--------///----Eclina's POV----\--------

(Garris) " We have a problem... A very big problem... "

(Eclina) " A problem? What is it? "

(Garris) " Let's return to the clearing first. This is bigger then just us. "

I was a bit confused but Mr.Garris didn't look like he was going to take no for an answer. We got ready to start heading back to the tree, but my bird friend kept looking between us and just looked confused.

(Garris) " I'll explain later, for now focus on getting ready to fly. "

(Bird friend) " ... Ok. "

He still looked a bit uncertain but he got ready anyway. When we were all ready we took off and started making our way back to the tree. Throughout the whole trip Mr.Garris didn't say a word. We kept running / flying, until we made it back. When we touched the clearing, Mr.Garris turned back into his normal size, sat infront of the tree andd looked at us.

(Garris) " Now... I should tell you about what i saw... But first, do either of you know what a dimensional rift is? "

(Eclina) " Umm... Yea! Mama explained it... When we found the big one.... "

I couldn't help but shiver at the memory of bseeing the big rift for the first time. My bird friend saw that and cuddled me to help me feel better. It was nice and highly appreciated.

(Bird friend) " I don't. What are they? "

(Garris) " Hmm... Too young i guess. I'll be brief with the explination. An dimensional rift is the result of an elemental rift, a gathering of natural elements from the deceased beasts or bipeds, becomes unstable. This happens in 1 of 2 ways. Either it is too old or it absorbs more power then it can hold... Well... That was true before... Now, there seem to be new criteria. "

(Eclina) " New criteria? What happened? "

(Garris) " ... At the peak of the mountain, i found a dimensional rift. A small rift but a rift nonetheless. Yet that in itself should not be possible. "

(Eclina) " Not possible? Why not? "

(Garris) " Any carcasses in this forest is not only get eaten or broken down by nature or beasts, but any stray elements in the domain of the forest are absorbed by the Grand silver arbor. Nothing in the forest goes to waste, not even in the mountains. Also, a dimensional rift has to occur through an elemental rift, yet when i first got to the rift, there were no signs of a elemental rift being there in the first place. This situation, following what has been happening in recent times, is concerning. "

(Bird friend) " ... But what do we do about it? Can we even do anything in the first place? "

(Garris) " As it stands, you can do nothing, Eclina can only sense them while I deal with them. Outside of that, this is information that needs to be spread to the other elders and progenitors. We'll be occupied with them for some time so if we seem to be unconcious for a long amount of time, don't worry. "

(Bird friend) " Oh...Ok... "

He looked a little sad and definetly a bit hurt when Mr.Garris said he couldn't do anything, but he tried not to keep those looks on his face for long. After i turned my attention away from my bird friend, i could see Mr.Garris start to get up and turn to face the tree.

(Garris) " Eclina, i need you to call Fenrir. "

(Eclina) " Ok. I can do that. "

I walked over to the base of the tree and put a paw on it while focusing on calling Mr.Fenrir. Mr.Garris had his paw on the tree too and i could feel him putting some of his aura into the tree. Not even a few seconds in, the world got quiet and i felt the tree responding. Mr.Garris felt it too and started backing away, probably to give Mr.Fenrir space, and i copied him. Soon, the tree started to crack open and the big paw i was accustomed to seeing started to step out. As soon as he was fully out, he looked at us and he seemed to know it was serious.

(Fenrir) " How bad is it? "

(Garris) ~ Hopefully it's a isolated incident... But just today we found a dimensional rift that showed no indication of coming from an elemental rift... I say we, however Eclina is responsible for sensing and leading me towards it. ~

Mr.Fenrir looked at the both of us with a serious look and after a few more seconds he closed his eyes. He seemed to be focusing on something... At first i didn't get it but looking between him and Mr.Garris, i saw they were doing the memory thing. I thought about it a bit and eventually decided to give him my memory of the situation too. I saw he got it and was watching through it since he turned a bit in my direction. After a few seconds of focusing, Mr.Fenrir opened his eyes and looked at both me and Mr.Garris.

(Fenrir) " Follow me. This is worse then you both think. We'll have to hold a meeting immediatley. "

After Mr.Fenrir said that, he turned around and started heading back into the tree. Mr.Garris and i followed after him. When we crossed into Elysium, Mr.Fenrir paused and started to look around.

(Fenrir) " ... Bahamut's not here... You two come closer to me, when i call everyone here Bahamut is going to come through the Grand Arbor. "

We did what Mr.Fenrir said, and walked away from the tree. When Mr.Fenrir thought we were far enough he let us know to stop.

