The Farm wasn't what Cayde was expecting. It was organized, thanks to a woman the others called Hawthorne. The main area was pretty small, consisting of a large farmhouse that seemed to have been turned into an infirmary and storage, a small shop of some sort, and a good sized multi-level barn that had been converted into a makeshift hanger or repair shop. There was a small empty field separating the Farm from the plain that stretched beyond where row upon row of tents formed orderly lined that stretched into the fog in the distance. Beyond that was a structure the others called the Shard of the Traveler.

Fires could be seen dotting the area and the smell of food being cooked on them wafted up on the breeze. The group of refugees he'd been trying to figure out what to do with would be safe enough, though he had to admit they weren't the only reason he came here.

Word among some of the Guardians, or more, ex Guardians, who had helped him get the people out, was that Wren was alive. That she had been sent after the Speaker by Zavala himself but no one knew what happened to her after that.

Cayde pulled the tracker out of his pocket and the screen fizzled to life. The coordinates were the same as they had been for over a week now. The spade he'd given Wren was still in the City. Still at the Tower, or damn close to it. As much as he wanted to believe that she made it, that Kiran hadn't been gone after all and had somehow found her and brought her back… he almost didn't want to let himself get his hopes too high.

"Maybe they were right," Sundance said. Her voice was crackling and weak. Had been since his Light was taken. She settled on his shoulder. "We couldn't find the Better Devils when we found Wren. Maybe she doesn't have it and that's why it's still reading at the Tower."

"Right." He turned the tracker off and pushed through the crowd of people who were going toward the outer fields to find a place to put their tents.

A loud man with a clipboard was trying to keep track of them all but struggling as people pushed and shoved to find a safe place to bed down. The sun was setting and soon it would be too dark to pitch tents easily.

"Where's Hawthorne?" Cayde asked the man who replied with an annoyed sigh.

"I dunno. Took someone out to the EDZ this morning. Now if you'll excuse me— Hey! You! We don't have time for fighting!"

The man pushed his way toward a small scuffle and Cayde turned his back on them. The main barn of the Farm was a dilapidated mess but people were swarming around it, making repairs to the structure. A few mechanics he recognized pushed a ship through the space where doors should be and he figured it would be a good place to find ex Guardians or maybe even Holliday.

But something caught his eye.

Through the crowd he thought he saw a familiar face, bright blue eyes, and shiny black curls.

"Wren?"

He moved so fast that Sundance fell from his shoulder, caught herself, and flew behind him as fast as she could manage. He pushed through the crowd, catching a glimpse of black hair every so often to guide him in the right direction. He called to her again, but his voice was lost in the sea of people.

"Dammit," he growled, unwilling to lose her again. "Wren!"

Finally she was within reach! He lunged for her, gripping her wrist and pulling her to him. When she turned and looked into his eyes, his heart sank. It wasn't her.

The Awoken woman looked at him, perplexed. "Can I help you Vanguard?"

Cayde let her go. "No… sorry. I thought you were… someone else."

"Well, I hope you find them." She gave him an awkward smile and disappeared into the crowd.

Cayde stood there for a moment in quiet shock, letting people push him around as they passed. He closed his eyes and slowly shook his head. He was fooling himself. She died in his arms. That happened. Didn't it? A part of him didn't want to give up hope that the others were right. That she was out there somewhere.

"Hey," Sundance started, but he knew that soft tone in her voice. He turned on his heel and moved through the crowd toward the barn.

Inside was bustling. Too many people in the space trying to repair ships that were too damaged for what they had on hand. But Holliday was here. He could hear her barking orders from high above and when he looked up, there she was. Putting together a makeshift lift that hung from the rafters by chains.

"That beam stable enough?" he called up to her.

When she saw him below she smiled ear to ear and dropped down to his level. She greeted him with a swift punch to his shoulder before hugging him tight.

"Good to see you, too," he said.

Her smile faltered some. "Hey, can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"Meet me in twenty minutes across the street. They set it up like a shop but there's a bar in the back. I think that'll be the best place to talk."

Cayde didn't like how that sounded, but what worse news could she possibly give him? Ghaul, the City, Wren… he didn't even know where Zavala and Ikora were. Everything was on fire, in a manner of speaking. Not much else she could say to dampen the mood.

While he was there he picked up as many supplies as he could. No easy task considering these people were going back to a strict bartering system. Not much to trade but favors from a Vanguard at this point. Ex Vanguard? Hell, the other two were gone. The City was gone. Guardians were Lightless… if he was free, this wasn't how he wanted it. He'd be tethered to the Tower for eternity to take back what happened.

