A/N: Apologies for the delay! I got a job, so now I have less time. I'm working on the next chapter already though, so it should not take as long as this one.

In reaction to your review ShyWolf, yes I am messing with the timeline a little, because this story is more about the relationship between Caithe and Faolain, than a brief history of the Sylvari. You are totally right though! There should be about six years inbetween, but I guess, you can imagine what those six years looked like, it would have been exploring with adventures similar to the past ones. Hope that answers it and thank you for your review! :D

Aife met Dagonet at the roots of the tree, marking something on a flattened rock with a chisel.

'You're sure? That many?' Dagonet nodded.

'The Mother's branches have extended all the way over the Grove. There are many pods in many stages of growth. I think, about a dozen ripe ones. A lot more that are half grown though, and the small ones are uncountable,' he said, a little out of breath. Aife's eyes widened.

'That's amazing.. We will need more housing to accommodate all those new ones, though.' She looked up from her work to look at Dagonet's face. 'Strange, how quickly they grow now.'

'We've just been the few of us for so long, ' Dagonet sighed. Aife felt fear and curiosity battling for dominance in her friend's heart. Tenderly, she put a hand on his shoulder.

'You will have no trouble understanding, in the end. After all, you are a scholar,' she said. Dagonet smiled at her. Suddenly both of them looked up in perfect sync, Aife stretching out to see further, and Dagonet turning to look over his shoulder. Further away, Faolain stared at the same point in the distance. Caithe joined at her side.

'It begins,' Faolain stated. Caithe grabbed her hand, and all Firstborn retreated into the thicker forests west of the Grove, where a single pod had begun to pulse and crack. They stood silently, in a circle around it. Kahedins' eyes were wide with wonder as a single crack began running down the pod in front of him, and then another, and then another. The giant seed groaned under its own weight and let heavy shells of protective tissue fall down. The first layer peeled off, and then, another one, lighter in colour. The discarded shells lay scattered around the core, like the rays of the sun. Finally, the soft inner petals opened, thousands of thin, paper-like wings unfolding themselves from each other and spreading out into a full circle. In the middle, a slender figure sat crouched, his hands protectively in front of his face, his knees pulled up to his chest. When the first light hit him, he looked up slowly and stretched his still damp limbs. Aife reached out a hand.

'Welcome, brother.'

Caithe could only stare. This was the most magical thing she had ever seen. From out of nowhere, another Sylvari had appeared, with an unknown face and an unknown name, and a new future. She swallowed thickly, and looked around her. There were so many pods. There would be so many Sylvari. Aife helped up the newborn and supported him as he shakily stepped out onto the forest ground.

'What is your name?' she asked. The man looked at her, then at the others, before confusedly replying, 'Cadeyrn.'

'Did you dream?' Dagonet asked. His eyes sparkled with anticipation. Caithe strangely felt like reaching out and touching the new one, just to see if this was all real. She recalled stepping out of her own pod. It had been night then. Cadeyrn nodded at Dagonet.

'Yes,' he said, his voice deeper than Caithe would have expected. 'I did dream.' His skin was a deep brown, so vibrant it resembled red.

'I am the first, am I not?' he then continued, looking around him. The other pods groaned and pulsed, but remained intact for now. 'Am I not?' he repeated, something resembling urgency in his voice. Dagonet chuckled. Caithe shook her head slowly.

'Well, of the new ones, yes.' For a moment, their eyes met, slight tension building. 'But we were here first,' she said, resolutely. Cadeyrn gritted his teeth, and his eyes narrowed.

'I am special. The Pale Tree wanted me to awaken first.' He directed his anger at Caithe, raising his voice. 'She must have known I was destined for great things.'

'We shall see,' Faolain interfered, clearly audible, though much lower in volume. 'Tell us about your dream.' Niamh took this opportunity to grab Cadeyrn's hand and lead him towards the Grove, the others following behind them.

'Good idea. Tell us about your dream.'

.

Beep, beep. A soft, mechanical beeping sound buzzed rythmically through the room. The pitterpatter of small feet scurrying along tiled floors, and moving of carts with creaking wheels not quite loud enough to drown it out. Hushed voices, hurried, and tense, but kept forcibly low.

