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It was raining in the forest again, a type of day that Cloud usually dreaded. However, this time, he felt unburdened. One might have even said he was blissful. His mind was at ease, the usual flashbacks that often plagued him during the rain were strangely absent. The howling of the wolves, the visions of blood and the roar of the thunder were silent. There was only the sound of the rain.

Cloud found himself galloping through the driving rain, almost dancing. He leapt and turned circles, letting his hooves carry him to nowhere in particular. Soon, he skidded to a dead halt in the birch forest, not far from the playground. He stood still, face turned skyward and his eyes closed tight. Suddenly, a laugh rose in his chest and tore through his throat. He laughed until his sides hurt and tears leaked from the corner of his eyes.

"What’s wrong with me today?" He wondered aloud.

With a shake of his sodden coat, he retreated to his favorite tree near the playground. It offered very little protection from the rain, though Cloud was by now far too soaked to really care about staying dry. He sat for a long while, quietly watching the rain fall from the sky like tears. An ear twitched. Had he heard someone approaching?

"Cloud?"

The gray buck gave a start at the voice. He glanced to his right and froze. Standing there in the pouring rain was Sky. Cloud shakily got to his feet and practically flew down the hill to his brother’s side. It had to be a dream, Sky couldn’t really be there…he couldn’t be. Yet as Cloud ran his muzzle through Sky’s fur he knew it wasn’t a dream. The younger buck was cold, freezing. His scent was eerily nonexistent.

"Sky?! It’s…it’s really you," Cloud said quietly.

"It is."

"How?"

The smaller buck smiled, "Why does it matter how or why? I’m here."

For the first time in the longest time, Cloud’s cold, aloof demeanor vanished. He laughed and smiled as he’d done many years ago. For a moment, he was truly happy. Even as the rain soaked into his coat and chilled him. The two bucks played like they had done, chasing one another around and around, butting heads and play fighting.

Just as things had been.

When Cloud’s energy was spent, he sat beneath a tree with his brother and quietly watched the rain fall.

"I never should have left you behind," The gray buck whispered quietly, "You will still be here if I’d just…"

"No, Cloud," Sky cut in roughly, "No…I never blamed you. What happened was an accident. Neither of us did anything wrong."

"I left you behind. I saved myself…but I didn’t save you. The wolves caught you because of me. Everything is my fault! I should have been the one to die, not you!" Cloud’s voice slowly rose until he was almost shouting. A gentle nuzzle soon quieted him.

"Then I forgive you. Though I don’t believe anything you did was the direct cause of my death I still forgive you. It’s time you let go of the past and moved on," Sky spoke gently, soothingly, "Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting, Cloud. I know that you’re afraid that you’ll forget again but I promise you that you won’t."

"Sky…" The gray buck raised his head and closed his eyes against the rain, allowing it to wash over his face, cleansing him. "Thank you."