Everything had changed.

In just a few short weeks, everything had changed. The lives of so many had been undeniably changed forever, and the lives of many more had ended far too soon. Indeed, everything can change in an instant, and one can find themselves longing for times, moments, and memories that were taken for granted. In a matter of hours, days, or weeks, life can change so much that the past can feel like a distant lifetime.

Such a thing could be said for Cayde, the Wolf of Harmony. A few weeks ago, he was a young wolf with an ambition to climb the tallest mountain in the region and do what his father could not. Never did he expect to be thrown into a journey far bigger than himself. His ambitions became minuscule and his life had changed course forever. What began as a simple dream to complete the Trial of the Mountain ended with Cayde journeying to the Shrine of Kimlasca, cleansing a corrupted soul, and sacrificing himself.

And then, the journey continued. His actions and his journey led to insurmountable consequences for the Kimlascan Pack. Even when Cayde managed to restore his soul to his own body, his triumph was short lived. Shortly after his return to the Kimlascan Pack, the Wolf of Chaos made his move to strike down the most powerful stronghold and source of Harmony, and he succeeded.

Uldrich, the Wolf of Chaos, had come to strike the most powerful source of Harmony. He killed the Master Alpha, Vande, and took control of the territory that once belonged to the Kimlascan Pack. He and his army of mindless shadows slaughtered many wolves, and scattered the pack.

When the time came, Cayde and the rest of the Kimlascan Pack, struck back at the Wolf of Chaos. The Kimlascan Pack fought off the onslaught of shadows, while Cayde faced Uldrich. In the end, Uldrich had dealt a crucial blow to Cayde, but Cayde was saved by his best friend. Pahanin, the cheerful wolf, was fatally wounded and perished at the paws of the merciless Wolf of Chaos.

Such an incredible surge in power within both Cayde and Uldrich caused the spirits of the first Wolf of Harmony and Chaos to arrive. Their combined force had caused the familiar mountain to shatter at the peak. Mystearica, the first Wolf of Chaos, took Uldrich away from the Kimlascan Pack, and the battle ended.

With many wolves giving their lives to retake their home, they succeeded. The Kimlascan Pack regained control of their home, but not without suffering many losses. And as for the mountain they resided at the base of... radiant white light poured out from the shattered mountaintop, and the rubble that was once the peak was suspended in midair, orbiting the mountain slowly.

Such a surge of Harmony and Chaos had caused the first and only Wolf of Balance to reawaken, and his mere awakening had caused the mountain that his soul resided in to explode at the peak.

