Sorry for the delay in the chapter, got busy every time I tried to publish it.

Disclaimer: Bella, Finn, and Calypso don't belong to me, they belong to contact_typhoon7, Lukas-Circus, and P0ketiger!

"Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;
I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
― Sarah Williams, Twilight Hours: A Legacy of Verse

Chapter 11: Soul

Water filled his nose, the liquid ran up to his lungs as fast as a strike of lightning, nothing was clear. All around him, the river's dark waters roared and embraced his body as if they owned him, as if they owned his soul. Why did it felt like that though?

Was it written? Did the stars choose this fate for him?

Nevertheless, he didn't care. He accepted his fate, this fate, he accepted that everything came to an end, that -he- came to an end. He let them take him away, there was nothing he could do to fight against them, to argue against them, the only way out of this was the way they choose for him. Why did this have to end like this?

Was it punishment? Was it salvation from the evils that the world put on his path?

His ears now were filling with water, his mouth open. The water was too strong, so strong, that they even manipulated his body now, they did with him what they wanted. He twisted and hit several hard edges, but he didn't fight nor flinch at them, he did nothing. His fate was well defined, he didn't care about the pain, nor did he feel it. He has felt the greatest of pains, the pain of letting down everybody he loved when he accepted this fate.

Too soon. He thought. While the water roared into his ears and passed through his fingers and legs, he closed his eyes. This is my fate, they'll have to accept it. I can't change it.

That's right, he couldn't.

But he could fight as he has always done, he could fight for his last breath. Why didn't he though? Maybe he was too tired... yeah, he was. He was really tired, he just wanted to rest, he wanted everything to end, after all, why make the effort? It was too late now, but too early, as long as it concerned him.

At some point, something grabbed him, something didn't want to let him go. Why wouldn't it? His fate was chosen, written amongst the stars... Or was it there something else? He didn't care, not really. He just wanted to rest.

The water pulled him ahead, but whatever was holding onto him didn't let the water take his body away, take his soul with it. Water filled his nose, and eventually, they got to fill completely his lungs. He shook violently but didn't fight. Everything was blurry, he couldn't see, right?

Everything is going to be fine, just hang in there.

Who was it? It was a soothing voice, but he couldn't really picture it, nor did he tried to. Why make the efforts? He didn't do anything, he just kept there, floating into the rushing waters, watching everything go away slowly. This was it.

His final moments in this horrible yet wonderful place.

How could something hold such terrible things but be precious like a treasure at the same time? He acknowledged it. This was a wonderful gift that whoever was out there has given him, but as wonderful as it was, it was tricky, and if used wrong, could lead to the worsts of pains. He was ready to let go of this gift, he has held onto its precious ribbons for far too long, it was time to throw it away now. This precious gift, as precious and complicated it was, has run out of use.

Follow the stars, I'll meet you there, one last time.

Darkness.

All around him leaves creaked. He wasn't sure where he was, but he knew he was in a forest. A soft breeze blew into his face, making him feel rested and relaxed.

Where was he? He didn't remember much, and it was difficult to think when the right side of his face tickled.

Connor slowly opened his eyes, confused and dizzy. His side didn't hurt as before, in fact, it didn't hurt at all. The last thing Connor remembered was he fighting with Bleeder and getting stabbed a few times, but everything after that was blurry.

When he was fully conscious, he realized he was lying on the grassy ground, all around him trees extended up to the starry night sky. Bushes tall as him surrounded him, boulders as big as cars were in between them. Even though there was night, everything around him was foggy and illuminated in a silver light that made the forest rainy and of a greyish blue color.

He sat up, rubbing his head. This wasn't the forest in Milennia Town, and where were the others? Why was he in the middle of the forest anyway? Looking around carefully, he stood up and put his hands besides both ends of his mouth. "Greg? Amaya?" He called. When no one answered, only the cracking sound of the trees, he proceeded to call again. "Greg!? Amaya!?"

He got no answer again, and that made him nervous. What if Bleeder caught them? He walked slowly out of the clearing in which he woke up and called for his friends again. "Greg!? Amaya?! Anybody?!"

Where were they? Why was he alone in a strange forest? He shook his head and looked at his feet; nothing seemed to be wrong with him. He put his arms on the air and examine his hands, there were nothing wrong with... them?

Shocked, he contemplated how through his hands he could see the shapes of the trees and the bushes. In fact, across them, he could see everything ahead of him. He trembled and with a yell of fear, he fell backward with a loud thump. What was happening? He looked at his legs and across them, he could see the dark grass underneath him.

