A/N: Chapter 35 of Howling Star: Dance in the Shadow of Light. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except my own. FFXIII belongs to Square Enix.

A special thanks to the reviewers, I truly appreciate it.

Chapter 35: Back from the Netherworld

Star's POV...

I opened my eyes, looking around groggily. Everything around me blurred a bit before I came into focus. What the?! I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't tricked and realized that I wasn't in a room anymore. The grass tickled my feet while the wind played with my hair. It would seem that I ended up back home.

I'm back on Zoralth? I'm back home?! I sniffed around, every single rock, tree or small creatures. I...I truly returned! Throwing my head back and yowling to my heart's content, I rushed off to find my family. I found them, rolling around in the grass or basking in the sun.

I'm home! I raced down to join them. When I approached the first wolf, I reached out to touch him but astonishing my hand just went right through him.

Huh? I looked at my hand and then looked at the guy. I tried again and again to touch him but each time I tried, I just went right through him. He didn't even notice the differences as he walked to the lake for a drink. It was then that I noticed that I wasn't physically there, my body a part of me. I was just a wandering spirit.

I can see them but they can't see me... I looked at everyone, at their smiling faces. Isn't this the paradise I crave? The feeling to run free and not worry about anything? Yet... I placed my hand over my chest, feeling my heart's soft beating.

Why is it that I feel something missing?

Light's POV...

Vanille and Hope were hard at work, patching up the wound. Star still wasn't breathing and it's been a little too long.

"It's...almost...done..." Vanille wiped some sweat from her brow as she concentrated.

"Just...a little...more..." Hope winced as his arms trembled. The wound shriveled up inch by inch but something was holding back its regeneration.

"Why won't it close up?!" Vanille grunted with annoyance as she stared at it. They only had a little bit more to go.

"Vanille...let me rest...a minute." Hope sat down, resting his arms.

"Come on now, don't give up." Vanille urged as she got ready for another healing session.

"Alright then..." Wiping off some sweat with his scarf, Hope poured all of his energy into the wound. Slowly but surely the wound closed up, leaving a small scar as a memento.

"All done!" Vanille clapped her hands with relief.

"A job well done Vanille, good work." Fang nodded as she walked over.

"Now about the breathing part..." She walked over to the front and touched the snout. It was still moist, not ice-cold like the dead. "Her nose is still in shape, but not breathing like this could lead to death."

"Then what's wrong with her? You already patched up the wound but she's still not waking up."

"My best guess is..." Vanille place a finger on her cheek as she answers, "She's lost in that life and death border as a wandering spirit. In other words, she's in the netherworld."

"How do we get her out of that? Do we have to die in the process?" Sazh asked.

"No silly. Someone just lays next to her..." Vanille snuggled up near the head as a demonstration, "closes their eyes and go to sleep."

"That's it? Sounds easy enough. I'll do it." I strode over and cuddled up.

"Are you sure you don't want me to do it? I never thought you'd be the cuddle type." Fang offered but I shook my head.

"Orphan could arise anytime so you're in charge until I get back."

"Okay Light, I understand. I'll hold the fort here and we will await your return."

"See you guys later." I nodded and closed my eyes, silently willed myself to sleep.

Star's POV...

I followed the pack as we bounded over the endless sea of green, my body seemed to move on its own. It felt like I was running on air because I was a spirit but I managed to keep up with them. We probably ran for a while before the pack stopped to rest. I padded among them but they didn't seem to notice me.

I can't even communicate with any of them...why am I here then? I looked at them with sadness. A movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention and I slunk away from the rest of the group. Making my way down to what looks like a lake, I saw the saddest, if not heartbreaking, scene of my life. Two wolves, a female and a male laid along the banks, their tails entwined. The female had her head resting on her paws as she stared at the surface of the water while the male looked at his mate with worry. Hoping to cheer her up, he gentle licked her ears and whined softly. The female in response licked her mate's muzzle and nestled against him for a bit. It took me awhile to realize that they were my parents but they looked so old. Their fur wasn't that shiny coat color and they were patches where clumps of fur fell off.

It's been awhile since that time. My father stated.

It has.

What are you thinking about Silver? Are you...still thinking about...

Please Shadow...I don't want to talk about it. Silver mournfully interjected.

I know it's hard my love, but we can't just let the past weigh us down. Our pack needs us. Shadow spoke. I'm sure she's in a happy place.

Don't... Silver whirled on him, snarling. Don't you EVER think or even ASSUME that my baby is DEAD. She ISN"T!

I'm just as sad as you but we need to face reality! He bared his teeth. There is NO chance of her returning and you know it! Silver broke down in tears as I tried to swallow my own, my heart breaking bit by bit at the conversation.

