Malomedies returned to the Grove. Under Kahedins' care, he gradually regained his strength. His mutilated legs healed, thickening back up, and then the leaves grew back. His face regained its former shape. His long fingers became nimble again.

Kahedins reassured him every day that he would be beautiful once more. It made him smile, but he'd shake his head. Things would not go back to normal. One night, they sat under the clear sky, watching the stars together. Kahedins leaned his head on Malomedies' shoulder, and sighed happily. Malomedies looked up at the sky.

'If you ever lose your way, Kahedins,' he said, voice rich and deep, like once when he stepped out of his pod. 'That star is the North Star, and it remains right there where it is now.'

'The bright one, over there?' Kahedins asked, looking up.

'Yes, that one,' Malomedies smiled. 'Walk towards it, you go north. So wherever you are, as long as you have that star, you can find your way back to me.' Kahedins stared up with wide eyes.

'What about the other stars?'

'They rotate around the North Star, while keeping their individual distance the same. You could make a drawing of how they are now, and they would be the same tomorrow,' he chuckled as he saw Kahedins was getting confused, 'just rotated.' He looked at his lover, who, to his surprise, nodded.

'I understand.' Kahedins sighed and crawled closer to Malomedies. 'How do you know these things?'

Malomedies smiled at him, before looking up again. 'A friend taught me.'

.

Days became weeks, weeks became months. Caithe helped out in the Grove as much as she could. The Secondborn had turned out to be a group of 25, and not much later the first Thirdborn pod opened. The time between the last Secondborn pod and the first of the Thirdborn had only been a few weeks, not even a month, and the counting system was quickly abandoned. It did not matter if one was Thirdborn or Fiftiethborn, all Sylvari were welcome in the Grove.

Yet the Firstborn had a certain influence that the others didn't. Perhaps it was their time spent in this world that made them more believable, but young Sylvari always looked up to the Firstborn. Caithe felt it was right that way. The saplings had a lot to learn, were bold and reckless, and often got themselves into trouble. Aife, Kahedins, Malomedies and Niamh all had taken up roles to guide the youngest of saplings their first steps into the world. They would tell them where they could sleep, whom to go to with their problems, and just made sure they weren't eaten by a hungry Jungle Stalker on their first day. They divided the Sylvari amongst the four of them based on their Cycle, and coached them to the best of their abilities.

Caithe had helped a few young Thieves, but was more at ease amongst the young Valiants. The Valiants were Sylvari born with Dreams as clear as those the Firstborn had had, and they often set out quickly to chase their Wyld Hunt, their destiny. None of them had as much experience with the outside world as Caithe, and she prepared them for what was out there. Some Sylvari did not heed her warnings, unfortunately, and they felt the blow. Not all Valiants survived.

.

'Again, Sariel. Light on your feet, be quick, don't get hit. You do good damage but you can't heal yourself. Get up,' Faolain said, standing on the side, with her arms crossed. She did not tutor many Sylvari, only those she liked. Sariel had wormed her way into her little clique and often practiced with Faolain privately. She was a Warrior, and an ambitious one. She became more vicious every day.

Faolain made a clone of herself appear, ready to attack. Sariel heaved and picked up her sword. It was human-made, and had been one of the first trades between humans and Sylvari. She charged into the clone, slashing it through. It disappeared, but two more appeared in its place. She quickly turned, skipping from place to place, and slashed the second one through. The third one whirled and cast a spell, which made Sariel cry out and fall on her knees, shielding her face with her hands. When Faolain dismissed the clone and kneeled next to her, Sariel trembled.

'Enough for today, then,' Faolain said, patting Sariel's back.

'Thorns.. that is an awful spell, Firstborn Faolain,' Sariel said, her voice a little shaky. Slowly she lowered her hands and looked at her mentor. Faolain waited for her to speak.

'How do I counter a spell that makes me feel all these horrible fears?' Sariel shook her head. 'I've tried so many times to withstand it, I've withstood everything else, but that is the only thing that brings me down.' To her surprise, Faolain smiled and pulled her up.

'It's simple, Sariel,' Faolain's voice was velvety and seductive, and the warrior felt her heart jump every time that voice spoke her name. 'You just mustn't be afraid.'

