There were so many colors. But not reds or greens because elephants are red-green color blind. All the other colors, though. Miri was floating, which was an extra strange sensation considering she had weighed over 2 tons for her entire life. But she was, in fact floating. And some random lady was stumbling and no one had confirmed that she was a good war elephant. In fact, the wretched mouse said that she wasn’t. So did Nem. Which hurt Miri deep in her elephant soul as it left her body. But that was okay. Neither of them was Michael, so their opinions didn’t matter one bit. She didn’t really need anyone to tell her she was the best. She knew it in her giant elephant heart.

So as Miri floated up to war elephant heaven—where all of her bestest friends were waiting. All the gods, a strange frog man dressed like Hercules, a snow leopard (much less scary than a tiger), a provocative strawberry, a hedgehog potential traitor, and so many other wonderful friends. Miri was at peace. That was all that mattered in the end. If the goddess of the stars didn’t believe in her, so what? This insanely long-winded joke was proof enough. All the future generations of Aeipathy would know her name by the immortalized award next to her name. And when newbies, with their cute green names, pointed and asked, “Mother Asteria? Please tell me the legend of Miri the War Elephant again. It’s my favorite story.” Asteria would have to oblige. So, really, who won in the end?

As a last gift for the realm of humans, Miri called down from the heavens in Set’s voice. The sand on the battlefield started to swirl, mingling with gently falling rain. “I bless the rains down in Africa. Thank you.”

Always the war elephants.