The bodies on the battlefield tell the story of a desperate fight.

  Many Ponu died defending a people who hate them.

  The Dowath sweep the perimeter looking for fleeing enemy.

  Kallian's men converge on him, celebrating their leader's triumph.

  Dana and JaKaelath smile. Her energy wings activate by mistake.

  "Fairy wings, eh?" Dana says, "Not me, but hey, you do you."

  JaKaelath laughs, and the wings deactivate.

  Joric looks at Kallian's men celebrating, then back at JaKaelath and gives a wink, a sign that he realizes who really won this victory.

  JaMaya, Joric and JaLena all move to embrace their Ponu-suited friend.

  Kragon, in the distance, only holds his head down as he goes to check on Janeda. Still, a smile comes across his face.

  Drookan lands, JaKaelath runs into his arms, and they embrace. Her friends are shocked, but she is the hero of the day; anything she wants to do is hers to do. Kragon, looking on at the door of Janeda's tent, realizes it's truly over; she has moved on.

  JaKaelath says there is one thing she still has to do. She walks over to the celebrating Kallian and, catching him by surprise, staggers him with a punch. He gets up, but another series of blows knocks him down again. He is on his knees, and her knee connects with his chin. JaKaelath, with tears in her eyes, screams, "Her name was Francesca, you heartless bastard!"

  Kallian's men look like they might intervene, but Drookan snarls at them, a sign not to interfere unless you want to feel his wraith.

  She hugs Drookan and walks back. They pass Audrey tending to Patty, who received a slight shoulder wound, "Miss Kaela, that was awesome, you have amazing fighting skills. Can you teach me how to fight like that one day? I would love to learn. This was so wonderful, we helped all these people and I..."

  Audrey cuts her off, "I think Kaela has more things to do, Patty, btw, you did well, kid."

  Kaela moves towards the young woman and hugs Patty. It's not just a hug to a young admirer. Patty is a surrogate. It's really, finally, a hug to all of her Ponu sisters. She embraces the young Ponu woman tightly before looking into her hopeful eyes and seeing a twinkle of Francesca in them.

  Audrey is quick to mention, "Hey, no offense, but I'm not a hugger, besides these suits feel so bare, makes me feel like I'd be hugging someone naked. JaKaelath laughs, "You'd make a wonderful scavenger, Audrey." The Ponu warrior woman laughs.

  laughter and celebration turn to heartbreak.

  The remnants of the Geeryo Ponu are brought to the center of the camp. For the newly awakened Ponu, mercy will be applied. They will be taken to another Dowath cave, allies, the "Purple Eyes". There, they will be monitored; if they are able to break their conditioning, then they can live in the cave city.

  Not all are able to go. Of the 100 Geeryo previously mind-controlled Ponu, the few males begin to slowly succumb to "the sickness". Cots are brought out of the scavenger tents, and they are given a place to rest. One Pono woman from the cave sits with each of their brothers, holding their hand as they slip from this world by the incurable sickness. Confused and scared, not really knowing why they were just made to fight people they didn't even know.

  Many tears are shed by the Ponu women watching their brothers expire.

  However, for "One", there will be no mercy.

  She will be taken to the "Grey Eyes", another Dowath tribe, while on friendly terms with the cave Dowath, they are known for their intense dislike of Ponu and cruelty when they get a chance. She will be delivered to them as someone who tried to bring about not only the end of the friendly Ponu, but the end of the Dowath race as well. The Grey eyes will not be kind.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Before she leaves, JaKaelath laughs. She finds in the wreckage of the transport a bag containing her scavenger clothes.

  Kallian and his men also leave the camp, leaving only those who lived there.

  As the Red Band leaves, a chant erupts from her camp's locals, "JaKaelath, JaKaelath, JaKaelath!"

  -------

  Back at the cave, there is a celebration. Dana honors Lana and Erin for helping save the cave and their lives.

  Dmoko and Dmeko celebrate as well. They just defeated Geeryo in battle. He begins to see the Ponu as worthy of being in the cave.

