Nita and I walked on in silence. Our destination was not far from here and who knows, we might even see Kenai earlier than we expected. There have been so many times where I nearly got into trouble with a couple other bears because I mistook them for being people. Overall, it has technically been around nine months since Kenai has been a bear. The first month, Kenai and Koda visited the village fairly often, but when the second month rolled around, I hardly saw him. Honestly, I suspect that Kenai just lost track of time. Pairing Koda and Kenai together, those two kind find an adventure pretty much wherever they go.

        "So, Tehya. What was it like for you when you were a bear? Was that part true?" Nita wondered.

        "That part was true. Being a bear had Kenai and I take on a whole new perspective of the world. There's so much misunderstanding between the bears and the humans. It was a once in a lifetime experience. Towards the end, I was definitely ready to become human again. I do miss Kenai a lot though. More than he'd ever realize, but I am glad that he is happy and that Denahi and I are also doing well. So, it's all good in the end." I explained.

        Over the past couple months, there were a couple times when I would wake up in the middle of the night with tears streaming down my face. The dreams that caused this were memories. Of Sitka, Denahi, Kenai, and I all together and happy. Then, I'd wake up and be faced with reality. That old life is gone and a new life has begun. There was only one person I told this too and it was Denahi.  Denahi tells me that there is good to remember the past, but not to dwell on it because it could become dangerous. He tells me to focus on the little blessings that we have right here right now in the present and that's what I've been doing my best to do. Kenai and Koda are alive, healthy, and happy. Denahi and I are alive, healthy, and happy as well and I also have Ahanu. We've all had to adapt to our new environment, but each of us has another to lean on. We might not all be together at the moment, but we're with each other in our hearts.

        "It must be hard." Nita said.

        "There have been difficult moments, but, we're all where we're meant to be." I said.

        "Are there ever days where you wish that Kenai was still human?" Nita wondered.

        I stopped and crossed my arms. A tear trickled down my face. Nita noticed this and embraced me saying, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that."

        "It's okay. Of course, I would love it if Kenai became human again, but I could never ask that from him. Koda, the bear cub he's looking after, needs him and he's the sweetest little cub you'll ever meet." I said.

        We continued on in silence for a while and I noticed Nita climb onto a log. Then, she pointed her spear towards the log. What was going on? Suddenly, a bear rose up behind Nita and roared. The bear knocked Nita to the ground a few feet away. The bear charged towards her, grabbed her by the shirt, and lifted her into the air.

        "Nita!" I shouted. I ran over to her, then the bear suddenly dropped her and the bear said, "Nita?" He turned around and when he saw me his eyes widened, "Tehya?" It was Kenai! I smiled and was about to hug him, until Nita started hitting him with the spear and she yelled, "Run, Tehya!" Kenai grabbed the spear and gently lowered it to the ground and said, "Nita, it's me. Kenai."

        "Kenai?" Nita questioned. Kenai nodded and Nita said, "Is it really you?"

        "Yeah. It's really me." Kenai said.

        "Wow! I heard you were a bear and Tehya kind of described what it was like. I just didn't realize that you look so much like a bear." Nita said.

        "Yeah. Well, look at you. You've really changed. Wait a minute. You can talk! I mean, you can understand me?" Kenai questioned.

        "Yeah. The spirits did it so that when I found you, I could talk to you." Nita explained. Okay. Nita forgot to mention that part to me and I was very surprised.

        "Whoa. Wait a minute. You've been looking for me?" Kenai questioned.

        "This is why." Nita said and she pulled the amulet from her bag. I sat there on the log mildly annoyed that I was being ignored, but kept silent as I recalled while it's been months for me, it's been years for her since she has seen my dearly beloved brother, Kenai.

        "You've kept this? After all these years." Kenai said and he went deep into thought. I coughed alerting them to my presence. Kenai snapped out of his thoughts and said, "Oh right. Uh, Tehya..."

