Plans

They smelled the food long before they got to the cave. Cayna lost count of the times she had to swallow to keep from drooling like a starved animal. When they got to the cave, Cayna used all her self control not to dash over to the fire pit and make a mess of herself again. She was a civilized person! She needed to behave like one!

They all ate together but Cayna was by far the last one done, finishing every scrap that the others did not eat. At last it was all gone and when it was, Gwyn addressed them all.

"My brides, Cayna." He said as they all listened. "With Nuka compromised and our enemy, we must leave this land."

Cayna stiffened. "Leave Sycadia?"

Gwyn nodded. "Yes, we are left here with no allies. The lycan alphas residing in secret in Sycadia will only turn you over to Nuka. They may not be organized by default but they certainly have a pack leader. They will obey him because of his superior strength and wisdom. You will have to build your pack outside of this kingdom."

"But, I don't know if I want to do this. I don't know anything about alphas or creating a pack." She said, feeling overwhelmed. Carn put a kind hand on her shoulder and Dormach snuggled her side. She touched them both, thanking them for their support. Gwyn stared into the fire, the light dancing in his eyes.

"That is not all. There is something strange about your change. You have become a lycan but not by the traditional way." He said. "I do not know of these things very well. We should seek those with greater knowledge to help us figure out exactly what is going on with you."

Cayna thought about telling him about the system and the messages. The thing that stopped her was that there were no messages now and Gina did not appear. Perhaps she imagined those things while in the throes of pain as a survival mechanism, though she's never heard of such a thing.

She couldn't argue with his logic and so it was agreed, they would leave Sycadia and venture to other lands in Eldyon. Cayna could not lie about her excitement. She had always wanted to see the larger world. After growing up on many wonderful, inspiring and many times very scary stories, her imagination ran wild with the possibilities of what is out there, waiting for her.

"Who do you think can help me?" Cayna said, wondering who someone like Gwyn would go to for help and information.

Gwyn gave her a look that she couldn't read. "No one that I trust." He said. The room fall into silence. Cayna had the impression that this statement was laced with a long history. It occurred to Cayna that he was well traveled and well versed in the ways of the world. She was curious as to so many things but she already got the point that none of them were very open to talking about such things.

"Husband, Cayna has never been outside Sycadia. She knows nothing of the history of the world or the cosmos. The Sycadians have manufactured a false history. If she goes out there with no education, she won't survive, not with al the alphas in the world to protect her." Carn said.

Gwyn patted his wife on the head. She crooned at his touch. Cayna felt a pang of guilt, remembering what they had done together. This was Gwyn's wife. She should never have touched her. She wondered if Carn had come clean to him about the infidelity. Was it her business to say something? She stewed as she wrestled with these thoughts.

Gwyn called Dormach to his side, which she did after giving Cayna's arm a rub with her head. She nestled next to her husband and fell promptly back to sleep. Cayna thought it was so cute.

Gwyn turned his attention to the fire and, his pentalpha appearing, manipulated the flames with a strange power Cayna was still completely ignorant about.

"Eldyon is the continent we are currently on. It looks something like this." He said and the flames took the shape of a pair of stretched out wings.

"This is Eldyon?" Cayna said, fascinated. "Is it really in the shape of wings? It's beautiful!"

"Aye, it is." Gwyn said. Carn made a point to cough a few times.

"Well, this is more like an artistic rendition of the continent's true shape." She said. Her aura flared around her as she blew a breath on the shaped flames as if she was blowing out a candle. The perfectly splayed wings lost a good amount of their shape in favor or more realistic coastline.

"Oh so it is more like this then." Cayna said with wonder.

"Yes." Carn said, giving her husband a pleased smile while he harrumphed.

"Well I still like my version better." He said.

"Details matter, dear." Carn said with a teasing chuckle.

"Let's stay focused here." Cayna said, to which her stomach responded with a monstrous growl. "Already?"

