Chapter 29

I washed my crook in a pouring river. The water was cold and the red ran off as I splashed the wooden gift over and over.

Ivory stayed with the boxed power source in his arms. He had long since cleaned his gun and now stood guard.

My distant mind fought to cope with the present. The crook was now clean, but my thoughts were muddled. Ivory made no comment about the repetitive behavior of splashing water. His presence was accepted, since we were alone for a much needed break of ten minutes. Messy mint hair and fur reflected in the water, and absentmindedly, I pondered about the Gem Wolves.

My wards had been frazzled when we had first rejoined them. Their fur thankfully did not lose their shine, but their eyes had been untamed and full of malice. Ebony had informed me the wolves had been worse when I had originally ‘fallen’ for twenty minutes. Their enraged state had been the result of briefly losing hope, descending into madness over the terrible luck. Had they remained in fury for longer, some of the wolves could’ve lost their lives from rage-induced recklessness.

For eight hours afterward, I spent time simply sitting with my wards. I let them groom my hair, nitpick at my tail. Ruby had taken refuge by my leg and leaned there as we all quietly grieved and processed. Ivory and Ebony stayed on the look out for Rook breaking his promise, but there had been no pursuers or signs of any Dullings. Eventually, Ivory would take turns with Ebony on who silently stood by my side.

When it was Ebony’s turn, Ivory would shift to a wolf and watch.

I knew Ivory was mimicking Opal. Showing respect in the best way he could.

…I don’t want this to ever happen again. This is why I made my choice, and I will stick with it.

No more hunts of greed. No more Dulling cruelty.

I finally stopped splashing the crook.

“Ivory, do you hate this world?”

“No.” Ivory didn’t hesitate. “I was furious earlier, but I do not despise this world. It brought me to my family, and the Gem Wolves.” He ducked his head. “That being said, no matter where we go, I will be alright.” Ivory promised, soft, wistful, and an edged grieved.

“And your friend? Rook?” I had to ask. It felt important. His first friend.

“We talked.” Ivory revealed in a neutral tone. “Our friendship was not meant to be.”

“Because of your differences?” That didn’t make sense, Rook was not the type to let such get in his way.

“...He loves her.” Ivory murmured.

“Hm?” I began giving the crook a testing shake.

“His mother.” Ivory flatly clarified. “How can he love someone like that? Especially when she committed heinous acts? Tried to kill you?” Ivory smiled bitterly. “I can’t be around people who accept others so horrible. She isn’t going to change, but Rook wants her around because of family ties. She shot you,” Ivory ripped out a harsh growl. “Sister, sorry, I–I don’t want to think about Rook or his family for a while.”

I watched him under my eyelashes for a minute before turning away.

“Then, let’s head back. I’m ready to leave. And you know, Ivory, don’t let what happened scare you off from Dullings. We may be leaving but,” I stretched my back, rolling my head. “You had good memories with them too. Forgive Rook, or don’t, it’s your choice. I did ‘bad’ things too. I paralyzed that Goldfish hunter.” She absolutely deserved it.

The air is heavy.

“Are you saying I should forgive them? For hunting us like deer?” Ivory humorlessly snarked.

“I’m saying to think twice about burning your bridges.” I didn’t want Ivory to fester the hate of a few people onto Dulling-kind. Even if I myself would gladly despise their social norms and ancestral actions from a distance. “That’s all.”

I paused, staring over the river.

The water is shiny. I had transformed in a place like this. I can still remember it vividly.

“Shepard?” Ivory gently called, after two minutes of silence.

“Sorry. I was waiting.” I turned away and began to walk.

“For?” Ivory prodded patiently.

“Someone to stop us. Tell us this is a bad idea, that we were cowards. But then I realized, there’s no one left who could convince me.”

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After making three last patrols in the area for intruders, I gathered my herd and cast the spell.

Asken’s power source had been a dried bear’s paw. The golden limb disintegrated with this single use.

The world split but only in our vicinity. The hole-portal stretched in between tree trunks, cold in darkness of an unknown. A door to elsewhere, a doorway to the new dimension.

Ebony, Ivory and the wolves were wary, I felt it.

I stepped in first.

