Legend Reborn

Chapter 28: Divided

The goddess approaches me with a cheeky smirk and stands in front of you with her hands on her hips. Much like the Bear Mother, she has a hood covering her head that looks like a wolf head. Several fluffy wolf tails hang from her waist, and the short skirt she wears looks like gray wolf fur. Her dark brown hair reaches a little past her shoulders, which are covered in more fur.

"Well, well, well champion of the Great Mother. It took you a while to get here, didn't it?"

"Uh...yeah. I guess it did," I answer hesitantly. She's very different from Urmatri, that's for sure.

"No matter. You're here now and that's what's important," she says as her smile widens. The goddess spreads her arms out and gestures around her excitedly. "So, what do you think? Better than the Bear Temple, huh?"

"It's very nice," I say in an attempt to stay neutral. The last thing I need is angry goddesses harassing me because I said something stupid.

"It's not as drab as Urmatri's place. She really needs to liven her Temple up a bit." The Wolf Mother gives you a sideways glance. "You should see this place in the spring. So many colors it would make your head spin."

I nod wordlessly as I wait for the goddess to say what she came to say. She wouldn't appear to me for no reason, would she?

"Rather impatient I see," she remarks as if reading my mind. "Well, that's to be expected after what you've been through. Let's get down to business then."

I look down to check on my companions, who have been rather quiet through this whole thing, and realize they're nowhere to be seen. They just vanished.

"Where is everyone?" I ask on the brink of panic.

"I was wondering when you'd ask that," the Wolf Mother says with amusement shining in her yellow eyes. "They're still here, but not here here. You're currently unconscious."

"Oh," I say rather lamely. I feel like I should have guessed as much by now. "So, what do you want from me?"

"Now there's an interesting question!" The goddess turns back toward the statue of herself. "I guess I wanted to thank you for bringing my children here." She turns her head to look at me again. "Even if they are a little worse for wear."

My mouth opens to say something, but words fail me. I let my head hang in shame. "I'm sorry," I whisper. "It's my fault they got hurt."

Something lands on the top of my head, and I glance up to see the Wolf Mother smiling with her hand on my head. "Nonsense. It's because of you they made it this far." She lets her hand trail through my hair and studies it closely. "What an interesting color," she muses. Her eyes snap back up to meet mine and she smiles once again. "But like I was saying, without you they wouldn't have made it, and for that, I'm grateful."

"But what did I-"

"Monteurbem," the goddess says cutting me off. "You searched for Feliciano nonstop until you found him, and at the Bear Temple you healed his arm. You try to be a good friend to Lovino, even though he's a brat." She snickers at that. "You also risked your very life to heal his shadow wound."

"My...my life?" I ask in confusion.

"Yes, your energy level got dangerously low. If you ever run out of energy, you will die."

I swallow nervously at the Wolf Mother's words. I had no idea what kinds of risks came with using my energy. This is definitely information I should pass onto the others.

"My dear children," the goddess says as she crouches down. Feli and Lovino have suddenly appeared on the ground sleeping calmly. "You've done so well. I'm very proud." She brushes the hair out of Feli's face. "My sweet Feliciano, don't ever lose your kind spirit."