The next day Anya felt a pain in her chest. Her heart felt like it was pushed to its limit. She wanted to be happy that she could say goodbye to Agatha, but her heart betrayed her. She had left and missed the burial part because she was afraid to scream and ask them to stop and leap into the hole to retrieve her. She wanted to respect their traditions. She had only known of the traditions of humans. They would have a casket for them where they would either get buried in or cremated. But Sapphire told her that they don't put their kind in a box for from their flesh the ground takes them back. It was important to give it all back so that their lands continue to stay green and give more life.
Sapphire went to check in on Anya and wondered if she was feeling okay. Who would heal the beast healer, wondered Sapphire. She had gone to Misty to tell her about the condition of the beast healer. Misty went to the school they had established for children. It was only for a short time. Just enough time for the parents to get their daily morning routine. This allowed the elders in the community to teach the children things about life. She asked the elder to go with her and to bring the children's pups. They all went into Anya's hut.
Misty walked in and sat next to Anya who was still in her bed looking out the window. Misty placed her hand on her shoulder and said, "Princess Candula, she lives in here." Anya turned to Misty who had her hand over her chest where heart is. Then Misty added, "She lives in all of us." and she takes the same hand over her heart to point to the rest with an open palm up. The children and the elder all had their hands over their chest where their heart is. Then the elderly lady began to step closer to Anya and say, "we don't know if there is an afterlife, but we know that our loved ones live in our hearts and memories. If you decide she is no longer alive in your heart and mind, then she truly is dead." Anya's eyes widened, and she felt guilt. The lady kept saying,
"We teach the next generation to thank their ancestors for continuing the bloodline and giving us the opportunity to come into existence. You see, the children all feel her in their hearts because she used to come visit them with snacks. When she stopped coming to help you, they were sad at first, but they learned that she is alive and well. She was assigned to go help another one who needed her. They then understood that our lives will not stay in this body forever, but we will continue to live if we remember them in our hearts and minds."
Then the lady turned to look at the children and told them, "children, how is Agatha living in your heart?" They stepped forward one by one to answer. "She is singing the lullaby with me for a nap." Then another stepped up, "She dances with me on my way to class." Then another said, "She reminds me to eat lunch because it's good for me." Then Agathan cried, but with happiness. That little pup just reminded her of Agatha's constant nagging to each lunch. She got up and hugged the pup and then the rest in the room. "Thank you, for healing my wound with your medicine." The pup children looked at each other gasping and said to each other, "we healed the Beast healer with our medicine." They all cheered and smiled with excitement in their hearts. Anya kept smiling with tears in her eyes. She had not lost anyone close to her before, but she was glad to have learned that the beast people had a way to console each other.
Anya looked up and said to herself, "Is there an afterlife? Maybe I will find the answer to it." She pondered and recalled the human beliefs which her parents didn't bother in explaining. Only bits and pieces were said by people passing her by. Her own friends were into science so much that it never crossed her mind to ask them anything about contemplating what happens after death. Someday, she will venture out to find the answer.
In the woods leaked a figure dressed in rags carrying two horns around his waist. He then went into a cave and walked in where a beastbear laid asleep. The beastbear was tied up with his hands back and had been sedated. He had an arrow still stuck by his shoulder blade. Then the figure pierced his arm to make it bleed. He poured the blood into a bowl and once it was full, he drank it. Then he made a second cut and poured that blood into a bottle. Once the bottle was full he took off the rags and revealed a man with white hair. Afterwards he transformed into a beastbear. With his massive paw he ripped the ropes off, then he threw him over his shoulder after removing the arrow. He began to walk and travel back to the bear clan. Half way through the trip, the beastman woke up and asked "what had happened, Zodiac?" The bear answered, "you got attacked by one of the snakes in the jungle. The poison worked so fast that I was barely able to defend you and take you to safety. We shouldn't have suggested hunting the land of the reptiles. I'm sorry, Sam"
Sam got off Zodiac and checked his arms. He squinted his eyes and said, "the snakes must have fangs like a blade to have cut me like this." Zodiac transformed back into human form and kept walking. I managed to scratch it up and make it retreat." Then Sam scratched his head and said, "thank you, I owe you big time." Then they arrived back to the clan where they requested to get help for Sam that had two cuts on his arm. They were going to go back out to resume hunting. Then a report came by to Zodiac from a warrior,
"Second commander, the beastfox that you wanted us to follow to the beatwolf pack and back to his home was healed completely. We weren't able to intercept him and question him. He was escorted by a squad of highly trained beastwolfs. They all traveled in silence. Then instead of returning home, they made their way to the white tiger clan."
Zodiac furrowed his brow and said, "so they are contacting their old allies. They must be attempting to reunite." The warrior asked, 'what does that mean for us?" Zodiac was irritated and said, "it means the balance of war can shift their way. They must have a healer of some sort. We must attempt to make contact with the lion clan before they make a plan."
The beastwolves knew they were being tracked because of their heightened sense of smell and hearing. They decided to go with the second plan that Chief Alpha said if they were followed. They were instructed to go directly to the white tiger clan and ask for the white lotus royal guard. The white tigers belonging to it would know what to do and recognize the importance of calling for them. Then they should quickly move to the Lion's clan and ask for the protector of the fire and only one bearing the seal that looks like a paw on their chest can be trusted with the message, "Princess Candula has returned."