'Good advice, as long as you know when to run.' Caithe appeared on the field, walking casually towards the two. Faolain ran towards her and kissed her.

'We all have to learn that for ourselves, don't we?' Sariel said. 'Push our own boundaries. Do you have word from Cadeyrn?' Caithe nodded.

'He asked me to tell you he will be late tonight as he is out with the other Valiants,' Caithe said, allowing Faolain to rest against her. Sariel nodded, for a moment unsure what to say. Caithe raised an eyebrow at her.

'He will be late for.. what exactly?' she chuckled. 'I hope I did not plan the Valiant mission on a special night for the two of you?' Caithe jested her, and Sariel's eyes grew wide.

'What? Thorns, no!' She seemed more exasperated than offended though, and started laughing with them. 'I would never do such things with Cadeyrn!' Faolain chuckled at that. Sariel scratched the back of her head, hesitating for a moment. However when she spoke, she was confident again.

'It's just a little get-together we have every so often. Canach is usually there, and a few others..' she turned to Faolain, and grasped her hand with both of her own, pleadingly looking up her with wide eyes. 'Faolain, it would be great if you could make it too, tonight.' Sariel's voice trailed off, but she kept looking at Faolain questioningly. Caithe huffed and raised her eyebrows.

'Am I not invited?' She said, a little offended. Sariel smiled apologetically.

'Of course you are! I just think you would not find it as interesting, Firstborn Caithe,' she replied, still not letting go of Faolain's hands. 'Well?'

Faolain looked from one to the other, then shook her head slowly and removed her hand from Sariel's grip. She moved back towards Caithe and interlaced their fingers, almost possessively so.

'I'm sorry, Sariel, dear,' she said slowly, 'but since the Valiants are gone it means Caithe is free tonight. I would like to spend that time with her.' Sariel's smile fell, but she nodded in understanding.

'Another time, perhaps,' she said. 'Perhaps,' Faolain agreed. Sariel bowed curtly and turned to take her leave, when Faolain suddenly threw Caithe a mischievous look. She waited until Sariel had turned around and started walking away from them, then she let her magic spark between her fingertips. Caithe's eyes widened as she realized what was happening, but was too late to stop her. Faolain quickly cast the spell on Sariel's unprotected back, and the girl screamed in anguish again, stumbling and falling, barely keeping herself from landing on her face.

Faolain laughed out loud, crisp as a bell ringing over the field. Caithe did not see the humour in this, but decided not to disappoint her lover, and called out to Sariel.

'Always be on guard, warrior!' They stood for a moment, watching Sariel get back up. Faolain chuckled softly and Caithe wrapped an arm around her. Her lover pulled her away from the training fields, and with a smile on her face, Caithe followed her elegant form into the more secluded parts of the forest.

.

They sat together until the sun started to sink down and disappear behind the tops of the trees, making the light scatter in patches and highlighting the details of the forest. Caithe lay relaxedly on the soft moss, her head resting in Faolain's lap. Her lover was idly playing with the tips of her leafy hair. Caithe sighed contentedly.

'It's been a while since we've had time like this,' she said, more to herself than to the other. Faolain hummed in response. 'It's so busy with all the new Sylvari in the Grove..' Caithe continued, reaching upwards and caressing Faolain's cheek, whom leaned into the touch and smiled.

'Remember when it was just twelve of us?' Caithe reminisced, grinning a little. 'It seems so long ago already.'

'Remember when it was just the two of us?' Faolain answered. 'I'd love to go explore again.' Caithe smiled and sat up, moving close to her and pressing her forehead against Faolain's.

'You know we can't. Not now. There's too much to be done here. Perhaps when the other Sylvari have gotten a bit routined in training the younger ones. Right now, we're all they have,' she said softly, sighing a bit. Faolain draped her arms around Caithe's shoulders, pulling her closer still, and gave her a questioning look.

'But yes, I would like to go on another journey with you, as well,' Caithe confessed, a bit reluctantly. Faolain smiled at that.

'Then why don't we?' she whispered seductively. 'We managed just fine on our own, I bet the saplings will do great even without us.' She pulled her torso up to push her chest against Caithe, slowly kissing down her neck, her warm breath playing over Caithe's skin.

