After a long time simply staring down at the water, the boy finally dipped backwards, and let himself sink beneath the current for a moment, the roar of the river filling his muffled hearing underwater. It was deafening, but it drowned out all of those terrible thoughts for just a moment. It washed away any signs that the tears were ever there at all. Aster rubbed a hand over the back of his head, clearing the dried blood away from his scalp and the little hair he still had. He finally sat back up a while later, leaning forward before simply breathing as the water trickled off of him. He stayed like that for another ten minutes undisturbed by anyone.

Aster submerged himself once more before he finally stood, stepping out of the river with his pants soaked and dripping, and his shirt still a brownish color from the blood. He took a few paces further before he stopped in surprise. Folded neatly upon a nearby boulder was a new pair of pants, a fresh shirt, and a set of new leather boots, all in his size. The boy looked around briefly, and saw nobody. The human dropped his soiled shirt with a plop, and kicked out of his sopping wet pants shortly after. He changed into the fresh clothes without much pause, just going through the motion. He wiped his feet on his discarded pants, and laced up the new boots after. Aster strained as much water as he could from the headband, and tied it around his wrist for the time being. The boy was thankful for the fresh clothes, but he just didn't have the drive to find out who had left the gift. Instead, he headed off towards the battlefield, looking up at the enormous tree at last.

___

Oust had been busy after the first stage of cleanup had ended. The dead that actually had bodies left to bury weren't many in number, and the hare had reshaped the battlefield into a small garden with tiny ponds scattered about with his final act. The fox had tended to the injured quickly enough, so there wasn't much left for the tiger to do to help. Oust knew rest would not come to him for some time, for his mind was still racing from the entire experience... There was one thing the beast still needed to do though, and looking around that battlefield at the garden of flowers left in the wake of death gave the tiger the perfect idea.

Oust stepped off a ways into a particularly dense patch of the flora, knelt down to the earth below, and carefully started picking out longer flowers, laying them in a small pile as he aptly worked on until he had amassed a good amount. It took him about 45 minutes of careful weaving, but just as his mother had shown him in what seemed like a lifetime ago, the tiger had weaved together a flowery crown by the end. The beast stood, cradling the ring of small, white flowers, and started walking off a short ways further near the tree. The fluffy beast Milky was softly strumming their lute for the sleeping, hidden bull on the other side of the tree as they sat cross legged in front of the massive arbor.

The tiger walked up quietly behind the canine, careful to let them finish their song before clearing his throat, drawing their attention. The tiger held the crown out with both hands, and walked up to the beast, gently placing it on their head. He had thought hard on an acceptable apology for lashing out against the canine, and this just seemed like something the dog would like. A very accurate assumption.

Milky gently touched the crown, and his eyes lit up as a happy smile plastered across his face. The simple beast surprised the tiger by letting out a shallow, happy howl in approval as their bushy tail thumped happily behind them. The apology had been more than accepted. The canine gently picked their lute back up, and started strumming a new song. Oust took a seat beside them, and simply listened on, closing his eyes as he inhaled the aromatic scent of the flowers beneath the shade of the great tree. The duo went undisturbed for quite some time, until the crunching of boots filled the tiger's ears.

Oust turned his head, and saw the human approaching the tree. His eyes were low, and the tiger wasn't certain the runt had noticed him at all until he was nearly upon them. When Aster did, he simply gave the pair a passing glance, and looked back forward. The boy didn't say a single word, and just took a seat on the other side of the strumming beast. Aster listened absent-mindedly to the song as he humbly gazed up to the towering tree before him, hating himself for the part he played in the rabbit's end, and for the cold treatment he had given her.

Oust watched him from the corner of his eye, noting how detached the boy seemed. It was like he was halfway there... With a shocking realization, Oust couldn't help but notice something was different about the human. There was a lot less brown in his eyes now. Oust wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but it seemed the flecks of gold had most certainly grown larger in the light of day.

Milky finished his song, and looked over at the human softly with a look of sadness. The beast gently laid the lute down before them, used both hands to carefully lift the flowery crown from their head, and tenderly set it on the Aster's own. Aster gave the beast a forced smile, grateful for the show of kindness, but unable to get a single word of thanks out. Milky didn't need such thanks to make someone feel better, and simply picked back up his instrument before he started playing a new tune. Milky strummed slowly this time, repeating the chords with perfect timing. He replayed this somber opening for a moment, giving the melody time to build into the air.

Oust thought his heart was going to sink to his stomach at the sound... He knew this song... The tiger didn't know what spurred him to do so, but before he realized it, he was already singing. Aster's weary eyes went wide when that Oust began. Oust was using that softer voice of his... The one he had first apologized to the simple beast with before... The smoothness and the lightness of such a pained tone made for a very somber and humbling performance, even for such a simple lullaby.

Aster was caught off guard, and felt himself get pulled into the song, helpless against such a tender performance. There was something medicinal in the way it made his heart ache in yearning for things to be different. His eyes clenched tightly as the tears were forced from him without mercy as he simply listened to the lyrics closely.

`I'll hold you tight, till you feel right. I'll sing to you this lullaby. Just stop your fight, and rest tonight. And wait right here for morning's light.

So cry no more, your painful roar. Move on from where you were before. Should hearts at war, leave you too sore? Know that is what I am here for.

So stay your claws, and tired paws, Come hide with me, escape from all. If doom befalls, away we'll crawl, never again to feel too small.

Now stop your chase, just lie in place, I'll keep you in a close embrace. Kiss on your face, your fears erased, I'll hold your hand, for just in case.

I'll hold you tight until you feel right. I'll sing to you this lullaby. And if your fight should lead to plight, I'll guide you through the darkest night.

And if your fight should end in plight, May this song guide you to the light.'

When the tiger finished, and as the last note hummed off into the distance, the human finally stood. With eyes still leaking out tears, the boy turned back towards the simple beast and gently returned their flowery crown in gratitude. Everything still hurt, but there were the faintest traces of a soft smile on the human then. Aster briefly made eye contact with Oust, gave the beast a slow nod in thanks, and stepped away, leaving the great living monument to their fallen ally behind as he made his way back towards the town. He only made it a few paces before he heard another set of footsteps behind him. The boy turned to see Oust following him. The tiger called out to the human.

"Where are you going?"

Aster almost let himself laugh, but he only turned his head forward and answered the beast behind him.

"I honestly don't even know..." He kept walking, never passing another glance back towards the tiger trailing behind him. He made it back to the village before he even realized it and simply turned up the main road, noting how much quieter the place seemed, even in such broad daylight.

'How much less alive it is...' Aster couldn't stop the thought from crossing his mind if he wanted to, but honestly, he was still far too tired to fight it.

***

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