Exposed

Who are you now?

The wind blew past everyone softly. None of the wolves or even the foxes knew what to do next. Their eyes were trained on Joey and the images that just appeared before them.

"What happened to Ki?"

Jae's instinct was to jump into the crack and try to save his sister from the fall, but he also had a feeling that she was okay. Walking towards the edge, Jae passed Joey who was frozen on his knees. Jae paused as he approached the ledge and looked back at Joey. 

"So, who are you now? Are you Keon or are you Joey?"

Joey slowly looked up at Jae, still on his knees.

"Answer me!" Jae spoke with more aggression, "My baby sister jumped off a cliff because of you! And last I checked Joey, you, were still her mate!"

This caught Joey's attention, causing him to stand and walk towards the edge of the earth. Jae watched Joey stare down into the earth for a moment before finally peering down himself. A smile of relief spread across Jae's face as he saw the movement of water down below. Ki would be alright.  

Ki watched the ends of her hair flutter out and over her face as she fell backwards into the crack. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and arched her back. She could feel the water rushing somewhere beneath her.

Alright Marina, it's all you.

As soon as the water touched Ki's body, it quickly pulled her in. It engulfed every part of her, flooding into her body. Her body spread out in the water, her chest lifting upwards. Red hair was swept out of Ki's face by the water and her eyes began to open. They glowed beneath the water; the luminance spreading around her. Ki could feel Marina reaching through the spirit world to her. Holding the gate open, Ki willed Marina to come through. Finally, Marina was able to cross back into the living world through Ki. As she rose from the water to find Keon, Ki's body floated to the top. 

It seemed like only a few seconds had passed before she felt Marina rushing back towards the gate Ki provided. 

"Thank you" Marina spoke softly, pulling Ki's physical body back underneath the water.

"Is it over? Did you get Keon back?"

"Yes, for a moment I had my Keon back." Marina paused before speaking again, "But Joey is still real. He is still a person  with a life that isn't entirely the Keon I knew."

"What do you mean? Does that mean it's not over?"

"It's over for now. But he isn't ready to come home. He isn't ready to move on to the spirit world. He's spent too long perpetuating destruction and filled with anger. Plus, he's in the middle of a life that deserves to be lived out."

"Will he be Joey, then? Or will he be Keon? Or will he be Joey with Keon's memories? "

Marina gave a soft smile, "He will be lost and need someone to show him the beauty in all parts of life, even the painful moments. Please, Ki, heal him."

Marina then slipped back through the gate into the spirit world. Ki's eyes began to close and the current of the river pulled her body along its twists and turns. Balanced on the divide between the spirit and living world, Ki stepped to the side to firmly plant her feet on the side of the living. Her mind and physical body clicked together once again and she snapped into awareness. She fought against the current and pulled herself up to the water's surface. 

Joey looked at Jae and saw the look of relief on his face. The water didn't bring him the same comfort though. He needed to know for sure. Without hesitation, Joey leapt into the crack. He shifted into a wolf about halfway down to help break the fall. Plunging into the cold water, Joey let the current guide him in the right direction. He swam along the river, looking for any sign of Ki. It wasn't long before he picked up her scent. He swam faster, eyes darting around the spaces in front of him in search for her. 

In the distance, he saw her. A women stood upon some rocks at the side of the water. He watched her as she wrung her hair out. Aiming for the rocks, Joey prepared himself for impact. His side collided with the solid material stopping him from being swept away in the water. He clawed his way up the rocks to stand on the surface with Ki. He shifted out of his wolf form to stand with Ki on two legs.

"I-I-um..." Joey was stumped for words. What was he supposed to say after something like this?

"I'm happy you're alright," Ki said as she turned around to face him. 

"You're happy I'm alright," Joey breathed out a laugh, "You're the one who fell off a cliff! I'm - I'm so thankful that I didn't loose you."

"You could never loose me."