Chapter 44

Normal P.O.V.

A battle wages on in the light of the moon. Battling spirits surround the sky mage as she looks on, overwhelmed with the sight before her. Cloaked hooded figures made out of black smoke attack the silver fog of the shifters in their own home.

Wendy can only watch, a sob caught in her throat, as a group of hooded figures backs a mother and her two kids into a corner. A flash of black in the moonlight and a child fades into the night.

Across the clearing, near what looks like a large cave, she watches as a group of males all shifted into different animals with teeth and claws protects a group of elderly.

"The battle waged on and the spirits could do nothing but watch as their loved ones fell under the strength of the attackers."

A ghostly form drops from a tree and Wendy watches as a panther twice as large as Kuma lands on a cloaked figure, it's jaws wrapping around the figure's neck even as a sword sprouts from it's back.

Something red catches Wendy's eye and she turns to the middle of the clearing, her eyes landing on the huddled form kneeling in front of what looks to be a fire pit.

"As the battle started to die down the spirits became so angry that they returned to the bonfire and lit the forest around them. If their loved ones were to be killed so ruthlessly then so must the murderers be destroyed."

Slowly she approaches the shifter until she's able to kneel beside her. Tears run down Kuma's face while in her hands she holds a piece of flint and rock. Kuma strikes the rock against the flint again, trying to draw a spark but all she manages to do is cut her fingers.

Wendy frowns and wraps her hands around Kuma's. "Kuma, please stop, you're doing nothing but hurting yourself."

Kuma flinches at the soft words but doesn't give up the items. She swallows and shakes her head. "I have to, Wendy, the dance needs to be done and the only way it can be done is by having the fire."

The sky dragon's expression softens but her grip remains firm. "Then we'll do it together. You don't need to be alone anymore."

Kuma nods and Wendy takes the flint and stone, setting them beside her for the moment then heals the shifter's fingers.

When the damage is gone she helps Kuma to her feet then pokes her in the arm, more specifically her gem. "Remember, Kuma, you can control fire now, you can light it without flint and stone."

Kuma frowns, looking around the clearing to see the spirit's battle still raging on around them.

"Kuma, if you want your pack to be at peace then you need to do this. Don't be afraid."

Again she nods and focuses on the fire pit in front of her. Fire appears at the tips of her fingers and starts to climb her hands until the flames are licking up her arms. Around the living the battle slows as the red light fills the clearing, the spirits being drawn to the light.

Kuma brings her hands together and aims her palms at the fire pit. The fire curling around her hands withers the further it gets from her palms but she growls and pushes her palms forward again. The tears trailing down her cheeks goes ignored as the fire licks the small amount of wood gathered in the pit.

When the fire takes hold Kuma lets the fire around her arms dissipate and looks at Wendy. "Please, help me with this."

The sky dragon nods without hesitation and copies Kuma when she stomps her left foot. The thud it creates is dull but it's enough to turn one or two of the spirit's heads. She claps her hands near the right side of her head then stomps her right foot. Stomping her left twice, she claps her hands twice as well then spins once.

When she comes to face the fire she stomps her right twice, her left once then spreads her arms open as if embracing the fire.

She turns to look at the sky dragon, a small grin starting to appear and arches an eyebrow. "Ready, Wendy?"

Wendy's expression turns serious and she nods. "Ready when you are Kuma."

Kuma nods, stomping her left once, her right twice and spins, clapping her hands as she turns to face the battle. She extends her arms, palms up, then brings them together over her head, stomping her left heel into the dirt followed quickly by the toes of her right.

At Wendy's side the pouch glows and Wendy almost stumbles when all four of the Elders: Ember, Ryu, Mitsuki, and Rita and Charity appear in the fog shape similar to how Ryu looked in the cave.

When Kuma spins again she smiles at them and Ember claps her hands together with the rhythm of Kuma's movements.

"Come, Kuma, it's time to dance."

Her movements only slow long enough for the women to join then it picks up. The same steps repeat time and time again but with each time a foot is stomped or hands clap more of the fighting spirits are drawn to it.