When he blinked, his silhouette became paler and he shimmered of a whiteish color. Under his feet, starry white dust formed each time he made a step like a frost in winter.

His hands trembled in fear of the unknown situation. He looked around, waiting for Lightning Fur to come at any given moment from the bushes and tell him it was all a dream, but the blue tabby tom didn't show up at all, in fact, no one showed up to explain to him whatever it was happening.

"I was scared the first time I was here too." Someone said. Connor looked around for the source of the voice but found nothing. "Don't be scared, you won't stay here much longer."

The bushed behind him bristled and from them, a tall, buff a half-human half-animal figure stepped into the clearing. He had long pointy ears and a long,
fluffy tail trailing behind him. A huge mane rounded his neck and descended into his belly. His fur color was grey, his mane and all around his face were white. From the tip of his fingers and up to the elbow, his arms were of a black Charcoal color as well as his paws; it only reached the knees, though.

Connor felt somewhat terrified by his presence, and felt a surge of horror when the animal-human figure looked into his eyes with white empty eyes; he wasn't normal, in fact, frost decorated some parts of his fur and his lips were slightly blue.

When he did a step, Connor stepped back. "Don't come any closer! Who are you?!"

The figure dipped his head respectfully. "The name's Wolf Fang," He smiled and tilted his head a bit. "You might know me as the PJ Mask that never went back home."

Connor opened his eyes big, in shock, he said. "You are the PJ Mask who fused with his Animal Spirit when he died."

Wolf Fang nodded. "Exactly," Wolf Fang approached him. "I can see that Lightning Fur told you enough about me."

Connor was confused. "What are you doing here in my dreams?"

The frost in Wolf Fang's fur became thicker and he didn't answer. Instead, he walked past him and Connor followed. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" When he caught up with him, he fell in beside him and walked slowly alongside him on the path. "Why are you here?"

Without looking at him, Wolf Fang answered. "I'm not visiting you, I'm not allowed to go out of the Sacred Forest."

Connor stopped light headed. "T-The Sacred F-Forest...?" Wolf Fang stopped ahead of him and watched him expectantly. Connor examined his transparent hands. "B-but that place is where you go if you..." His voice trailed away when he realized what happened. Every memory of what happened came to his mind and he felt sick, his legs felt wobbly and the dizziness came back.

Wolf Fang watched with pity, tilting his head a bit, he pinned his ears down slightly. "I'm sorry."

Connor stood speechless, shocked. "So... I di-"

He didn't get to finish when Wolf Fang put his fingers over his mouth. "Don't say it, or else you'll get stuck in here forever, just like me..." Connor nodded slowly and looked ahead with a heavy feeling in his stomach. Wolf Fang put his tail over his shoulders. "Don't look like that, it's not over for you yet."

Connor watched confused and followed Wolf Fang through another path in the Sacred Forest. They walked silently beside each other, but something on the bushes behind Connor caught his ear.

The Maned Fox is in grave danger!

He spun around to face the mystical female voice, but Wolf Fang used his hands to stabilize his head straight ahead. "Don't listen to them." He said.

"B-But they said-" Connor protested.

"The more you ignore them, the better." Wolf Fang said, an upset expression on his face. "Besides, you don't want to carry within you a Red Star, you already suffered enough because of a Black Star."

"But Foxwolf-"

"Hush." Wolf Fang snapped. "Once you acknowledge these voices, everything will become true, and you don't want that to happen." Connor sighed and nodded, trying to ignore the scary warning from before, but the fact that Foxwolf might be in danger scared him.

"Everything will be alright with him, Connor." Wolf Fang's said, careless.

The tone he used upset Connor, and he gritted his teeth. "And what if she's right? What if something happens to Foxwolf?"

"Nothing will happen to him." Wolf Fang snapped, his voice echoing around. The frost from his fur became thicker again as if he was freezing slowly,
and his white eyes glowed slightly.

Connor stood silent, he was out of words. Wolf Fang had this terrifying aura around him that just made Connor shiver. They kept walking in silence when Connor heard the same voice again.

Be careful! The Badger will unsheath his claws, but not to harm others, to harm himself!

Connor wanted to wonder if that meant Badgerclaw, but at the same time he didn't want to acknowledge any of this, Wolf Fang said that if he did, everything would become real, and that's the last thing Connor wanted. Wolf Fang stared at him with white eyes from his peripheral vision, Connor wondered if he was approving his approach on the matter of if he was thinking about something else.

"How long have you been stuck in here?" Connor asked, trying to come with a topic of conversation. It wasn't the best topic, especially not for Wolf Fang, but he was really curious and it was better than just keeping quiet beside the frosting hero.

