"Woof?" The female wolf glanced between us, her head darting back and forth.
Storm giggled, placing a hand on the wolf's head to calm her. "That's her name, Urufu. I call her Uru for short. I know it means wolf in Japanese and isn't really creative, but I've had her since I was just a year old," Storm explained.
"Wow. You...remember that?" I asked.
"I do now. Those early memories returned to me when I came here," she explained.
"What is this place? Why are we here?" I was still unsure of where we were and how I'd come to be here after the darkness.
"I'm supposed to be here. You, however, should not be." Her smile turned into a grimace as she eyed me.
"Why? Do I not belong here because I'm a human?" I whispered sadly.
Uru whimpered, moving to lay her head in my lap. I smiled, lifting my hand to pet her.
"You don't know what you are, Sealed One?" Storm seemed surprised.
"I don't know what a Sealed One is. I don't know where I am or how I even got here. I woke up to me floating in darkness. I heard voices and then I was in this place," I confessed.
"It's not my place to share what you are now that I belong to this place. But know you are destined for great things, Crimson Arashi. But this place is not for you to begin your journey. You have to go soon," she urged.
"But...what about you? And Uru?"
"Woof, woof."
I grinned, running my fingers through her soft fur. Storm was smiling again, but her eyes were filled with sadness as she looked at both of us.
"You and Uru will be going back. I must stay here."
I frowned and Uru made a soft whimpering noise.
"But why?"
She'd been so kind to me. Even though I was nothing compared to her greatness and status, she still was so kind to me.
"I belong with the dead, Crimson. You do not," she whispered.
"Dead? What do you mean...dead?" My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"When you look out there, what do you see?" Storm pointed to the flashing rainbow lights.
"They're lights? Like from far off buildings of a town or city, right?"
Storm shook her head and her expression softened. "Souls, Crimson. They're the souls of the dead."
My jaw went slack and my eyes went wide at her revelation. "I'm...dead?"
"Not yet. But if you don't return soon, you will be. What's the last thing you remember?"
Last thing I remember...family dinner. Yes, I was scheduled for family dinner. I got sick and James healed me. I went with him and the argument happened. I strolled out and went to the bar. Jeff... two in the morning… I was waiting for James and walked into the alley.
"A stranger bumped into me and knocked me to the ground. He ran off and a group of men followed after him. There was a watch? No, a pocket watch was lying on the ground. I picked it up and accidentally opened it while inspecting it. Someone called out to me, telling me not to open it, but it was too late. There were these five magical beings and they spun into one and crashed into me. Everything went into slow motion and those guys remerged and came running toward me. I fell…the last person I saw was James," I explained as the memories flashed through my mind like a movie.
"Yes. The pocket watch was mine," Storm confessed.
"Yours? But wait. The initials were C.S.," I pointed out.
"I'm aware of that. I'd got it engraved the morning of my death," Storm admitted.
"Whose initials are they?"
"Ours," she revealed.
"Huh?"
She stood, turning to face me. I followed suit and Uru came and sat at my feet.
"Crimson Storm," she declared.
"Crimson...Storm? Why? Wait, did you know you were gonna die?" I had so many questions.
She shrugged, "I think I did at the time. Now, I can’t really remember. As we speak, my memories are already beginning to fade, just as I too will soon become one of those souls. The combination of our names will serve a purpose in time. I can't give you any more information than that. Crimson, you need to leave now." She took a step forward, slipping her hand into mine.
I lowered my gaze, noticing that the hand holding mine was beginning to fade.
"Storm...but, you can't leave," I begged.
I had to face the reality that she was dead and there was nothing I could do to change it, but it was so hard and filled me with sadness.
"I must. But I hope my memory can live on through you. Uru will be by your side as well," she reassured me.
Uru began to whimper, rubbing her head against Storm's legs. She knelt down and hugged her familiar for the last time. When she finished, Uru came to my side and sat by my feet.
Storm rose to face me once more. "Uru isn't a normal familiar. She was created using manipulation magic and can morph into any animal. She prefers being a wolf or an owl, but all you need to do is ask her to be what creature you need her to become and she will obey. She's loyal, loving, and has never left my side. Even during death."
"Woof," Uru replied proudly.
I grinned, placing my hand on her head. "She comforted me when I felt alone," I confessed.
"Trust in her. She'll always pull through when you need her the most."
"I will."
I noticed Storm's legs were now translucent. Tears welled in my eyes and I looked back at Storm's silver ones that were also glossy.
"It was an honor to meet you, Crimson. You should go now before I fade away. Once I'm gone, it will be harder for you to return to the land of the living. Please, leave now."
"But...there's so much I don't know. I'm just a human. I don't know how to use magic. I'm not a shifter. I'm a nobody," I reminded.
She laughed. "Sealed One, you are far from nothing. I suggest you talk to that stubborn man you call your father. He holds secrets that will reveal who you really are. Maybe my memories will be of aid to you," Storm explained, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Half of her body was transparent, becoming little flickers of light that began to drift away on the breeze that passed, heading toward the city of souls.
"Woof." Uru tugged at my jeans, urging me to leave.
I looked back at Storm who nodded in approval. I began to walk away, taking a few steps before the charms on the pocket watch came to mind.
When I turned back, I saw Storm looking up at the sky; only her head and chest remained, floating in the air.
"Storm! The charms! What do they mean?" Her eyes widened at my words as if the question had made her remember something important.
More tears rolled down her flushed cheeks and the regret that morphed on her beautiful face made my heart clench in agony.
"My lovers....there's no more time to explain, Crimson. But please...please, love them. Accept their flaws and differences. They will be lost without me...but with you in their life, they will find themselves again. They will love and be loved. And they will be your greatest allies when all is revealed," she explained.
"Woof! Woof!" Uru began to tug at my jeans again.
"Thank you, Storm Yuna. Thank you for believing in me and entrusting me with Urufu! Rest in peace, my friend...and I won't let you down. I promise."
She smiled, closing her eyes as her final tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I count on it, Crimson Arashi. Be off, Sealed One and follow your heart and dreams."
I turned and ran as fast as I could; a pink door appeared a few feet in front of me. It opened, leading to a bright light. Urufu stopped at the door, waiting for me to reach her before she rushed through.
I looked over my shoulder for one final look, Storm’s head was all that remained, her hair flying in the breeze. The ribbon had faded, leaving the silver locks loose to flow in the wind as cherry blossoms fluttered around her.
She met my gaze, mouthing a final word before closing her eyes, turning into nothing but little particles of light. I cried at the loss, before rushing through the entrance, hearing the door close behind me. Light engulfed me and my consciousness began to fade. The last thing I remembered was Storm Yuna's final word.
Sayonara.
"She's healing well. It won't be long until she wakes up."