This is my first story, so please be nice.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, including this disclaimer.

Summary: This is a story about what would have happened if Daine had chosen to stay in the divine realms. I'm pretty sure it's been done before, but I had the idea to do it before I saw that story, so please don't get mad at me.

Goddess of the Forest:

"Either you return to the mortal realms, to live out your life, or you stay here, a lesser goddess. Once you decide, you will never again be able to change your mind. You will never again be able to cross between the realms."

Choose? she thought, numb. Choose between Ma, who never should have died, and Numair? Her father, who she barely knew, or Queen Thayet, King Jonathan, Onua?

But I could be a goddess. I could do magic like Ma does. I could visit Broad Foot's home. And Kit- seeing her won't be a trouble, since she can go where she likes.

What of Cloud, and Zek the marmoset, and Spots and Onua's Tahoi? Was she going to leave the Long Lake wolf pack behind? Confused, Daine buried her head in Sarra's shoulder. What of Alanna the Lioness, and Maura of Dunlath? Could she spend their lives watching them from the divine realms, and never being with them?

Numair. From their very first meeting, he'd given her joy, delight, new things to learn. He was her teacher, her traveling companion, her comrade in arms. He was her love. When he kissed her. She could not give him up, not willingly.

She lifted her head as her heart turned to ice. She had promised Ma that she would return. She'd given her word. And she could not go back on it.

"I- I want to stay here," she heard herself saying. She turned to Mithros. "Could I at least- tell Numair what happened?"

"Of course." He raised his hand, and suddenly Numair was there.

"I- I have to stay here," she told him. "I promised, and- my parents are here. I just needed to say goodbye." He said nothing, but a tear ran down his cheek. And then he was gone. She felt her own cheeks soaked with tears. "I'll miss you all so much." she said to the empty air.

"It is done then," Mithros said. "You will be the Goddess of the Forest, and of the People and humans that make their homes there."

She turned to her mother. "I can stay with you now."

"Oh, Sweet," her mother said.

And then she, Sarra, and Weiryn were back at the house where they had first brought her.