Malomedies breathed slowly. The air was heavy in his lungs, and felt wet and soggy. It was hard to breathe. He dared not concentrate on his body, his consciousness just slipping in and out of sleep. There was no pain anymore, just numb misery. He slowly opened his eyes and turned his head sideways. For a moment, the light stung, and it was bright and white and unlike anything he had seen in a long time. When he opened his eyes, he noted it was a window. It was big, as wide as the table he lay on, and it was sunny outside. He saw the plants and the grass and the blue, blue sky. Surprised, he turned the other way and gasped, then cringed in pain. There was no terrifying red light on the walls, no cabinet in the corner, but it was a large, spacious room, with holographic dashboards of blue light and a lot of asura hurrying about. He wasn't sure to be happy or afraid.

As he looked slowly at his body, he saw he wasn't tied up, but bandaged. It had been done quickly, but neatly. He couldn't move. A cold, damp cloth was placed on his forehead, and Malomedies sighed in relief. It felt nice.

'There, there, sir. Not to worry, since you are awake, you will regain control of your movements soon.' A young asura with goggles looked down on him. 'I will make sure we keep the pain under control for a little longer. We will do some exercises and then get your escort ready.'

'Escort?' Malomedies stammered, his voice strained and broken. The asura nodded at him.

'Yes, we're bringing you back,' he said, matter-of-factly. Malomedies heart jumped a mile up, and he wanted to ask why, how, why his situation had changed so suddenly, but another asura tapped the first on the shoulder and called him away. A moment later they carried a stretcher past him. On the stretcher was a figure, covered partially by a white cloth. Her face was blueish pale, red eyes dull and dry-looking, staring with half-closed lids. She lay absolutely still. Malomedies peered at the three passing by, his mind slow by the anaesthetics and distracted by the excitement of his upcoming journey home. Once he realized he knew that sickly pale face, they had already turned the corner and disappeared out of sight.

'You ready?' Kudu stood, fuming, his arms crossed, leaning against a wall a few metres away from Malomedies. If he had ever looked displeased, now he was angrier than ever. Veins were throbbing on his forehead, and he spasmodically dug his nails into his arms. He sighed deeply and took a step forward. 'Can you walk?' He sneered. Malomedies shrugged. Through his confusion, he still understood he need not talk to this asura anymore.

'Well, we're not going to carry you. Come on!' More asura assembled and they lifted him off the table, holding his arms with the first few steps, and then letting go. Malomedies felt the warmth of joy spread in his chest, he could walk again.

.

Kahedins had taken his usual spot by the pond again. He sat there, silently, not even bothering to feign activity anymore. He stared at the water, his face downturned into a sad frown. A small leaf fell from a nearby tree and landed on his leg, and he just stared at it, not even bothering to brush it off. After Cadeyrn, two more secondborn had emerged from their pods. A man named Canach and a woman, Sariel. It would not be long before the others would open. Dagonet had estimated around 20 new Sylvari would emerge in the coming days, and the next wave would be even larger.

Kahedins sighed. The others were all excited, and so was he, but his mood was being weighed down by the painful aching in his chest, that he carried every minute of every day. The aching feeling of loss, of missing the one closest to you. He bit his lip not to cry. He knew crying would not help.

Next to him, thin air suddenly contracted and Caithe appeared, startling Kahedins. He yelped and jumped away, and Caithe looked at him confusedly.

'What is wrong?'

'You scared me. Don't just turn up out of nowhere,' Kahedins said, exasperated. Caithe chuckled.

'No, you are troubled. What is bothering you?' she asked, as she sat down next to Kahedins. He relaxed slowly, letting out a long sigh and shaking his head. Caithe frowned.

'Where did Riannoc go?' she tried.

'He left a few days after you did, going north. We do not know how far he got.' Kahedins said, curtly. He tried to make clear he really wasn't in the mood to talk, without bluntly sending her away. If it weren't for Caithe's inevitable questions, he'd secretly enjoy the company.

'And Trahearne?'

'South. He didn't tell me where, exactly.'

'Why not?' Caithe was slightly aggravated by all the unanswered questions that burned inside her, but Kahedins was proving to be of little help.

'Don't ask me.'

'Did he tell anyone?'

'Dagonet, perhaps. Otherwise Mother, I assume.'

'Where is Malomedies?' Caithe went on, tirelessly. Kahedins gritted his teeth, then suddenly sobbed and curled up, pulling his knees to his chest. Caithe's eyes widened in surprise. For a moment, they just sat there, Kahedins crying softly into his hands, trembling, with Caithe watching him, unsure what to do. Then, she moved closer, softly putting an arm around him. She rubbed his back and leaned her cheek on his scalp, gently embracing him. He stopped trembling, and leaned into her, seeking comfort for the burden he'd carried on his own for so long.