After a moment, they all began to laugh. Gwyn retrieved dried hunks of meat from his seemingly bottomless bag and heaped them at Cayna's feet. She began to scarf them down greedily with Dormach snatching one every once in a while as well.

"Eldyon is not the only continent on this world, which is called Elitar by those who live outside Sycadia." He said. "We won't worry about the others as they will not affect your life in the near future. Don't want to overload you."

"Okay." Cayna said, listening very attentively.

"According to legend, the continent was created by a pair of dying arch-lights that fell from the sky, their godnotes creating the land we live on today." Gwyn said. When Cayna gave him a nonplussed look, he cleared his throat. "Anyway, that's neither here nor there I suppose."

"I guess the most important thing to know is where Sycadia is in relation to other major nations in the world and then we can go over the nations themselves."

"Okay."

"Sycadia, as you already know, is a land surrounded by an encircling mountain range. This is over here." He said pointing a finger at the map. Near the southwestern point of the continent, there appeared a golden little circle, indicating where Sycadia was. Cayna marveled at how small it was compared to the entire continent.

"This is the entirety of Sycadia?" she said, not being able to believe it.

"Yes, it is a relatively small kingdom among many others that dwarf it many times over, as will soon be demonstrated." Gwyn said, now drawing a new line around the kingdom of Sycadia. It was much larger. Much, much larger. At least ten times the size of Sycadia. It also completely surrounded it, even stretching down to the coasts of southern Edlyon.

"What kingdom could possibly be this vast?" Cayna said, her voice trembling with fear. The Sycadians were a powerful regime, at least from what she has experienced. She could not imagine what terrible power lay beyond the mountains. Yet, if they were so powerful, then why have they not conquered Sycadia?

Gwyn's face grew dark. "It is not something I like to speak of. Sycadia lies swallowed by a dark realm. The realm of another race of cursed immortals." He said.

Cayna gasped. "What are they if not lycans?"

"Their originator, much like you though incomprehensibly old is a creature of many names, some stretching back to the days of Eden itself." Gwyn said. His wives bowed their heads as if they just heard a sacred word. It suddenly dawned for Cayna.

"Eden, you mean THE Eden? As in, where your people originated?" she said, awed that there would be a creature as old as the most ancient of tales.

"Yes, the one and only origin spring of life in the cosmos." Gwyn said. Cayna blushed at her foolishness. Of course there was only one Eden. She had spoken without thinking. She vowed to be more silent from now on.

"As you know, your kind are known as the Children of Tetriel. Well, these other Cursed Immortals have a different arch-light patron. They are the Children of Sariel, Arch-Light of the Waning Moon. Their origin story is quite different than yours and I'd rather not speak of it tonight. Invoking the names of the Court of the Fallen is not wise at the best of times." Gwyn said.

Cayna nodded, knowing well that the Court of the Fallen was a curse even to be mentioned. Even the Sycadians feared the names of those ancient beings.

"His name is Scythis, once a member of the most ancient race of mortals known to the cosmos, the Eldar. Once a being of light and life, now he is a creature of death and darkness. A Dark Eldar." He said.

Cayna had heard very vague tales of death demons of the old world that drank blood and sacrificed living flesh to the Fallen Court. It sounded like this mysterious being was actually real!

"But why is such a horrible thing in this world? Wouldn't everyone want to kill it?" Cayna said, thinking that would be the obvious decision. Who wants that kind of creature as a neighbor?

Gwyn gave her another unreadable look. "The Cursed Immortals are not looked on kindly by anyone." Cayna, getting his implied meaning looked down at herself.

"The world hates me?" she said, feeling a great weight seem to press in all around her.

"No, fear might be the better word. Though there is plenty of hatred in the world too." Carn said, giving her a reassuring smile. "No need to think you will go through the world without friends. We are here."

Cayna breathed a sigh of relief. "You really won't abandon me?"

"Of course not." Carn said. "Besides, you've had people beside you all your life. There is a reason you are worth protecting too, you know. Anyone that is dangerous can have virtues. So, really it depends on the choices you make that will determine how the world sees you."