I am...terribly sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry... Shadow lightly buried his nose within my mother's fur, his tail wagging a bit.

Sniff...it's okay...Silver sighed. I wish to be alone...

I understand. Shadow curtly bowed his head and trotted back to the pack, turning his head once in a while to make sure his mate wouldn't stress herself out. Another wolf rushed over to meet Shadow half way.

Is mother going to be okay? He asked.

She will be...just give her a few minutes.

Is it...because of that incident?

Son...no one blames you for that day. Rest assured. Shadow placed a paw on his son's shoulder but the young wolf shook him off, looking away with guilt.

If I wasn't so weak...she would still be here with us.

Wait...Rhyder?! I stared at him. He was almost a full grown wolf and the way he carried himself could mean that my father was slowly losing dominance within the pack. Soon my younger brother would become the alpha and command everyone, leaving my parents to fend for themselves.

I should have just left the pack, no one needs a weakling like me around... Rhyder stumbled away, ears low and tail low. Shadow wanted to console his son but thought better of the situation. He sat on his hunches and quietly mourned himself. I couldn't last a minute watching this scene and I just bounded away, my tears flowing freely as I placed some distance between us. Slowing down into a trot, I stared at the ground. My heart was pounding painfully against my chest from all the running.

My parents are so torn up inside... even my brother's spirit was crushed. Maybe the entire pack...they all cared for me. My disappearance...I didn't it affected them this badly. Laying down, I placed my head down on my paws. If I could turn back time, I could have prevented this from ever happening. My family wouldn't have to endure this pain alone.

"That is impossible." A sinister voice chuckled and I bolted upright, a growl accompanied the act.

Where are you?

"I am here!"I turned around and came face to face with Barthandelus.

"You won't escape today!" Laughing he swiped a claw at me.

I can't move?! I angrily snarled as the blow knocked me off my feet. I felt myself falling my entire surrounding cracked like a glass mirror and I continued to fall within the space.

At some point, I found myself laying absolutely still and in my human form, the space and vicinity was dark and cold. Flashes of my home and my parents crossed my mind and I whimpered.

I've never felt...so alone. I curled into a ball, hoping that my end was near. Suddenly my eyes saw something, like the light at the end of the tunnel. Getting up on shaky legs, I made my way to the source and stopped.

Light...is that you? It was true, Lightning was literally standing right there. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things but she didn't disappear. As if sensing my hesitation, she calmly walked up and wrapped her arms around me.

"I'm here...we are all here." Light's voice whispered within my ears.

We? Who else is here? I looked around and I saw them, their shimmering spirit appeared right beside Light. Fang, Sazh, Snow, Vanille and Hope, all of them together, their smiling faces were the real deal.

How? I don't understand.

"Your heart called out to us so here we are." Vanille spoke.

"That's right. We just couldn't let our friend go before the fun stuff happens." Fang grinned.

"We still have a world to save." Snow added.

"You're not calling it quits are you?" Sazh asked.

"We are in it together. This battle isn't over yet!" Hope said.

"See? Everyone has the same wishes, the same dreams, the same goals." Light held out her hand. "What do you say? One more chance?"

I choked back tears as I placed my hand on top of hers. These were my friends and they came for me when I was lost and alone.

Yes...I looked that them, a smile was spreading across my own lips. One more time... A bright light engulfed the entire space, swallowing up everything dark and banishing it from the realm.

Light's POV...

I awoke back within my own body. Shaking the sleep from my eyes, I realized that everyone was crowded around me, each of them with their eyes closed. A sudden whoosh of air startled me and I looked at where the sound was emitted from. A topaz colored eye stared back at me playfully as the whoosh sound continued.

"You...welcome back." I smirked as a huge tongue licked my face. "Eeew, I don't appreciate that." A wolfish grin was my reward.

"Welcome back Star!" The whole gang woke up and started giving out free hugs, sadly I was caught before I could escape their death grips.

"Ahahahaha thanks guys." Star spoke. She shrunk down to her human form in order to save her strength for the upcoming fight. All of her wounds were healed, thanks to Vanille and Hope.

"We are family, that goes without saying." Vanille smiled as she grabbed Star into a bear hug.

"Thanks Vanille." Star smiled as she looked at us. "Thank you...everyone. You guys are the best." I noticed the sliver of tears trickling down her cheeks and I smiled.

Those weren't tears of sadness but instead, they were tears of pure joy and strength. These emotions are what makes us humans and it strengthen our resolve to save Cocoon that much harder to shatter. We will save our home without a doubt, that is our goal.

A/N: Done with this chapter, I hoped you enjoyed it!