'He left many days ago,' Kahedins whispered, voice breaking. 'I can not stop thinking something terrible happened.' Caithe soothed him.

'I can not live if Malomedies returns to the Dream, Caithe. I can not live if he dies.' Kahedins whispered desperately. Caithe sat up and lifted Kahedins' face in her hands, making him look at her. His eyes were red from crying.

'He is not dead. We would have known.' Caithe said, resolutely. Kahedins wasn't sure if he felt better by this or not. He just nodded and slumped back against Caithe. She rocked him back and forth gently, keeping him company until he calmed down.

'What is the world like?' Kahedins asked, a little while later. His voice was still soft, but he seemed to have regained his composure.

'It's very,' Caithe started, but hesitated as she sought for the right word. 'Big,' she decided eventually. Kahedins raised his brows.

'Just big?'

'And interesting,' Caithe added. 'And sometimes beautiful.' Kahedins eyes met hers, and she felt a little excitement just thinking back of her adventures. 'There are wide open fields, and hills and a very large city with high, white walls.'

'How high?' Kahedins asked. He had a small smile on his face now, relaxedly listening to Caithe's voice.

'As high as the Mother Tree. Maybe even higher. And there are mountains, covered in snow and ice - and even the lakes and rivers are frozen there. And it goes on beyond, we have not even seen half of it.' Caithe smiled as well now as she reminisced. 'And there are strange creatures, weird things I had never seen before.'

'It sounds interesting.'

'It was.'

'Was it dangerous?' Kahedins asked lazily, but Caithe's smile fell a bit.

'Sometimes. I don't back off of a good challenge,' she laughed, trying to hide not being as amused, but Kahedins picked up on it and sat upright. He looked at her as he questioned further.

'Did something happen?' His tone was slightly accusing. Caithe looked away.

'Not really, I mean, it's just a scar...' her voice lingered, and Kahedins narrowed his eyes.

'On you?' he asked, and Caithe shook her head, subconsciously rubbing her shoulder, mimicking the spot where Faolain had been hit by the devourer. The thicket near to them rustled and a pale skinned woman came walking through, gazing in wonder at the forest around her, and then at the water. She smiled at the two Firstborn, then kneeled by the water and let it run over her hands.

'Hello, Sariel,' Caithe greeted her. Kahedins threw Caithe another accusing glance.

'I dreamt of this place, I think,' Sariel said. 'The water is beautiful, but very cold.'

'What did you dream of?' Kahedins asked. She looked around before answering, 'It might have been another place.'

Caithe felt a hand on her shoulder. She caressed it and interlaced their fingers before realizing what she was doing. Suddenly she looked up behind her, where Faolain smiled at her. Faolain sat down next to her, still holding her hand.

'There you are. I was looking for you,' Faolain said.

'You surprised me,' Caithe said, a little breathy. Faolain chuckled, and caressed her cheek in greeting. Kahedins snorted amusedly, just loud enough for them to hear. He sneaked a glance at Faolain's shoulder while she adjusted her dresslike leaves around her legs. On her shoulder a long, thin, offwhite stripe was visible, running through the leaves, the skin around it crusted like treebark. Caithe threw him an angry warning glance, and he did not make any remark. Faolain either didn't notice, or pretended not to. Sariel had shyly come forward, but now sat down with them, a little more confident than before.

'Why did you look for me?' Caithe asked Faolain. Her lover shrugged.

'I wanted to know where you were.'

'I thought you always knew,' Caithe joked. Faolain smiled and stroked Caithe's hair softly, but did not answer. They exchanged a loving glance, and then Caithe noticed what Faolain meant. She could feel Faolain's emotions, but not exact. It was unclear, blurred.

'I know your face from my dream,' Sariel suddenly smiled. Faolain looked at her in surprise, not sure how to respond to that. She concluded that a polite smile would do. Sariel kept staring at her, in adoration and wonder. Caithe looked at the Secondborn. She was inquisitive, but could be a little reserved. It worried her that the emotions of the Secondborn were as clear to her as Faolain's.

'Will more of the new Sylvari dream about us, do you think?' Kahedins wondered aloud. Caithe shrugged, still deep in thought. Even Kahedins, who had been around longer than Sariel, did not seem clearer or more easily readable. Faolain squeezed her hand, and looked at her reassuringly. They would be fine.