Thus, the fateful battle between Harmony and Chaos came to a close... and the future was uncertain.

~~~

One week had passed since the great battle. It was a beautiful night, and millions of stars could be seen in the skies above. The moon cast its radiant white light down upon the land, and the white light that poured out from the shattered mountaintop lit up the surrounding landscape as well.

Cayde sat alone in a field, surrounded by familiar forests, and listening to the sounds of his pack celebrating in the distance. Nature was beginning to heal again, but the scars that the Wolf of Chaos left on the land would remain for a very long time. The withered trees were slowly beginning to bloom again, and the fresh breeze returned to the land, replacing the once stagnant air. The dark clouds that constantly plagued the mountains and forests were gone, and the clear skies and radiant moonlight gleamed off of Cayde's white fur.

The Kimlascan Pack was still celebrating their victory over the Wolf of Chaos, but Cayde couldn't celebrate, his mind was racing even after a week had gone by. The pack had made tremendous progress in restoring the tattered, ravaged landscape. Things were starting to go back to normal again, it seemed... but at the same time, life wouldn't be normal again, especially for Cayde.

Cayde wasn't sitting in an ordinary field. This field had become a place of memorial for all who had fallen during the reign of terror that Uldrich brought upon the land. There were several shrines, graves, and other memorials made during the past week to honor those who had perished.

Cayde sat in the center of this memorial site, looking at a certain shrine in particular. It was the biggest of them all, and had been carved out carefully to create the Mark of Harmony, followed by a paw print under the marking. At the bottom of the shrine, words had been written on a slab of polished stone.

~

VANDESCELDA
The noble Master Alpha of the Kimlascan Pack, who fought valiantly to defend his pack during the initial assault led by the Wolf of Chaos. May his soul find peace among the stars.

~

Cayde sighed as he read the slab carefully, closing his eyes once he was finished. Finally, he opened his eyes again and spoke.

"Hello Vande," Cayde began, "It's me, Cayde. So much has happened since you've been gone... after your death, the Wolf of Chaos took control of our home. In the end, the Kimlascan Pack reunited and fought to take back our home. In the end, we succeeded... but so much has changed. The mountain has shattered at the peak, and the Wolf of Balance has reawakened. The future is uncertain, but I have decided to take up the position as Master Alpha of the Kimlascan Pack..."

Cayde hesitated, "...for now, I suppose. There is a lot on my mind, and with you gone, there aren't many I can speak my mind to anymore. However, I know that I cannot risk endangering the Kimlascan Pack again during my next journey. I intend to seek out the Wolf of Balance and find answers."

He smiled, "I never got to thank you, Vande. For everything. As a pup, you always guided me and helped me learn and understand many things. With my father having perished, you were the closest fatherly figure I had. I know our relationship was staggered because the Wolf of Chaos corrupted your mind... but in the end you were free from that corruption, and in the end you died fighting for your pack... fighting for me. Thank you, Vande." Cayde said genuinely.

"On a lighter note, I also have you to thank for teaching me how to talk so formally. Sometimes that's a blessing and a curse in itself, but thanks to you and the way you spoke, I suppose I grew to speak in ways similar to you. Formally, polite, and genuine." He chuckled.

"Thank you again, Vande. For everything." And with one last smile, Cayde stood up and stepped away from the shrine that Vande was buried under.

He couldn't believe that just a few weeks ago, none of this had ever happened. Life was still normal, for everyone.

But now everything had changed. Cayde had embarked on a journey that culminated in a surge of Harmony throughout the land, and eventually the Wolf of Chaos answered by attacking the Kimlascan Pack. In the end, nothing had changed. Harmony and Chaos had both had moments of surging power throughout the land, but now everything was back to the way it was before, with Harmony and Chaos in Balance with one another.

The scale of Harmony and Chaos was back to exactly how it was before Cayde set out on his journey, but what had changed? Lives had been lost and the sacred mountain had shattered at the peak, and for what?

The only thing that changed was the absence of many wolves in the Kimlascan Pack who lost their lives because of this endless struggle of Harmony and Chaos. Uldrich was still out there, and the Kimlascan Pack had their home again. But there was one thing that changed everything...

The mountain. The first and only Wolf of Balance had reawakened and was within that sacred mountain. Perhaps they would know what to do next, perhaps they would know how to keep the world in Balance and to stop this endless cycle of scale-tipping between Harmony and Chaos. Soon, Cayde would embark to the shattered mountaintop and try to enter the heart of the mountain... and perhaps meet the Wolf of Balance.

There were so many questions racing through Cayde's mind. What happened next? Where was Uldrich? Why is there only one Wolf of Balance? Why is Cayde the "Chosen One" as Kimlasca calls him? There were countless other questions he had in his mind. Questions that Kimlasca could never seem to answer in a straightforward manner... but maybe the Wolf of Balance would be able to do so.