'We have responsibilities, Faolain,' Caithe gasped, softly, but turned her head to give Faolain room to move. Then there were long fingers in her hair and her own on Faolain's bare back and her lover's teeth scraping lovingly over her shoulder. Caithe shivered, and moved away a little to look the other in the eyes. Faolain grasped this opportunity to capture Caithe's lips with her own, and she kissed her slowly and deeply. Caithe felt her arms move around her lover as if they had a mind on her own. Before Faolain could break the kiss, Caithe pushed her down and leaned on her, hands roaming and legs entwining.

When she pulled back, they both gasped quietly for breath. Faolain twirled Caithe's hair around her fingers.

'But you are my only responsibility, Caithe,' Faolain whispered to her, 'You are all that is important to me.' Caithe chuckled, breathing Faolain's name before plunging into another kiss. Faolain arched into it, her legs folding around Caithe's body and pulling her closer still. Then she braced herself against the moss and rolled them both over, ending up on top of Caithe. She sat up, straddling Caithe's hips, and leaned her forward, her hands on her lover's shoulders. Caithe felt her cheeks heat up.

'I mean it, my love. We owe these Sylvari nothing. Why don't we do what our hearts tell us to do?' Faolain said, still pinning the other down. Her bright eyes burned with mischief and enthusiasm. Caithe smiled, but then sighed and slowly shook her head. She pushed Faolain back to sit up, and grasped her chin tenderly to make her meet her gaze.

'I know, my love. I feel the same,' Caithe hesitated for a moment, 'but we stay so that all these Sylvari can follow their hearts, too. Don't you want that? Don't you want them to be happy too?' Caithe slowly rocked them back and forth, but she saw Faolain's eyes narrow.

'I don't care about them. I just care about you,' Faolain's voice had dropped to a mere hiss. She ran her fingers through Caithe's hair, and Caithe could feel her nails scrape at the back of her scalp. Involuntarily she felt her hands tighten around Faolain's hips. Faolain let her hands slide down Caithe's hair and then closed her fingers around her neck, pushing Caithe's face upwards with the nails of her thumbs against Caithe's chin. She moved closer, her lips ghosting over Caithe's, her breath warm on her lover's skin. Caithe made a sound that was both involuntary and unexpected, and sounded much like a desperate stammer. Faolain chuckled softly.

'The things I could do to you, Caithe,' she said, her voice soft and alluring, slowly placing kisses down Caithe's neck and collarbone, 'if only you would set aside your silly responsibilities,' her sentence was cut off by her own breathy sound as Caithe ran her hands up her sides and then down her back.

'They are your responsibilities too, you know. You are Firstborn as much as I am,' Caithe whispered smugly. Faolain grunted low in her throat and pushed her lover down on her back again. Her kiss was strong and forceful and Caithe sensed her frustration. She tried to soothe her by rubbing small circles on her back, and she could feel the other respond. They broke apart, both slightly panting. Caithe looked up into sad eyes.

'How far would you go for me, Caithe?' Faolain asked suddenly. 'Would you leave the Grove if I asked you to? Would you choose me, over everyone else?' Caithe's eyes widened, and she tried to pry herself free, but Faolain pinned her down with her entire weight.

'Would you, Caithe?' She pleaded again. Caithe was silent for a moment. Then she wormed her arm between them and pushed Faolain off of her in a fluid motion. She sat up, a little annoyed.

'I know what you are trying to do, my love. You know how much you mean to me. But we can't be selfish now. We have to stay.' Caithe's voice was resolute, and perhaps harsher than she'd intended. Faolain pushed herself up from the moss and crossed her arms.

'Do I really mean a lot to you? As much as you mean to me?'

'Faolain..' Caithe pleaded, and reached out for her. Her lover moved away instead of closer, and Caithe looked hurt.

'I just want to stay right at your side, my love,' she said, softly. 'There's nothing else that I want, if not just to be with you.'

'And yet you won't.' Faolain snapped. She looked hurt, angry even.

'Please don't do this to me, Faolain,' Caithe asked her, looking genuinely torn now. Faolain looked at her once, then stood up and almost soundlessly walked away. Caithe followed her, crying out for her, begging her to stay, but the other shrouded herself in magic and disappeared between the trees.

