In the former state of Ohio many factions fight to claim the land as their own. For one rebellious Wyld, she too battles internally in order to maintain some semblance of her previous life while struggling to adapt to what she had become. Can a negotiator from the Northwest do the impossible and peacefully resolve the conflicts on the battlefield and within this young Wyld's heart?

The Heart of it All
A Wyld Universe story
Part 1
By AoifeM

War is a gruesome thing.

People told me of the old days of a great nation, which united the land from “sea to shining sea,” how it was once the center of the universe and a melting pot of diverse cultures, and everyone did their best to get along.

I can’t help but chuckle. So much for a melting pot. It only took an “unforeseen” incident to watch the union crumble with such absolution.

That incident was the birth of the Wyld. Suddenly millions of people were gaining otherworldly powers. Some have gone through extraordinary changes; I’ve seen a man covered in scales walking about town just the other day. Some parts of the world were scared of the unknown, particularly many religious affiliations who hadn’t any idea what to make of it. Some have gone so far to believe that the devil had grabbed a hold upon their souls, and their transformations are a sign that the end of days is coming.

However some parts of society decided to use logic to understand this phenomenon. Cascadia was one such nation. My homeland, is coming into its 15th anniversary. The former great northwest have always had more of a liberal view of things. While many people were as shocked with the sudden appearance of the Wyld, other than the physical and mystical properties of these beings they were mostly like humans, cognizant. Quickly laws were passed to ensure their rights as citizens of Washington state. Soon Oregon followed.

About a year later Canada too had dissolved. Using the discourse going on around the rest of the continent, Quebec made the first move and succeeded their union. Alberta soon followed. Vancouver, Victoria Island, and their vicinity were now on their own, and their beliefs were in direct opposition to their neighbors to the east. Meeting in Seattle, the leaders of all three major Cascadian regions came together and created the new nation of Cascadia. With this came the funding for a new capital city stationed right on the 49th parallel: Unity. This city would ensure that none of the major cities, Portland, Seattle, or Vancouver, would gain more than the other.

Quickly Unity grew to over 1.5 million people. The equality between Wyld and Humans was a major factor in its fast growth; in most parts of the globe Wyld are treated like animals. Technologically Cascadia is one of the most advanced civilizations on Earth. While the remaining members of the United States still holds its seat in the United Nations the words and decisions Cascadia makes holds great weight upon the global community. Often times our nation gets the call to negotiate between the other nations. Many parts of North America still are unstable and skirmishes still break out on a daily basis.

And that’s why I was called in. I am Ian Kennedy. I am the Cascadian ambassador who was unlucky enough to mediate the situation in bipolar Ohio. Unofficially, it belongs to the Confederate States, but to say they have any real control over it is absurd. The United States would love to have another state back into the fold, and the more liberal Lake States would like it to join them so they can better control trade within the Great Lakes region. With the Confederates holding it trade is very difficult, to say the least, and by controlling Lake Erie sea trade between the Lake and United States has been cut off entirely, if not by the embargo the Confederates have against their bitter Union rivals then by the Pirates who plague the waters.

And some of those pirates aren’t in it for just the money. They belong to the fourth group in the discussion. A group of rebels who cause all of Ohio trouble. They are at the heart of the discourse- while the nations surrounding the area fight with each other these guys come in and terrorize the area, keeping everyone on their toes. The three nations realize that they aren’t the only enemies they have to deal with.

The person who leads this group of rebels is named Scott Ryan. No one really can understand where his agenda lies. His figure as well is shrouded in mystery; no one knows whether he’s even human or wyld. I’m sure the warring states do their best to dehumanize him. Still, it’s amazing how many people take up to him.

Under agreement from the three nations as well as unofficial agreement from Mr. Ryan we decided to set up negotiations at the old government complex in the ghost town of Columbus. The city was practically torn asunder, first by the Wyld Purge, and then from the mass emigration shortly after. Most former Ohioans relocated to one of the Three Nations, and most of those Ohioans are now frontline soldiers determined to reclaim their lost region. People have tried to reclaim the city, but usually the group who tries to isn’t holed up for very long; the former city is an easy target for attacks.

In my motorcade I was nestled as securely as any person could be at this point. My government was so kind to leave me with a small group of guards to watch over me, but even this couldn’t help me get over this foreboding premonition I was feeling inside. Already the Merchant General of the Lake States and Vice President of the United States had arrived, waiting impatiently for me.

“All you Cascadians that slow?” The Vice President chided. Yeah, like he had any right to talk.

“Come, come!” Followed the Merchant General, impatiently. Just loving to get to the brass tacks of things.

And yet, it wasn’t a full party. The Confederate Ambassador hasn’t arrived, let alone any emissaries from Scott Ryan’s rebellion.

Either way standing here seemed to be pointless either way. I followed them into the capital building. The old, dilapidated walls told a story of infinitesimal despair. To be honest Cascadia isn’t exactly paradise as well; sure we were much more accepting of our Wyld brethren we were surrounded by extremists in all sides. Calivada went completely 180 after the Taming, and became a more theocratical society. Alberta, which also annexed Saskatchewan, seemed to be more of a merchant based society, and while they don’t make it an effort to eliminate the Wyld in the area, they are the heavy lifters of their immense “fracking” operations: Paid very little, and segregated from the Human communities. Obviously that made us a major destination for most Wyld and their sympathizers. Sadly though, overpopulation does do quite a bit to our economy. Over-inflation and a lack of jobs didn’t help the matters, and like the rest of America, our finances are being balanced on a tightrope. To combat it we built walls upon our borders, a bad Public Relations move to say the least.

But still, nothing is as bad as I saw here. This was the result of those who couldn’t act fast enough. This is what happens when a culture shocked society lashes out, and no one could stop it.

Minutes turned into hours. Still no sign of our missing emissaries. Obviously the Vice President had enough. “Damned Confederates making us look foolish again! Honestly why did you assume they would ever bother with damned meeting anyway?”

Before I could reply though a bullet impaled the Vice President’s Skull; his blood splattered
onto the walls behind him.

“We’re under attack!” One of our soldiers exclaimed as quickly they gathered the Merchant General and me and hid us behind an old but sturdy oak wood table.

From what I could see from beyond the broken glass window was a group of ragged soldiers whose faces were conceal under bandanas. Were these the rebels? It hit me like a brick to the face- by allowing Scott Ryan in on this negotiation did I unwittingly set this trap?

Then suddenly I heard a cry from one of the soldiers. “They have a mortar!”

The words barely got out before the explosive shell made its way inside, blowing up the room and causing the building to collapse with myself and the soldiers still inside.

…I should’ve been dead.

“…Looks like he’s waking up.”

…I guess not.

“He’s real lucky we got to him in the nick of time.”

“I really don’t know why we’re treating him. I mean, he may not be any of those guys but how do you know we can trust him?”

“Come Trish. It wasn’t his fault he got caught up in this. There is no reason he should be left out there to rot.”

“Grond say man too puny. Man fight, Grond smash.”

Opening my eyes to see myself lying on a makeshift hospital bed, surrounded by four people: A giant of a man who seems to be wearing discarded automobile parts as clothing: I assume that’s Grond, a man of African American descent who is dressed in priestly attire, and two women, one with Silvery hair, and the other…

“My name is Scott Ryan,” she states, “I think we have a lot of explaining to do.