within the ceremony halls.

"It was about to launch some kind of spell at us, we barely escaped," A second voice echoed.

"Near the collapsed Tower?" A familiar voice asked.

That sounded like Amarok... I wonder why the Master let any of them live... and how he ended up here?

I kept the charged crystal in my hand and made sure the floating obsidian followed as I stepped into the ceremony hall. It was simple but elegant in nature. A big hall with pillars to support its massive roof, and glass murals to let in some light. The last time I had seen the place it had been dab and gray like Everwinter's sky, but things had changed since then.

The glass murals had shattered, and brightly lit flakes of snow drifted in the air. Several campfires burned throughout the hall, and circling them were tents of leather. The flakes of snow danced above the campfires that stirred the air.

There were plenty of wulfkins by the tents, many of them female by their appearance. They slouched by the fires, walked without purpose, and their gaze seemed to wander as if caught by depression.

It didn't take long before someone noticed me, and jumped in fright. The reaction spread from there and a fair portion sought shelter in their tents. Some reached into a variety of crevices, and piles of what seemed like junk. Within moments they were armed, and ready to fight as they focused to stare at me. I couldn't help but smirk as I observed.

Perhaps there is something worth saving... Just like Clyde said...

The wulfkins hesitated, gathered by the edges, and watched in caution.

It was a clear message: 'We'll fight if we have too.'

But it was also a major shift in what marked the wulfkins as a people. Rather than rushing into battle, seeking glory to their name, they guarded each other, and their own lives. Something stirred in the background, and as I watched a small group of wulfkins pushed into the front. One of them was easily recognized as the frost-bitten, and graying commander Amarok.

I stepped closer, raised one hand, and motioned for him to approach, "Amarok."

Amarok stared in confusion for a moment, and then jerked into action as he realized, "Avery!?"

I lowered my arm and heard drops of liquid life crystal dripping onto the floor, "I took a swim, please excuse my somewhat scary appearance."

The other wulfkins stared as Amarok marched across the hall, stopped in front of me, and blinked in amazement, "You're... alive?"

"Alive, somehow. You seem to have made it here in one piece as well?" I said with a nod.

Amarok's gaze shifted to the passage behind me, "Yes, the stone brought me here. Tell me... We all heard and saw the Tower collapsing. It shook all of Everwinter. Does this mean that... The master is gone?"

I nodded, "The Master is no more, at least not for a while."

Amarok's eyes flared wide, "Not... for a while?"

"A very long time, Amarok. I'll explain some other time," I answered.

"I have questions, lots of them," Amarok said.

I glanced at the wulfkins gathered behind Amarok, "So do I... Tell me, who are these wulfkins?"

Amarok glanced back, inched closer, and lowered his voice, "The Master wanted... samples for the future. They were spared with the intent of future experimentation, as a result most of them are females and younger males."

Experimentation?

"I see," I answered.

Amarok gulped, straightened himself, and his ears folded back as he looked at me, "Avery... Give me a chance to explain, will you?"

I tipped my head, "Explain what? That you acted to preserve the wulfkin race no matter what, including your son?"

Amarok's tail drooped, his expression speechless, and he seemed to ponder, "... I never wanted the role of commander. I never asked for this. All I have done, every compromise, every decision, has been in the belief that one day, somehow..."

"Yes?" I asked.

Amarok gaze drifted and came to focus on the floating obsidian behind me, "It's irrelevant I guess. In the end I did everything the Master wanted. The others still look to me for guidance, and I have none to give."

"What are you trying to say?" I asked.

Amarok looked up, "I know how it must sound... Our race has not treated you kindly, but we could use your help, Avery."

How did I end up here? Talking to the supposed supreme leader of the wulfkins, being asked for help?

I pondered his request, but my mind and heart had already made its choice, "The answer is no, Amarok. I'd actually prefer to get out of here as quickly as I can."

Amarok's expression didn't change much, but the light from the broken windows gently flowed across the area, and flakes of snow drifted to settle on his fur, "Where will you go?"

"... Home," I answered.

Amarok seemed surprised and remained silent as the concept seemed to sink in, "... I'm surprised, but I understand, Avery. Before you leave... Could you answer a few questions to help us on our way?"

