Chapter 45
Kuma P.O.V.
I feel the tears fall as I watch my parents walk away for the last time but I'm glad I've made the trip to the glaciers because the weight I've had on my shoulders since I ran four years ago is gone. And as an arm settles over my shoulders I can only smile a watery smile.
"So, Burro, is there anything else we need to know while we're up here? Like maybe why all the hot guys are already dead?"
I roll my eyes and turn to Crystal. "Vaca, you're so ugly a warthog wouldn't take you as a mate."
She growls and I duck out from under her arm in enough time to see the Elders shaking their heads in amusement.
Looking up at the sky I'm shocked to see only an hour is left until the sun rises, signalling the end of this year's Howler's Moon. I decide to use the time wisely and walk up to Ryu where he sits next to a stretched out Natsu.
He arches an eyebrow at me and I smile. "Elder," he holds up a hand making me stop.
"Kuma, you can drop the Elder. Just call me Ryu."
I nod and try again. "Ryu, I wanted to thank you. If it hadn't been for you I never would've gotten the courage to face up against Mother Bear and Sister Bear."
He nods and gives me a look, his expression turning serious. "You will have to tell the slayers about them before you leave the valley, especially since that celestial mage can use their keys."
I nod again. "I will, I want to be able to get them out of this place as well."
He grins and juts his chin out pointing somewhere behind me. "You should go talk to Ember with the time you have left, she's the one that pushed for you to return the most."
Climbing to my feet I watch as Ryu takes the rock in his lap and drops it on Natsu's face. Fire breather jumps to his feet and I smile in amusement as he holds a flaming fist up to Ryu.
"He's never gonna learn, is he?" I look up at Ember's words to see her watching Natsu squawk when Ryu sucks up the flames.
"I don't think so. Natsu's too..." I frown when I can't come up with a word and she snorts.
"He's a fire dragon. I do believe it's in their blood to destroy and show off. Most of the time that comes two in one."
I giggle and we fall into silence, the light on the horizon slowly brightening.
"Kuma," I look up and am surprised to find her looking hesitant. "From looking at your memories I can understand why you didn't want to come back but do you understand why I did what I did?"
It's my turn to hesitate and I look around the clearing, taking in the sight of the other Elders interacting with the rest of the group. I can see Shen talking to Wendy while Mitsuki stands nearby. Kokomi seems to be having a silent conversation with Gajeel while Tengyu watches on in amusement. Natsu is still fighting with Ryu and I can see Taiyo where one of the flame brains threw him off to the side. Laxus is actually wearing an expression other than uninterested as he talks to Abyssa and Mizu and I snort when I see the twin viper snooping around the area with Crystal.
"I think," I start slowly. "I think I do. I was afraid to come back because I wasn't sure how the spirits of my pack would react to me leaving which is why when I had to come back you wanted the slayers to come with me. You knew they would push me to do what I had to and you knew they would have my back."
She hums softly and I look back in enough time to see her starting to fade back into her gem. "Remember, little bear, you're not alone."
I catch her gem before it can hit the dirt and look around to see the others doing the same. Just as they're about to exchange gems something tells me not to let them so I speak up.
"Hey guys!" They stop just as they're about to hand over the gems and I run up to them. "Keep the gems you have."
Laxus frowns. "Don't you want them back?"
I shake my head. "They're safer divided then if I kept them all I just want you to keep the ones you have. Laxus, you keep Abyssa and Mizu. Wendy, you have Shen and Mitsuki. Gajeel, Kokomi and Tengyu seem to like you. Natsu," I look at the fire breather and see him grinning.
"Sweet I'll get to kick Ryu's butt at the next Howler's Moon."
I roll my eyes and turn to Crystal. She smiles and hands over the twin viper's gem. "You keep theirs, Burro, I have a feeling I'd just lose it."
Nodding, I carefully take the twin viper's and turn to Wendy. "Wendy, can you hold mine until I can get a pouch?"
She grins. "Of course, Kuma."
After the gems are safely tucked in each of the slayer's pouches I take a deep breath, a smile rising for really no reason.
Even though we just stayed up all night, dancing with my pack I still feel energy flooding my veins. There's so much I want to show them, so much I need to show them about this valley.
It may not be enough time to show them everything but I can show them what's most important.
I take a deep breath, looking at them curiously. "Are you guys okay with skipping sleep today and tonight?"
That catches their attention. Laxus crosses his arms, Gajeel tilts his head to glare at me, Wendy frowns in confusion, Natsu's grinning, and Crystal's… If she was in her wolf form her ears would be focused on me. That's the only way I can explain the look she's giving me.
"Alright, Bear, what have you got planned now?"
Rocking back on my heels I sigh. "Let's get back to the campfire and pack up. There are some things the Elders want you to know and I want to tell them to you but in order to do it right there's somewhere we need to go."
Grizzly out for the night.
