Tsume looked down at Luna. He had gently turned her over and he had found her breathing, barely, but she was. "Luna…"
"Tsume…" Her voice was weak and her eyes slowly opened. Her normally vibrant eyes seemed to be dulling. "You…"
"I'm right here… Luna hang on. You're going to be okay. Just hold on."
"The lake…" Luna whispered. "I want to see it."
"We shouldn't move you. We need to patch up-."
"Please." She looked up at him, her eyes weak but determined. "I want to see it. Please… I need to see it."
Tsume growled but gently scooped her into his arms. He had never been so glad to have a true human form, not just an illusion like his past life. "Just… hold on…" He slowly started up the cave path. "You'll see it and then we will get you patched up. You'll be okay." He felt a pressure in his chest. She had to be okay.
"The lake…" Luna whispered. "I wonder… Cheza…" Her eyes closed.
"Luna!"
"The others…" Luna whispered. "I hope… okay…"
Tsume sniffed the air. He could smell the others.. And the black wolf. "They are near us… I can smell them. You'll see them again."
"Sora…" Luna's breathing was shallow, weak, almost lifeless.
"Hang on." Tsume speed up the path. After a little they emerged into moonlight. The clearing was empty. There was blood on the ground in different areas but most of it was in the area around a path leading down.
"The lake…" Luna opened her eyes.
Tsume frowned but slowly walked over to it. He crouched down and Luna's hand slowly moved out and touched the water.
"It's cold." Luna coughed weakly. She cringed in pain.
"Luna…"
"This is perfect." She closed her eyes. "My journey ends here."
"Luna!" Tsume frowned. "You-."
"It ended here anyways…. I'm… I'm no wolf…" Her eyes opened slowly. "I couldn't… stay… anyways… Go."
"I'm not leaving you." Tsume whispered. "You… You're going to be okay."
"No I'm not…" She reached out and touched a crumpled flower petal on the ground. "I think… We succeeded… Cheza… I wonder… what she looks like now…" She smiled weakly. "I guess… I'll never know."
"Luna…" Tsume didn't know what to do. She was going to die. He didn't want to admit it but there was no way a human could survive the wounds. If she was wolf she could have… But… she wasn't….
"Tsume…" Luna closed her eyes. "Thank you…. I…" Her voice turned into a faint whisper. "... goodbye…" Her body slumped and her breathing turned into inaudible.
"LUNA!" Tsume barked out. "LUNA!" No… Luna… No… Tears rolled down his face. No… If only she was like Cheza… Then… He looked at the lake. "The lake…" Tsume whispered. Maybe… Maybe it can heal her. It could change Cheza… It has to be able to. "Don't give up Luna!" Tsume gently lay her on top of the water. Blood leaked out of her back staining the water. He held her there but her eyes remained closed and she slowly slipped from his grip. "LUNA!" His arms slumped weakly and she slipped fully into the water.
For a moment she floated there and then she sunk. Tsume just sat there letting the blood soaked water splash against his arms. Bubbles formed on the top of the water for a moment and then faded. Tsume sat there in a depressed useless heap. He had failed.
A pained howl sounded in the air. It was Toboe's howl. Anger bubbled in Tsume's chest and he stood up. Wet blood dripped from her arm. Luna's blood. "I'll kill him." Tsume growled and changed into his wolf form. He spun and dashed towards the path recklessly. His only thoughts now were on destroying the Black Wolf and bringing him pain. He didn't even care if he died. He would kill the wolf. He would avenge Luna. He wouldn't let her death be in vain.