I looked to the side, and focused on a passage some distance away, "Is the transporter platform still working?"

Amarok glanced toward the passed, "It was in use just a few hours ago, but it was guarded by the skeletal wulfkins that kept coming out of the Tower. It's been silent since the Tower collapsed, but we've avoided the area in hope of not stirring anything that might still be there."

I nodded, "Then ask your questions, Amarok."

Amarok made a slow nod and drew a deep breath, "We sent scouts to assess the situation when the Tower collapsed. We discovered that the skeletal wulfkins, and the monstrosities that roamed the halls are dead. The scouts also reported that the further they wandered from the center of the castle, the more tired they grew. Someone went too far, and I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself... but he turned into a crystal. Like a big statue of obsidian."

"The Blessing is a parasite that drains your life and replaces it with... well... crystal obsidian animated through magic. Cut off the magic that animates you, and only the obsidian remains."

Amarok blinked, "What are you saying?"

"You told me that the Master made you a living being again, so you may be immune to the effect. But everyone else that has had the Blessing for long are actually aetheric constructs bound to obsidian. The only reason they're still standing is because there's a gigantic pool of magic underneath the ground which is spewing out a lot of life energy."

Amarok discretely turned around, observed the female wulfkins, and then stared at the younglings, "And them?"

"They're safe if they haven't received the blessing, otherwise they can never leave Everwinter," I answered.

Amarok looked back at me, and sighed, "The younglings are too inexperienced to survive in the wastes, and the rest of us can't leave, even if we wanted to. Seems that we are stuck here."

"Anything else?" I asked.

Amarok's expression hardened for a moment and I could almost sense his thoughts: Have you no pride in your race? Your bloodline? The survival of your species?

Whatever thoughts that was running through his head seemed to go ignored, as Amarok's expression relaxed once more, "... Are we safe here?"

"Safe," I whispered, "Banishing the Master has changed the nature of magic in the world. For now you are safe, but I doubt the continent will remain stable for long. When that happens they'll come here, scavengers at first, then traders looking for ore, followed by empires searching for the Master's secrets. You can figure out the rest, Amarok."

Amarok lowered his gaze, "Then... we are lost."

It irritated me, the sudden shift in behavior, the act of giving up.

I stepped closer and couldn't help but grit my teeth, "The Master is gone, and our race is free for the first time since our creation. You have a castle that has never been breached by outside forces, and a reputation that makes others quiver in their boots. The blessing may be gone, but the blood of mages burn in the younglings behind you. Reforge yourself as a race, as a culture, and as a people!"

Amarok lifted his gaze, "Easier said than-"

As Amarok spoke there was a shuffle near one of the campfires. Both of us turned to look and watched as a wulfkin male walked a bit closer, and then stopped.

Amarok focused on me once more, "As I was saying... Our culture has so far been-"

I filled in, "Abhorrent, monstrous, decadent and foul?"

Amarok's muzzle clenched shut and his short whiskers rose in tension, "You saw our culture as a human, not a wulfkin."

I frowned, "Are you saying that I'm wrong? Because if I what I saw is the true face of the wulfkin as a people, then the rest of the world will hunt you, and do so with good cause."

Amarok's eyes widened for a moment as he pondered it. A long drawn sigh followed, "You are right, naturally. We must change, or die, such a fact has never been clearer."

The wulfkin that had stepped closer started moving once more, and his stare fixated on me.

Amarok noticed, and leaned closer as he whispered, "But that change will not come easily..."

The wulfkin from the campfire stopped outside reaching distance, and openly bared his teeth, "You're Avery?"

Amarok looked back at the wulfkin, "We are discussing something important, know your-"

"Shut it!" The wulfkin snapped and flashed Amarok with a snarl.

It's no wonder now that Amarok doesn't have the Master to back him up...

"I'm Avery, what about it?" I asked.

The wulfkin still bared his teeth as he looked back to me, " You caused all of this. This is your fault."

This again... At least Amarok was intelligent enough to look past it...

"You hunted me, and I fought back. A concept simple enough that even you should be able to understand," I answered.