Cayde shook his head. There was a lot on his mind, but now was not the time to sit with a wandering mind. He padded through the memorial site, paying his respects to each shrine and grave he passed. Until he stopped and froze at a certain small shrine.

~

PAHANIN
One of the many wolves who fought valiantly during the battle against the Wolf of Chaos. May her soul be at peace among the stars.

~

Cayde dipped his head in respect for his best friend, and spoke again.

"Hey Pahanin," He smiled at the small shrine, "It's Cayde. We did it, Pahanin. The Kimlascan Pack reclaimed their home... but without your help, without you saving my life... I think the fate of the Kimlascan Pack would have been far worse."

He smiled again, "I'm going to miss you, Pahanin. I'm going to miss hearing you calling my name each morning, and I'll certainly miss your energy." Cayde chuckled.

"The pack laid all of the fallen wolves to rest here in a beautiful field of flowers, which has become a memorial site now... but did you know that this field was the very same field that you and I trained together at, all those weeks ago? Right before I began the Trial of the Mountain? I never thought we'd meet in this field again like this..." Cayde shook his head.

"But thanks to you, I will always carry out each day with a smile. And even though you aren't with us anymore... I can fight like you are. Thank you Pahanin..." Cayde pressed his nose against the small shrine.

"For everything."

He stepped away, dipping his head in respect once more. Cayde thought about how things had turned out again, pondering on ways that things could have ended better.

He turned to leave the memorial grounds, but sensed the presence of someone else. Something ethereal, something majestic. He turned to face the direction that he sensed their presence, and saw the golden reflection of Kimlasca, the first Wolf of Harmony.

"Hello, Cayde." Kimlasca dipped his head respectfully before taking a few steps closer towards Cayde.

"Hello Kimlasca." Cayde replied, dipping his head in return.

"I sensed your sorrow, Cayde. I understand the emotions you are feeling right now, and I understand that they are making you feel conflicted about yourself and your purpose." Kimlasca explained.

Cayde knew he couldn't hide any sort of emotions from the first Wolf of Harmony, one of the most powerful beings in existence, so he nodded shamefully.

"I feel lost, Kimlasca. Everything that happened has happened because of me. All these deaths, all these sacrifices, and for what? Now we're right back where we started, only now we've lost a lot of friends and family to get right back where we started. All of these wolves... they'd still be alive if I didn't embark on my journey."

Kimlasca nodded, understanding, "I know. Losing those we love... it can make us regret all of our choices, and it can make us wish we could find a way to turn back time and change everything. But Cayde, this is not your fault. Do not shoulder this burden, please." Kimlasca stepped closer.

"All those wolves who died during the initial assault and during the final battle... I can't help but feel like it's because of me."

"Cayde, the Wolf of Chaos would have found you and the Kimlascan Pack sooner rather than later nonetheless. Your journey prepared you to help strike back, and had it not been for you and your courage, many more wolves would have died... and your home may have never been reclaimed. Every wolf that fought, every wolf that cheered for you... whether they are still alive or if they have passed away, they all believed in you. They knew the risks, but they followed you nonetheless, because you are courageous and strong. Your journey has helped you grow so much already." Kimlasca smiled.

"I..."

Kimlasca stopped Cayde from countering, and instead embraced him as best as he could, "It's okay, Cayde." He smiled again.

Cayde returned the embrace, and hugged Kimlasca in return.

"What does it mean to be the Wolf of Harmony?" Kimlasca asked Cayde.

"To help spread peace, kindness, hope, and stability to the world. Through the power of Harmony and through positivity." Cayde responded.

Kimlasca nodded, "And you've done just that. You've given your pack hope, given them confidence, and you've helped them reunite once again. Above all, you've done something that has never been done: you've reawakened the Wolf of Balance. I am so proud of you, and all you have done, Cayde. Everybody is."

"I've tried my best." Cayde said.

"And you've done amazing things. Keep doing your best, Cayde. Your journey is far from over. This, I know." He nudged Cayde reassuringly.

They soon moved away from one another, ending their genuine embrace.

"Thank you Kimlasca."

The first Wolf of Harmony dipped his head respectfully once again, "Now, go and be with your pack. You deserve to rest, celebrate, and be there with your pack."

Cayde nodded once more, "I hope we can speak again soon, Kimlasca."

"We will, Cayde. Now, go and be with your pack." With one last gleaming smile, the reflection of Kimlasca faded away into golden stardust before it blew away with the breeze.

Cayde took a deep breath and turned to look up at the shattered mountaintop. He narrowed his eyes as he watched the light pour out from the peak. He padded off into the forest, making his way back home to his pack. There were many friends he wished to speak with.

And all the while, he was beginning to plan the next phase in his journey.

Reaching the shattered mountaintop,
Reaching the heart of the mountain,

And meeting the Wolf of Balance.