The Enchanted Realm: At Journey's End

A Deafening Height

 "So they already know we're here..." The Commander groaned. "Gah, we need a new base of operations."

"No crap, sherlock." Orion replied, having awoken from his day-long rest. "But there's still things we need to do before that." He walked out of the tent, looking at the dead man lying before him. Looking back, Orion grabbed a shovel and began to dig into the ground. The Commander walked outside, seeing Orion digging into the earth.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked the loose cannon. Orion shrugged in the direction of the dead man. "So this is the guy, eh?" Orion nodded, stopping after digging roughly six feet into the ground.

"Help me out, would ya?" Orion asked, walking over to the dead man and beginning to drag him to the hole.

"You need a coffin, moron."

"Well, I don't have one, do I? Need to improvise somehow."

"You're an idiot, Darkheart. We can easily make a coffin with the materials around." Orion felt angered by the Commander's offer.

"Alright, what's your problem, S. F.?" Orion dropped the body, anger flashing towards the Commander.

"My problem? What's your problem, kid?"

"You're my problem, knucklehead!"

"Oh yeah, well you're my problem!" The Commander shoved Orion backwards, nearly causing the teen to fall into the ditch.

"Now you've done it!" Orion charged towards S. F., tumbling into the large fox and beginning a fight. The two rolled around, exchanging punches and kicks to each other's stomachs. Moonlight walked out, hearing all the commotion.

"What the hell, guys!?" She called out. The two brawlers came to an abrupt halt, turning towards the human-wolf hybrid. "You're acting like kids; you morons are wasting time. We only have a day before their plan is in action, and you two are busy rough-housing like toddlers!" Moonlight reprimanded. Orion kicked the Commander off of him, rising to his feet. The two exchanged glares before going separate ways. Orion continued to drag the man's body into the empty grave, setting it in and beginning to toss the dirt back over it. With his duty done, Orion walked away from the tent, sitting in the dead grass as he looked up at the empty sky. Looking down at his armor, Orion ripped off the leather emblem signaling his association with the Protectors. He could hear Moonlight behind him. She crouched down beside him, staring up at the cloudless blue above.

"He only thinks I'm just a training dummy. He thinks I'm target practice." Orion thought aloud.

"No he doesn't." Moonlight set her hand on his shoulder.

"Then what does he think of me? The only thing I do is drag the team around. We've been here for days, and we have nothing on these guys were up against." Orion remarked. "I've led them here. I did this." Moonlight could say nothing. "It's only fair that I leave.." Moonlight's head turned towards him in the blink of an eye.

"What?" Her eyes widened, she rose to sit on her knees. "Orion, no. We need you here."

"And what do I do? Be a target for all of this!?" Orion backfired. "I have no other choice, Moonlight!" He turned away from her. Rising to his feet, Orion looked back at Moonlight one last time. "I'm sorry." Before he was able to walk away, Moonlight had wrapped her arms around him, her head buried in his back. Orion could barely hear her crying.

"At least-" Moonlight tried to speak, her voice breaking into tears. "At least let me cherish this...one last time..." Orion pulled Moonlight around him, his head resting on her shoulder.