The wulfkin's lips twitched as he knit his hands, "I'm Ame, and my pack is dead because of you."

"Such is the nature of prey and predator," I answered.

Ame's eyes flared as he snapped and stepped closer, "YOU BASTARD!"

I lifted my hand as if to choke him by magic, and watched as the wulfkin recoiled in fear.

Once he had grown silent once more, I spoke, "Listen, Ame. You have my condolences, but you had as much choice not to fight me, as I had to not defend myself. What's done is done."

Ame's eyes burrowed into me as he growled under his breath, and his hands trembled from anger, "So you admit it? You've slain wulfkins?"

I nodded, "Many."

Ame turned to Amarok, "This thing, 'Avery' has killed his own kin without the Master's, council's, or your permission as commander. In other words, he has committed murder. There can only be one punishment for such a thing: Death."

Interesting approach...

Amarok barely batted an eye as he raised a brow, "And you, Ame? How many of your kin have you dragged to the tower? To be murdered, or to be turned into something abhorrent?"

Ame was stumped for a moment, "... That was done by order of the Master."

Amarok was silent for a few moments, and then sighed, "Very well, if that's how you want to play it."

"Avery needs to pay for-"

Ame was interrupted as Amarok started talking, "As commander of the wulfkin forces, I order you to die."

"... WHAT!?" Ame snapped in shock as he leaned back.

Amarok raised his voice, "This is how we do things, right? Nothing has changed, the laws of the old remain, and I am your commander. The council may have dressed up their decisions at times, but they weren't above executing wulfkins just because it suited. Just as your death suits me, right now."

Ame stared, and seemed to chew the air, "But... He- He's a traitor..."

"And what do you think those who now lay dead across the castle will think of you? Who helped drag them to their deaths?" Amarok asked.

Ame merely made a grunting growl as he lowered his head to stare at the ground.

Amarok turned to face the others in the halls and raised his arms, "This is what we'll face if we cling to the old ways: Squabbling mongrels preying on each other for either honor or vengeance. The Master is dead, the Blessing is no more. We have gained the freedom to make our own choices, but we have also lost the power to look upon the rest of the world as prey. We change, forgive, forget, and adapt, or we die."

An older, female wulfkin, pushed between the others in the makeshift camp, and approached Amarok. She stopped midway, glanced around, and then spoke out loud, "Amarok, have you forgotten the very basics of our race? We are a cursed people, dependent on humans to create offspring. Without the old ways you're going to doom us all."

I stepped closer and addressed the others, "Such things may not be necessary any longer."

The old female looked at me in disbelief, "Oh, red eyed one?"

"The Master could selectively sap the life energy of anyone with the Blessing, as a result it prevented natural procreation."

"Why would the Master do such a thing?" The old female asked with a harsh stare.

"Because the Master sought to breed wulfkins with individuals that were latent mages. The more aetheric potential that wulfkins had, the more life energy he could extract. Wulfkins were beasts of burden, food to the Master, nothing else."

The old wench seemed to chew my answer, "Why should we believe you?"

I chuckled, "You may choose not to. Go ahead, travel south, prey on the humans, and watch as you are all slaughtered now that you don't have an army of mages to protect you, or a blessing to shield you!"

A wulfkin that looked gray and worn like the female walked up, joined her side, and whispered in her ear. The old female seemed ready to snap at her mate, but calmed as she frowned in my direction, "We will never forgive what you have... caused, Avery. But we will heed your words."

I looked at Amarok, "I think it's time for me to leave."

Amarok made a slow nod, "One last question, Avery. Will Clyde return home?"

"That's up to him, Amarok, though I will tell him that you're still alive," I said.

"Thank you, and if you ever find it in your heart, then return here sometime, and make sure we don't stray," Amarok said.

I nodded, "I'll keep that in mind, and you should know, the place where the Tower stood is protected by a shield. Do not try to breach it, for your own sakes."

"Does it involve the Master?" Amarok whispered.

"Something like that," I answered.

"Very well, I'll do my best to keep the others from it," Amarok answered.

"Good, and farewell, Amarok."

