Time to Heal

[Tsukikage]

Tsuki continued staring at the ceiling, completely unresponsive. Hang on, Kage, Wahya will bring me down to you.
Ok... I feel... dizzy though...
Don't fall asleep, Kage! Don't do it! Tsuki shouted in his mind, Our connection was severed through sheer force of will -- your will. Without the seal, our bodies can't survive, because we've been together our entire lives, and you are a part of me. Your will remains, but your body is returning to nothingness. If you fall asleep, you'll disappear forever.
Dis...appear? Kage repeated.
Kage! Think of Dawn! You can't give up! If only for her sake!
Kage seemed to snap out of it at Dawn's name. What do we do?
Tsuki sighed audibly, We need to get closer to each other, then somehow, reactivate the seal.
Then we'll need Dad; he's the only one left who knows how the seal works.
Tsuki could not move, but his eyes shifted slowly towards Mar. Mar met his son's gaze, and somehow understood.
He rose promptly, "Wahya. You to be Ka-ge-son taking Tusooki down long-time. Tick-tock. I are be going spell for to prepear... pra-paer... PRE-pare!" If I can remember how to do it...

Mar walked slowly and clumsily from the cave and went outside. He dug a circle into the ground, then three crescent moons in a triangular pattern with their cavities facing outward. Something else... something... ah! The moon! It's still hours away! He bit into his paw and smeared his blood in another triangle and dragged Kage into the center. That's the best I can do... but without moonlight, I don't know if it'll work like last time.

As Mar left the cave, Shimo gingerly removed himself from the wall which he'd crashed into. "Ngh..." He moaned, "Wha-? Mar!" He tried to dash after him, but he'd sprained something, and one of his wings was bleeding, so his mobility was reduced to whimpering and limping. He joined Mar outside, looking over the crude transmutation he had drawn. "This won't work," He said, tapping into the knowledge Dante had left behind. "You need moonlight... I can... oh... maybe I can't."
Mar turned to Shimo, "What you no do good?"
Shimo stared at the ground, "Well, I was going to say that since moonlight is reflected light from the sun, that I could use my power to create the necessary environment, but that's not an option anymore, becau--"
"Try." Mar cut him off, placing a huge paw on his shoulder, "Please, do what you can. I can't lose them now." Wow, a coherent sentence.
Shimo nodded solemnly, and began searching within himself for whatever power he had left.

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya watches as Tsuki does not answer, he starts to raise his voice until he sees Mar moving, Wahya watches as he rises and tilts his head to his words, but nods as he understands, "Do your job... I will do what I can."

Wahya looks back to Tsuki and places him on his back, "Hold on you two, if either of you die... my word shall be broken.." Wahya steadies himself as he walks fast down the little path.

As he reaches Kage he places Tsuki a couple feet away from him and faced him so that Tsuki and Kage were looking at each other. Wahya backs away slowly as he looks at the scene, he clinches his paw as another flash of flames come across the lands and sees the bodies of his pack. Wahya closes his eyes tightly as a slight white aurora raised around Wahya's paws.

[hitobannofokkusu]

While Hitoban was in a state of shock, Wahya already had Tsuki on his back. No arguing with him now. She glanced after Shimo and saw the rock lodged in his leg so she went after him. "Stay very still for a second Shimo. Can't have you conjuring up the moon with a rock in your leg, now can we?" She grabbed onto the rock, counted the three in her head, and pulled it out quickly, like a band-aid. It gushed for a second so she went to the tree's edge and pulled a few leaves and a flexible branch from one. She wrapped his leg quickly and kind of haphazardly and then went to stand beside Tsuki. She saw Dawn standing across from her and couldn't even catch her gaze because she was staring at Kage so intently. Hitoban bent and nuzzled Tsuki briefly before standing back up and waiting for someone to save them.

Dawn watched the action unfold around her, but she didn't really watch it. She was watching Kage. All she knew was her only love disintegrating before her very eyes. Everything else was slow around her, but his dissolving was quick. Her paws were quickly soaked with his blood, as well as the tip of her tail. She didn't waver in gazing at him. She thought about all of the things they were going to do and how if he were to die now none of it would ever happen. Memories flashed through her mind, future images both good and bad, and she felt tears run down her face. She felt the tears, but she couldn't feel anything else. It was almost as if she was hovering above the scene, just watching, unable to do anything. Suddenly she heard a voice in her head.

