Dainu woke back up fifteen minutes later. Amy, Kyle, and I rushed to his side. I put my hand on his forehead, checking his temperature, and felt his pulse.

"Are you OK, Dainu?" I asked him.

Dainu sat up on the couch. "Weak, but I will restore."

"What happened to you?" Amy wondered. "You were fine when you were fighting that gang. It was like you ran out of batteries or something."

"Your wound was incredibly severe," Dainu said, rubbing his eyes. "I had never healed anything that was so intense before. It drained most of my energy."

"Here's some water," Kyle handed Dainu a glass of water. Dainu looked at the glass with uncertainty.

"Don't worry about it, Dainu," I said. "Sanitary or not, water will help you regain your strength."

Dainu took the glass and took two swallows. "I had felt new emotions," he continued. "Emotions that I had never thought I would adapt. I felt it all around me; violence, greed, tyrant, hatred, grudges, and pain, both physically and mentally. I had never known they would cause so much hurt."

"I know it's hard on you, Dainu," I comforted. "Most people can't help it. Many others had tried to convince them, but it is too late for them. That's why we have wars on this planet. I'm so sorry about all this."

"There is no need for you to apologize," he said. "It is not your fault. Someday, your people will soon come to an understanding. I am not dwelling too much on this emotions, I will overcome them."

"That's easy for you to say. Sometimes I can't get over my pains and sorrows. Ever since my dad—" I stopped myself from exposing anymore tears. I also didn't want to make matters worse by mentioning my dad's death to Dainu. It would make more sadness for him. "I envy you, Dainu," I continued after a paused. "You're always happy. You're so cheerful all the time, and you know how to handle rough situations correctly without making matters worse. I wish I was like you."

Dainu emerged his warm, comforting smile. "Do be careful, Kaley," he said, "too much envy will not get you what you desire."

"You're right, I'm doing it again. But I just really like your positivity and happiness. I never met anyone like you."

"Is it my turn yet?" Amy asked jokingly.

Our laughter washed away our troubles.

"Kaley," Dainu finally said, "I was wondering if we can visit someplace quiet and relaxing. Someplace where it is not too exciting and easy for us to meditate peacefully."

I thought about it, but I didn't know where to find a place that was quiet and relaxing. Then I said, "How about the forest? It's quiet and peaceful, and nobody would be out there this season. So we wouldn't worry about you getting spotted."

"The forest would be very pleasurable. I would love to breathe the natural, clean air and feel the environment around me."

"Great! We'll go there tomorrow in the afternoon. You want to come, Amy?"

"I would love to," she said, "but my mom doesn't let me go to the forest. Plus, I have homework to do."

By Saturday afternoon, I picked up Dainu and we headed towards the forest. I wore a sweater to keep warm from the cold breeze. Dainu didn't mind about the cold air at all.

As soon as we entered the amber forest, all we heard was the birds chorusing in the trees, and the wind brushing against the musical leaves on the trees. Dainu stopped in his tracks to breathe in the delicious, cool air. I did the same thing, and for the first time, I realized how spiritually good it feels to breathe in forest air.

Dainu flew with me towards the east, brushing against the leaves and the wind. We spotted a few bird's nest, and I labeled to Dainu what kind of bird it is. When we landed on the ground, we checked out the flowers and ferns. Dainu knew every name of those plants which was complicated for me to remember.

Then Dainu sat on the ground crossing his legs, and closed his eyes in meditation. He told me that if I relax and focus on the beautiful sounds of nature, I would be completely at peace. So I sat down with him, closed my eyes and tried to focus on the sounds of nature. The meditation seemed to wash all of my troubles and bad memories away. I had never been so relaxed and so peaceful in my entire life. And I heard the inner voice of nature for my very first time. I heard a falcon's voice in the sky along with the bird's chorus, pine cones tapping each other like wind chimes, a woodpecker knocking to the rhythm on a tree, and a hummingbird or a dragonfly whispering near my ear (but I didn't flinch). Nature's music had unleashed my inner peaceful.

Suddenly, I heard something that sounded off-key with the nature's music. It sounded like some kind of goose, honking a horrible E flat tune. Dainu heard it too, so we got up and went to find that awful noise.

The flat noise came louder to us as we followed the sound on the right. Finally, we found that goose with the E flat tune. Only it wasn't a goose at all:iIt was a bear cub, stuck in a hollow log with his behind out in view. The poor thing was struggling and wailing out for help.