788 I.C, March 19, Everwinter: Transporter Room, Midday

The transporter room was a mess. Abominations littered the area and were in the process of liquifying on the stairs leading up to the platform. It filled the room with an atrocious scent, but I had little time to care as my hands were busy fiddling with the transporter crystals.

It was difficult to grasp, that the aether which served as a pinnacle of society, was fading. The pool of life energy below energy still filled the area with energy, but the underlying layers which enabled transporters and more complex spells to work were being sealed off. As a result, the transporter would soon become nigh impossible to use.

Let's hope something still works in Dracwyn, otherwise I have nowhere to go even if this one works...

I adjusted a crystal, tuned it, and listening to the tones it played.

The guild's signal should be around here, somewhere...

The sound of footsteps made my ears perk, and I turned my gaze to the room's entrance.

A wulfkin approached, tall, but thin, with big scars that reached from the top of his head, past his eyes, and stopping near the muzzle. It was someone I didn't want to see, and the mere presence tugged on my heart.

"Avery?" The voice asked.

"Leave," I ordered and focused on the socketed crystals of the platform.

"I just want to talk," The voice said.

"And I do not," I answered.

"... I am your-"

Sparks of magic tingled across my fur, and burned me with feedback as I gritted my teeth and growled, "Finish that sentence, and I will cut you down where you stand."

"... Avery," The voice pleaded.

I turned my head, stared at him, and felt hatred boil within me. It was anger, and fury, as if it had never left me.

"You don't have the right to use that word. I won't have it, and you won't come near me, or Raymond, ever again," I snapped.

"... Raymond? He's-"

I clenched my hand, forced my claws against my pads, and let the pain keep me under control, "Alive? Yes, what little is left of him."

"... We tried to protect him," The voice whispered.

"You failed," I hissed.

"I know... we both know, me and your..." The voice whispered.

I focused on the crystal, and kept tuning it, "Help Amarok. Help him build something decent out of the wulfkin race, or I will finish what I started and exterminate you all."

"... You've grown," The voice whispered.

I was silent, kept tuning the crystal, and suddenly... I found it. A beacon, pulsing ever so slightly, ticking and clicking with a melody I recognized. The guild still stood, the transporter still functioned!

A slow sigh of relief followed as I leaned my head against the transporter platform.

"Are you all right?" The voice asked.

The relief I felt changed something. The simmering hatred faded, and my disgust for the wulfkin in the room grew more palpable.

I turned my head a little, opened my eyes, and looked at the now frail form of the father I had once looked up to.

Father tried to stand proud, but something about my gaze seemed to drill into his mind. His gaze fell to the side, and his hand reached up to his scars as if they had started hurting.

"You're leaving Everwinter?" Father asked.

I reached out, eased the floating obsidian to come closer, and started working on the runes.

"Yes. I'm going home, to the home I built, and to the people I love."

I gave father a glance, and he seemed stunned. He blinked, and stared at the transporter as if the idea of a home outside of Everwinter was an alien concept.

"I understand... I don't blame you," Father answered.

Blame me? For what?

The runes on the floating obsidian activated, and a link formed with the transporter. Energy surged into it, the process started, and the transporter lit to life as it started channeling.

"I wouldn't expect you to-"

I found myself interrupted, as father suddenly spoke, "For what it's worth, we're happy that you're all right, both of you. Take care of Raymond, please?"

You're happy for me?

A crackle of magic emanated from the transporter as the air began to ripple. I stepped onto the platform, tugged the floating obsidian along with me, and pondered his words.

"I'll do my best," I said.

I refuse to call you father...

"Farewell, Javier," I said and turned to look at him.

Father nodded, and to my surprise... he smiled, "Farewell, Avery."

I clenched my maw shut, searched the runes for a trigger, and sent a pulse. The transporter reacted in an instant, shields flashed into place, the crystals flared, and reality warped around me.

788 I.C, March 19, Dracwyn: The Pierced Veil, Midday

The world shuddered with a tremendous flash of light, and I felt myself thrown into a new place. My paws sought footing but found little more than the uneven surface of crumbling rock. I stumbled forward, slammed into something hard, and grabbed hold in panic.