"2.007 years, to be precise." Wolf Fang answered, a sad tone in his voice. "I hadn't seen my family in all those years," He smiled sadly. "You're lucky."

Lucky... What did he mean with lucky? Connor looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"You'll see." Was all the Wolf-Spirit hero said. Everything went silent again and Connor shifted, he couldn't stand the silence between them, it made him feel uncomfortable.

The scientist will face a frost coming from the Arctic fox!

"You said you hadn't seen your family in 2000 years, why haven't you?" Connor asked, worry in his voice.

Wolf Fang sighed. "As you are aware, I'm fused with my own Totem, Wolf Heart, which makes me some kind of Animal Spirit, but that's the thing," He raised a finger. "I'm just some kind of Spirit, I'm not one, neither Animal or Human, so even if I wanted to, I cannot enter the Forest of the Animal Totems or travel to the City of Stars with my family." He looked down at his feet and sighed, sadly. "I would do anything to reach my family, especially my son... I never had the chance to father him..."

Connor looked at him, slightly surprised. "You have a son?" Wolf Fang looked fairly young, he was probably a young adult in between the 18 and 21, if Connor had to guess. He wasn't that tall either, Wolf Fang was probably a head smaller than him.

Wolf Fang chuckled. "Yes, his name was Connor, ironically. Larissa named him after his grandfather." The frost on his fur melted and he looked at Connor with a pang of warmth and love in his eyes, even though they were pure white. "Larissa was my wife."

You must not hold a grudge against the Dog, she will save her pups and your kits!

"You look pretty young to be married," Connor thought about what he said for a second. "No offense."

"None took," Wolf Fang said. "You have to keep in mind that even if I was a PJ Mask, I lived in another time where things were done differently. What seems normal to me might be weird to you, or just not correct and vice-versa."

"Oh, right..." Connor said, scratching his head. After a moment of silence, he asked. "What happened to those who also shared the Wolf Totem? You know,
after you fused with him."

Wolf Fang took another path and lead Connor into a more grim one, which unsettled him. "I had to quickly look for a replacement before those who had the Wolf Totem as their birth animal and a passing one could lose its healing power."

The War will be back!

The Crow didn't mean it!

Connor stared up into a tree, and though he saw a ghostly shape move that quickly hid inside its leaves as he caught glimpse of it. "Which animal did you choose?"

Wolf Fang smiled. "The Maned Wolf. It has always been a mystical animal to me, I'm pretty sure if it had been a totem before, it would've been mine."

Connor stopped for a second. "Wait, so you technically created Pink Heart?" Pink Heart is Federico's Animal Totem, and he is a Maned Wolf, a pup, but he is one and pretty much good as any other Animal Totem.

He nodded. "Yes, that's why he's the youngest of the totems."

Connor looked thoughtfully. "You said something about birth totems. For what I know, birth totems are the ones that the children inherit from their family, but the Maned Wolf totem was a new one, how did it choose its kid?"

Wolf Fang smiled. "Just like the Wolf totem would've done, he chose my kid, became his birth totem after Wolf Heart disappeared, as if-"

"He inherited him from you..." Connor thought for a moment, observing the spirited hero. His skin even though it was covered in frost, it was of a dark tone, much like Federico's. When he talked, his accent seemed a little bit off, and not because of the many years spent in the Sacred Forest. He had a long, pointy face, and the shape of his eyes was too familiar... Connor opened his eyes in surprise. Not only the resemblance was obvious this whole time, what he just explained confirmed Connor's suspicions. "If Pink Heart was your son's birth totem, and currently he's Federico's, then that means that-"

Wolf Fang nodded in acknowledge. "Federico is one of my descendants, yes." He chuckled. "Who do you think told Pink Heart to give him powers when the Broken Masks and Magicster rose up?" Wolf Fang smiled. "You didn't think it was a coincidence, did you?"

Connor chuckled nervously. "Maybe..."

The Crow will leave a feather behind, but not for a warning, for a goodbye.

Wolf Fang stopped in front of a tall rock that shadowed them, and kneeling down, he powerfully jumped up and landed safely on top of the rock. "Your turn." He said, looking down at Connor from the top.

Connor looked annoyed. "I don't have my powers to jump that high."

"Yes, you do." Wolf Fang said. "You fell into the river as Catboy, not Connor, you somewhat fused with your totem too."

Connor looked down at his hands, and then up again. Was Wolf Fang right? Anyway, he's been doing this far longer than Connor, so frowning and kneeling down a bit, he jumped as well, being surprised that it worked and that he landed just fine beside Wolf Fang.