(Fenrir) " Alright. Cover your ears, this'll be loud. "

I was going to use my air to cover my ears but i couldn't connect to my elements in Elysium. Mr.Garris saw that and shrunk a bit so he could make space and cover my ears at the same time. When Mr.Fenrir saw that we were ready, he took a deep breath in and howled. It felt like the ground and air itself was shaking from Mr.Fenrirs howl, which was probably more truth then metaphor. A few seconds after the howl was over, we felt the forest shake and the tree respond.

Soon i heard the tree creaking a bit and then saw a massive claw step through. From the colors, it was Mr.Bahamut who i saw earlier when i was here. When he was out he looked over to Mr.Fenrir and then over to us and raised a brow. Then i noticed that he had someone trailing him, a big scary looking dragon that had black, red and gold scales all over his body. The dragon looked like he was mad but maybe that was just how his face looked. After they were both through, the scary dragon looked over to us, more specifically Mr.Garris.

(Fafnir) ~ Garris? Then that must make you... ~

He looked down to me, and looked confused.

(Fafnir) ~ What are you? Weren't you supposed to be a wolf? ~

I heard Mr.Bahamut groan and he even hit the scary dragon with his tail.

(Bahamut) " You really don't listen do you Fafnir? I not only told you about her change but Alatrea is going through one right now. And that's Eclina, incase you forgot you hoarder. "

The scary dragon, Fafnir, looked away and just scratched the side of his cheek. After that, Mr.Bahamut just sighed and looked to Mr.Fenrir.

(Bahamut) " So... scale of one-ten, how bads the news you got for us? "

(Fenrir) " If it's as bad as i think it might be then it's a ten. "

(Bahamut) " Hells... The old man and that pain in the ass better get here soon. "

(Garuda) " HEY! WHO'RE YOU CALLING A PAIN IN THE ASS!? "

The sudden shout surprised me but that was all. I had to look around to find where it came from, and when i eventually did find what it was. I saw the figure of Mr.Garuda, who looked really tiny, coming from the direction of the mountains getting closer and closer.

(Bahamut) " Tch, damn that acute hearing. "

(Leviathan) " That obnoxious child never learns. "

Since i was so focused on looking over ay Mr.Garuda, I didn't notice Mr.Leviathan coming up.

(Garuda) " I HEARD THAT OLD MAN! "

Everyone just sighed at that and waited until he got here before they said anything else. As soon as Mr.Garuda got close enough to touch the ground, everyone looked to Mr.Fenrir.

(Leviathan) " Now that we're all here, go ahead Fenrir. "

(Fenrir) " Thank you. Now i know you all see Eclina and Garris here with me, the reason for that is because they've given me information that might screw with the time tables we're working around. Just recently, Garris and Eclina found a rift that seemingly spontaneously opened. From their memories, Eclina seemed to be capable of sensing it from the entrance of the forest despite the rift being at a mountains peak. "

As Mr.Fenrir was talking, they all tensed up and seemed to be looking through the memories that Mr.Fenrir went through.

(Leviathan) " This... This is quite the problem... If this was a 1 time occurance, before the discovery of new progenitors and the dimensional rifts across Astrum, then the fact that a rift opened in the forest would be reason enough for a council. Yet this being added onto the current pile of problems is beyond problamatic. "

(Bahamut) " Especially if the only ones that can sense them are the new gen. Right now it's only Eclina, Alatrea is still in her shell. We can't drag Eclina all the way across Astrum just to find out if there are more rifts. And even if we COULD, we'd be leaving the forest vulnerable to other rifts. "

(Garuda) " We're kinda fucked either way, that what you're going for? "

(Bahamut) " ... Yea. For now, our actions are limited. Unless we can find some way to actually help them ourselves then it'll be more then the forest that'll be in danger. "

(Fenrir) " Too bad that's impossible. We don't have physical bodies, we can't help them other then what we've already been doing. "

(Leviathan) " ... That is not necessarily true... "

(Everyone) " Huh? "

(Leviathan) " Our skeletons are beneath the Arbor. We may be able to return our souls to the realm of the living yet we will not be able to do it all at once.