Seconds passed, the disorientation of the transport faded, and I looked around to get my bearings.

The sun shone on a bright blue sky, and the horizon was filled with a landscape I hardly recognized. The great wall of Dracwyn had collapsed in places. Parts of the castle had been crushed by what looked like giant shards of obsidian. Several towers which dotted the hexagonal structure of the city were no more.

The lower portion of the Master's obelisk still marked the skyline as a giant, still smoldering, lump of obsidian with cracks all over it. The top was missing though, and I guessed that the various shards around the city were the source. While observing the now broken obelisk, I noticed a flock of birds circling it. A few of them landed, and idly walked around as if it was nothing special.

It's truly over...

I looked down, focused on the transporter I stood on, and realized that I wasn't standing in the guild's tower, but rather the ruins of it. The guild itself was still standing... sort of. But the roof had been violently ripped off, and gaping holes had replaced the windows.

Piles of debris surrounded me and the transporter itself looked as if it had been dug out. The supports for it had been warped, smoke fizzled from burned out crystals, and a bundle of wiring had been connected to a makeshift battery of aetheric crystals in a nearby box.

Someone clearly rebuilt this... and hooked it up to a power source...

I looked around in wonder, but the guild and nearby area seemed abandoned. In fact, there wasn't a single person in sight. It made me nervous as I eased myself down from the crumbling debris, stepped onto the garden, and noticed a black blob near the fence. A frown of disgust followed as I realized that it was yet another abomination.

At least they're dead...

I kept walking, stepped up to what used to be the guild's main entrance, and looked inside. The doors were long gone, the walls were cracked, and the once plush carpet had been violently torn to shreds.

Where could they be...

I stepped inside, glanced into every room I passed, and stopped near the lounge. The bar seemed intact, the sofas had been pushed around, and sitting in a couch near the window was... Talwin. His clothes were dirty and caked with gray dust from the debris. A pile of tools rested by the side of his chair.

My eyes caught on a mirror along the wall. My clothes were partially torn, wrinkled, and caked with drying life crystal. My fur looked like a mess, but at least I wasn't shimmering as if bathed in blood any longer.

It's good enough...

I approached Talwin's chair, eased myself onto the carpet, and observed him for a moment. One arm hanged from the couch's side, while the other supported his head. A gentle snore could be heard as he drew breath.

I gently lifted his arm, and grasped his hand in my own.

Talwin made a slight shiver, drew a deeper breath, and murmured, "Hmm?"

"Hey," I whispered and leaned closer while gently squeezing the pads of his palm.

His eyes fluttered, caught on me, and a shiver ran through his body as he squeezed my hand in surprise.

"I'm back," I whispered.

Talwin stared, still in shock as he squeezed my hand, "Avery?"

I leaned my head against the edge of couch and nodded, "Yeah?"

"Please tell me I'm not dreaming," Talwin asked and kept his eyes locked on me.

I squeezed his palm and let the claws pinch him, "You're not dreaming."

Talwin's ears started drooping and his voice began to waver, "They said," he gulped, "I felt the aether, it's still fading. Cyrus gave up hope, and Clyde..."

I eased my head from the couch's edge, and rested against his lap, "I'm alive. I don't know how, but I am."

Talwin's other hand touched my head, and he sniffed the air, "What are you covered in?"

"Life crystal... There was a giant pool of it below the Master's tower. I took something of a swim when the tower collapsed."

"... Is it really you, Avery?" Talwin asked.

I glanced up in wonder, "Hmm?"

Talwin's eyes stared into my own, "You don't feel like Avery, in the aether."

I blinked in wonder, "I'm not surprised, ever since I woke up I've hardly been able to use the aether."

Talwin gulped, "Then how do I know it's you, and not another trick like the one Aeternus used?"

I lifted my head, leaned against the chair, and rose to look Talwin in the eyes, "What do you want me to tell you? How angry you looked when Clyde pulled you off the ship? How much it cut into my heart when I kept those secrets from you? That there's a part of me that's really scared right now? That I'm really... really... tired."

I angled my head, "Maybe I should tell you how proud I am that you doubt me? Or the fact that you dug out the transporter, and repaired it so that I could make my way back here?"