Wolf Fang kept walking ahead. "Told ya."

Connor caught up with him and realized that the trees were smaller in there, allowing him to see the night sky above him. "Does it ever end?" When Wolf Fang looked confused, Connor clarified. "The night, I mean."

"It depends," He started. "Whoever is stranded in here see it their own way. I died during the night, so I see the night sky, just like you. But there's this other lost totem, Snowy Feather, she sees the clear sky of the day because she died on the daytime."

"Doesn't get tiring to you?"

Wolf Fang shook his head. "Not really. I always enjoyed the night, it's my peaceful time."

The cat's kit will unsheath his claws.

Wolf Fang looked ahead the trees, and Connor followed his gaze, catching a glimpse of pale blue light between them. What was there? "We are almost there." Wolf Fang stated, fastening his pace.

Connor fell in beside him. "Where are you taking me?"

Wolf Fang, after a long few minutes, answered quietly. "To the City of Stars." Connor looked bewildered and Wolf Fang seemed to notice. "I'm not allowed to tell you why, but it's not for something bad, believe me."

Connor let out a long sigh. He wanted all the secrecy to end, it was eating him on the inside. "Why you, anyway? I thought you couldn't talk to them."

"I said I couldn't go into their territories and talk to the residents of the City of Stars, but I can talk to the totems if they need me. They couldn't cross in here because they might be exposed to danger," Wolf Fang explained.

"What kind of danger?"

"None that you should worry about right now." Wolf Fang said dismissively.

The Crow and the Dog will have to bury a bone.

So will the Cat and the Lizard.

"Okay..." Connor said, trying to ignore that last voice.

"As I was saying," Wolf Fang opened a bush on half and let Connor walk past him. "They were exposed to the danger and couldn't reach you, so they contacted me and told me to lead you there." He stopped just in the border of the forest, right where it ended and a clearing started, leading to huge brick walls in which behind, buildings could be seen. "More like lead you here."

Wolf Fang let out a loud howl that echoed in the whole place. Both waited for a while before spotting a small girl alongside a tall, muscular blonde man heading towards them. They stopped in front of them, and Connor stared in shock. The blonde man with a sweet smile greeted. "Good evening, Wolf Fang."

Wolf Fang dipped his head. "Evening, Daniel."

Connor could only stare stupidly as he didn't believe who he had in front of him, it was an ache to his heart yet huge happiness, the emotions were too strong for him. When Daniel noticed him, he amusedly said. "I expected a hug or something more affectionate from you than just a look."

Warm shone in his green eyes and Connor instantly hugged him. "I missed you! We all did... Especially Greg..." Connor felt safe and happy for the first time in a long time.

Daniel hugged back. "I know, I've been watching over you, you know? I wasn't abandoning my son," He laughed. "And neither, and hopefully, my son in law in the future. You're too important to me."

"You're too..." Connor said. It was unbelievable to Connor to be hugging Daniel after all these years since his death. He wished Greg could do the same... Greg missed his father dearly, one last hug wouldn't hurt anybody... Then Connor stood straight, confused about the last part of what Daniel just said.
What did he mean with hopefully his son-in-law in the future? Wasn't he...?

A small girl stood behind them, and she looked at him with round big blue eyes just like his own. In fact, she looked just like him, long brunette and spikey hair, tan skin with the difference that she had lighter pebbles over her cheeks and nose, tall and sleek... She was probably six years old, though.

Her eyes shone and she approached him once Daniel let him go. "I've wished for this moment for a long time, I can't believe it's actually happening!" She smiled. She hugged him tightly and didn't let go of him.

Connor looked confused at Daniel and then back at her. "Do I- Do I know you?" He didn't want to sound mean, but he actually didn't know who she was.

Daniel giggled. "Now, now, Candela. What did we discuss before coming here?"

She let go of Connor and blushed slightly. "To behave and introduce myself..."

Candela... The name sounded familiar to Connor, too familiar, not only that, but he felt weirdly attached to her with a fiery determination of protecting her. He looked back at Wolf Fang and the wolf-themed hero put his hand over his heart. Connor took a few seconds to understand it but finally did. He gasped. "S-She's my-"

"Sister," Daniel finished. "Twin sister, to be precise." Candela nodded vigorously beside him, sparkly eyes when she met his own. Connor felt saddened that such a beautiful girl was taken away from the world and from her family, though Connor didn't know if he preferred her here than in the real world,
where everything was tough and sad, but at the very same time he wanted her to experience the wonderful things the world had to offer.