(Garuda) " Wait! What you're saying is we can come back to life? You're only telling us this now too?! "

(Leviathan) " We served our purpose. What point would there be for us to return to a world that did not need us? We are also too strong for the world to contain us. Have you forgotten, Garuda? Every beat of your wings would cause tempests, Every step Bahamut took the the ground shook, every time Fenrir Fenrir wagged his tai- "

(Fenrir) " Why did you have to use that as my example? And yes we get it old man. But what are we supposed to do? They aren't ready to defend Astrum. Especially with rifts that just spontaneously open. We would also be stretching our elders thin with teaching the new generation and putting down rifts. And i doubt we could connect to every capable member of our kin and inform them to look out for the rifts. "

(Leviathan) " I know... I see where you're coming from with these points Fenrir, however there is a way for us to be of help... But it'll most likely take years to execute.... Garris. Dig beneath the Grand Arbor and find Fenrir's skull. "

(Fenrir) " Huh? Why my skull? "

(Leviathan) " Because you are less prone to cause a natural disaster then any of us. Garuda is a storm incarnate, Bahamut is a walking volcano and i am frankly much more of a danger to the seas and lands then any rift. You are the safest option to return first. "

(Fenrir) " How am i supposed to return in the first place? "

(Leviathan) " I'll be returning you as a child. You'll retain your memories and power as a progenitor, but you will physically be a child. Once they find your skull, i can begin the process to bring you back to the land of the living. However i will not be able to do so again for another year at the least. So if it seems that you are not enough to protect Astrum then I'll proceed to bring back... "

Mr.Leviathan suddenly stopped talking and just started looking at Mr.Garuda and Mr.Bahamut. He looked.... Aprehensive?

(Leviathan) " Hmm... i'll decide who to bring back based on how dire the situation may be. Now, we must finish this meeting before i have to start taking over the energy to keep this meeting going. "

(Garuda) " Well we all know what we should be doing. I'll go fill in Ignastra."

(Bahamut) " Well i don't have to do much since Fafnir's already here. "

(Leviathan) " I'll inform Glacium by the end of the day. Now this meeting is over. "

(Fenrir) " Wait a second. Fafnir, when Alatrea is out of her shell, get her to focus inward and see if she has a Sylum. Eclina brought it up before as a means of having them able to communicate. If they're able to communicate without needing us to bring them here then coordinating between them will be a life saver. "

(Fafnir) ~ Yes sir. ~

(Leviathan) " Interesting concept. Either way, now the meeting is over. "

After Mr.Leviathan said that, everyone started to leave. Mr.Garuda and Mr.Bahamut took off to the sky, Mr.Leviathan dove back into the water and Mr.Fafnir started to walk into the tree. We followed after him and slowly started to wake up back in the real world. When i opened my eyes the first thing i saw was my bird friend curled up around me. As soon as he saw my eyes open he sprouted a big smile.

(Bird friend) " Big sis! You're back! "

(Eclina) " Yep. We're back. "

(Bird friend) " Yay! But now what? "

(Eclina) " Umm... "

(Garris) " For now, stay the course. We'll be training as usual but Eclina, once a day i'll be relying on your help to check around the forest for rifts. "

(Eclina) " I can do that. But... Umm... "

(Garris) " Hmm? What is it? "

(Eclina) " Can we... Tell mama and papa? "

(Garris) " Hmm. I don't see why not. They may even be capable of assisting in finding and sealing rifts. "

(Bird friend) " I can meet big sis' mom and dad? "

(Garris) " Ahh, i almost forgot. You've never seen me do this. Yes you can meet them, however they just won't be able to see you. "

(Bird friend) " Oooh! I wanna meet them! "

(Garris) " Then you'll get to do so now. "

After Mr.Garris said that, he started to focus. After a bit, the blurry image of one of them started to show up. Then after a few more seconds the other figure started to show up next to the first one. Eventually, mama and papa turned crystal clear.

(Eclina) " Mama! Papa! "

When they saw me they both grew big smiles, especially mama.

(Martiq) " Hey, looking good little one. "

(Losine) " I don't think that's the first thing you should say to our daughter after not seeing her for a month. "

(Martiq) " I know. Only did since you can't hit me for saying it. "

(Losine) " I can hit you when you get back. "

(Martiq) " ... I didn't think this through. "

(Losine) " Oh i know. "

(Garris) " As much as this nice atmosphere is appreciated, this call has a purpose aside from seeing Eclina. "

(Losine) " Is Eclina going to be safe?

(Garris) " As long as i breath the answer is yes. "

(Losine) " Good. Now then, what's the situation? "

(Garris) " There may be dimensional rifts that open without a elemental rift. This may be a one off occurance, yet with the unprecidented events we're going through, i find that wishful thinking doubtful. "

Mama and papa seemed to take a couple of seconds to process what he said. Eventually papa looked another direction and mama seemed to be worried about it.

