<em>I watched as Shenyo took the body and leaped into the mighty river that flowed by the flaming castle. There was no anxiety or real need for urgency for I felt nothing. No alarm. No grief. Only detachment. Had I fulfilled my destiny? Does anyone? One thing I could not figure out was why I was not rising toward that bright white light on the horizon.<br/><br/>Nothing had prepared me for the eventuality that being dead would bring hesitation. I watched Shenyo labor over the body, begging it to Come on. Where I wondered? Where was the body supposed to go? Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Shenyo did not know it, but his spirit hovered over his form as well. His life force was weak. I had to blink to determine if I was seeing double, or if he indeed was close to the ethereal form.<br/><br/>I saw him cut his paw, foolish boy. He had lost much blood this night. Did he even have more to share? Once again, I felt no remorse or need to warn him away from his decision. Life was not so precious anymore. Would I be with Shenyo in the ether? I didn’t know. For the first time a doubt crossed my mind. I think I wanted to be with him.<br/><br/>Why did I want Shenyo over the afterlife? That could not be. The light beckoned me. The body still had a tiny life spark and Shenyo’s blood was fanning that into a flame.  I felt the pull yet, I was unsure.</em><br/><br/>The blood flowed into Lydia's grievous head wound, mingling with what little blood she had left. Her heart skipped a beat.<br/>