She ran up to him and hugged him tightly, Connor's heart was filled with warmth. "I pleaded everyone to let me take you with us the day you finally joined us, I always wanted to meet you."

Connor kneeled down and picked her up, hugging her tightly. "I always wanted to meet you too."

"I know, I've seen the day mom told you what happened to me." She said. She sounded sad, but for a girl her age, she also sounded very mature. She parted from the hug and looked at him with a smile. "You're so tall!"

Connor laughed sadly. "I bet you would've been taller than me, you're taller than I was when I was your age." Both of them laughed and hugged each other, a pang of sadness in Connor's heart. Connor wanted to get to know her, he always wanted, and now meeting her here felt just so... unreal. He felt so much happiness yet so much sadness.

"Come on, you don't have all day," Daniel said, motioning his hand to lead the way.

Candela jumped from his arm and laughing, ran ahead with Daniel. Connor looked at them leaving for a moment and then turned around, watching Wolf Fang, who had a sad expression on his face. "Thanks, for leading me here."

"It was only duty, there's nothing you have to thank me for." He said. Connor noticed that the frost on his pelt was thicker again, and he guessed that watching the exchange between him, Daniel and Candela might have made him sad. "Go, you are wasting time."

Connor nodded. "Goodbye, Wolf Fang."

Wolf Fang dipped his head to him. "Goodbye, Connor. Good luck with Lightning Fur."

Connor was confused for a moment but only dipped his head in acknowledgment. He stopped a few feet away and hesitantly turned around, seeing Wolf Fang leaving. He called after him. "If I see your family... I'll let them know you are okay. Especially your son."

Wolf Fang smiled sadly. "Thanks, but I'll have to wait a few more years for you to tell them, sadly." With that said, he jumped into the bushes and disappeared of Connor's sight. Connor looked sadly but turned around to catch up with Daniel and Candela, or well, just Daniel.

"Where's Candela?" Connor asked.

Daniel, waiting on the open gate of the brick wall, giggled. "She went to tell her friends that her brother is here."

When Connor caught up, both went inside the walls and walked through the empty streets. Connor looked around curiously... the place was just like Tarabiscoville, home, but so much bigger and starry. He noticed that each door had different names on them on a wooden sign hanging from the frame of it,
some of them looked fainter than others. Connor kept quietly walking ahead when he smiled with warm. "At least she's not alone in here."

Daniel looked at him. "Candela? Nah, she has lots of friends, plus she has your family. Your whole family." When Connor looked bewildered, Daniel laughed and explained. "Not your mother and brother, your other family. Your uncle Micah, your great great grandparents, some of your cousins, your paternal grandparents... all of them are here. She'll never be alone. Plus, she has me."

"Always taking other people's children under your wing..." Connor laughed.

Daniel ruffled his hair playfully. "Are you complaining?" Connor laughed and shook his head. "Thought so..."

"I'll never complain about it, you took me as your own son when Harold left me, I couldn't be more grateful," Connor said. Even though the memory of his father neglecting him was painful, he remembered warmly how Daniel took care of him and helped him through all of it.

Connor heard laughs and watched ahead, where he saw Candela with other three children running towards him. Another girl alongside her was almost the same size, but the other two boys slightly behind were smaller. A small blonde boy with unique icy blue eyes and darker spots around the irises approached him. He had fairly light skin and he had an undercut hairstyle. "Wow, you weren't kidding!"

"Yeah! He's really here," Said a girl with short dark brown hair and bangs on the side. She wore a sparkly Magenta t-shirt with jean overalls and grey shoes. She had a sparky gaze that resembled Candela's, and lowering her head, she whispered to her. "He's pretty cool too..."

"He is, Bella..." Said a short boy with fluffy black hair, pale skin, and greenish blue eyes. Over his right eye, and slightly hidden, he had a long scar that reached his cheek. When the boy looked at him, his exposed eye shone brightly with admiration. "He is so tall too!"

The four friends laughed and Candela approached Connor, who kept watching what could be seen of the boy's scar. She whispered. "That's Calypso, a lion made that to him... he prefer to hide it though, so don't mention it." She pointed at the other boy. "Over there's Finn, and this right here," She said, pointing at the brunette girl with bangs. "Is Bella."

Connor nodded and kneeled down. "Nice to meet you all."

Candela, Calypso, Bella, and Finn grabbed his arm and dragged him ahead with big smiles adorning their faces "Come on! You gotta see the city before leaving!" Connor looked confused at what they meant, but he only shared a glare with Daniel. who smiled warmly at him and the kids, and let the little ones drag him into the starry streets of Tarabiscoville.

