||THE WAY OF THE WIND||

CHAPTER 10 - LOVE AFTER HATE

The funeral was the next day. All Elements had participated in digging a hole for the dead. Soldiers had reported that the Royal Guards and their army were nowhere to be found and the 'royal' territory had been abandoned. Now, the hole has been dug. Breeze scraped her claws on a smooth stone, dirt and dust crackling off.

The hot sun showered the tribes in sunlight, as if the battle never happened. Breeze rolled Cloud's body into the hole. Other dragoncats did the same for their loved ones, paying their respects.

"I hope you find endless joy in your afterlife," she murmured. "You deserve it."

Turbulence, miraculously, had survived with a pelt covered in scars. She was grieving for her dead father. Cloud, who had wasted his life fighting for freedom.

One by one, the dead were rolled into the hole. Pendant was rolled in last, some dragoncats sneering at her body. "It is time," Vine announced, "To bury our friends. They have found everlasting happiness in their afterworld, which they deserve greatly."

Vine started scraping dirt over his fallen friends, and others joined in.

"So long."

"Goodbye."
"Have a great afterlife."

"Rest in peace."

Dragoncats murmured their farewells. Breeze hid her waterfall of tears. Finally the hole was covered. "We shall return to our homes now and grieve. But don't take too long. Our friends wouldn't want us grieving. We have to continue surviving... for them!" Breeze ordered.

"For them! For them!" echoed the gathered dragoncats.

Breeze flicked her tail. "One more announcement. My best general has died. We say goodbye to General Cloud."

Sad murmurs passed through the crowd.

"But it is time to appoint a new general. Generals Air, Current, how would you like Turbulence as your new General?"

Air and Current puffed out their chests.

"We'd be honoured."

"And so would I. Turbulence, from now on, you will be my top General. You need no training; I can feel it in you." Breeze smiled. "That's all. Come on, it's time to go home."

As Breeze took to the skies, she spied Ember following the Sky Elements. "You go!" she called to Turbulence. "Lead them back! I'll catch up!"

Snow-white wings whizzed past her. Only one was red. "Ember!" she yowled. "I have to ask you something!" Ember winged back to Breeze.

"Ember... I... I love you. Will- will you be my mate?" Ember hovered in the air, a playful look in his eyes. "Let's see, hm, yes!" he crashed into Breeze. Breeze doubled back and knocked Ember out of the sky. Soon, the two were doing aerials in the sky, as confident as dolphins in the sea.

"We will be mates forever..."

"Forever..."

"Forever..."