Ryu, being the only one not dancing, tears two sticks off of one of the trees then walks over to a hollowed out stone.

The elder spirit halts, his ears picking up the beat of the dance then when Kuma stomps her foot he swings one of the sticks down on the stone.

The sound echoes, drum beat bouncing off the young trees in time with the dance until it starts to spread through the valley, eventually reaching the ears of the slayers still sitting around the campfire.

Crystal perks up first, intrigued by the drumming echo. When the sound starts to drown out the crackle of the fire the slayer's bags start to glow, similar to Wendy's. One by one smoke leaks from the bags until the Elders start to take shape, their heads turned to the source of the sound.

Shen turns to the slayers with an eyebrow arched. "Surely you're not gonna sit there when there is a dance to attend."

The slayers follow Crystal's lead when the wolf shifter rises to her feet, allowing the shifter souls to lead the way. As they walk along the trail the wolf shifter squeaks when the spirit of a boy no older then six runs by close enough to brush her thigh.

The Elders chuckle and Mizu turns to Crystal with a soft expression. "There's no need to worry, Wolf, the cubs can't do anything to harm you."

Crystal nods and looks on, intrigued as more and more spirits seem to rise under the moon's bright light.

When they enter the clearing surrounding the bonfire her breath is stolen at the sight of the rings of spirits already dancing around the fire. None of the black smoke from earlier can be seen, instead only the spirits, save the gem souls bare the marks of the grizzly pack as they dance in the moonlight.

Her expression brightens at the sight of her best friend and she turns to the slayers, waving a hand at them. "Come on, we have to dance too."

They're hesitant until Wendy appears from between the spirits, panting heavily as she walks up to them. She grins at them and Laxus frowns.

"Wendy, how did this happen?"

She puts a hand on a hip and waves at where Kuma still dances between Ember and a woman that looks strikingly similar to the living shifter. "This is why Kuma was afraid to come back. Because she was afraid she wouldn't be able to do the dance by herself. So I helped her out."

Natsu pushes past the lightning slayer, grinning at the sky slayer. "Come on, Wendy, show me how to do it!"

Wendy nods and grabs his hand, pulling him through the rings of spirits until they're standing next to the fire. She holds her hands up as Kuma showed her and when the dance repeats the step she helps Natsu mirror the steps.

Time flies by as each of the slayers joins the dance and eventually the spirits start to fade as the moon starts to set.

When all that's left is a small ring Kuma stops dancing, her heart pounding in her ears, more oxygen leaving her lungs then entering and her smile reaches her eyes as she watches the spirits disappear, each wearing a grin she knows they should have.

Two figures pull away from the fire and she watches as her mother moves her hands in front of Ember. The Elder throws her head back in laughter before her hands move as well.

Her mother's expression softens as she looks at Kuma then she approaches the shifter. She sets her hand on Kuma's cheek in a gesture of affection and steps back just as a man dressed in doeskin pants with a belt of bone carvings approaches.

His hair is short tight curls but doesn't take away from his overall look. His shoulders are wide, muscles thick and on each pectoral he wears a bear print. The tattoos spread across his left, over his neck, and come to a stop below his right shoulder. The signature bear head is located just below where his tattoos stop.

He turns to Ember, moving his hands as well and Ember turns to Kuma. "Your father says you've gotten so big since then. You've done well with your training and," her eyes flick back to him then she continues. "he wishes he could've seen you grow up over these past few years."

Her mother turns, her hands moving with speech and Ember's expression softens. "Your mother says that you've picked a good pack. She knows that you'll do well in your adventures but you must remember that there is a time and place for everything just—"

"Just be patient and control my temper." The young shifter finishes and her mother nods.

Her eyes shine with unshed tears and she raise her index and middle fingers to her lips. Her mother smiles and her father wraps an arm around her mother's waist.

"Kuma." The young shifter looks past her parents to Ember and sees the concern the Elder wears. "The sun is almost up, it is time for you to say your goodbyes."

She looks back at her parents and smiles softly. "There's nothing else to say."


Grizzly out for the night.