Within seconds, I felt the new empty dimension pull at me as the world became a void of darkness. The tug didn’t hurt, didn’t pry, it was curious.

Strange, the dimension was sentient then? I raised my crook, focused.

“Use my memories and imagination, give this dimension life.” I thought of trees and water. I thought of changing seasons and daily cycles. I thought of solids, gases, liquids and what makes reality, an actuality.

The dimension shuddered but did not comply. The void remained.

A wave of fury ran up my spine. Failure was not an option. I did not come this far for everything to fall apart. I refused–!

“Careful now,” Kazo cooed, and I jolted from their echoing voice in this lonesome void. “You forget some of the important details to keep a dimension stable. For your passion in defending Opal’s honor, I will aid you.”

A trickle of power flooded through me, like a funnel into a beaker.

My thoughts repeated themselves with stronger intent.

Solid ground laid under my feet. Soon after, grass began to sprout, and the darkness began to recede into color and light. I continued to have my crook raised, in awe as this new dimension moved to warp and form itself to my imagination. Kazo’s influence had also bled into it, but the terrain was mostly mine.

Trees had begun to grow. Hills and mountains stretched the ground. Plants sprouted and flexed their leaves.

I layered the sky in aurora lights and matching colorful stars.

The air is breathable, the water is clean, and fruit has begun to grow.

“...Thank you,” I whispered to Kazo, and the dimension I now ruled over. Politeness can truly go a long way.

The moon is blue. The sun in this dimension, hidden since it was ‘night’ had been created a vibrant violet. Mom’s favorite color. Blue moonlight shined on my back, brightening the mint of my hair and fur.

With a flick of the crook, rocks grew. For a final gift, I sought the deepest parts of my mind, for a structure meant to last and memorialize.

Once finished, I walked backwards, feeling the shift of dimensions as I stepped back onto Dulling territory.

How strange, the grass here is sharper than the one in the dimension I was just in.

I turned to my wards, to Ivory and Ebony. The wolves and Ebony stared, while Ivory looked concerned with the furrow of his brow.

…Did they think the dimension collapsed on me? Silly.

“It worked,” I rushed out, delighted, happy. “The air is clearer. The water tastes refreshing–Come on in.”

Granted, I still took the time to make sure there were no Dulling stragglers before guiding each and every wolf into the next dimensional plane. I gathered up an arm of Ebony, and one of Ivory, before tugging them through and closing the entry with a wave of the crook.

The dirt is a sandy cobalt blue, but the Gem Wolves were all distracted. As was Ebony, while Ivory lowered himself to feel at the new ground.

As for what Ebony and the wolves were staring at?

I had created a large natural spring. Instead of normal ‘rocks’, opal stones glittered and shimmered under splashes of water. In the middle of the spring was a gigantic polished opal piece, shining under the blue moonlight. The smaller opal stones lay in various patterns of rocky terrain, creating spots of rosy pink.

“After we settle in, I want our picnic,” I declared, with a satisfied twitch of a mint tail.

I wasn’t given time to hear my brothers’ responses.

Ruby tackled me to the ground. The other wolves rushed me all the same. I squealed and cackled as they delivered affection and joy upon my ears, head or limbs. My heart warmed from it all, I was glad they appreciated the art piece dedicated to their fallen packmate.

May Opal continue to rest well.

“Drowning!” I shrieked. “Ivory! Ebony! Save me!”

Ivory was closer and therefore, faster to pull me to my feet. He had teared up when Ebony told him what I had created. Ivory smiled a little brighter after that, as the Gem Wolves decided to go explore their new territory.

In the near distance, I heard Ruby yip happily at the taste of sweetened berries. Another wolf huffed in approval at the smell of seaweed on the bank of a water source nearby.

How are they finding everything so fast? Geniuses, the lot of them.

“Big Sister truly is amazing,” Ebony wiped his eye with a finger. “As for your picnic…I suppose we all need the vacation.”

Ivory gave a nod. “Let’s take our time. I want to hibernate for months.”

I laughed and brought the two closer into a shared hug. “Of course. We have all the time in the world.”

And this time, none of us will be lonely, hunted or abandoned. I’ll make sure of it.

As their sister. As their Shepard.

May our ending stay peaceful for eternity.