Puzzle Pieces

Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 158: Puzzle Pieces

Cain didn't wait for an answer or permission. He took Lena's wrist—gentle, yet firm—and led her away from the group before anyone could protest.

Lena was taken aback by his sudden intensity. Seeing that he wasn't going to offer an explanation, she turned her head back toward the others. “Go inside and rest!" she yelled over her shoulder. “We're fine! There's nothing left to do today, so just rest!"

Shayla frowned, clearly wanting to follow, but when Lyra shook her head gently, the warrior sighed and walked into the house. Orion followed, stretching his massive frame as he trailed behind Lyra into the shadows of the hall. One by one, they disappeared until the entrance of the pack house was empty, save for the guards on duty.

The pack grounds were busy at this time of day. The sun sat high in the sky, radiating a bright light that made Lena wonder why the air remained so biting and cold. Farmers passed by with baskets of food, some greeting Cain with deep bows, while others smiled and waved at Lena. She returned the greetings almost mechanically, her thoughts still occupied by the strange house in the woods and Cain’s silent gravity.

“Hey!" she called out when she finally grew tired of the quiet. She dug her heels in and stopped walking. “What is the matter? Say something."

Cain turned around, a brow raised in question. His gaze lowered to her wrist, realizing he still held it tightly, and he instantly released her.

“Sorry about that….” he trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was just thinking about so many things, I..."

“It's alright," she cut him off. She knew exactly the kind of pressure he was under, and there was no point in being angry. She crossed her arms. “Where are you taking me?"

“To talk, privately. I don't know what you told the others, but I know it wasn't everything.” He stated it as a fact, and his suspicions were confirmed when she briefly averted her gaze.

Cain took her hand again, more softly this time, and led her through familiar paths that eventually stretched further than she had ever ventured before. When the trees finally thinned, their pace slowed. Before them lay a wide shore of pale sand. The sea rolled calmly ahead—vast, grey, and eerily silent.

A large ship rested near the water, its anchor buried deep into the sand, looking as though it hadn't moved in years. Lena stared in awe. “I heard you had something like this, but I thought it was just a rumor."

Cain nodded. "Not everyone has one. Not even half of the pack knows it exists.”

"Why do we even have it?” she asked, turning to him.

He was quiet for a moment as they approached the water’s edge. She saw a flash of something like defeat in his eyes before he spoke. "Emergency,” he said simply. "Travel... and emergency.”

Lena’s brow furrowed. "Is that necessary?”

Cain turned to face her, a small smile appearing that didn't quite reach his eyes. “If we fail—if we can't fight anymore—we’d have to escape," he said. “There's no telling how many of us can survive the next attacks, and I don't intend to sacrifice my pack on a gamble.”

Lena felt a dull ache in her chest. She understood that weight all too well. She reached out and gently cupped his face. "It's good to see that you're still looking out for your people, even with all of this happening.”

“That’s my job.”

When they reached a large boulder near the water, Cain motioned for her to sit. She did, brushing sand from her palms before hugging her knees to her chest. He remained standing, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the horizon.

“So,” he began. “I didn't have time to ask earlier. You were so insistent on going to that house, I felt I had no choice but to let you.” He looked down at her. "What did you see this time?”

Lena sighed, staring out at the waves. “I don't know how to explain it, but the stranger... they spoke to me through my mind."

“That's not entirely surprising, given everything else. Continue."

Lena took a deep breath. “You remember the vision where I saw you die, with Marcus standing over your body?"

He nodded grimly.

“Well, that vision doesn't literally mean Marcus will kill you. Marcus is dead; the humans confirmed it,” she paused, trying to find the right words. "The stranger told me not to rely on the literal images. Visions have deeper, layered meanings."

“Does that mean I’m safe?"

Lena shook her head. “It isn't certain you'll die, but the stranger implied that the 'Marcus' figure represents a betrayal. It means someone you know might harm you.”

Cain stared at her in silence. He wanted to ask for more certainty, but he knew it was futile. They could chase the meanings of these omens until they were both exhausted. He let out a long breath. “And the second one?"

“That's the one that confuses me most. There was a red moon…."

Cain’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t interrupt.

“And a golden light,” she continued. “A light brighter than the moon itself.” She explained it all—the blood-red sky, the way the golden glow swallowed up both soldiers and crawlers, and how the vision cut to black before she could see the aftermath. She looked down at her feet. “I don’t understand what it means.”

Cain remained quiet for a long time, the only sound being the rhythmic pull of the tide. Then he asked, “Was there anything the same in both visions?”

Lena frowned. She closed her eyes, forcing the images to play back in slow motion. The blood, the timing, the atmosphere... then it hit her.

“The moon,” she whispered, opening her eyes. “It was red. In both visions.”

Cain looked at her, his expression unreadable.

“And the sky,” she went on, her voice growing steadier. “It was black both times. But the moon didn’t glow when the golden light came. It was just... there. Like a witness.” She swallowed hard. “I thought the red came from the blood on the ground. That’s what I focused on. But now I’m not sure.”

Cain exhaled slowly. “Maybe the moon isn’t reacting because of the light,” he suggested. “Or maybe it’s the source of it.”

Lena shook her head. “The light came from the battle on the ground. I couldn't tell who or what produced it; my perspective was too limited."

Cain watched her for a moment longer, then let out an exhausted sigh and pulled her into a hug. "It's alright. We'll find the answers soon enough. For now, let's just focus on finding a cure for the crawlers.”