Authors Note: Ah, the final Chapter. The end of his story. But not the end of this one. There will be an epilogue afterall. I debated not doing one since this chapter ends in a good place, but I still wanted to. Despite the lack of reviews in recent chapters, I feel I must finish this for the few who have read it and for myself.

Again, thanks to all those who have reviewed my story, I appreciate it. I would love more though, so feel free if you haven't already.

As always and forever, I do not own any within but my own characters, however much I wish it otherwise.

Chap. 12

Night was almost upon the mountain, the sun's last rays flickering over the landscape. Kenai stood in the gloom, looking down on the human camp. The 3 boys had arrived at it a while before, but Koda was nowhere to be seen. The campsite brought back bad memories, as it was pitched on a ledge quite similar to the one where he and Denahi had fought last year. The camp itself was small, and surprisingly tidy. Three animal skin tents were set up along the ridge in a semicircle. In the center of the semicircle was a fire pit, where flames licked eagerly at the new logs recently put on. It was on the other side of this, that Kenai saw Tae. He was tied up to a stake driven deep into the ground. The young cub was huddled in a ball, and Kenai just knew how terrified Tae must feel. Still, he felt he had to be cautious so that he didn't endanger them or the humans. I wish I knew where Koda was…

There was a flicker of movement in one of the tents and Kenai's gazed was directed to it. After the humans had arrived back and tied up Tae, they had argued again about the cub, before each going off to their own tent. Silently, the young man called Nerriu snuck out of his tent. What is he up to? Thought Kenai. He moved quickly to where Tae was, and it was then that Kenai saw the glint of metal in his hand. His eyes widened and he began moving towards the boy, when Nerriu spoke, though not to Kenai. "Its okay little one, I won't hurt you. I'm gonna cut you loose. Easy there…" Kenai stopped, a smile on his face as he heard these words. His gaze drifted beyond the boy and he saw a pair of eyes shining in the dark on the opposite side of Tae and Nerriu; Koda's. Oh no…. The knife moved towards the rope around Tae's neck and suddenly there was a roar of rage from Koda as he charged forward, straight towards Nerriu.

Things began to happen too fast then to recount accurately. Nerriu whirled around, slipped and fell, dropping the knife into the snow. Tae cried out and backed up as far as he could as Kenai rushed to intercept Koda. The two tents still occupied had their openings flung wide and the other two boys looked out. Kenai reached Nerriu first and as Koda came forward, he shoved him back. Koda looked at Kenai with a mix of confusion and rage. Suddenly, there was a cry from behind them, and both brothers turned to see one of the men running forward with a spear, The other grabbing his and charging after the first.

"Stop! it sav- Stop!" Nerriu yelled from his position futilely as the first hunter reached Kenai. Kenai whirled quickly however and moved out of the way, causing the boy to rush past with the excess momentum. The second was almost upon Kenai when Koda grabbed the butt of the spear in his mouth, spinning it around and throwing the hunter to the ground. The first was already turning around again however, and Kenai was moving in to match him. Nerriu pulled himself up, watching the events unfold in Horror. Seeing Nerriu stand again, Koda growled and moved towards him. Nerriu's attention fell on the smaller of the two bears, and he began to back up, moving past the tents, until he found himself on the precipice's edge, cornered.

The wind was howling, but Denahi thought he heard something else in it. Rushing around the corner, he was confronted with the scene of his three brothers, and the three hunters. Stunned momentarily, Denahi just stood there, trying to figure out what he was seeing, something nagging at his mind.

Koda had almost reached Nerriu now, taking his time to corner him. Kenai ducked under his attacker and bucked upwards, tossing the hunter over his shoulder and crashing into the snow. His eyes focused on Koda and Nerriu, opening wide. Koda lifted up his paw ready to strike. He ran forward as fast as his legs would carry him, barely breaking in between the bear and the man as Koda's paw came down, raking Kenai's shoulder. Kenai cried out in pain, and Koda stared at his brother in a stupor, his anger forgotten at the moment, as he takes a jagged step back.