Greg sat at the top of the Headquarters, rain pelting on him in a grim and calmly manner. He's been there for almost two hours, grieving the death of his best friend on his own. He felt as if he had nothing to live for anymore, the guilt of what happened weight heavy on his chest. He cried silently into the night, quiet tears streaming down his face. He felt so cold, but he didn't care, all he could think about was Connor dying on his arms, he not being able to pull him out of the river on time.

He looked down the totem pole, exactly where his feet were hanging. It was so easy to jump and end every feeling of guilt and sadness that peered into his heart and tore it from the insides, but if he did, was it fair? He needed to tell Katrina about her son, it was his job, and he needed to take care of the Petit Masks. Now that Connor was gone, it was his job to train them, to care for them as much as Connor did; he owed Connor that.

The small trap door he used to get there opened. Everything was silent, but he could feel someone's intense gaze on his back, glaring at him like a falcon.
He heard a sigh and later, a male voice spoke up. "We planned to bury him, Greg." Silence, only the sound of rain filled the place. "We... We wanted your consent..."

Greg only looked at his feet, hanging tentatively in the air. Why would they need his consent? Everything he did so far, every command he gave, only led to Connor's death, why would they even consider his consent on the matter? He didn't have a right so; he was a murderer, his best friend's murderer. He could still feel the burning gaze on his back, so without looking at whoever was looking at him, who he guessed was Riley, he answered. "You have my consent on everything, just get out of here..."

He got no answer, only the trap door closing slowly again and leaving him under the rain. He looked up, where the clouds moved ahead and left behind what was left of this past week's rain. He could see some brighter one, so he guessed that the moon was at some point going to show up and moonlit the clearing. He sobbed. "I'm sorry, Connor, I'm sorry..."

He kept repeating the same words over and over again for the next minutes, that to him, seemed ages. The time passed by slowly, nothing was clear to Greg, only the fact that his best friend was dead and that that felt like a bramble thorn around his body and emotions. He looked on his side, where on a small crack on the wood of the Totem Pole, bindweed was growing.

It had beautiful white flowers with a yellow spot on the middle, and Greg, without thinking about it, reached it and tore it from its place and hold it between his hands. He tilted his head a bit, dull eyes on the flower. He blinked. Pretty. He closed his eyes and put the flower just behind his ear, with no intention whatsoever.

Flashback

5-years-old Greg shifted nervously on place under the hot Summer sunlight. Here and there, on the big yard around, numerous kids of different sizes, ages and genders talked animatedly with each other, as if they knew each other their whole lives. He could easily go and talk to other kids, but a huge fear of rejection and the fear of doing something embarrassing in front of everybody held him back in place.

It was his mother's and aunt's idea to bring him to the Gardening Club. Such a bad idea that Greg felt annoyed that this cursed summer his aunt had to visit.
He saw a bench not so far away, which was nicely ubicated under the shadow of a tree, and deciding he was tired of the heat that the sunlight produced he walked over to it and sat.

He was still too small to reach the ground, so his feet hang on the air a few inches above the grass. He grunted; he didn't even like gardening! He liked lizards, anything to do with them instantly drew his attention, but this? This had no purpose in his life, nor did it interested him. It was so boring.

"This is really cool, isn't it?" Greg looked just beside him, where a tall boy with spikey brown hair and vivid blue eyes looked at him with the sparkly of looks. "Well, at least to me, I do love gardening." Greg only stared back, not knowing how to answer. The brunette boy only kept talking, clearly too much into himself to notice that Greg was a little bit uncomfortable by his presence. "I'm the best at it, too. My mom said I'm the best at it in our neighborhood, so she must be right."

Greg nodded, not knowing how to answer to that. He stared down at his hands fidgeting together, though with a pang of jealousy; the other boy seemed to be so good at talking to other people, Greg wished he could do that, yet he wondered why he decided to talk to him instead of much bigger and cooler kids.

"You don't talk too much, do you?" Asked the other boy, looking at him curiously.

"I do... but I don't know you..." Greg said.

The blue-eyed boy smiled. "Oh, sorry! The name's Connor." Greg smiled back at him, though he felt a little bit awkward at the way the other was looking at him: intensely. "You are the lizard kid, aren't you? I've seen you around the school and our neighborhood."

Greg sat up straight, slightly annoyed. "I'm not a lizard kid, I just like them a lot."

Connor got closer to him. "That's okay though, I like cats a lot too," He scratched his head. "My brother calls me Catboy for that."

