A week passed since Bravo returned to their time. Everything went back to normal.
Denahi was rowing through the river along Saya, lost in his thought about the great love he lost. His mind was still down even if he had accepted the reality, his brothers tried everything to make him feel better. Bot nothing seemed to fill the empty in his heart.
They finally reached the shore, Saya was the first one in touching land. Denahi came out of the kayak and started to walk to a special place, after few minutes he arrived at last: the place where he had give the amulet to Chayo, where he asked her to be his girlfriend, where both of them surrendered to love.
Denahi sat down on a rock contemplating the beautiful landscape. He took the plates from his neck and observed them nostalgic, he could see how a tear fell precisely in the imprinted name of the metal plate. Denahi looked at the sky, it was a beautiful sunny day, summer had ended and autumn had started.
"Chayo...I don't know if you're hearing me right now. But I want to tell you that...I need to tell you that..."
Denahi sighted dropping his head, he started to cry as he raised his look.
"Why did you have to sacrifice yourself for me? You didn't have to. You have no idea of how much I miss you, I saw your message and...let me tell you that I felt just like you when they took your life. The feeling of not being able to protect you is...I can't even describe it."
Saya whined at feeling Denahi's pain.
"You'll always be in my heart Chayo, I'll never forget you."
He stayed a bit longer until he saw the sky becoming orange. Denahi retook the path where he had go on board to next go home. He was walking through the woods when Saya got something in the air and started to bark around Denahi.
"What is Saya? What do you smell?"
Something moved behind some bushes, Denahi took a stick form the ground to protect himself since he had no weapons. Saya also got in defensive mode beside Denahi.
"Who's there?"
Then, from the bushes came out slowly a wolf. The fur was black and the eyes dark brown, it seemed to be a female due to the size and physic. The animal was beautiful, but despite that Denahi was scared of it, he had never in his life have a wolf in front of him. Even if the predator was watching them peacefully Denahi kept his guard up.
Saya approached slowly to the wolf and started to sniff it, just to bark and play around the magnificent creature. What confused a lot Denahi. Then he saw that the wolf's chest started to glow a blue light, from this one emerged some small rays that started dancing around the wolf. The lights then changed from blue to yellow lifting the animal and in a moment the wolf took the shape of a girl...
A girl Denahi recognized the moment he saw her.
"Chayo?"
"Denahi"
"CHAYO!"
Denahi rushed to her and both wrapped themselves in a hug. They looked at each others eyes, both with tears of joy, the ended up smiling as they shared their first kiss in days. Expressing their love for the other through necking.
"But how is this possible?"
"Remember the amulet you gave me?"
Denahi remarked her chest was glowing a blue light. He saw the amulet shining and then he knew what had happened.
And also remarked another important thing.
"Oh, um...Chayo...don't you feel...exposed?"
"Exposed in which sense?"
"That you're probably naked..."
Chayo gasped at seeing her body without clothes, with an arm she tried to cover her chest while with the other hand she tried to hide her private zone. Denahi quickly took off his hoodie and gave it to Chayo, the girl took it and quickly put it on. The hoodie was a bit big, what helped her to cover the important parts of her body.
But Denahi also remarked something different in Chayo, the missing leg was back, the scars on her body were gone and she didn't force her eyes anymore. The Great Spirits gave her another opportunity, it was like rebirthing to start a new life.
"Denahi...where are the others?"
The young man stood quiet for a moment.
"Bravo...left. A week ago. I'm sorry Chayo, we thought you didn't survive so we made you a ceremony."
Chayo felt down for a moment but then smiled at her boyfriend.
"At least we're together now. Remember what you asked me when he did it for the first time?"
"Barely, why?"
"Now I can say yes"
Chayo took Denahi's head and kissed him in the lips.
...
Back at the village everyone was minding their chores. Yet wasn't easy since most had been used to the military routine. The inertia made them sometimes to wake up earlier, to go to specific places at specific times, between others.