"Hey," Holliday said, coming up behind him. He stuffed supplies into his bag, pausing at a red scarf that he shoved back down when she approached. "You headed off somewhere?"

"Yeah," he said slowly. "I thought Wren was dead, but some Guardians said they saw her after. Said Zavala sent her after the Speaker. I'm gonna find her."

"Cayde… that's kinda what I wanted to talk to you about."

She touched his arm as a motion to get him to follow her down a dimly lit hall and into a back room that served as a bar. He could smell moonshine. Someone in the camp was making a killing off it, for sure. They took a seat in a corner and Holliday leaned onto her elbows on the table.

"Listen, I saw Wren. After you said she died—"

"You did? So she's alive. She made it? I knew it! I knew she was too tough to—"

"Now hold your horses, I didn't say that. Zavala did send her to fine the Speaker, but he'd already been taken by the Cabal. After that he sent me to pick her up and take her to the command ship to take down the shields. Last I saw her she…" her gaze dropped. "I was headed around to pick her up when that thing connected to the Traveler and the Guardian's lost their Light. I saw Ghaul push her off the side of his ship. She fell a long way, Cayde. Not sure… well, I don't think anyone could survive that without Light."

He sat back, stunned. He shouldn't have left her behind. He should have kept her body with him. She wouldn't be lost now. Dead… he shook his head.

"I know it must be hard for you," she said, resting her hand on his.

"You have no idea," he whispered, watching candlelight dance across her skin. It made him think of the pale lines, the lights that made Wren's skin look like gently flowing water and… his throat burned. "The last time I talked to her she…"

"What happened?"

He couldn't make himself say it. He pulled the red scarf out of his bag and gently laid it on the table. When she saw the design her hand tightened around his.

"I had no idea."

"I told her no," he smiled weakly. "I told her she wasn't in a good place and that she needed to let me help her before I'd accept and she threw it at me."

"Feisty," Holliday forced a smile but it didn't last. "I'm so sorry Cayde."

"Me too." He gave her hand a squeeze and with drew to tie the scarf to his left arm. "I never should have let her get mixed up with me."

"What do you mean?"

"I think I'm cursed. Bring bad stuff everywhere I go."

"That's not true."

"She'd have been better off pickin' someone who didn't push her into all this crap. Someone who would have kept her safe…"

"She was a Guardian. And a Hunter to boot. There's no tamin' that and you know it. What, you think she woulda been happy with who? Koro?"

"How'd you know about that?"

Holliday rolled her eyes. "You ain't the only one in the City with connections, cowboy. Besides, anyone with two eyes knew Koro had it bad for Wren."

"Well maybe she would have been better off with him. At least then she wouldn't have felt like she had to prove herself so much. I got her into a lot of trouble she wouldn't have been in otherwise."

Holliday snorted. "And what? You'd let her give that scarf to Koro instead? If you think for a minute you woulda been able to walk her down the aisle and give her away to him, then you're a bigger fool than I thought. Listen, I get that you're hurtin'. Really I do. I lost friends in all this mess. I'm hurtin' too. But you aren't doin yourself any favors by playin' the "what if" game. You don't pick who you love, and I really do believe she loved you. For whatever reason." She smirked and nudged his arm. "She wouldn't want you mopin' around. I know that much."

"Right."

"What are you gonna do now?"

He sat back. No way was he going to tell her the truth.

"I guess I'm gonna go out and find Zavala and Ikora and see what we can do about this mess."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'll leave immediately."

"Don't you wanna rest first?"

"No. I need to get movin'."

"Alright. Well, I'll have your ship ready to go for ya. And Cayde? If you need me, promise you'll talk before you do somethin' stupid?"

"Don't worry about me. I got this."

Holliday lingered a moment, then left. Cayde sank back in the seat and stared at the ceiling. Sundance rested in the folds of his scarf, curling in close to him.

"I miss Kiran," she said quietly.

Cayde thumbed her shell. "I know."

"So… we're not really going after Zavala and Ikora are we?"

"No. No we're not. We're going after Ghaul."

"Without the Light?"

"Seems that way."

She dropped her gaze for a moment, then looked back up at him. "We might not make it back."

"That's the plan. For me anyway. Sun, I wouldn't ask you to go with me for this. Maybe you should stay here. I don't want anything happenin' to you."

"No way. I've been with you since the beginning, and I'll be with you at the end. No matter when that end is. We've had a good, long life together."

"We'll get revenge for Wren."

"And Kiran."

"You ready?"

"Yes."