'Perhaps. As long as I don't have to stay in the Grove all day, I don't mind,' Caithe laughed. Faolain reached out for Sariel and softly patted her hand.

'You must tell me about your dream, Sariel.' The Secondborn wanted to reply, but suddenly Niamh came crashing through the bush, storming over the low shrubberies and breaking twigs wherever she went. Her breathing was laboured, her eyes wide.

'Here you all are,' she gasped, 'come with me, we have to defend the Grove!'

.

Caithe sat crouched in the shadow of a large pine tree. She heard high voices approaching, a group of creatures, who were not very much doing their best to be inconspicuous. She heard the many breaking twigs and bushes shoved away, as if they were chopping a new path. Deep sounds of metal banging on metal and joints creaking were even noticeable as vibrations in the ground. Caithe narrowed her eyes and tried to see. They were still too far away.

She signaled the others. She had ran ahead, easily shrouded in shadow, disappearing in the environment. The other Sylvari had formed a defensive line near the Grove. All were hidden, but very much ready for the attack. The young Secondborn, inexperienced as they were, had been stationed near the Pale Tree, which had displeased Cadeyrn greatly.

Suddenly a metal arm shoved an entire tree aside and it fell over, groaning and taking a large chunk of earth in its fall. From behind it, a huge metal golem appeared, making way for a dozen small creatures, some of them dragging something on a piece of worn cloth, that they pulled over the forest ground. Caithe's eyes widened as she realized it were asura. She looked over her shoulder and held up her hand, making sure the others would remain hidden.

The caravan was led by a grumpy looking, short asura with pointy teeth. He waved for the others to follow him, some carried large guns, loaded with a strange fluid. Three of the asura were carriers, all three strapped to the makeshift sack they pulled like horses. Caithe stepped out, making herself visible to them. The caravan stopped immediately, and Caithe blocked their path. For a moment, it was silent. The Golem towered, intimidatingly large, over Caithe.

One of the carrier asura looked over his shoulder towards the sack. It groaned. Caithe narrowed her eyes. Gixx had been friendly to her, but that was just one of them. She had seen how he had been towards his own kinsmen. She had no guarantee they were friendly. Behind her, a presence came closer, she sensed it like the air was humming. Faolain was right behind her, still covered, but ready to strike, backing her up like always. She felt strengthened.

They needed to be diplomatic about this. Rational. Sort it out before unnecessary situations arose. The asura seemed weary. Especially the one in front had a strange, unreadable expression on his face. Something of grudge and annoyance and fascination and envy. Caithe felt shivers run down her spine just barely tolerating his gaze.

A twig broke behind her. Caithe's eyes widened. She had not given the signal yet. The sack moved again. She yerked her head back to see what happened, and then Kahedins walked past her, gaze fixed on the thing the asura had been carrying. He tried to make a sound, but failed- yet, the second time, his voice shattered the silence of their encounter.

'Malomedies?'

Something groaned. Kahedins ran forward, ignoring the asura completely. Caithe tried to stop him, shouting his name in warning, and ran after him. Then all Firstborn came out. Aife, Niamh at her side, initiated the attack. Within seconds the forest was filled with sounds of battle. Caithe staggered back, screaming for them to stop, but it was too late. The asura screeched and shot their weapons. Dagonet got hit immediately and howled in pain - Cadeyrn had followed them and charged into battle as well, until Caithe grabbed him and pulled him back. Kahedins sat in the middle of the chaos, shielding his long lost love with his body. He held his arms around him, Malomedies bruised and collapsed in his embrace. Tears streamed down their faces. No asura thought to attack them.

Caithe sensed familiar magic, and saw an asura go down, holding his head, screaming in agony. Faolain's eyes lit up with the purple light that sparked between her fingertips. Then a gun was aimed at Caithe and she barely avoided it, rolling out of the way.

One asura had just been standing amidst the brawl. The leader, the one with pointy teeth. His eyes were closed, he was gnawing on the insides of his cheeks. On his forehead a vein throbbed. Then, he gestured the golem, and made it stomp on the ground. The mighty blow silenced the battlefield, asura and Sylvari alike thrown off their feet.

'I believe I have something of yours,' he sneered. 'If you'd be so kind not to attack me, I'd like to return it.'