"Kenai can you help me with the wood?" Sitka
"Sure"
Both brothers had a pile of wood on their backs. They went to their tent when they spotted Koda sitting on a rock watching the lake. He looked discouraged so they decided to find out what was going on with him.
"Are you okay Koda?" Kenai
"Yeah, just that..."
"What little brother?"
"I miss Sonny"
Kenai and Sitka looked at each other concerned, they left the wood in the ground to sit dow beside their little brother. Kenai hugged Koda telling him that he missed them too. The four brothers had created a strong bond with Bravo team. Sitka created a deep friendship with Jason and Ray. Kenai learned a lot of things from Trent and found in Clay someone with his same free spirit and ambition of proving himself. Koda, Sonny and Full Metal became buddies of stories and candy. As for Denahi, everyone was already aware.
"You think they'll remember us?"
"I'm sure they will Koda" Sitka
Then they heard a dog barking, they looked behind and discovered Saya running at them. She was jumping and barking everywhere, but she seemed...excited.
"Wow, what is it Saya?" Sitka
"I think she wants us to follow her" Kenai
The three brothers stood up and started to follow the dog to the limits of the village.
The first thing they saw was Denahi coming from the woods, but apparently he wasn't alone. Along with him was a girl wearing only his brother's hoodie.
"Is that-" Sitka
"CHAYO!" yelled Koda to next sprint to his friend.
Koda leapt on her arms as she caught him in a tight hug.
"I can't believe you're alive"
"Well believe it kid, 'cause I am"
Chayo put Koda down to next go for Kenai, both of them shared a tight hug.
"I got something in my eye, I'm not crying"
Chayo chuckled.
"Sure dude, sure"
She then broke the hug with Kenai and went to Sitka.
"Hey there big guy"
"Hey there crazy chick"
Both then hugged each other, on that moment some of the villagers that were close by approached the brothers. Many showed joy at seeing again Chayo, specially the ones who were her apprentices during training. Suddenly then started to open a path for a special person who walked to the brothers: Tanana. The shaman showed happiness when she saw the girl in one piece, they then shared a big hug.
"You must be someone really special for The Great Spirits dear"
"Or maybe is just Death making fun of me"
"Well, for whatever it would be, I could never be happier in my life" said Denahi taking his girlfriend's hand.
"Well, I guess I'm stuck with all of you for the rest of my life"
"Chayo" Koda "Does this means that...you're staying with us?!"
"Yup, I am Koda" Chayo looked at Denahi with a soft smile on her lips "I am"
Everyone cheered at the good new.
A year later
Tanana had a torch on her hand as she walked to a pire, Denahi walked to her, took the torch and threw it to the pire who burned the moment of contact. Everyone cheered at the action.
"Are you ready Denahi?"
"A little nervous, but yes"
Both of them looked at the crowd, the people started to make way revealing Chayo grabbing Sitka's arm. She looked beautiful, she was wearing the bride dress of Kenai, Sitka and Denahi's mother.
Great Spirits of all who lived before
Take our hands and lead us
Both of them started to walk through the path, they saw Kenai and Koda smiling as the teen faked crying.
Fill our hearts and souls
With all you know
Show us that in your eyes
We are all the same
Sitka delivered the bride to his younger brother, the couple hold hands as Tanana placed the paint on their faces along with a blessing to the young couple. Denahi and Chayo ended up kissing, marking the beginning of a new life together.
Brothers to each other
In this world we remain
As everyone cheered before the act of love, Tanana, Sitka, Kenai and Koda watched happily and proudly the young couple.
Truly brothers all the same
Brothers all the same
From a quick movement Denahi picked up Chayo bridal style and spin her around. This took her by surprise but didn't bother her, they ended up smiling and rubbing noses together. Finally Denahi put her down and both of them shared a tight hug.
And that's how a story ended...
To start a new one.