"Makes sense." Cayna said, then indicated to the map. "So, I guess I'm curious. Whose side is Scythis on?"

Gwyn gave a wry smile. "The House of Scythis is a conundrum to most everyone. As one of the Dark Eldar, he is technically part of the Xeldar Empire and they have been at war in a secluded part of the cosmos with their Eldar brothers. Scythis is different. He does not share the goals of the empire and has even worked in tandem with the Order of Solomon and their interests." He said and his eyes grew dark. "While the Dark Eldar are known for their brutality and blood lust, Scythis is a more complicated and seductive character. Those who wish to become part of his flock does so under their own free will. At least, that is what they say. Many call him by a benign name, the Lullaby of Melancholy. Humans are fools. One day Scythis will show his true colors and it will not only be humans who pay the price but all who dwell in this world."

Cayna tried to let all this sink in. "So, whose side is he on then?" she said, wincing slightly and feeling like she was dumb for not comprehending the scope of the situation.

"He will not kill you on sight as far as I know. Though I cannot speak for the shades."

"The shades?" Cayna said with a quizzical look.

"The Shades of Scythis." Gwyn said with a scowl. "While you and Scythis are the generators of your kind, these others are his direct lineage through the covenant, meaning they are the greatest in power. Just any lycans birthed directly by you will be the most powerful in the clan. Other matriarchs can give birth as well but only you can grant greater power. These shades are his most elite. They are his generals. There are few of them. Having too many in the past has caused too many power shifts and so many of them were killed in civil war. Still, even one of them is powerful and worse, they tend to be cruel and deadly for sport. It would be best to avoid them if possible."

Cayna gulped. She thought of the stories she had heard about the blood drinking demons that stalked innocents in the night and drained them dry, only to make them rise as the walking undead, forever slaves of their dark masters.

"So Sycadia is encircled by impassable moutains, then encircled again by a hostile territory run by monsters. How are we supposed to get out exactly? And where are we even going?" Cayna said, unable to hide the trembling in her voice.

"Have no fear, Cayna." Carn said. "Gwyn is one of the most versed guides in all of Eldyon. He will not see us lost or harmed on our journey."

Cayna looked to Gwyn to confirm his wife's confident words. He bowed his head to her. "I do indeed have much knowledge of the paths of the world, above and below. I cannot promise that we will never be in any danger but I will have you know that we made the journey here without any mishap." He said.

"So, where were you before you came here?" Cayna said. Gwyn pointed to the map and another shape appeared, this one bordering the realm of Scythis. It was much smaller, perhaps about a sixth of the size of the larger country. Along its northern borders is a coastline.

"What is this place called?" Cayna said.

"This is the Court of Gardens, or the Everbloom Court. They are my close kin." Gwyn said with some fondness. Cayna grew interested.

"The title of that land sounds wonderful. Is it beautiful?" she said. Carn and Gwyn looked at each other and smiled.

"Aye, it is one of the most beautiful lands you will ever see on Eldyon. At least, it will be the one that teems with the most life. It is in a perpetual state of spring there and everyday is a day of new blooms and blossoms. It is a peaceful land tended to by a queen of my people. Her name is Lidhe." Gwyn said.

"Is her kingdom ever in danger from Scythis?" Cayna said, the size of the country worrying her.

Gwyn shook his head. "Scythis, despite my misgivings about him, is not a conqueror. In fact, he himself is considered to be quite a peaceful being, at least in the years this world has known him. The shades alone are no threat to Lidhe so please do not worry. When we reach Everbloom, we will be safe."

"Let's get there as soon as possible then." Cayna said, ready to leave Sycadia behind forever.

Gwyn nodded. "Yes, that would be ideal. Before long, Nuka will have the alphas hunting us. Not to mention the Sycadian army will have the whole country on lockdown. I know a way but we will have to be careful."

A menacing howl suddenly pierced the air.

*Ding!*