'We have a slight misunderstanding, I'm afraid,' Caithe gasped in response, getting back up on her feet. Faolain gave an already-downed asura one last nudge with her foot before sourly ceasing the battle. She held Cadeyrn by the collar of his shirt with one finger, to keep him from advancing on the troupe. He murmured an annoyed 'lemmego!' as he shrugged off her grip and sulkily stood next to her.

'My name is Kudu,' the asura continued, paying little attention to Caithe or his fallen comrades. 'And I am to give you an official apology on behalf of the Arcane Council. For another, eh, slight misunderstanding.'

'What have they done to you?' Kahedins' wail sliced the air as he realized the state Malomedies was in. Kudu rolled his eyes and nodded, in an awkward motion, meaning yes-that-is-what-I-meant.

Caithe regained her composure. 'Hand him over.' Kudu raised his hands in a defensive gesture.

'That's why I am here. Let's make short work of this.'

'This will not go unconsequenced.' Caithe warned him, her voice trembling with rage as she saw what was left of her friend and sibling.

'Speak to the Arcane Council if it's war you want.' Kudu called to her over his shoulder. Caithe growled and vanished, appearing in front of him again. She had her daggers at his throat. Kudu immediately stopped and gulped audibly.

'We will not forget.' Caithe growled at him, and he hastily shook his head. Then she retracted her weapons, and Kudu scurried off into the woods, his golem following him like a dog.

For a moment, it was silent, apart from the soft groaning of the defeated asura. When she had forced down her rage and turned to the rest, they were gathered around Malomedies, trying to find a way to get him back the Grove safely.

'What do we do with them?' Aife asked, pointing at the downed asura. Caithe sighed.

'We should get them back on their feet and make them able to go home-'

'We let them rot there and die.' Faolain interfered. Caithe rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to argue, but Faolain had her arms crossed and gestured at Malomedies with her head. Her eyes were narrow, but blazing, and Caithe wasn't sure which emotion she read from her. It confused her.

'Priorities, Caithe. Firstly, we have to get Malomedies home. l'd much rather be taking care of my own kin than of these rats. If you insist on acting out your charity I cannot stop you, but you will not do so at our expense.'

'She has a point,' Cadeyrn chirped, and Aife silenced him with an annoyed grunt. Niamh bit her lip, the warrior in her obviously conflicted. Faolain walked towards Caithe and looked her straight in the eyes.

'Better yet, we finish them right now,' she whispered, 'so that if that Kudu comes back he'll have a clear message waiting for him-'

'No, please!' a soft voice pleaded. Faolain turned around with narrowed eyes, magic sparking again.

'Show yourself,' she demanded, her voice threatening and menacing, advancing on the sound. A young asura with goggles appeared from his hiding place in a shrubbery nearby. He ran towards his nearest companion and helped him up, before looking up to speak again. He threw one glance at Faolain, who was ready to attack and immediately turned to Caithe, grabbing the tails of her leaves like a child asking attention from its mother.

'Miss, it was not our fault, we took care of him, we healed him, I'm just an engineer, I cannot fight, I build things, please, we came to give him back-' Caithe held up a hand to stop him, confusedly shaking her head.

'Slow down,' she said, 'you healed him?'

'We took care of him after master Gixx had placed him in our custody, miss,' the asura stammered. Caithe's eyes widened, and she looked shockedly at Faolain, who had the same expression.

'Gixx did this?' she asked the asura, exasperated. The other firstborn looked at each other in confusion, but decided to listen to the conversation. Niamh had closed her hand over Cadeyrn's mouth, who looked very disgruntled, to keep him silent. The asura desperately shook his head.

'No, no! Master Kudu and his team were responsible for what happened, master Gixx made his return happen!' He looked at his fallen comrades again with fear in his eyes. 'Please don't hurt me!'

Faolain had joined at Caithe's side. They exchanged glances for a moment.

'What do you think?' Caithe asked her softly.

'I don't trust him. Look at Malomedies. What if that would have been you...' Faolain trailed off, but then got herself together and looked at the asura again. 'Let's get rid of him.' Niamh stepped forward.

'He gave us information. Let him get his group home.' She lowered Faolain's hands. 'There is no more need for violence.'

'I agree with Niamh,' Caithe said. She looked around the group, and they nodded in silence. Cadeyrn's eyes burned, but bent his head submissively. Malomedies untangled himself from Kahedins carefully, and then decided the argument with a single sentence, voice creaking.

'The asura speaks the truth, let him go.'