"Poor thing," I cooed. "Looks like Boo Boo got stuck trying to get some honey."

"I will free him," Dainu said, walking towards the clogged cub.

"Be careful," I warned, hoping Dainu won't accidentally hurt it, and didn't want the cub to bite him in misunderstanding.

Dainu got down onto the bear's level and touched his back area, trying to get an idea on how to set it free without hurting it. Dainu wedged his fingers in between the cub's furry back and the roof of the log, and tore it open in one pull. The cub was free without a scratch. He cuddled on Dainu's lap and licked his hands, thanking him.

"That was amazing," I said, coming towards Dainu. "You split that log without getting a splinter." I knelt down, and petted the cub a little.

We heard a much louder and harsher sound like cub's noise. A bigger bear emerged from the tree, growling at us. I almost fell over when that bear emerge. "Dainu," I gulped in fear, "I think Mama Bear wants its baby back."

"Of course," smiled Dainu. He placed the cub on the ground, and it ran towards its mother. Mama Bear licked her baby on the forehead. I smiled at their Kodak moment. Then Mama and Baby Bear walked away until they were out of sight.

"That was so cute," I wailed. "I should've brought my camera."

"At least, you will treasure this memory in here forevermore," Dainu tapped on the temple of his brain.

"Yeah, you're right."

We walked back to our meditation spot.

A loud, piercing bang echoed throughout the forest. Birds fluttered in every direction out from the trees, squawking and screaming like panicking children. My heart leaped inside my chest when I heard that sound. Dainu also looked startled too, frightened that something could be wrong. There was never a loud noise like this before when I was tuning into nature's music. But I recognized that sound anywhere.

We raced towards the direction where the bears departed from us. Shoving away branches and leaves out of my face, we spotted two men with rifle guns, looking over at something that they had shot. I couldn't tell what that dead thing was because their backs were turned towards us blocking our view. Without noticing, I stepped on a twig, which made a loud snapping noise. The hunters looked up in alarm; Dainu and I quickly ducked behind the bushes.

"What was that?" the first hunter said. "Is it another one?"

"No, I don't think so," said the second. "It could be one 'o them tree-huggin' rangers. Let's get out of here."

"But what about our prize?"

"Forget it. There's more where that came from."

They scurried away until they disappeared into the woods. Those hunters must have been hunting without a permit if they're so worried about the rangers. I hope they get what they deserve in the future. But right now, I don't care about them; I only cared about the poor dead, furry thing that lay motionlessly on the Earth's mud.

I ran out of the bushes, and crouched down next to the Mama Bear's body, examining its wasted, wounded corpse. The bullet mark left a bloody hole into its skin where its heart is. I looked around to see if the bear cub was around or hurt, but he was nowhere in sight. I looked up at Dainu, his expression clueless and questionable.

"It's dead," I said.

Dainu came closer and stroked the bear's fur. "Dead?"

 Was Dainu confused about the meaning of the word or the motionless animal? Has he even heard the word before?

Dainu stood up, tapped the bear with his foot, waiting to see if it will wake up—which was never. Then, Dainu kicked the bear harder the second time.

"Don't do that!" I yelled, almost in tears.

"Why?" he said childishly.

"Don't you get it?" I choked. "It's dead. Killed. Done for. Lifeless. They shot it with that gun."

I think Dainu finally understood what I was saying. His expression turned from confusion to overwhelm. He went down on his knees again, stroked the bear and found its unbeaten pulse in the bulleted heart.

Then, an idea struck to me. "Dainu, maybe you can heal its bullet wound and bring it back to life. You've heal every wound before, maybe you have the power to bring back life. Try it out; I know you can do it."

Dainu stroke the bear's fur smoothly with both of his hands, probably trying to heal it and bring it back. But then he stopped, his hand laid motionless just like the bear.

"I...I cannot—I cannot," he muttered twice, his head hunched over.

Something was happening to Dainu, and it wasn't the fact that he realized he can't bring back the dead. I placed my hand on his shoulder, he was stiffening with tension. I heard a sniff from his nose, but it wasn't from the cold breeze.

"Dainu?" I whispered his name. He slowly brought his head up to look at me. I saw a new expression on his face for the very first time. Wet tear glittered down his soft cheeks, and his eyes burned red around his green iris. His mouth quivered as he tried to speak, but only a quick hiccup popped out from his mouth.