Dawn, aren't you listening to them?
She spoke aloud, but she didn't know she was. Who are you?
I'm your brother. Now listen to me.
Twilight? What is it, what do you want? I'm kind f busy you know.
Yes I know. But you're not busy. You're not listening to what they're saying. They need moonlight to save them.
Moonlight?
Yes moonlight! I know you never learned the power we have, but we have a power.
Of course we do. We can talk to each other no matter how far away we are and we can go in Hitoban's mind.
But there's something else we can do that you don't know about. You didn't stay in the birth pack long enough to learn it. We can produce moonlight.
What? How?
The moons we have on our foreheads. It's only full power if we're both there, but you can do what they need yourself. You can save Kage, Tsuki, and possibly Shimo. Go on Sis. I know you can do it.
But how do I do it?
You have to figure that out yourself kid. Now go on and stop talking to me before Shimo does something stupid.
Okay. Thanks Brother.

Now Dawn's senses clicked on. She heard all of the talking, slightly raised voices, the rustle of the trees, everything. The only thing she saw, however, was the making Mar had made. She nuzzled Kage's haggard face and then walked toward it. She stopped and looked down at it, slightly confused.

How the heck am I supposed to create moonlight from my face? She shit her eyes tight and concentrated. She opened one eye to peek, but nothing had happened. She did it again, but this time she said Moon...light... Still nothing. She huffed and then relaxed. She closed her eyes and thought about Kage and Tsuki. She thought about all of the good times that made her feel warm and she began to feel a cold kind of warmth. It radiated from her and made her smile. It engulfed her completely and when she opened her eyes she saw a small beam of blue-green light. She turned her head and saw that it followed her movements. She'd done it.

Good work Sis.

She laughed and looked at Mar. Did someone need moonlight?

[Tsukikage]

Mar smiled in surprise. He nodded, then dragged Tsuki as gently as he could until he was nearly touching Kage. He glanced at Dawn's head again, "Not enough yet... need fill circle long-time."

Shimo yelped a bit as the rock was dislodged, but he rose quickly and walked over to Dawn. "Ok, this may be a little weird... but I... I need you to touch me; forehead to forehead, and look into my eyes. Will you do that, Dawn?" He may not have had power of his own, but he still new how to use those circles. If he could channel Dawn's power through his own body, he might be able to do it. He looked to Hitoban, "I need you to cut me. It doesn't have to be deep. I need a circle with two moons on my left shoulder, just above my wing... can you manage that?" He drew the same mark into the ground between Tsuki and Kage and lowered his wing to give Hitoban as much room as she'd need. "It should channel Dawn's power directly into the circle, so Mar can do whatever it is he needs to."

[hitobannofokkusu]

Dawn nodded and did as she was told. It wasn't weird in the least because the only thing she saw were the memories and images. The happier they were, the brighter the light glowed. She focused on the happiest things she could and the tips of her fur glowed silver and the light threatened to burst to the side since the only place it could go was Shimo's forehead.

Meanwhile, Hitoban had heard Shimo's request and nodded. She didn't have time to be freaked out at Dawn's new...power. Besides, she'd watched Shimo grow wings, Mar grow huge, Kage morph into Tsuki, and both of them glow red and blue. She can handle a glowing moon on her best friend's face. She moved over to Shimo and looked at the marking he'd made. She took a deep breath and began etching it into his skin where he'd indicated. When she was done she stepped back and waited for something to happen.

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya opens his eyes and starts to walk toward Tsuki and Kage's body, as he walks a small trail of white aurora follows from his paws. He stops next to them and gazes down to them, he places his paw on their body and utters some words, "Alisdelvdi tsvgineli live, ilsqktm them live..."

As he stands with his paw on their bodies, the color starts to drain from his leg and slowly raises higher into his body.

[Tsukikage]

Shimo flinched, and began trembling through his whole body, but he was determined not to break contact. "Ah! It's hot!" He flinched, but didn't back down. The light surrounded his body, and his entire body tensed as the power flowed through it. He began shaking violently, but did not move.

