The Keepers [TKS#1]

21. Chasing Arang

Ilang saglit pay naramdaman namin ang pagbulusok ng malakas na hangin mula sa aming likuran kasunod nun ay ang paglipad ng mga natuyong dahon. Nahulaan ko agad ang naging transformation ni Silex.

"Oh gosh... one giant bird!" Amber exclaimed in awe. Hindi na nasundan yun ng anupang salita dahil sa mangha niya.

The bird is almost fifteen feet tall. It has a metalic shield on it's head and a golden pair of claws. It's beak is gold as well with his eyes as deep as the blue waters. The feathers are like snow na kasing kulay ng buhok ni Silex at ng iba pang mga taga Westeros. It looked like a giant golden eagle used for combats on myths. Nakakabilib ang ability ni Silex at tiyak kinikilig na naman si Amber sa pinamalas ng crush niya.

"Amber! Let's go!" Tinapik ko pa ang namamanghang si Amber na tila nahipnotismo sa nakita. "AMBERRRR!" Kulang na lang hampasin ko ito ng hawak kong bag para magising.

"Ruuuuuh!"

"Oh! Sorry! Ang cute cute kasi ng bird." Palusot pa nito habang mabilis na dinadampot ang mga gamit ni Silex.

Napailing na lang ako bago sumakay sa likuran ng higanteng ibon.

***

SILEX

Everytime I transform, my senses are hightened. My vision -triple times clearer and sharper. I can hear sounds, movements or anything created by a sudden motion that brings sound waves even miles away. I can sense the smell of danger and of my prey.

I learned that I am an animorph when I was four years old but that's a long story to tell. Basta ang alam ko, hindi ko 'to gusto dati. Being an earth keeper with the special hightened ability of the animals, Cairos taught me how to enhance my power. I learned how to create shield as well as built-in weapon and use my keep which is the earth even when I'm in animal form.

Sana natutuhan ko 'to ng mas maaga bago siya nawala. Sana naipagtanggol ko siya. Sana nandito pa siya. Flying always bring me some memories of the past. Laging bumabalik ang nakaraan na hindi ko parin nakakalimutan ilang taon na ang lumipas.

"Wala na bang ibibilis 'to?" Sigaw saakin ni Amber habang lulan ko sila at tinatahak namin ang madilim na kagubatan ng Parisi.

She's one amusing girl. Kung buhay pa sana siya, tiyak matutuwa din siya kay Amber. Pilit ko pang iniiwas ang isip ko sa mga bumabalik na ala-ala para makapagfocus.

"Fly fast and furious! Swiftly o kung anumang mas mabilis pa dun!!! Kailangan nating makuha ang buntot ni Arang bago tayo kalbuhin ng biyudang si Fhaun!" I heard her again. "Sa oras na mabigo tayo, bubunutin ko lahat ng balahibo mo at ikaw angs gagawing handaan sa aniversary ng Cairos!"

"Ruruu..."

"Amber relax Silex is trying to focus." Sita ni Lara kay Amber.

Exact opposite talaga ang dalawa pero nagkakasundo naman sa lahat ng mga bagay. I like Amber. I like how she makes me smile because of her extraordinary sense of humor. She looks like her.

Ilang kilometro pa ang nilipad ko bago ko matunton ang ninetails na ilang metro lang agwat kay Alvis. Nasa di kalayuan naman si Laurent na mas bumilis. I was thinking may ginamit itong kapangyarihan o may tumutulong dito para mas bumilis at mahabol si Arang. Sadya ngang si Arang ang pinakamabilis na ninetailed fox kasi kahit na isang wing bearer ay natatakasan nito at pati ako na akala ko'y napakabilis na ng anyong ibon na 'to ay hindi parin makahabol.

I cleared my senses again. My vision was tripled trying to focus on the white fox. It was so fast!

Damn!

Mas bumilis ito ng takbo at mukhang hindi na siya kayang habulin ni Alvis. I felt his leg movement. It's taking a pivot kaya nililigaw nito si Alvis. Iikot ito at babalik sa sanctuary nito marahil.

Jeez! Umikot na siya! Hindi siya nasundan ni Alvis!

Nang makita kong naligaw si Alvis at umikot pabalik si Arang, bumaba ako ng ilang metro. Tatangkain kong salubungin si Arang sa kakahuyan.

Amber. Lara. Kapit! I wished they could hear me as I flew slantingly downward to cross Arang's path. Isandaang metro na lang ang layo nito when my senses captured a strange movement on the forest. It's not Alvis and not Laurent. I know how they move and their scent. Napansin kong hindi lang ito iisa kundi grupo ng mga paggalaw.

Holly shit! Who are those freaks?

As I flew downward, parang mas lalo pa silang lumapit. They were aiming at us and not the ninetailed fox. I felt their tendons moved like they are stretching bows with an arrow formed from dark keeps. Nagdesisyon akong bumalik ng lipad pataas when I was a meter above the trees pero huli na ang lahat.

A sudden rain of dark purple arrows took my wings. Tila isang milyon iyong bloke ng bato na tumama sa katawan ko. The attack broke my wings. I lose control. We fell...

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