        "You told me you lost that amulet. Do realize how mad I was at you for that? You could've just told me! Also, do you realize how long it's been since I've last seen you?" I asked raising my voice and then I screamed in rage, "EIGHT MONTHS!" Kenai looked frightened and he ought to be. He stuttered, "Well, I uh. K-Koda and I... s-sort o-of just lost track of time."

        "Uh-huh. When you, Nita, and Koda get back from your trip, we're going to have a little chat." I threatened.

        "Wait. What trip?" Kenai questioned. He turned to Nita for explanation.

        "The great spirits told our shaman that this amulet bonds us as one." Nita said.

        "Really?" Kenai questioned getting excited.

        "So, now, you and I have to Okani Falls-" Kenai interrupted her by saying and said, "Together like when we were kids?" Then, Nita finished, "And burn it." To this Kenai said without registering what she was saying, "And burn it! Burn it? What?"

        "It's no big deal. It's only a little trinket." Nita said.

        "Excuse me?" I questioned now getting mad along with Kenai who said, "Little trinket..."

        Nita seemed to realize her mistake and said, "Oh. What I mean is that we were silly kids. They won't let me get married until it's destroyed." I looked at Kenai and he looked at me and I could tell that we were on the same page in this argument. She seems to have forgotten that I was the one who made that amulet. Perhaps, I also should've explained to her why I made it for Kenai in the first place and the importance behind it.

        "Let me think about this... Sorry. Can't help you." Kenai said.

        "What?" Nita questioned surprised. She really should've chosen her words better.

        "So, have fun burning the silly little trinket on your own." Kenai said.

        "You don't understand. We have to burn it together. Otherwise it won't work-" Nita was interrupted by another voice who asked, "What won't work?" We turned to see Koda. I bounded towards him and scooped him up in a hug while exclaiming, "Koda! I've missed you so much!"

        "I missed you too, Tehya, but I... can't breathe!" Koda gasped. My eyes widened and I let go. Koda sighed in relief.

        "Uh. Nita, this is my brother, Koda. Koda, this is Nita. Nita, Koda. Koda, Nita." Kenai introduced. Then, Koda exclaimed, "So, you're Nita! Kenai was just dreaming about you." Nita and I laughed and Kenai tried to protest against it, but Koda said, "Was too! He was like: NITA, NITA!" Kenai covered his mouth. Ah, Koda. He never ceases to make me laugh.

        "Well, it's been nice talking to you, but Koda and I have big plans to go to Crow berry Ridge. Tehya, you coming?" Kenai questioned. I nodded and walked next to them leaving Nita behind. Nita protested, "Wait! You're just going to walk away. You're not going to help me take care of this?"

        "Nope." Kenai stated and I chuckled.

        "You know, neither of us can get on with our lives until we burn this amulet." Nita tried to persuade.

        "I'll take my chances." Kenai said not worried in the slightest.

        "Okay. Fine. Fine. I guess I'll just wait for them to turn you back into a human and send you to find me." Nita said. I stopped at this and glanced at Kenai. Koda jumped off Kenai and said, "Would they do that?" Kenai tried to assure him that wouldn't happen and Nita wondered how he knew this. Koda said, "What if they did turn you back into a man? Then, we wouldn't be brothers anymore."

        "No, Koda. That's not..." Kenai was at lost for words. He glared at Nita. I was shocked to say the least thinking about that possibility. Like I told Nita before, it was always a secret dream of mine. I just hope that she won't ever tell Kenai about that dream.

        "Fine. Okay. We'll go to Okani Falls. But, right after that, guys, just the three of us, we'll race down to Crow berry Ridge." Kenai promised. Koda made him pinky swear. I crossed my arms and looked away slightly heartbroken. I shouldn't have even let myself even slightly hope for that dream to come true. I quickly recollected myself hoping that no one noticed it until I saw Nita glance over at me silently asking if I was alright. I nodded and kept telling myself in my head that Kenai will always be my brother no matter what and I did consider Koda as my little brother, but I know that he and Kenai have a much stronger bond.

        I was broken from my thoughts as I heard Kenai and Koda chuckle. Nita walked over towards us and said, "Then, it's settled. Ready?"