Meanwhile, Mar began his own work. The light was filling the circle just fine... but how did that spell go? He listened to Wahya's utterances, trying to jog his memory. There wasn't a lot of time now. Tsukikage... something... something to do with moonlight... He looked around him, This is crazy. Not even the ancestors had this sort of power... and where the hell did Wahya learn to do that? No. Focus, Mar. Your boys need you. Unfortunately, Shimo's strength was wearing thin, and nothing was coming to mind on that spell... so Mar did the only other thing he knew to do. Pray. He began to cry, and as he did, a vision appeared before him. <<Is it time for a new pact?>> It said. It was a human woman, clothed in silk, with a star in her hand. He'd seen her before... but where? It didn't matter now. Please. I can't remember how to do it... He pleaded. The woman smiled, <<It was never your doing -- only your wish. Wish upon a star, dear, but know that there will be a cost. Everything in this world has it's price.>>
What do you want of me? He asked, apprehensively. The woman giggled, <<You foolishly gave your heart last time, but you have found it again. Make your choice carefully.
Mar stood over the circle, calling in a commanding voice, "I will barter for their life. I do not expect any of you to do the same; you have all done far more than I could ever have asked. I trade my life for theirs." He stepped into the light, moving Wahya out of the circle. But he could not have guessed at what happened next. In a brilliant display of light, Kage was restored, and the boys were standing next to their father. Mar had expected to die... but nothing happened. "I... I don't understand... I'm not supposed to be here."

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya falls out of the circle with a thud, his eyes barely open as he looks to the flash of the light. Wahya sees Kage, Tsuki and Mar standing with each other, he smiles slightly as his eyes start to fade, "I.... helped... my friends..."

Wahya's eyes started to go blank as his smile was still on his face, his body was a very light grey now as he layed motionless on the ground.

[hitobannofokkusu]

[occ]Are you killing off Wahya, Wahya? That would not be kool. I know he's kind of emo sometimes and all, but he still deserves to live! lol[/occ]

Hitoban had heard Mar's words and lunged at him, but before she could reach him the bright light blinded her and she fell to the ground with a thud, turning her head from the light. The next thing she knew, Mar, Tsuki, and Kage were all standing in a line, perfect. She stood and tilted her head. "But you said..." She was majorly confused and stood for a second before taking a hesitant step forward. Then she abandoned all other feelings except for the joy of having all three in good shape again. She ran forward, nuzzled Tsuki, and headbutted Mar. "Don't you ever do that to me again! Any of you!" She smiled and nuzzled Tsuki again.

Dawn was afraid to pull her head away until she heard Hitoban's voice. As she pulled away she snapped back to the present and the light vanished, leaving a slightly glowing crescent moon mark on her forehead. She looked at the three of them, glad they were safe. But soon she only had eyes for Kage and she went over to him and nuzzled him, overjoyed that he was okay again.

As Hina came out from the pool and shook herself off, she stopped mid-shake when she saw Wahya. Everyone was outside, everyone okay, but Wahya was on the ground and he looked gray. She ran over to him and nudged him with her nose. Wahya...? Wahya?

[Tsukikage]

Shimo finally collapsed from exhaustion, the tips of his hair were singed slightly, and the feathers on his wings were dried out. It'd take some time, but he'd recover. Mar on the other hand... "I... I'm still here... what happened?" He looked himself over... he had everything still in tact... he was still all in one piece... his voice even worked correctly... just what had happened? He looked at his boys. They were busy nuzzling with their mates, but he was still concerned... "Is it... really you, boys? I mean... this isn't some dream, or artificial construct?"
Tsuki smiled and shook his head. "We're all in one piece, Dad, don't worry."
Kage chuckled, "Yeah, I'm an artificial construct as it is, Dad... seriously, we're alright."
They quickly went back to their nuzzling and their sweet-nothings and their affectionate licking of the others' cheeks, leaving Mar to contemplate...
I did trade my... life... for... theirs... It suddenly dawned on him that there was more than one kind of "life". "Oh no..." He murmured, his eyes widened with the realization of the other explanation. "No, it can't be..." He slumped down onto his belly and fought hard not to cry. It just can't be... can it?

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya's body rolled slightly as Hina nudged him, he could hear her talking, but he could not talk, his eye rolled over to where Hina was. His smile still on his face, his eyes start to slowly close.

Wahya raises to his feet in a field of healthy green grass as a breeze blows across. He blinks a couple times as he looks across the plains, and catches his old pack in the distance.

"It.... it cant be..."

Wahya starts to run toward them when something stops him, he hears something behind him. As he turns around he sees the others nuzzling each other then he sees his body laying on the ground as Hina nudges him. He hears his name from Hina as he looks that way.[/b]

Hina... and the others...."

Wahya continues to look toward the others then back to where his pack was, he stands between his two decisions.