Sadness introduced itself to Dainu for the very first time.

"I cannot, Kaley," he cried. "I tried, but I cannot."

"It's OK, Dainu," I said, choking back tears. "It's OK." But when will it be OK?

I hugged over his shoulders, and he started to sob even harder. His clinched fists and shoulders shook emotionally and uncontrollably. I didn't let go of my embrace until he was done letting it out.

I took Dainu back to Kyle's house after our mourning. Kyle was concerned about the looks on our faces, especially on Dainu's. I explained to him what happened out in the woods. Kyle insisted Dainu to paint to relax and forget about what happen. Dainu refused and went to his room. I left and went to my house, not knowing how to help Dainu.

I didn't check up on Dainu for two days. I still had that painful memory inside of me. I don't even know what to say to him when I visit him. He was probably still depressing over that death experience. I was still wondering why Dainu had cried so much over the bear. I know that when something or someone dies you mourn a little and you move on. But had Dainu ever seen a life and death experience? Was he, like, an immortal and that nobody can die on his planet, and that's why he acted so mournful when he first experience death? I had to know.

I made my decision and went to go check on Dainu and offer him some comfort. That's what friends are for.

I knocked on the door, and Kyle invited me in, knowing what I'm here for.

"Hey, Kyle," I said. "How's Dainu doin'?"

"He's been depressed for two days straight," Kyle told me. "I'm really worried about him. He won't eat or drink anything; he won't do things with me. I tried encouraging him to watch some TV or listen to music, but he won't. I even heard him cry a little in his sleep."

I should've known that.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"He's outside on the back porch."

I went through the kitchen, passed the sculpturing room and made my way into the back porch. Dainu was sitting on a folding chair with his back towards me. He even didn't turn around as I stepped out onto the porch.

I knelt down next to him on the grass, and gently rubbed his hand. His face still remained sad, but there were no tears.

"Dainu, I know what you're feeling," I said gently, "but you really shouldn't carry on like this. It's not healthy, believe me. I know that you are still grieving over the bear, but it wasn't you're fault. You know that. And this is part of life. Every living thing dies when it is their time. It's just how it is. It's bad to kill, but it's not bad to die."

Dainu slowly turned his face to me. "Will you die?" he asked sadly.

"Well...yeah, someday," I said honestly.

"Will...I die?"

I paused and thought about it. "Yeah, someday, you'll have to die."

Dainu groaned and dropped his head. Maybe I shouldn't have been so honest.

"Dainu," I continued. "On your planet, are you guys immortal or something? Have you ever seen or heard of someone dying?"

Dainu lifted his head. "I have heard of the term 'death' before, but I never knew it was real. I thought it was a fictitious myth, but I never knew it was among us."

I understood now. People like him do die like us when it is their time, but not by murder. Maybe Dainu was unaware of these things on his planet and that's why he never seen or been to a funeral. Maybe death was a taboo for them.

"I know what you mean," I said. "When I was a kid, I was unaware of death too. I thought it was only in the movies. But that was until..." I paused myself, holding back so I wouldn't start crying again. "That was when my dad died. He was in a war five years ago. Then one day we got a letter saying that my dad was killed in battle. I cried so hard I almost threw up. At the funeral, Mom was crying so hard. I held it back because I wanted to be stronger, braver like my dad. Mom was in a depression for a week; she couldn't work and she lost her interest in things. But somehow, we managed to get out of it and remembered the happier times with dad. But sometimes, I still miss him."

"Your father must have been a brave man," said Dainu.

"Yeah," was all I said. "You know what my mom told me to not think of death as a bad thing? She told me that every living thing has a soul, and it's the most precious thing on Earth. And when a person dies, their soul lives on, and they move on to a better place."

"To the heavens?" Dainu asked.

"That's right! Most of them go to heaven, and they are happier there than they were on Earth. And they are completely at peace. So when we die, we won't think about the bad things or the pain we feel, our souls will stay alive, until we reach the heavens and be at peace forever."

Slowly, Dainu's bright, cheerful smile emerged. I was so glad he was back to his normal, happier self. It warmed me up instantly with happiness too when I saw that beautiful smile. And I never knew I was so good at this therapy thing.

Dainu looked to the stars in the night sky and said, "Souls never die."