.

'Canach, if you go to Lion's Arch, that will be totally lame!' Cadeyrn shouted. He sat amidst a group of around fifteen Sylvari, most of them of his generation, but some of them had brought their younger friends, as well. They had gathered in a small clearing, hidden by hanging vines and willow trees, There were rocks and trunks to sit on, and they had brought food and alcohol. Cadeyrn sat on a large rock in the middle, loudly telling stories of his adventurous mission with the Valiants. Canach sat next to him, quietly downing a large amount of wine in a rather short time. Sariel had gathered with her friends in another corner, trying to drown out the sound of Cadeyrn's voice.

'I mean, you should totally be my right hand!'

'I should.. what?' Canach asked, confusedly looking at his own hands and then at Cadeyrn. 'Are you missing a hand?'

'No, man. You should be my squire!' Cadeyrn said drunkenly. His drink swayed in his hand, almost spilling. Canach laughed deep in his throat.

'You're a lightweight, Cadeyrn, look at you! And besides, I would never be your squire. Some knight you are, you can't even impress the girl you like!'

'How do you know who I like, huh? Huh?!' Cadeyrn accused him, slurring his words and straining to point his finger at his friend. He saw double and groaned, and after a moment's hesitation he gave his cup to Canach, who downed it without a second thought.

'You're right. She never even notices me..' Cadeyrn said, suddenly sad.

'Who doesn't?' Sariel asked as she walked over and sat beside them. Cadeyrn turned starry eyed at the thought of his love and he fell to one knee, raising one hand to the stars and placing the other on his heart, reciting his words like a poet.

'My one true love! The Firstborn-' his sentence was cut off by hysterical laughter from both Sariel and Canach.

'A Firstborn! Oh oh, I don't even have to know who it is! Oh, by the Tree!' Sariel spat out between her laughing. 'Cadeyrn, you are hilarious. Even more so when drunk, I might add,' she finally said when the laughter died away, and she wiped the tears from her eyes. Canach held his aching sides and tried to smooth out his face, but failed miserably. Cadeyrn had his one arm raised still in his dramatic pose, but now looked a little disappointed at his friends.

'Come on, guys! My heart aches for her!' He tried, pouting like a child. It only made Sariel burst out into laughter again.

'Yes, I'm sure thát face will seduce a Firstborn!' she cried. Canach patted his friend on his shoulder and made him sit down again. Cadeyrn tried to regain his air of superiority, but his ego was visibly struck.

'So who is this destined love, Cadeyrn?' Canach asked, snorting. Yet when Cadeyrn looked at him he made a serious face. For a second.

'She is beautiful,' Cadeyrn started, dreamily, 'she is brave and smart, and a very skilled fighter, I might add. So fierce and strong...' he trailed off, wandering in daydreams only he could see. Sariel bent forward and leaned her elbows on her knees.

'So? Who?' she asked. Cadeyrn looked at her with raised eyebrows, as if this description should have made it crystal clear already.

'What? Why, Firstborn Caithe of course!' Cadeyrn braced himself for another round of laughter, but none came. Canach bit his lip and looked away, and Sariel just raised one eyebrow at him, completely unimpressed.

'Come on, Cadeyrn. You know she is totally taken! Nothing can break Firstborn Caithe from Faolain,' she stated, matter-of-factly. She crossed her arms and looked at him mockingly, as if asking him what-ya-gonna-do-about-it. Cadeyrn huffed.

'Ah, it is only a matter of time before my love Caithe recognizes my superiority and then she'll regret not having loved me from the day she met me!' He spoke, his poetic tone back from before, and this time he included some wide, sweeping gestures, too. 'She'll come crawling to my doorstep, and I, gracious host, shall let her in, and make lo-'

'Stop, stop! I cannot take it!' Sariel howled with laughter, and Canach spat out his drink, coughing and laughing at the same time. Cadeyrn waited sourly until they caught their breath, taking another drink for his misery.

'You two, are the worst friends I have ever had,' he said, but smiled again when Canach draped an arm around his shoulder.

'So tell me, brave Valiant Cadeyrn, what will you do to impress her?' Canach rumbled with his deep voice. Even though his tone was mocking, Cadeyrn seemed glad he asked.

