The battle had been won, yet that wasn't to say nothing had been lost. Although the army that had marched over the mountains had been victorious Koda only felt defeat heavy in his limbs. He had tried to protect those dear to him by removing the blight in the dark misty forests here, but he had allowed one of those closest to him to fall. He tried to remind himself that he couldn't be sure yet, and that there was still a chance that Cisco would make it out alright. But the sinking feeling that had been dogging at him since seeing the cinnamon toned wolf stumble and fall just could not be shaken. He hated to admit it, but he was sure Cisco's last moments were soon in coming. For that reason, he'd sent @Nina to move on ahead, knowing there was nothing the healer could do for his old godfather. With a promise to catch up with her, sent her on ahead, though he half expected that she might just wait up only a short ways off for him anyways.

As Koda returned to Cisco, tired legs running as fast as they could, the metallic tang of the Aniwaya blood was still thick upon the air. The vile woman's blood coated his own maw and dulled his senses, but not enough to mask Cisco's own bleeding. If Cisco had killed whoever he'd fought, it was hard to tell. At Cisco's rasping voice Koda ran even faster, calling to the old wolf. "Cisco! Cisco, I am right here, friend." Koda tried to hold back the tremble from his own voice. He didn't want Cisco to hear the fear that gripped at him, to worry about him in what was likely Cisco's last few moments. But Koda was afraid, afraid to lose dear Cisco, afraid of what would lie ahead when the last fragment of his old life -- the only life he could remember -- faded away in a manner as sudden and tragic as the flames that had torn away the rest of it.

Koda slowed as he drew close, a low whine as he saw how torn up Cisco was up close. Each step he moved lower and lower, until his own nose was only inches away from Cisco's. "Please don't..." Koda began, unsure of what he could say. Don't die, don't go? Silly things to say now, when it was out of anyone's control. No bitter herbs or any amount of rest would help him here. His eyes flicked into the forest beyond Cisco before settling back towards the male. "Who did this to you?"

Koda tried to return Cisco's smile, but the expression was only a superficial covering towards his own distress. He couldn't fathom how Cisco managed to be so calm right on death's doorstep. With Cisco's warning to keep his distance Koda pulled back slightly, but kept as close to the elder as he could. Each hollow cough from the dying wolf brought a shiver down Koda's spine, and the distant croaking of ravens approaching chilled him further.

As Cisco told him of what had happened, he couldn't help but feel pride in the old wolf. Cisco's kindness and generosity had made him a role model for Koda growing up, someone to look up to just as much as he did his own father. Even his last act had been a gift to save the others, an act that Koda immensely appreciated though he couldn't help but wonder if there could have been another option. Now it was too late, and even if by some miracle Cisco could pull through his wounds, the disease was in his veins.

"I can't... We can't thank you enough for what you've done. Your sacrifice has helped us all." Koda said with his head ducked slightly. "I'm not sure where my future is headed now," Koda gave a tired laugh in spite of himself, "Without Windsong, without you, all I have left is a future." The Windsong pack was a past he could not return to, but the only one he could recall. By some fortune he at least could remember Nina his love, but he knew many other things of his life in Relic Lore were still hidden to him. Somewhere lurking inside Koda knew the Lore lived, but when or where inside he would find man who had led Willow Ridge he couldn't tell. "I'm scared," Koda admitted. While there was much to look forward to, Nina and their cubs, their fledgling woodlands pack, there was still the unknown lying both ahead and behind him and without Cisco he wasn't sure what to do.

Somewhere in the back of his mind gears were turning, processing what Cisco had said in ways Koda couldn't consciously fathom. The front part of his mind screamed that he couldn't just let Windsong go like that and move on, as if it was to turn his back and abandon his own family. But logically he knew Cisco was right, that he had to let them all go and move on to the future he did have ahead of him. The darkest of shadows had the brightest of lights before them, and moving out of this trying time Koda had a beautiful mate and their children waiting for them. Koda sighed, lying down and setting his head on the ground, sure to maintain some safe distance between him and Cisco. It felt like his heart was breaking to watch the old wolf dying infront of him, but inside him the shattered pieces were fitting back together.

"Cisco, I can promise you that," He said quietly. Memories were to be cherished and respected for their fleeting beauty, not held tight and crushed under his paw with fear that they would run away from him. With that, he realized that was the base of it, that he was afraid if Cisco left he would simply forget everything just as easily as he had forgot Relic Lore. It wasn't a rush or anything like he had expected, but it all flowed back to him now. Like fitting the last puzzle piece into place and stepping back to view the whole picture, Koda saw it all now. Arriving at Relic Lore tired but hopeful, taking up the reigns at Willow Ridge and all who he met, were bits of that puzzle he could now see. An honest smile lit up Koda's face, glad to give Cisco some more good news before he left. "Cisco, it's all back to me now, my time in Relic Lore. I cannot thank you enough for being here when I needed you most, and your sacrifice was a gift to us all. It was an honor knowing you, friend." A shimmer of unshed tears lit up his honeyed eyes, but the smile on his face did not faulter.