I don't remember much of being the bear, but I remember the instant he was removed from me. I hurt, my body dangling from a cliff into nowhere, screaming everywhere. He was... screaming in a way I never knew, fear, uncertainty, everything he never was when we fought together. He didn't know why he was vanishing, where he was going. I couldn't understand the other demons, but their voices sounded the same. It all just... came out of nowhere. One minute we were fighting - I never knew why, because the bear wanted us to - and the next minute, I was dangling over death and the one person who spoke my language outside of Aulik was being taken from me.
I resent that. I did hate having to kill for him forever, but I resent being alone.
The host of T'akrin - no, Caroline - started to fall, and I took her hand. Immediately, I was flooded by memories of how the bear hated her, but the bird knew her name. I heard a scream across the way as the ground split further, and Yssc cried out. Had his host fallen? I couldn't look, I was focused below as the woman below me struggled to take hold of my arm with her other hand.
You can fall, a voice said, and I understood Her. You should fall. You'll be okay.
I looked to the world above, trying to tune out the people screaming and the voice urging me in my head. I watched the sky, knowing it was the last thing I would see. The clouds churned with dread, my ears ringing.
White wings entered my vision, and I let go.