Suddenly the dream flashed through Denahi's mind. This was the precipice. There stood Kenai, the cub Tae nearby. And there, the image superimposed over the boy…..Koda….. Realization of its meaning finally snapped him from his stunned immobility and he rushed forward as Nerriu's footing slipped and the young man let out a yelp as he tipped backwards over the cliff. Denahi opened his jaws wide and clamped down on the boy's arm, grabbing him and yanking forward with all his strength. The boy cried in pain, and Denahi had the sickening sensation that the arm was injured as Nerriu was pulled away from his fall and flung into the snow near Tae.

The one boy who remained standing, having recovered from his charge, glanced briefly at the bears before running over to help up the dazed hunter Kenai had tossed. Together, they limped hurriedly down the path out of sight. Koda's gaze shifted from Kenai's injury to Denahi and then to Nerriu, his eyes narrowing. Denahi didn't give a moments hesitation as he moved in between Nerriu and Koda, and forcefully put his paw against Koda's shoulder, forcing him to sit. Kenai, his teeth gritted in pain, moved and did the same to Koda using his uninjured arm. Nerriu had moved over and picked his knife from the snow, partially clutching his injured arm. Carefully, he moved back over to Tae, who had been whimpering and curled up in a ball throughout the whole ordeal. Koda let out a growl and tried to fight against his two brothers, but they were far larger then him and kept him down. Nerriu took the knife and in one swift motion cut the rope around Tae's neck. Tae stared at him a moment, and then his brothers. Kenai and Denahi both nodded to him and motioned to the mountains. Taking the hint, Tae turned and ran off the ledge and behind a rocky protrusion, disappearing. Nerriu stood again, and clutching his arm, he began to back away from the three bears. When he was near the path that they had taken to reach here, he turned and moved swiftly down it calling for the other two.

As he vanished, Kenai and Denahi both let go of Koda, who slumped onto the ground, just staring ahead. "It's good to see you Denahi. Thanks." Kenai smiled at his brother as he said this, and moved into a more comfortable position for his injured shoulder. Denahi smiled weakly back at his brother and he moved away from the cliff a bit.

"Kenai….I didn't mean…. I… .I'm sorry I hurt you." Koda said in a quiet voice. Kenai gave him a warm smile. "Its okay Koda, I forgive you." Koda just looked at his brother, regret on his face. The Lights were now dancing far over head, the sun having finished its journey for the day. The brothers just stood there silently, letting the minutes drift by. Sighing heavily, Denahi broke the silence and began to speak in a quiet voice,"Kenai….I…."

Kenai gave him a sad grin and cut him off. "I know, you don't belong here. And you have a place back among our tribe." Koda looked up at the two brothers, an understanding coming into his eyes. "Thank you Kenai, for understanding." Feeling Koda's gaze upon them the two older brothers looked down at the bear cub. Koda squirmed a bit under their eyes, as he tried to form his thoughts.

"Look, Kenai…Denahi…I'm sorry. I guess I don't know much of anything at all. I was just so mad..." Kenai shook his head and used his unijured paw to ruffle Koda's fur. "You will learn. Understanding and acceptance doesn't always come when we think it should."

The Lights glowed and shifted in the sky above, slowly descending towards the mountain. Koda frowned before shaking his head. "I can't, Kenai….I can't understand humans…..I can't forgive them, just like you couldn't forgive bears before..." Kenai looked as his brother quizzically, not quite understanding. "What are you saying?"

"Kenai, I think he means he's going to come with me." Denahi looked from Kenai to Koda to confirm his belief. The bear cub met his stare, and Denahi nodded his head in understanding. "I'll watch after him. If this is what he wants, that is." Koda's head bobbed slowly up and down in confirmation. Kenai sighed as he looked between his brothers. The knowledge of what was meant to be slowly sank in. "You know I have to stay. My place is here now. Besides I have to take care of Tae."

Denahi made a dismissive motion with his paw. "Kenai, I never thought anything else. I know where we are supposed to be now. Even if it means losing my brother again, at least this time I am prepared."

"And he'll be keeping me." Koda piped up. Kenai smiled sadly at both them and nodded. After a second, he moved forward and gave them both a true bear lights, dancing in oranges and red came down in their own embrace around the brothers, the shape of an eagle floating above them.