The journey to the Winter Clan was tedious yet quick. Everyone seemed calm, making small talk here and there as they marched up a hill toward a huge, dark cave.
Misha felt uneasy about the overgrown, dark trees behind them and the eerily dark cave ahead. He couldn't help feeling that something was watching them from those trees. He shrank deeper into his father's arms with a whimper, which made Vadrian, who had shown no expression throughout the journey, chuckle in amusement.
Bram, however, trembled with anxiety. The idea of not being able to see felt frightening and foreign. He was so anxious that he was on the verge of snapping; his mind was going haywire because he could not control his predicament.
Despite being mad at him, Nuit held his hand and couldn't help but look concerned. At the same time, he was wary of Vadrian. The monster would do anything to have Bram back in the palm of his hand if he found out about Bram's sudden blindness.
Fortunately, we are walking behind. If we weren't, that Bratva bastard would find a reason to take Bram away.
As they approached the dark cave, Bram freaked out internally. Beads of sweat soaked the dark strands of hair on his forehead. Asier suddenly gripped his hand out of the blue.
"Where is this?" Vadrian muttered, his pupils scanning the cave, uncertainty rising in his mind.
Fauna smiled cheerfully, happy to share the origin of her people.
"This is the gateway to the Winter Clan. It's a paradise from here and beyond. My father is the chief and has lived to see the apocalypse happen. That was about five hundred years ago."
Everyone frowned.
Five hundred?
"Pretty great, right? We have a very long lifespan."
Tan was still in shock.
"That's the shortest lifespan I have ever heard of."
Fauna swiftly turned to Tan.
"What? You mean that five hundred years' worth of lifespan is short?"
Tan turned to Kion in surprise. Normally, five hundred was the age at which a child first attended the academy. Something so unheard of, even on other planets, was shocking and unreal.
"This planet is called Earth, right?"
Fauna tilted her head in confusion.
"I have never heard that word before. This is planet Gaia."
Gaia? It's the same as Earth; only the name differs.
They walked slowly into the cave. The silence was eerie.
"My father once told a story. He said that Gaia was once filled with metals and giant rocks that the humans of old built into houses, killing innocent animals and their own kind. Father said it was horrible. That's why the apocalypse came like karma to devour the humans."
"We have similar books about the lives of the humans of old back home."
Bram's ears pricked up.
"Really? That must be cool. Father doesn't allow anything of the humans into the tribe. He considers them a curse and a taboo to the holy land of the Winter Clan."
"Was a cure for the infected ones ever created?"
Bram asked hastily, eager to make the cure and more of his eye serum. The feeling of hopelessness was more bitter than he could ever have imagined. His palms were sweaty under Nuit's strong hold, and Asier's small fingers kept tightening around his.
"Infected ones?"
Fauna thought for a second before shaking her head.
"Anyone bitten by the Melabroods is considered possessed by their sins. As my father said, the apocalypse came because of mankind's iniquity. A cure was never made because there was no need to make one. Gaia punishes; Gaia cleanses all the sins of mankind."
"Meaning?"
Nuit swallowed. Cold sweat covered his body.
"We kill the possessed ones. Their souls will find eternal peace, as their sins will be forgiven by Gaia."
"You keep saying Gaia. Who is she?"
Fauna paused. "She is the planet we serve. She is the very mother who gave us life, and it's only right that we do not upset her; she can be very 'motherly.'"
Fantastic. We are in the hands of a brainwashed fanatic of whoever this Gaia is. I might as well plan a way to vanish from here if all this goes south.
Nuit held Bram so close that it was nearly suffocating.
"We are almost there."
Ahead, a light grew bigger as they moved forward.
"It will be hard to convince my father to help rebuild your means of transport. After all, the man hates anything metal; he considers it a bringer of misfortune. However, he will make an exception so you can rebuild your metal transport, even though my father doesn't like outsiders."
No one commented on her last statement.
The absolute darkness of the cave gave way to an abrupt, luminous tear at the tunnel's end. Crossing that threshold was a blinding, disorienting transition, less like walking forward and more like stepping through a thin veil separating two distinct dimensions.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Fauna gave a wide grin. It almost felt as if she were seeing it for the first time.
Everyone was in awe. Vadrian and Bram had to admit that this scenery beat some of the supernatural dimensions they had visited.
Nuit wasn't really interested in the whole dimension thing. He never had an eye for anything good or ethereal.
A tall wall barrier, shimmering blue like the ocean, stood before them. The surrounding environment was eerily dark; the blinding light came from behind the barrier.
"Beyond this barrier is the Winter Clan. My people will accept all of you and see to your needs."
Fauna smiled cheerfully, yet the feeling wasn't mutual among the group. They had all experienced the violence that came with crossing territories without permission, and from what they had learned of Earth's history, they knew how complicated its humans were toward outsiders.
As they stepped through the barrier, an impossible paradise unfolded: a pristine blanket of snow carpeted the ground, glistening beneath the sun, while towering evergreen canopies pierced the sky. Despite the winter chill, vibrant butterflies flitted through the crisp air, and exotic creatures roamed the woods, completely unbothered by the frost.
Strange-looking beasts darted through the undergrowth, living in perfect, surreal harmony with the frozen landscape.
Misha felt the urge to bury himself in the strange white substance that covered the ground; however, his father was still on guard, despite not appearing to be.
To Bram, everything was a blurry white, and he couldn't make out a single thing. He was becoming totally helpless. He hoped this planet had abundant resources like the ones on other planets.
Without warning, eight figures vaulted into view, wrapped in skimpy white garments that looked straight out of a pantheon painting. They were armed to the teeth, each brandishing a different weapon while projecting a bloodlust so thick it practically choked the air.
Vadri and the others didn't hesitate; they fell back into a tight defensive circle, muscles coiled and ready to strike.
"You traitor. You dare to come back here?"
Fauna glared coldly. Her expression was not what it had been a few minutes ago.
"Oh, cut the crap. The deal was to bring more people, and my sins would be forgiven."
A black-haired male turned his weapon directly at Fauna.
"You don't expect to be forgiven just because you brought more people. For eight fucking years, that's how long it took you."
"At least Father would overlook my crimes."
Vadrian and the rest watched, not resentful of Fauna's betrayal. They were ready to lay everyone here to rest.
"Typical humans. No wonder your planets turned out this way," Bram sneered in disgust.
"I will take that one. He's pretty much my type."
A brunette male pointed at Nuit.
Fantastic.