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Aurel stood still. She did not move. She was staring in the distance, back at the blaze and trail of smoke where the Elder Tree once stood.

Selene walked up to her side.
"Aurel..." she began. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Aurel replied. "He's still there. I know he is."

Elixer walked up to the two of them.
"Aurel, maybe, maybe he is gone."

Aurel wheeled around to was Elixer furiously.
"Don't say that!" she yelled. "Kael's not gone."

Aurel turned back. She was trying to stay strong, but, she couldn't... Kael... what if he didn't come back...?

"He's not gone..." she repeated, through a stream of tears that could not be held back. "He's not gone..."

A few small tears crept down Selene's face.

But Elixer walked up and put a hand on Aurel's shoulder.
"Aurel, maybe we just have to face it. Maybe Kael is gone."

Aurel couldn't take it. She cried out loudly in despair and slumped to her knees, her sobs shaking her whole body.

Selene watched in sorrow at Aurel's state. And she kneeled down next to her, as tears fell down her face too.

Elixer looked at the ground. But she couldn't help it... Tears began to escape her eyes.
"It's not fair..." she said quietly, "That he should be gone..."

Tyler walked up to Elixer and gently embraced her, who put her arms around him gratefully.
"He was a born leader." Tyler murmured.

Kraven was very quiet. And for once in quite a long time, he felt sorry.
"He'll always be remembered as a hero. He did his family a great honour this way, and he would've made them very proud, just like he wanted." he added with a little smile.

Krylla nodded at Kraven's comment. She knew that others would be sad, but she was happy inside, knowing what Kael did, and how hard he worked.
"We won't be forgetting him any time soon."

Connor nodded, surveying what was left in the Elder Tree's location.
"Rest easy kid," he murmured. "You've earned it after everything you've done."

Selene helped Aurel onto her feet.
"Please Aurel. He wouldn't want you to cry. He would want you to remember him, and move forward as well."

The party heard this and unanimously agreed.

Aurel rubbed the tears out of her eyes. She knew Selene was right. She needed to be strong, for Kael's sake.

Kraven walked forward and rubbed Selene's shoulder gently.
"C'mon, we can't stay out here." he said quietly. "Let's head back."

Selene nodded. She touched Aurel's arm comfortingly.
"C'mon Aurel," she said softly. "Let's go."

With that, the group began to slowly walk away.

Aurel took one final look back, and eventually turned away.

She could feel the breeze caressing her. It was so soft. It was like the breeze was trying to comfort her...

Aurel stooped dead still, her eyes wide. She knew this breeze. Only one person could make the wind feel so nice.

She wheeled around to look back at the Elder Tree. Sure enough, she could make out a faint silhouette...

"…Hey…!"

Aurel could barely hear the call from so far away. But she heard it. It came from this silhouette. She stood rooted to the spot, her eyes wide and unblinking.

"Hey! Over here!"

This time, the group could hear the faint calling too. Selene walked up back next to Aurel in amazement.
"Is... Is it...?"

Kraven grinned.
"It is him."

The silhouette could now be seen more clearly. It was him.

Bruised, bleeding, but triumphant, and with his hand still grasped on a cut-up and scarred Aurionelle, Kael slowly walked towards the group, with one of the biggest smiles on his face that anyone had ever seen.

"Kael!"

The name echoed from the party, who rushed forward to help him.
They all exclaimed excitedly before Kael, showering him with praise, who smiled back at them all gratefully.

But eventually, Kael stopped hearing their voices. He could see her. And he smiled lovingly.

Aurel stood still. Small tears were welling in her eyes. But she was smiling sweetly.

Connor noticed this.
"Hold on, guys." he said over the top of the group. "Give him a moment."

The group quietened down. They noticed where Kael was looking, and they were soon silent.

Krylla giggled cheekily, giving Kael a little push forward.
"Go on." she said. "Don't mind us."

Kael didn't need any more convincing. He made his way over to Aurel, who walked forward to meet him.

There was a pause.

"I'm back." Kael said with a warm smile.

Aurel's smile quivered, as two small tears crept down her cheeks.
"Thankyou for coming back."

Kael saw she was slowly becoming more and more emotional. He walked forward, dropped Aurionelle, and put his arms around Aurel's waist.

Aurel's arms flew around his neck, and she held on tightly, her head buried in his chest. She finally let down her emotional walls, and her tears ran freely down her face.
"I thought you were... I thought..." she stuttered.

Kael lifted her head up and put a finger gently on her lips. He was still smiling warmly.
"Don't worry. I was scared too. I thought I might not see you again. But I knew I had too."

Kael caressed her cheek softly.
"I knew I had to be with you. I know by today, that anything can happen to any of us. I know now that it's who I want to be with everyday, Aurel."

Aurel quivered at his words and sobbed softly, but a hopeful smile came to her face.

Kael rested his forehead gently against hers.
"I love you."

Aurel's heart beat fiercely.
"I'll always love you, Kael." she declared through her tears.

She raised her head up, and kissed him deeply on the lips, pulling his face closer to hers. His kiss sent an amazing electrical rush surging through her entire body.

Kael wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. Her lips spread a passionate and fierce fire all over, engulfing him completely.

Back with the group, they were respectfully quiet.
Krylla was quite amused but also impressed.
"Well, they sure don't waste any time." she commented, to no one in particular. "Things are getting pretty steamy out here."

Kraven chuckled.
"I'd say it was about time they did." he replied.

Tyler was smiling.
"It's good to see them together again."

The rest of the group all agreed.

Kael and Aurel were back together. Where they belonged.