Greg giggled and looked at Connor. He was friendly, a little bit arrogant, but friendly; he made Greg feel happier about all the mess his aunt put him on.
"I'm Gregory or just Greg."

Connor was about to answer when a lady in the center of the yard yelled. "Welcome to the Daisy Bells Gardening Club! I hope you were having a wonderful time here while you waited for us and got to make new friends!" Greg risked a glance at Connor then back at her. "I'm Molly, and I'm gonna be the teacher for the lower level of the club! Older kids above the 8 years old can go with Coach Giacomo on the other side of the yard, he's gonna schedule your activities for the day."

When the older kids moved away, Molly instructed the little kids to come near. Connor walked ahead but risked a few glances at Greg to make sure he was near him. Molly stood over them. "Okay, we are gonna make a few games to get to know each other so we can all get along! Does that sound cool?" The kids eagerly answered and she smiled. "Amazing! Let's start by choosing a partner then, I'll give you two minutes!"

The kids around Greg started moving, and he was slightly pushed aside by most of them. He glanced around but felt too shy to approach anybody. A tap on his shoulder made him jump and he turned around to met the vivid blue eyes of Connor. "Come on! Let's search for a comfy spot and wait for the others to finish their bickering." Both of them laughed and walked over a spot under the shadow of a tree.

Molly clapped her hands and everyone turned their attention to her. "Alright, has anybody been left alone? Nobody?" When she got no answer, she proceeded. "Cool! Let's start then, this is what we are gonna do..." She kept talking about what they were gonna do, but Greg couldn't pay attention. He had made a new friend! Though he hadn't done much... he still felt happy and couldn't be more eager to keep coming to Gardening Club with Connor.

He was sure they were going to become best friends.

End of Flashback.

The rain now fell harder on him and Greg didn't notice he was sobbing hard when his vision became cloudy. He felt nothing but pain, grief, he missed dearly Connor and the thought that the other died thinking he hated him was too much to handle. He broke down, crying loudly at the rain, he wanted Connor back, and if not forever, at least to say sorry and goodbye.

The rain suddenly stopped and moonlight shone brightly on his eyes. Greg's tears kept running down as he stared confusedly up at the moon in the cleared and starry sky. He looked around to find that everything was quiet and normal in the clearing. "Guys...?"

Lizard!

"Not you again!" Greg yelled angrily. "I made it clear that I didn't want to do anything with you!"

His spirit flourishes!

Greg looked confused. "W-What?"

The Wolf is helping him come back!

His littermates are walking alongside him!

For three he plays, for three he strays, and for the last three he stays!

A huge clap of thunder roared and lightning streaking not so far ahead brought Greg back to reality. What has happened? He looked at the patch of flowers beside him and he opened his eyes in surprise. It has grown a lot more! He looked back at the trapdoor he used to get up in the first place. What if Connor wasn't fully dead? He couldn't let the others bury him yet!

He stood up and ran to the trapdoor, tripping for a bit before getting back up again and going downstairs. "GUYS!" He ran to the elevators and used them to get to the lower room. He jumped out of them as soon as he got there but instead jumped into Riley and both fell to the ground. Greg used his hands to stand over Riley. "You can't bury him yet!"

Riley, instead of looking dizzy because of the fall, looked rather upset and had a tired expression. "We just finished preparing him while you mourned upstairs."

Greg blinked and looked up. Prepare...? He stood up and walked slowly into the room. Everyone looked at him when he stepped in but didn't seem friendly.
Amaya didn't look at him, Silver didn't hide her angry expression, Federico had a fierce spark on his pink eyes and Riley just pushed him aside to walk inside.

Federico, through gritted teeth, said. "So now he shows up."

Greg ignored him and walked over to Connor's body, which was still lying on the floor, but had his hair dry and decorated with a flower crown. It was neatly done, the branches on it were tangled gracefully with each other and the flowers well arranged. He had Forget-Me-Nots mingled with Cyclamens and red Carnations, two Daffodils decorated the sides of his head... it seems as if his friends already prepared themselves to say goodbye...

Greg shook his head, and looking at them, he said. "We can't bury him yet!"

They shared for a moment a shocked expression before Riley burst out. "Have you lost your mind?"

Federico looked madly at him, grief clearly in his eyes. "You dare to go away and not help prepare the person you killed and now you come with this nonsense?"

Riley looked at him, a little bit surprised. "Okay, let's not step-"

Federico turned at him. "SHUT UP!" He looked back at Greg. "If it wasn't for him, Connor wouldn't be dead, and anyone on this room knows it!"