        "As I'll ever be." Kenai grumbled.

        "Um. Okani Fall is this way." Nita said pointing in the opposite direction that Kenai was going. I chuckled knowing that Kenai was just as bad with directions as I was. I'm just thankful that I've spent a lot of time in these woods, so I know where I'm going for the most part, but there's still a lot left to explore in these woods that my village and I have yet to discover.

        "I knew that. I knew that." Kenai said.

        "No, he didn't." I said.

        "Kenai has a lousy sense of direction." Koda finished. Kenai protested against this and Koda began telling stories about it. They were walking away, but stopped when they noticed that I wasn't following them. I guess that this is where we part ways for now. Kenai turned towards me and questioned, "Aren't you coming, Tehya?" I shook my head.

        "I can't. I'm needed back at the village. I have about two days before Denahi gets back from his hunt with the other members of the tribe. I'm going to enjoy my free time while I can. Besides, I have a feeling that this trip is just for you, Nita, and Koda. I'll see you guys when you get back. But, don't think that you're still out of the woods yet, Kenai. We're still going to have that chat about visiting your family more often." I said. Kenai chuckled nervously. I waved goodbye and went back into the woods towards the village...

        A Month Later

        News was spreading like wild fire. Nita and Kenai were getting married. I was so excited for Kenai, but I wasn't expecting it at all. I had always assumed that their friendship was more like Ahanu's and I, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

        Apparently, after I left them, Nita and Kenai had fallen in love with each other, but when they burned the amulet, Nita could no longer understand Kenai. Nita went to marry Atka, but Koda interrupted the wedding and Kenai went to save him. Atka and Kenai got into a huge fight, which nearly killed Kenai, but he survived. He did have the choice to become human again, but chose to still stay with Koda. Instead, Nita became a bear and they were now getting married tomorrow.

        Denahi, Koda, and I were with Kenai and Denahi was teasing Kenai endlessly calling him lover boy, but, overall, I knew that he was happy for his little brother. I laughed along with them, but I secretly feared that this would cause Kenai to disappear and not visit us for even longer than the last time. Denahi excused himself and Koda decided to go see Nita. This left Kenai and I alone for the first time in 10 months. It was slightly awkward for a moment, but Kenai said, "Tehya, while Nita and I were traveling to Okani Falls, Nita accidentally let slip that you wished that turn back into a human. Is that true?"

        My eyes widened in surprise, but I wasn't going to lie to him. I said, "Yes, it's true, but I know that Koda needs you and I could never ask you to do that." I explained to him everything that happened during the nine months of separation including the dreams. I was expecting to be reprimanded for this, but, instead, Kenai simply hugged me and I let loose tears that I didn't realize that were needed to be shown. I knew that they were not tears of sadness, but more so tears of shame. I was ashamed for the wish.

        "Tehya, there are times when I wish to be human again as well. I sometimes have those dreams of the four of us being together too. There is nothing to be ashamed about. We both understand why it can't be, but I promise that I'll visit as often as I can. You were right. It was inexcusable that I stayed away so long from the village. I'm sorry." Kenai said.

        "I'm sorry too. I should've also made more of effort to find you and Koda during those 9 months." I said wiping away my tears. I felt like a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt happier that I had been in months.

        "Never be afraid to talk to me about this stuff, okay?" Kenai questioned.

        "Okay." I said.

        "Pinky swear?" Kenai wondered with a grin on his face. This made me laugh and I stated, "Pinky swear."

        The next day, I witnessed my brother get married to love of his life. All around, I noticed very familiar faces. I saw Tug, Rutt, and Tuke. They had all found someone and I was happy for them. I noticed that Kenai was struck with a pine cone and I looked in the trees to see raccoons. I chuckled.

         I was no longer worried. I trusted that Kenai would visit more often and I would be able to see him, Koda, and Nita more often. I also promised myself that I would make more of an effort to visit them as well. This was a journey that was much needed. I am glad to have nearly everyone back in my life now. And, as an added bonus, I now have a new sister.

        For the first time in ages, I truly felt at peace.