  Audrey shyly retreats from the celebration, only wanting a good nap. Satisfied that she was finally able to put her training to good use.

  Patty celebrates by telling every detail of her adventure to a crowd and how heroic Ms. Kaela was.

  The food and drinks flow as Ponu and Dowath alike revel in their victories on the day.

  As the night and celebration drags on, JaKaelath walks around the scene. She sees about 5 drunk Ponu linked in arms singing a song, badly, slurring, but with passion. It's a song JaKaelath has never heard before. It's something about being drunk and not able to make it home.

  JaKaelath thinks she knows where home is and heads directly there.

  Deep inside the cave, Drookan sits on the shore of the cave lake, contemplating the events that happened recently. He hears a voice. It's JaKaelath. She is in her Ponu suit but carrying her scavenger clothes.

  "You know, I always wondered what it was like to take a quick dip in that lake. btw, that lingering attachment I mentioned before. It's gone. Not that it's important to you, but I just thought you should know. It's gone and never coming back.

  She removes her Ponu suit and dives in. Drookan stands, stunned by the beauty of his Ponu.

  She waits, wondering if he will still be there when she emerges.

  She emerges, wet and bare. No ponu suit, no scavenger clothes, just JaKaelath.

  She walks towards him. He grabs her by the waist and pulls her in. Then, they kiss passionately. His hand glides across the Ponu woman's body, sending JaKaelath into an explosion of ecstasy. They both longed for this.

  She emerges, wet and bare. No ponu suit, no scavenger clothes, just JaKaelath.

  She walks towards him. He grabs her by the waist and pulls her in. Then, they kiss passionately. His hand glides across the Ponu woman's body, sending JaKaelath into an explosion of ecstasy. They both longed for this. Then, they consummate their relationship as Drookan enters JaKaelath. She had never known such a feeling, and he had never experienced anything like what he felt with this Ponu woman. It is like their bodies are in tune. Their bodies ebb and flow in movement that seems to last forever. She opens her eyes, mouth wide, only to close them as he tilts her head back. This is her Dowath making love to her, and she is his Ponu, she is his and is loving it.

  His eyes are fixed on the Ponu woman as his breathing becomes more intense. He pins her arms and sees a smile come across her face as she then wraps her legs around his waist.

  This is what they both want, and then suddenly, it comes. First, he sees JaKaelath make a shrieking, moaning sound as her head tilts back, mouth open. The sight of her reaching that point tips his scale also, and before he knows it, his body tightens into spasm. It lasts unusually long. Finally, he collapses. He opens his eyes, seeing his Ponu smiling, looking at him.

  -------

  Weeks later, in the Great Northern Forest. The tribe of JaKaelath's mother sees a procession moving in. The scavengers of JaKaelath's old village, including her friends JaMaya, JaLena, Joric, and even Kragon and the others.

  Led by JaKaelath with her Dowath, Drookan walking by her. This will be their new home. Dmoko and Dmeko, plus a few more Dowath have traveled with them for protection across the great rugged plains but will return to their home, the cave city. Janeda, in her wagon, looks around at the faces of all her new friends.

  For Drookan, this will be his home now.

  Kragon looks and sees his horse, Whisper, still there where JaKaelath left him. He smiles. He looks back at JaKaelath, and an understanding forms between them.

  She cannot tell the Cave Ponu what he has done. They will be just as angry about the death of Francesca, and many will want revenge. This new friendship, this new safety between the scavengers and Ponu would be instantly destroyed. Too many have died for her to let that happen, she thinks. She must keep it hidden.

  They will co-exist here in the safety of the Great Northern Forest. She believes he is not truly evil, but the things he will do to achieve the right or just end, can be terrible. Here in peace, maybe the old Kragon can return and make someone happy, but that person can never be her, not after Francesca.

  As for her, she is happy. After settling in, she gives a wink to Drookan, and he knows what she wants. She puts on the Ponu suit, and he grabs her by the waist, and they fly, far above the camp. He lets go, and the pink energy wings of the suit expand. She is flying. She looks at him and smiles. She is having the time of her life.