[Tsukikage]

Kage saw Wahya out of the corner of his eye. Even though he was completely healed, his other eye remained absent. He stepped back from Dawn and dashed to his friend's side. "Wahya! WAHYA! C'mon, man, this isn't the time to be goofing around!" He was nearly in tears over the pale body. He knew full well that Wahya rarely, if ever, "goofed"... this was serious. "Dad! Do you know what happened to him?"
Mar stared at his paws in a deep apathetic depression. Tears streamed down his face, even though his demeanor was completely calm. "My guess... is that... he tried the same thing I did... his life for yours..." My... "life"...
Kage turned back to Wahya -- once everyone was alive and safe, he'd find out what the problem was. "Wahya, hang on!" He shouted. "Giga, if this is one of your sick tricks, I swear... Godamm.it! One of you answer me! Wahya doesn't want to die, and I'm sure Giga doesn't either, so work together on this one, guys!"

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hina gently pushed Kage when he started yelling. She knew what was happening now and she knew he had a choice. Kage don't yell. This isn't Giga's doing. It's Wahya's. He attempted to trade his life for yours and since you came back, now he's dying. Who knows, that might even be the reason Mar is still alive. Right now he's at a crossroads of sorts. He can choose to die and be with his family, or live and be with his friends. She turned back to Wahya and nuzzled him. If I were you I would choose to live. We're all going to die someday. But if you continue to live then you can do many more things than that which you've already done. Then when you're happy with all of the things you've done-just as long as you've been good all your life-you can go and be with your family, having done all of the things you wanted to do. The choice is now yours Wahya. Live, or die.

Dawn had started listening to Mar when he slumped down and now that Kage was helping Wahya she thought it necessary to help Mar. She padded over to him and nuzzled his huge shoulder, then lay down beside him.

Mar, what's wrong? What 'can't be'? Please tell me what has happened.

[Tsukikage]

Kage cringed at the reprimand. She's right... well, maybe not about the details, but that whole life-trading business... "I was... just..." He began to cry, his tears falling onto Wahya's body, "I was just trying to get through to him. After all this craziness, we have a chance to... to live normal lives -- normal-ish, anyway... I can't lose him now, y'know? He's... he's my friend."

Mar turned away, blinking the tears out. "I traded... I did..." He turned to Dawn with a look of pure sorrow and horror in his huge eyes, "But that's just it... I trade my life, and yet, here I am. There's only one explanation, Dawn... only one... only..." He choked up as he was overcome with grief and wept.

[Wahya Ayawisgi]

Wahya's ear twitched, he looked behind him to see a black figure, it was Giga. The grass around his feet was dead and drenched black, Wahya narrows his eyes as he turns around toward him.

"Now we meet face to face.... no dreams... no fake world..."

Giga smiles wickedly as he lowers his head slightly.

"Is this what you planned, to kill yourself so that you could fight me?!"

Wahya lowers his head and smiles his self.[/i]

"No... I brought here to kill you and have my body back!"

The two stand motionless as they stare down each other, Wahya's pack came to where they were and surrounded them in a large circle, the wolves eyes were blank as if they had no eyes.. A breeze runs across the plain blowing the fur on both Wahya and Giga.

*Both Giga and Wahya* "IT ENDS NOW![/i]"

They both leap at each other with their mouths open, they latch onto each others side and fall to the ground. Wahya kicks at Giga's with his claws leaving a large gash down down his cheek. Giga snarls and bits harder into Wahya's side then throwing him. Wahya rolls a couple times before stopping right in front of his pack members, they start to help him up, but growls at them.

Wahya stands quickly and dashes toward Giga head butting him in the side knocking the wind out of Giga. Giga rolls then stops, he starts to get up before a paw slams on his neck, it was Wahya's.[/i]

"How does it feel, to be the one who is going to die now. You will pay for what you did to my pack.... my family... my friends..." Wahya pauses for a moment as he shows his teeth.

Giga just smiles wickedly,[/i] "You might kill me, but I will come back sooner than you think... and I will have my own bo!"

Before Giga could finish Wahya grabbed ahold of his throat and ripped it out as quick as he could. Wahya takes a couple steps back as he sees the blood run from Giga's neck, his body twitching. Giga's eyes rolled toward Wahya, with his last breath his mutters, "body...."

Giga's eyes faded and his head layed on the ground motionless, his body looked as if it melted and formed a thick black water. The water crept into the ground and disappeared. Wahya turns and looks to his pack members, he nodded as the pack moved out of the way as he walked toward his body.[/i]

A thick black substance lurked off Wahya's body and layed underneath him, then it lurked across the ground and disappeared into the darkness of the forest. Wahya's eyes started to slowly come back.