Who is who

Not very far from the cave Rhya and Athan were walking along each other at a lazy pace, enjoying the first rays that were peaking through the trees early in the morning. In the quietness of the forest Iris's scream echoed into their ears gaining their full attention.

Athan turned around looking in the direction of the cave and disappeared from Rhya sight without a word, leaving Rhya who was a little taken aback at the sudden scream and Athan's reaction to it.

Snapping out of her own thoughts she followed Athan's footsteps running just like he did.

Soon the cave came into their view, rushing inside Rhya and Athan stopped taking in the sight in front of them, the blonde woman on the floor, Iris slumped next to her sobbing and Ian staring at Iris frozen in his spot.

Trying to make sense of what had happened in the short time that he was gone, Athan moved closer to Ian reaching out to grab him by his arm to gain his attention but before he could do any of that, Ian grabbed him first squeezing his arm with an iron grip that made him wince in pain, Ian slowly turned to look at Athan, his glowing eyes swirling like molten gold, his expression was blank, emotionless.

" Tha mai drome?" Ian asked in a voice that wasn't his, same as his expression flat with no emotion and unwavering.

Athan gasped, his eye widened and turned small at the question the voice has posed to him " D- drome vas tenahi!" he replied in a shaky voice while looking at the ground with his head bowed, not dearing to make a wrong move.

Hearing Ian speak, Iris lifted her head to look at Ian with her red eyes and tears stained face, tears pooled in her eyes again, thinking that this wasn't Ian, whomever this was it wasn't her husband.

Looking at Athan, seeing him looking down " A-Athan...What is happening to Ian?" she asked sobbing while getting up from the ground standing in front of Ian.

Athan shook his head and continued to look at the ground without answering her question.

Iris turned her attention to Ian, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand, she closed her eyes, thinking that she will get her husband back from whomever this is no matter what she has to do, she will step on anyone who would stand in her way.

Grabbing Ian's tunic she pulled him closer to her " Give me my husband back you lunatic." she demanded in firm voice, finally Ian turned to her, staring at her just as before.

" Infa tu nam goam." he replied in same way he did to Athan

Iris let go if his tunic not understanding a word of what Ian was saying, she gently carresed his cheek " Please, come back to me Ian." she pleaded in a desperate voice.

The glow in his eyes slowly dimmed until it finally disappeared, blinking oweshly at Iris not understanding what was going on, he looked at Athan that had his head bowed, realising how tight he was gripping his arm, he released it making Athan finally raised his head to look at Ian and sigh in relief slumping on the floor.

Iris wrapped her arms around Ian, hugging him tight " You're back" she mumured in his chest while chuckling.

Ian frowned hearing Iris, clicking his tongue " I never left the cave Iris. What are you saying?" he questioned in worried tone of voice.

" It's the ancient one, he is your kethar. The first of our kind, the most powerful one." Athan filled them in on what just happened.

" What did he wanted?" Iris asked while letting go of Ian to look at him.

Athan looked up at Iris " He wanted to know how could we let this happened!?" he meekly replied while taking a deep breath to calm his rattled nerves.

" What did he say to me, then? " she asked again curiously.

" Worry not my wife." Athan let her know what the kethar said while shifting next to the woman slumped on the ground pulling the hair that was covering her face.

Athan gasped " Tyla?" he uttered in as surprised voice while checking on her to see if she was still breathing, noticing the cut on her throat.

Ian turned to look at the other woman in the cave " Who is she ?" he asked in irritated tone of voice while scowling at her.

Rhya took a step forward " I'm Rhya." she plainly introduced herself skipping over the pleasantries as it didn't seem the right time seeing that everyone was on edge.

" What happened to Tyla?" Athan asked in a worried tone of voice.

Ian clicked his toungue " She appeared in the cave at dawn, I thought she was an intruder. All I remember putting the dagger at her throat, nothing more." he plainly answered while crouching next to Tyla to have a better look at the woman.

" Is she dead?" Ian asked while turning his attention to Athan who shook his head.

" She will wake up soon. I wonder what made the ancient one hurt her. He cared deeply for his people so much so that he had made a deal with the guardian to keep us safe." he informed them while standing up making his way to where Bastos was to have a look at him.

" I might be wrong but I think Bastos might be the woman that the ancient one loved dearly but he could never have." Rhya added while looking at Athan who turned to look at her.

" That can't be, she wasn't from our kind. She was from a different realm." Athan retorted while petting the wolfs head.

" Maybe the deal that he made with the guardian was not all about protecting our people." Rhya made her thoughts known while glancing at Ian and Iris who looked a bit out of it.

" Maybe." Athan reluctantly agreed while getting up from his spot making his way back to were the others where.

" How is he?" Ian asked while tipping his chin towards the wolf.

" He is almost recovered, he will awake by the end of the day." Athan replied while looking at Rhya who stared at him.

" We should get something to eat." Athan suggested while turning his attention back to Ian and Iris.

" Iris and I went hunting the day before." Ian muttered while raising his head high not really feeling in the mood to go out again.

" No need to go hunting. Rhya is here she will take care of that." Athan added proudly while looking back at Rhya.

Rhya let out a nervous chuckle " About that, my abilities are weaker now, we still need to go hunt and forage". she added meekly in embarrassment while looking at the ground.