Back at camp, Day 84 A.F

It took four nights to get back to camp. How I'd managed the trek in one night remained a mystery. It was as if I'd somehow been transported.

I didn't expect Matthew to handle the journey, but he faired better than me. I generally trailed behind, panting.

Gladiator seemed driven, howling his complaints whenever I insisted we stop for rest. The wolf was desperate to return to Tybira.

Thankfully, as the sun was at its peak on the fourth day of our voyage, the wolf's spirit rose. He dashed ahead, yipping with excitement. Eventually, he was greeted by the eager snuffles of Freki and Romulus.

"Thank Jupiter!" Tybira's exclaimed as she dashed behind the other two wolves, throwing her arms around Gladiator's thick, furry neck.

The wolf nuzzled his alpha's cheeks before being bombarded by curious sniffs from Romulus and Freki.

Tybira's arms then found me. I jerked back for a moment before reciprocating the embrace. It was wonderful to have a friend again, and soon, I'd have Paltic as well.

"Flower!" Cyprian and Enki were close behind, both smiling, even if the Magician was holding a bit behind.  "Where were you?"

"I don't know," I admitted, a genuine smile finding my lips. It was then that I realized just how fond I'd become of my makeshift group.

"Enki wanted to leave you," Tybira said, moving towards the Magician's side. She cast a victorious smirk in his direction. "He didn't think you'd come back, but Cyp and I wouldn't give up."

"Well." Enki glanced at the ground with what might have been guilt, "I'm glad they talked me out of it."

"Not a chance we'd abandon you." Cyprian placed a strong hand on my shoulder.

The wolves continued to weave between our legs, so tall that they stood higher than Cyprian's waist.

Matthew peaked out from behind me, eyeing the canines. "I don't like dogs."

All three of my companions looked to Matthew, Enki and Tybira simultaneously blinking that odd image out of their eyes. Cyprian looked puzzled, his smile melting away, but Tybira grinned at the boy.

Only Enki spoke. "The Fool."

"Yeah," I said, steering Matthew by the shoulder so he stood beside me. "This is my friend, Matthew Matto."

Matthew didn't look towards any of the others, staring vaguely at the wolves. "I don't like dogs. Over the edge, dog at my heels."

"Matthew Matto," Cyprian sneered, eyes darkening. A dangerous expression crossed his face, reminding me suddenly that he'd been found at the scene of a murder. "How about you tell me why you left me to rot? Who are you?"

"Cyp," I protested, pulling Matthew closer to me. The Fool seemed uncomfortable with my touch, but shrank away from Cyprian's glare. "Please, relax. He's like a child." 

"Ayesha..." Enki whispered, snatching Tybira's arm and dragging her away from Cyprian. His voice died out.

"That child lured me away from my home!" Cyp turned his dark eyes on me, furious. "He drew me away just before the Flood hit! Away from-"

"Cyphon can't breathe under water," Matthew interrupted. "Would have drowned just like all Atlantians."

Cyprian whirled on Matthew, but it seemed as if he'd been hit in the gut. The rage in his eyes flickered, pain shining through. He shook his head forcefully, attempting to expel a negative thought. "Everyone drowned?" His voice quivered. "Everyone?"

Matthew merely studied his hand, rolling his wrist to examine the different angles.

Not waiting for an answer, Cyprian stormed past, fuming. He marched to a young tree at the edge of camp, placing his booted foot against the trunk and ripping off a branch.

I gasped, feeling as though my arm was pulled from my torso. The pain was as sharp as the crack of the splitting wood, but died as quickly as the noise, fading into nothingness.

Cyp sat down in the shade off the oak, branch in his hand.

I turned back to Matthew. "Do you know something about that?"

"Cyphon is mad," he replied.

Thanks, Matto.

"You're welcome." He looked up at me with an innocent grin.

"Where'd you find him?" Enki asked, eyes darting between the Fool and me as if he feared Matthew might attack. His left arm was curled around Tybira's waist, keeping himself between her and Matthew. She didn't seem aware of the contact.

"I don't know," I said. "I woke up and he was there. It was about four days South."

"Four days," Tybira frowned. "But how'd..?"

"Astral projection," Enki answered, not waiting for Fauna to finish. At our confused expressions he added, "one of The Fool's many abilities."

I looked to Matthew for confirmation, but he'd sat down on the ground, knees pulled to his chest. He watched Tybira's wolves carefully, every now and then muttering "I don't like dogs."

"Can we trust him?" Tybira asked, looking to Enki trustingly. Her hand now rested on his, still on her hip.

"Not necessarily," Enki said, eyeing Matthew. "But we should listen to him. The Fool has foresight. He'll know how to navigate the future."

The Magician is growing fearful, Lady Lotus whispered. He sees that The Hanged Man favors you and can't risk another Arcana siding with you as well.

I ignored the witch, looking to Enki imploringly. My stomach clenched with nerves. "Is nothing he says true?" If that was the case, was Paltic not truly alive?

"I think most of it is true. It's not in The Fool's nature to lie." Enki frowned, choosing his words carefully. I could sense he'd been about to say something directed towards me, but thought better of it. "The only problem is making any sense of his tangled truths."

"He said my friend is alive," I blurted. "He said she's alive and we need to find her."

"I don't think-" he protested.

"Of course we'll help," Tybira broke in, silencing the Magician. "If we can, that is."

I cast Tybira a grateful smile, kneeling down beside Matthew. "Matto?" I tapped his knee to get his wandering attention. "Where is Paltic? Can you answer me?"

Matthew looked up, brown eyes blinking slowly. "Carousel spins."