'Well,' he started, putting down his drink for emphasis, 'I was thinking to right a wrong from the past.' He paused dramatically, looking at his friends. They both were silent, waiting for him to continue. 'In my opinion, the peace with the asura was made far too easily. Our sacrifice was great. As you know, what happened to Firstborn Malomedies was a tragedy in all aspects. Firstborn Malomedies is a cherished friend of my dearest Caithe, and so, to impress her, I will avenge his pain.' Sariel had a look of utter disbelief on her face, but remained silent. Cadeyrn grinned smugly.

'I have been secretly negotiating with the Hylek for a most explosive potion. It will cost a good coin but with that,' another dramatic pause followed. Canach had his drink lifted towards his mouth, but had forgotten to drink, focused as he was on Cadeyrn.

'With that, I will burn down Rata Sum.' Cadeyrn let the silence draw out after his sentence, basking in the glory of his impressed friends. Slowly he realized that the whole clearing had become silent, and many pairs of eyes were directed at him. 'Avenge Malomedies?' Sariel whispered, 'By yourself? Are you mad?'

A light murmur went through the crowd. Sylvari gasped and quickly chattered with each other, voices low. Cadeyrn looked around, gathered his courage and then raised his voice, standing up and speaking to the Sylvari.

'Yes, I want to avenge Firstborn Malomedies. The asura have gotten away with their crimes for far too long!' He made a fist to give his statement strength. A muscular sylvari called Brangoire stood up and nodded at Cadeyrn.

'I would aid you. The asura have indeed been unpunished for far too long.' A few Sylvari agreed shyly, and Cadeyrn felt strengthened.

'By burning down Rata Sum, we would show them who's really boss around here! We should have a lot more ground than we do now! Why don't we take it?' He himself became excited by the speech, and he felt the gathered Sylvari absorb his energy. Small cheers of yeah! and stupid asura! echoed his words. Then long, elegant fingers lifted the willows aside and a woman revealed herself.

'Impressive. And yet burning down Rata Sum will not make Malomedies feel any more avenged than he is now,' she said, an amused and lingering tone in her voice. When she appeared, most Sylvari bowed deeply, many of them paired with short gasps of amazement and excitement. Sariel immediately stood up and greeted her politely.

'Firstborn Faolain! I thought, I did not, you said that,' she stammered, then shook her head and cleared her mind, 'Weren't you with Caithe tonight?' Faolain glanced at her, her face unreadable.

'I was,' she answered curtly, and Sariel nodded, she understood not to ask any further. Faolain glanced around the group and advanced on Cadeyrn.

'As I was saying, Malomedies will not feel avenged unless he is convinced to do so, and only then might Caithe change her mind. As you might know, Malomedies merely survived the whole ordeal by passively giving in to it. He never fought them.' Cadeyrn stood trembling before her, still raised above his crowd but now it felt more like uncomfortable exposition than a powerful stand. Yet he had to straighten his mind. This was his moment.

'Why did he do that?' Cadeyrn asked, 'Why didn't he resist?'

'It's the rules, Secondborn,' Faolain answered, and Cadeyrn felt a pang of annoyance at the name. 'Do not fear difficulty. Peace within one's soul. We must not be vengeful.' She looked at him with narrow eyes. 'Do you not agree?'

Cadeyrn shook his head slowly. 'No.. What about act with wisdom, but act? He did not act at all! Did he seize the moment? Didn't he leave this wrong to ripen into evil? Didn't it ripen into evil?' His voice gained volume as he spoke, and he became more certain of himself. The crowd grew in strength with him, and they responded more and more to his cries.

'It is time to act!' Cadeyrn cried. 'It is time to show them that Ventari is not just there to make us easy targets! Without restraints, we will rise to victory!' He raised his fist and roared, and the crowd roared with him, a small group of youngsters, but with the energy of an army. Cadeyrn's gaze found Faolain's, and she looked at him with a small smile playing on her lips.

'Are you in, Firstborn?' Cadeyrn then asked, boldly, encouraged by the cheers and wine.

'Keep talking, Secondborn,' Faolain answered. She sounded more than pleased. 'I like the way you think.'