(Martiq) " Garris, you can disconnect me. I'm going to go grab my kids. "

(Eclina) " Where are Morrius and lily? "

(Martiq) " Hunting. We've been using a good spot Ulderria has, which is actually good since there's a variety of things for them to kill. Anyway stay safe little one i've got to go get your siblings. "

As soon as papa finished his sentance, he started to get blurry and eventually faded away. Mama looked a bit worried but she tried to stay calm infront of us.

(Garris) " It'll be ok Losine. It's Martiq, if he wanted to run he will run. We know there's no stopping him if he put his mind to it. "

(Eclina) " Yea! What Mr.Garris said! "

(Bird friend) " Umm... Yea. "

Mama suddenly stopped looking worried and started looking confused.

(Losine) " Who was that? "

(Eclina) " Bird friend! He calls me big sis! "

(Losine) " Really now? Garris? "

(Garris) " She saved a lightning falcon and decided to keep him around. It's been a good thing for her. "

(Eclina) " Yep! And he's fun to play with. "

(Losine) " I see. I don't think i've met families who've taken in another member of a different species... This'll be interesting. Either way, i look forward to meeting you my new son. "

(Bird friend) " T-thank you... Mom. "

Mama smiled at that which seemed to make him happy too. After that, we talked a bit more about what's been happening. Eventually we got to what led up to what happened recently.

(Losine) " WHAT!? FENRIR WILL RETURN!? "

(Garris) " In a few years, but yes. He will return. "

Mama couldn't keep the shocked look off of her face and just stared at Mr.Garris. She had to take a couple of seconds to regain her normal composure but i could tell that she still felt excited. The more we talked, the more i noticed that my bird friend was getting more and more accustomed to talking with mama. They didn't seem to have any problems with each other and mama seemed to accept him right away. We kept talking for a while but we had to end it eventually, which made the three of us sad.

(Losine) " Make sure that the both of you stay safe and grow well ok. Your father might be able to visit in a week or two so look forward to that ok. "

(Eclina) " We will mama! "

(Bird friend) " Yea, we'll look forward to it... Mom. "

(Losine) " Good. Maybe we'll have something to call you the next time we talk. Bye my little ones. "

After that, mama started to fade away. I definetly wanted to talk more but we had to stop and go on with the rest of our day.

(Eclina) " What do we do now? "

(Garris) " For now let's search for any rifts across the forest and inform the dryads. "

(Eclina) " The dryads? "

(Garris) " Yes. Given that dimensional rifts are normally natural occurances, dryads wouldn't be able to sense them. However, these rifts are different. The way they are forming is unnatural and may even be damaging the forest and surrounding areas. By informing the dryads, we'll have aditional support in finding any rifts that form in the forest. There's also no downside to getting the dryads assistance. "

(Eclina) " Then i get to meet Ms.Ordellia again! "

(Garris) " That's true. "

(Bird friend) " Ms.Ordellia? "

(Eclina) " Yep! She's the dryad who helped me get the stuff to fix your eye. "

(Bird friend) " Oooh! I want to meet her! "

(Garris) " Then let's go to the grove first. You'll get to meet her and i'll be able to inform them at the same time... We can also enlist the dryads help in finding Fenrir's skull. Now that we've settled that, let's prepare to head out. "

When Mr.Garris finished talking, he shrunk down to a normal size and got ready. When we got up to the sky, we started running to where the drayds were. There wasn't anything weird about our trip and we got to the grove without anything really happening. When we landed in the grove, there were easily a hundred dryads just surrounding where we landed. They all sort of looked similar aside from the colors of their ivy hair and dresses and their heights, without those they all looked the same. Suddenly five dryads walked forward and bowed towards Mr.Garris. And one of them was Ms.Ordellia, who saw me and seemed to take the lead.

(Ordellia) " We welcome Lord Garris and the new progenitor. To what do we owe this visit to? "

(Garris) " Hello Ordellia. First off, thank you for helping Eclina with what i needed. Second, there are dimensional rifts that are forming without elemental rifts. "

When Mr.Garris said that, all the dryads went wide eyed and seemed to look panicked. The other four dryads that walked up to us helped to calm the rest of them down.

(Ordellia) " You don't seem to be finished my lord. What more is there to add? "

(Garris) " ... I'll need the assistance of the dryads in unearthing the skull of Fenrir, the progenitor of the lycans. "