Talwin gulped, but said nothing.

I leaned even closer, slipped my hands along his sides, and eased him down so that I could loom over him, "Should I tell you that I made my way back here, constantly having you in the back of my mind?"

Talwin stared as my nose hovered near his, "Should I tell you, that you're the reason I forgave Clyde, and that his survival is the reason his father betrayed the Master? Should I tell you that the lessons you taught me are the reasons why I'm still here?"

"Yes," Talwin whispered.

I bumped my nose against his, "It's me, Talwin, and I'm not leaving this time."

Talwin's arms closed around me, and I pulled back so that we both stood up. He held me tight, muzzle against my neck, and he whispered, "Is it over now?"

"For now," I answered.

Talwin chuckled without warning, and then made a quick sniffle, "Maybe we can have some peace now, you know, until the next disaster strikes?"

I squeezed him tight, and gently turned as if we were having a slow dance, "What happened after I left?"

"Clyde obeyed, dragged me to the castle along with everyone else, and kept us safe. When the undead dropped dead, the obelisk exploded, and it stopped raining pieces of obsidian on the city, then we went back here..."

"Hmm?" I asked.

Talwin motioned toward the bar with a nudge, "You didn't come back, and he decided to drown himself in liquor."

"Not too much, I hope?" I asked.

Talwin smirked for a moment, "He'll have one hell of a headache, but don't worry, I checked up on him before I fell asleep in the couch."

"And Raymond?" I asked.

Talwin stiffened for a moment, and then eased back to look at me, "Avery, we... Raymond is missing, we've looked for him, but..."

"Missing?" I asked.

Talwin averted his gaze, "The undead broke into the castle, and we retreated underground. I'm not sure whether he got into the castle, but when we regrouped he wasn't with us... I'm sorry."

"Did you... look for him?"

Talwin nodded, "We searched the grounds around the castle, but we didn't find anything."

I held him tight, "I'm sure you did your best, Talwin. That you all did your best."

"I'm sorry," Talwin whispered.

"It's not your fault... Where's Leonard and the others?" I asked.

"They're digging through the city in search of survivors."

"I see," I said.

"What do we do now?" Talwin asked.

I rested my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes, "Right now? Some sleep would be wonderful, and we need to take care of Clyde. Oh, and I think I need a bath."

Talwin snickered as he gave my back a wet pat, "Yes, you do."

Epilogue - Several weeks later -

I peeked past the tree, and to my surprise I saw Clyde sitting in the grass. He was staring at a pile of rocks on the ground and it looked oddly serene as he remained still, but the white fur shifted in the wind like the surrounding grass.

A pile of rocks on the ground? Seems intentional... Some kind of memorial? If so, for whom?

I made my way past the tree, and saw Clyde's ears perk. A moment later he glanced back, jerked into action as he saw me, and stood up in an instant.

"Sorry, did I interrupt something?" I asked.

Clyde glimpsed at the rocks, and then looked back at me, "Nope... He's still dead."

I looked at the rocks in wonder, "Is there someone buried there, if so... who?"

Clyde stepped away from the rocks, but kept an eye on me as he walked, "It's the guy I told you about, your substitute."

"The wulfkin you were meeting in Everwinter's garden?"

"Yeah," Clyde answered with a slow nod.

"I see, what makes you so sure he's dead?" I asked.

Clyde stopped for a moment, and raised his gaze toward the trees looming above us, "I started wearing the black suit of armor a lot later than he did. I actually saw him once, he'd... changed like the others, and you told me I was at the very edge of getting caught up in it."

Ouch...

"I'm sorry, Clyde," I said.

Clyde shook his head, and motioned to the pile of rocks, "It's stupid, I mean... There's nothing here. I just wanted some place, or... thing to remember him by. Every time I walk past one of those abominations I just can't help wonder if..."

I stepped closer, "You cared about him, and you wanted something physical to remember him by. It's not stupid, Clyde."

Clyde's ears drooped, and his hands kept clenching as if he didn't know what to do with them, "Yeah..."

He's ashamed...

Moments later he looked up, "Any news of Raymond?"

"I've searched, but there's no trace of him," I answered.

