Amelia, Ro, Dempsey, and the rest of the Spirit Animals led the way to the shrine Ihaan saw when he woke that morning. They crowded around it, giving Ihaan and Kate the stage.
Ranger Kate rested on the path leading to it while Ihaan stood before it.
The Spirit Animals gave him his cue by nodding their heads.
Ro and Dempsey stood on either side of his arms and glanced at the leaf whistle in his hand.
“Ihaan, it’s time to play ‘Lucilla,’” Ro told him.
Ihaan followed through with her request. He brought the leaf to his lips and blew into it. A melodic tune escaped it.
Just hearing it, Ranger Kate’s jaw dropped. “Lucilla.” She remembered she taught her son that same melody all those years ago. “The Song of the Ghost” was also the “Song of Ranger Kate and Ihaan."
Ro and Dempsey closed their eyes and swayed back and forth to the music, as did the other Spirit Animals.
Behind Ihaan, the shrine shimmered.
Before Kate knew it, a faint, white light outlined her son. It picked him up off the ground and gave him a gentle push. Before long, he floated before Ranger Kate.
Dropping his leaf whistle, he and she hugged each other.
Ranger Kate cried, but not out of sadness. She was happy, happy to know her son was where he belonged. “I love you, Ihaan,” she whispered.
“I love you, too, Mom,” he whispered back.
The Spirit Animals reared and cheered at the sight of the final hug.
Ro soared into the atmosphere and flew in excited circles.
Dempsey started to buck playfully.
Only a little bit later, a gust of wind picked up the Spirit Animals and Ihaan and took them toward the clearing sky.
Ro offered Ihaan her wing, and he gently took it. No longer did his right ankle hurt. He found his destiny, and that was his reward.
“Lucilla’s” melody played in the back of his head the higher he floated. With his free hand, he waved goodbye to Ranger Kate.
She waved back and called, “Bye, Ihaan! Stay safe!”
“Love you, Mom! Bye! Thank you!”
In a blast of light given off by the shrine, Ihaan disappeared.
Right when he did, Ranger Amelia, or Johniela, called for a trail of leaves to circle Ranger Kate. They engulfed her like the flames of a fire and caused her to slip into a much-needed rest.
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