That night, in Ticonic, they joined the remaining survivors. The atmosphere was heavy with silence, broken only by the faint sound of footsteps and the crackling of small campfires. Faces were tired and filled with anxiety, but they held on, trying to continue surviving despite the world around them having drastically changed.
Tama, who had been guarding Dominus, the white wolf that was very close to Kael, approached them. With a serious look on his face, he asked, "Did Dominus come with you?"
Parker, standing and staring at the night sky, shook his head. "No, he's not with us," he replied quietly. "Where did the white wolf go?"
Tama lowered his gaze, a trace of worry in his voice. "Gone," he answered briefly, but there was an underlying unease in his tone. He couldn't understand why Dominus, who had always been close to Kael, had suddenly disappeared.
Meanwhile, Terren, clearly frustrated, started complaining. "If you hadn't tried to save Teresa, Kael would still be alive. Besides, Teresa is from Earth, our enemy! If she wasn't here, none of this would have happened. What a drama queen!" he said, rolling his eyes.
Darren and Arek, hearing this, nodded in agreement. They felt that the decision to save Teresa had made things worse. "Yeah, if we hadn't cared about Teresa, Kael might still be alive and we wouldn't be in this mess," Darren added, his frustration evident.
Tama glanced over at Teresa, who was standing with them. There was an underlying frustration within him, but he also knew there was nothing they could do now. They had gotten themselves into this situation. Teresa, despite being from Earth, was also struggling to survive, and that couldn't be ignored.
Tama finally let out a deep sigh. "Whatever happens, we have to survive. Regardless of all the drama," he said, his voice heavy, trying to be realistic. "Kael... he can come back, we have to believe that. For now, we all need to survive."
Teresa remained silent, her head lowered, not knowing what to say. All these words stung her, but she knew they weren't wrong. Even if they thought she was a burden, she couldn't change the fact that she was here with them, and she had to fight—for herself and for Kael, who might be lying somewhere, weak and alone.
Everyone fell into silence that night, each lost in their own thoughts.
Kael slowly regained consciousness. His head felt heavy, and the bandages wrapped around him made his movements stiff. Dominus, the ancient white wolf, sat beside him, its sharp eyes fixed on Kael as if ensuring his safety. Kael glanced around the unfamiliar room. A large ship was gently sailing across a vast ocean, and the sky above Earth was gloomy and covered in mist.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a man stepped in. He looked rugged but approachable, with messy hair and worn-out clothes. He gave a faint smile.
"You're awake?" he asked in a deep voice. "Name's Matthew. And you are?"
"Kael," he replied briefly, still trying to recall what had happened. His vision was slightly blurred, and his memory was foggy—like chasing shadows he couldn't grasp.
Matthew nodded. "We're rebels. From Ticonic, just like you. We were captured and imprisoned by Earth's military, but we escaped. Instead of going back to Ticonic, we set sail—became wanderers across Earth's oceans."
Kael stared at him, still confused. "So… what's going on now?"
Matthew's expression turned serious. "We spotted this ancient wolf—Dominus—and we knew immediately who you were. We've heard stories about Kael, the warrior with rare blood. We want to help you. We didn't know you were here until now."
Kael furrowed his brows. "Where are we?" he asked, eyes drifting toward the endless ocean beyond the ship's window. "An ocean?"
Matthew nodded. "Yes. The South Pacific Ocean. Far from the major continents of Earth. We've sailed far from Ticonic to avoid detection. Still, we're looking for a way back—to find answers and change the course of this war."
Kael was silent for a moment, processing the information. "Why help us?" he finally asked, his voice sharper now, clearly seeking the man's true intentions.
Matthew offered a small, sincere smile. "Because we're fighting for freedom, Kael. We won't stand by while someone tries to dominate everything—on Earth or Ticonic. And we believe in you. In your strength. In what you represent. With you and Dominus, we might just have a chance to tip the balance."
Kael looked at Dominus, calm and loyal by his side. "So what now?" he asked, ready to move forward, even if his memories were still lost.
"First," Matthew said firmly, "we stay hidden. There are eyes everywhere. But soon, we'll find a way to strike back—and return to Ticonic. Together."
Kael nodded slowly. For the first time in a long while, a flicker of hope sparked inside him. Though the past was still a blur, one thing was clear: he was no longer alone.
With Dominus beside him, and the help of the rebels, Kael's journey was only just beginning.
Kael stared out the window of the ship, eyes fixed on the endless waves of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea breeze drifted in through the vents, carrying the sharp, salty scent of open water.
"Is Texas far from here?" Kael asked quietly, his voice low and heavy.
Matthew, seated near the doorway, nodded slowly. "Pretty far. Texas is on the mainland of North America, in the southwest region. We're here, in the middle of the South Pacific. It's thousands of kilometers away. To get there, we'll need time, a solid plan, and a much faster vessel than this one."
Kael clenched his jaw. "Someone important… her family is being held hostage in Texas. I made a promise—I won't let them die."
Matthew watched him carefully, then stood up. "Then we'll find a way. I can gather what's left of our rebel force on land. It's not much, but it's something. Maybe just enough to help you sneak in."
Dominus, the ancient white wolf, stood beside Kael, his fur gleaming under the fading sun. He let out a low growl, calm but alert, as if understanding the weight of their next mission.
Kael nodded. "Then our next destination... is Texas."
Matthew gave a faint smile. "You may have lost your memories, Kael—but your spirit? That never left you."