"I should have been kinder to him once he returned, I'm sorr-"

I interrupted him, "All of us were under a lot of pressure, I understand, Clyde."

Clyde scratched his neck and tipped his head, "Yeah..."

"You should visit Everwinter, you know? Your father asked about you," I said.

Clyde looked at me and froze in place, "I don't know... Besides, it's such a long way, the road is messy, they could all be dead by now, and I don't want to go alone... and they might even-"

"I've been visiting them in secret," I said.

Clyde's eyes widened, "How? When? Why?"

I turned around, set my sights on the park's exit, and motioned for Clyde to follow, "The life-pool is a major source of power. It needs to be hidden, and Everwinter needs to be shielded from people that would destroy it."

"I'm surprised," Clyde said as he rushed up and joined my side.

"Regarding?" I asked.

Clyde smirked, "Seriously? You could barely stand to hear the word, let alone entertain the idea of helping them, and now you're playing Everwinter's guardian?"

I shrugged, "As I said, the life pool-"

Clyde inched closer and poked a claw in my side, "You care , Avery. About us, our people... Everwinter wasn't all bad."

I raised my brow, "Maybe, just maybe."

"That's good enough... Any news?" Clyde asked with a curious glance.

"You should know, or what are you referring to?" I asked.

Clyde's gaze drifted to the trees, "I heard from Leonard that no nobles have returned to the city yet. Apparently their ships are lost at sea and the ones who fled by land are being systematically murdered."

"Well, I have nothing to do with that," I said.

Clyde looked back at me, "I also heard there's a civil war in Karashak. Apparently the slaves saw their chance now that the mages have lost much of their power."

I filled in, "The burning sands are no more, rain has fallen for the first time in many years, and the land has started to heal."

Clyde chuckled, "The Wastes are invading Krobia."

"And Antaloria is being strangely quiet," I added.

Clyde looked in front as we exited the park, "Seems that Agron is being left alone."

I looked at Clyde, "That's not much of a surprise. Most people are dead, the Academy is in ruins, and most of it is abandoned farmland."

"Food is a precious resource," Clyde countered.

"Only if you the infrastructure to support it, and people that can work the fields," I said.

"True," Clyde said.

I motioned to the distant walls of Dracwyn, "We're far from others, and inhabit a fortress with access to the ocean. This place has potential, lots of it."

"There's no king, and the guy that represented the nobles... the tiger, what was his name?"

"You mean Executor Alraya?" I asked.

Clyde nodded, "Yeah, he was thrown from one of the towers during the fighting. They found him flat on the ground."

"Your point?" I asked.

Clyde motioned toward me with one hand, "Just saying... If we want to make this our home, then..."

I raised my brow and gave Clyde a curious look, "You want to take control of Dracwyn?"

Clyde's ears perked and then fell flat, "Me? No, I'm just saying... What happens when these people elect a new ruler and they find out that there are wulfkins living among them?"

I rubbed my forehead and had the sudden urge to groan, "... It never ends, does it?"

Clyde reached out, caught my shoulder, and eased me to a stop.

"What?" I asked in wonder.

Clyde leaned closer, raised his hand, and started pointing, "Look."

I looked in the distance and saw him pointing at the guild.

Leonard stood by a wagon and seemed busy talking with some townspeople, no doubt in an attempt to foster new deals within the reborn economy of the city. Archer and Casey were hard at work rebuilding the guild.

The smith's apprentice, Matthew, was hammering away on a makeshift smithy. Cyrus was lounging in the sun with his head buried in a book. Fletcher was sitting by a table outside, gladly talking with Amari who wore a subtle but also warm smile.

Robert the fox could be seen sitting by an open window on the second floor, in his hand was a feather pen no doubt busy compiling another letter.

"This guild now houses the most powerful, and important people in the city. We can make things better. Not you, not them, but all of us, can make things better," Clyde whispered and sought my eyes.

There was a noise from the side, and I glanced over just in time to see Talwin walk up next to us.

"He's right, you know?" Talwin said with a mischievous grin and held up a small plate, "Hungry?"

I glanced at the plate, and saw a few pieces of meat with some kind of glaze, "Meat?"