Greg sighed. "I know... but," He hesitated for a moment. "He's not dead yet!"

Gasps of shock echoed in the room. Federico gritted his teeth and with tears in his eyes, he jumped onto Greg. Greg put his arms over his face while Federico punched him. "HOW DO YOU DARE TO SAY THAT?!" Federico grabbed his forearms and started to hit Greg's head against the floor. Riley ran up to him and put his arms around his waist, taking him away from Greg. "LET ME GO SO I CAN KILL HIM! WE'LL SEE WHO'S DEAD THEN!"

Riley held him tighter. "Can't you see?!" He yelled. "Everyone's here is grieving, not just you! Stop looking into yourself and realize that everyone here has suffered enough!"

Federico stopped fighting and just stood there, in Riley's arms. Before Riley took him out of the room, Federico glared deadly at Greg. "I hate you, I'll always do. You're a murderer, and I'll never forget what you did to Connor."

Greg looked at them before turning around and meeting Amaya's gaze. She spoke softly. "How could you say that?" She sobbed. "He died in your arms..."

The remainder gave Greg a wave of pain and loss that almost ripped him apart, but the voices of the animals echoing in his head kept him determined. "I know that it sounds crazy, and maybe out of grief... but," He sighed. "There are these animals that have been in my dreams, telling me scary stuff about water, rain, storms... it turns out that what they say it's true..."

"Yeah, right..." Silver muttered.

Amaya shut her up and looked at Greg. "How sure are you that those weren't just dreams?"

Greg gripped his arm and looked at his feet. "They foretold Connor's fate..."

Silver looked madly at him. "So you knew?"

Greg looked wildly at her. "NO, I DIDN'T, UNTIL IT HAPPENED." He fist trembled and he calmed himself down. He continued. "For some reason, they come to me and tell me this stuff, I don't know why, or how they know, but they are right."

Amaya just looked away. "How is this relevant? Besides the fact that they told you Connor was gonna die and you did nothing."

That felt like a thorn in his heart, but he kept his posture straight. "They just talked to me, again, and they told me things that I believe had to do with Connor." Silver was about to question him again with a sharp retort, but Greg annoyed cut her off. "I wouldn't know who are they talking about if it wasn't for the fact that Connor just died and it's the only person they ever talked to me about."

Silver just glared, deadly. "How do we know it's not out of your grief? You should stop, you're doing nothing but hurt us."

"I swear over my own life, please, let's not bury him yet." Greg pleaded, getting on his knees.

"Bullshit." Silver muttered while leaving the room. Greg understood that she didn't want him anywhere near her, or for the matter, near her teammates.
He understood that she hated him as much as the others did.

He switched his gaze pleadingly at Amaya. "At least let's wait for sunrise, please! If nothing happens by then, then we'll bury him, I promise!"

Amaya looked uncertain and Greg knew she wasn't believing him, but especially, Greg could see how much his words were hurting her and that made him hate himself even more; he nowhere near wanted to hurt her, but he needed to try this. Amaya turned around, facing away from him. "I don't think we should, Greg... Silver is right," She turned back at him with a sorrowful gaze. "You are just doing this out of grief..." She stopped for a second, biting her lip, before continuing. "We all miss Connor here, not just you, okay? And I want him back as much as you do, but this?" She shook her head as she left the room. "This is nonsense, Greg, I'm sorry... I gotta check on the kids..."

Greg was left alone in the cold and eerie room with Connor's body not so far away from him. He sighed in defeat; how did he expect this would turn out? His teammates believing him? How an idiot he has been... what if he imagined all that? What if wasn't real? Maybe Amaya was right, maybe he's hallucinating out of grief... He shook his head. No! I'm sure it was real! The flowers proved it!

Take the Blue Cat far away with you!

Greg looked around the room, where the lights flickered. They are here! "How do I know this is not the wrong choice?"

Trust us! The nine stars will keep him safe and the moonlight will bring him back!

They'll try to stop you but you gotta believe!

Greg looked down at his hands as his heart pounded hard inside his chest. "Believe...?" He whispered. He looked at Connor, lying peacefully on the ground with the flower crown around his head. Greg's heart ached and a fierce determination burnt inside him.

Believe in your love for him, Lizard!

You didn't save him before, do it now!

Frowning, he looked at Connor's body once more before glancing back at the door Amaya just passed through. They weren't going to come back any time soon, not while he was there. He took a deep breath then turned around, walking towards Connor's body with clenched fists.

What he was about to do now was the craziest thing he'll ever do in his life.