Although I was already growing frustrated with Matthew's antics, I kept my voice soft and level, speaking slowly. "Matthew, please. Where is Paltic Naysharik?"

He smiled, as if completely at ease with the damaged universe. "You'll find your World where the Sun sets."

"Thank you." I stood, facing Tybira and Enki. I didn't understand Matthew's words, but I doubted I'd get a clearer answer.

"Where the sun sets..." Tybira mused, furrowing her brow. Her eyes widened. "West! We have to head west!"

"You're a genius!" I exclaimed, hope filling me again. I'd lost Mother and Lalita. But I'd find Paltic.

"I still don't think this a good idea," Enki muttered.

Tybira twisted out of his grasp, facing him with crossed arms and a raised brow. "You don't? Then I guess you'd prefer Ayesha and I went without you?"

"Tybira, I-"

She cut him of with a snarl. "Did I ask you to argue? I'm going with Ayesha, with or without you."

Enki opened his mouth to protest, but no sound came out. He looked at Tybira desperately. Then he let out a miserable sigh. "Fine. I'm with you, gorgeous."

"Thank you." She returned to Enki's side, winking at me. I thought the ghost of a blush crossed her cheeks at Enki's compliment. "What are we going to do about Cyprian?"

My eyes trailed to Cyp, still fiddling with his branch. "I'll talk to him."

Hesitantly, I made my way towards Cyprian. He sliced wood-chips off the branch, somehow fashioning what appeared to be a makeshift stake. All his anger had dissipated, only grief radiating off the man as he dragged harshly across wood, whittling it into a point. His shoulders hunched and his head bowed. His hands worked with a feverish intensity.

"Cyp?" I whispered, sitting down beside him. "Are you okay?"

"He said she's dead." Cyprian wouldn't look at me, his voice hollow. "He said she died and I wasn't there."

Slowly, in case he tried to push me away, I rested my hand on Cyp's shoulder. He stiffened, but didn't protest. "Cyp... I don't know what happened, but the Flood... You couldn't have done anything even if you were there."

"I know, but..." He clutched something hanging from his neck that I couldn't identify. "I should have been there for her."

"Your wife?" I asked, unsure why I even cared to know that detail.

"Gods no." He shook his head, giving a breathy, bitter laugh. "Just my friend."

I nodded, although this woman seemed to be more than just a friend. "I'm so sorry."

Cyprian shook his head. "But she's not dead. She's not. I would have known."

"How can you know that?" I asked, keeping my tone gentle.

"I just know," he insisted, getting to his feet with the air of man driven mad with desperation. "I'd have known if she was dead. I'd have sensed it."

"Alright." I stood with him, entertaining his unlikely belief. "Good. Maybe we can find her. We're heading west to-"

"West?" He shook his head again. "That's inland. I need to go to shore. I need to find Atlantis."

"Oh..."

Cyp grasped my hand. "Come with me? The others can come too, just come with."

"I can't," I mumbled. "All of us... we're looking for my friend. Matthew said she's alive."

"So Matto tells the truth about your friend but lies about Circe?" He dropped my hand, dark eyes growing stormy again.

"Cyp, I don't know!" I exclaimed, wary of his bursts of anger. "I don't know if Matthew is lying or telling the truth, but I have to hope she's alive. I just need to hope she is."

"Which is exactly what I'm doing."

"Good." I touched his forearm. "You should... even if this means we'll be parting ways..."

I chewed my lip, staring at the ground. I didn't want Cyprian to leave. With Enki and Tybira lost in their own universe, and Matthew's mind a separate world all together, it had been Cyp and I. We'd kept each other company. I'd told him all about Mother and Lalita. Not everything, but enough that it stung to know how much he hadn't told me of his Before Flood life. He'd never mentioned a Circe.

"Who am I kidding?" Cyprian groaned, slumping back onto the ground, head in his hands. "Circe's gone."

"She might not be," I whispered, lowering myself down next to him.

"No," he sighed. "She is. I saw a glimpse of Atlantis when that wave hit, right before the Fool tossed me gods know where. The palace was destroyed. There's no chance... She'd need to have gills to make it." 

I placed my hand on Cyprian's shoulder, rubbing it before he covered my hand with his calloused palm. "I'm sorry... I know it must be hard to accept that..."

We sat in silence, Cyp's frantic breaths slowing to a calm rhythm. He turned his smoldering gaze to me, still delicate, but more of the relaxed Cyprian I'd known. "You said you're all heading west?"

"Yes." I nodded, glancing at the other three. Out of earshot, Tybira leaned against Gladiator's flank, obviously glad to have her familiar back. Enki spoke to her, flashing a crooked grin from time to time. All the while, Matthew sat on the outskirts of the group, inspecting his hand. "I understand if you don't want to come?"

"Trying to get rid of me, Flower?" Cyprian asked, the corners of his lips tugging into a smirk.

"No." I chuckled. "I just didn't think you'd want to come."

"If you want me there," he laughed, standing up and offering his hand. "I'm on board."

Hesitantly, I placed my hand in Cyprian's, letting him pull me to my feet. "If you're willing, we'd all love to have you. I'd miss you if you didn't come."

"Of course you would." His smile faltered for a moment, as if he'd just remembered something melancholy. It returned quickly, even if his words felt heavy. "Come on, then. Don't want to be late."

"Late for what?" I asked, a smile causing my eyes to crinkle.

"Late for saving your friend." Cyprian guided me back to the group, dropping my hand as we approached our companions and Enki's cautious gaze. "We move out tomorrow. We're going to find Ayesha's friend."