Talwin nodded, "Turns out the undead didn't like farm animals very much, and now there's far too many roaming free in the countryside."

I caught a small piece with two claws, snapped it up with my muzzle, and chewed, "Honey glaze, nice."

Clyde took a piece of his own, chewed, and promptly swallowed, "Mmm."

Talwin motioned to the guild and looked at Clyde, "There's enough for everyone in the kitchen, how about you set the tables?"

Clyde grew a skeptical frown, "Aren't you scared I'll eat it all?"

Talwin made a big smile that bared his fangs, "If you do, then we'll just have to eat you instead."

Clyde chuckled, and angled his head with the pleading stare of a puppy, "... Will you notice if a small piece goes missing?"

Talwin idly shook his head, "I'm sure I won't."

Clyde rushed off, and disappeared through one of holes punched into the walls of the guild.

I took the opportunity to raise my brow and focus on Talwin as he met my gaze, "Looking for a bit of privacy, are you?"

Talwin put the plate aside and grew a guilty smile as his tail lashed, "Yes..."

I inched closer and lowered my voice, "How may I help?"

Talwin sighed as he took my hand, squeezed it, and then looked out across the field, "That's what I want to ask, you know?"

"Hmm?" I hummed.

Talwin looked back, "You leave bed early, wander the garden, and disappear on your trips to Everwinter. You're a good actor, but I can tell that your mind isn't at peace."

"There's no escaping your watchful eye, is there?" I smirked.

Talwin reached out, jabbed a claw against my arm, and then smiled back, "Why aren't you taking me along, I'm apparently part wulfkin now... you know?"

I nudged his shoulder, "Well... Fine, if you want to see Everwinter, then I'm sure that can be arranged."

Talwin caught my arm, and leaned onto me, "Clyde doesn't show it, but he's hurting, you know. He feels like an outsider invading our bed."

I averted my gaze, "I have a lot on my mind, that's all."

"Uh huh, so do we all, and I know that you care. But emotions are only one part of the puzzle, another is physical... and intimate."

I looked back at him in confusion, "You- Oh... I see... I'll keep that in mind, Talwin."

Talwin idly scratched his muzzle and coughed, "... Now, what's on your mind? Is it your brother?"

"That's one thing," I said.

"But it's not the whole issue?" Talwin continued.

I lowered my gaze and pondered, "Aeternus was clear regarding my fate. The Master reinforced it. Yet here I am, living, breathing, with a spark in my chest that feels broken and foreign to me. I can't even wield magic like you can, Talwin."

Talwin raised his brow, "Uh huh, and it's not as if you have a belt with runes, bottles of liquid life crystal, and crystal shards that make you as deadly as ever?"

"It's not the same thing," I mused.

"Of course it isn't, but you were saying?" Talwin asked with a cheeky grin that made his ears perk.

I chuckled to myself, and continued, "There are strange things happening across the continent. I always suspected that we were puppets playing to the tune of someone's plan, and it scares me that... Well... It scares me that we still are."

"And your point?" Talwin asked.

I blinked and looked at him in wonder, "That doesn't worry you?"

Talwin motioned to me, "The facts are on the table, the rest is unknown, and we work with what we have. You taught me that."

"And what happens when the puppeteer decides to get rid of us?"

"Then we die, or we cut the strings. Preferably the latter," Talwin answered.

I chuckled to myself, "Yes."

Talwin looked up, and focused on the distant castle, "It took Agron's destruction to reveal the rot that infested it. I'm tired of it, and so are the people. No more kings, gods, or nobles to rule over us. I don't want to see it, ever again."

"Are you sure about this?" I asked.

Talwin nodded, "Robert says that unless someone steps in, then this city and what remains of Agron might be dragged into a civil war that will decide which race that gets to claim the throne."

"One would think people would have had enough bloodshed by now," I said.

"I think they have, that's why they will be willing to listen, if we step in," Talwin whispered.

I squeezed Talwin's hand, "Then I guess that's what we'll have to do, and someday, somehow, I'm sure we'll find a way to break free from these shackles."

Talwin nodded, and smiled, "Onward we go."