Never Be Tamed

Chapter 27: Training Camp

"Let them take it, Eleanor," sabi ni Anabeth.

I gingerly gave them the bag of medicines. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Tila nabigla ang order sa tanong ko. "Okay lang, Miss. Trabaho namin ito."

We started the hike nang makapaghanda ang lahat. At first, the hike looked similar to foraging, with flat forest ground, mossy terrain and occasional slopes. Wala kaming naging problema sa pagtawid sa mga batis o pag-akyat sa pataas na daan.

But the terrain got stiffer the more we hiked up to the top of the  mountain. The mossy forest ground covered in fern transformed to half rocks and boulders. I tried to hike carefully nang walang masyadong tulong mula sa dalawang orders na kasama namin para hindi sila  maabala.

We reached a tall boulder with sharp stone edges na kailangan naming akyatin. Kasing taas ito ng dalawang tao. Nauna ang isang order para alalayan kami mula sa itaas. Sumunod si Anabeth who gripped the boulder and pushed herself up with all her might.

I grabbed one of the stone edges to push myself up, gripping the crevasses with my palms. I was already halfway when I stepped against a rock and slipped.

"Eleanor!"

Dumaosdos ako pababa. Anabeth stared down, eyes wide with worry and fear. But I got a good grip at the rocks at agad akong inalalalayan ng order sa ibaba before I slipped all the way down. Isang malalim na hininga ang pinakawalan ko bago muling tumayo nang maayos at ngumiti.

"I'm okay!" I called to Anabeth from below. Even the orders were fear-stricken.

"You got me worried there, Eleanor!" exclaimed Anabeth from the top of the boulder.

Kumaway ako bago muling sinubukang umakyat.

After hours of hike, passing through deep woods, shallow streams and rock boulders, we finally reached the way to the training camp by noon. The slopes changed considerably. The path became less stiff and the ground more stable.

The training camp was surrounded with wooden beams which acts as fence and gates of the perimeter. Ito ang una naming nakita pagdating namin sa area.

"Sa wakas," buntong hininga ni Anabeth na kanina pa naubusan nang lakas.

Pinagmasdan ko ang training camp habang naglalakad kami papasok sa kahoy na gate. It was a large clearing on top of the mountain,  surrounded by towering cedar trees with their giant roots exposed from the ground.

Surrounding the perimeter was a circular training track and a training ground on the far side of the area kung saan ilang grupo ng orders ang kasalukuyang nagt-training. There were several cabins too and a large hall looking structure with no walls.

"This is pretty neat," komento ni Anabeth. Maging siya ay hindi  inasahan na ganito kaayos ang training camp na dadatnan namin. The structures were all properly built and maintained.

"The new alpha has been working on this for months, bago pa nailipat ang posisyon sa kanya."

"Nandito ba siya?" tanong ni Anabeth na tila nabasa ang gusto kong malaman.

"He usually visits pero wala siya dito ngayon."

Tila nakahinga ako nang maluwag sa sinabi ng order. I was pretty nervous seeing Zackary again.

A person from the tracks approached us nang makarating kami. The two orders tipped their head down to Alexander. Right, he's the one who trains orders now.

"Kayo pa talaga ang pinadala dito," kunot ang noo na bati niya sa'min. Alexander didn't really change his approach to people kahit mayroon na siyang posisyon.

"Kami nga, ang bukod na pinagpala," mumbled Anabeth with a long sigh.

Dumako ang tingin ni Alexander sa'kin, saka bumaba ang tingin sa palad ko.

"What happened to your hand?"

Nakasuot kami pareho ni Anabeth ng makakapal na gloves para sa pag-akyat sa bundok. Pero nang dumaosdos ako kanina, a part of the glove ripped nang kumapit ako sa batuhan, leaving the inside of my palm with scratches and cuts.

"Nadulas lang ako kanina," sagot ko. I immediately noticed how he glared at the orders who came with us kaya mabilis kong dinugtungan ang sinabi ko.

"I was my fault," I tried to explain. "I wasn't careful."

"I'll bring you to the medical cabin," Alexander instructed us.

Sumunod kami ni Anabeth, parehong tahimik dahil madalang lang naming makitang galit si Alexander. He's normally pissed, but he was never angry.

We walked pass several cabins, including the area where they prepare their food, a common bathroom facility, and several smaller cabins for sleeping.

Dinala kami ni Alexander sa medical cabin, which was a decent size cabin complete with hospital beds and basic materials for mending wounds and first aid equipment, a smaller infirmary.

"I'll take care of it from here," Anabeth told Alexander who was  standing at the doorway. Bumuntong hininga siya bago naglakad paalis nang walang salitang lumalabas sa kanyang bibig.

"Suddenly too worried like a brother," muttered Anabeth bago muling humarap sa'kin. Inabot niya ang kamay kong may gasgas at sugat.  "Ikaw naman Eleanor, you should have told us para nagamot kita  agad."

"It just scratches."

"But you can't heal yourself so you must be extra careful," she stated. "At madaming malalagot kapag ikaw ang nasaktan," nakangiting dugtong niya.

Matapos gamutin ang sugat sa palad ko, isang order ang naghatid  sa'min sa sleeping cabin kung saan kami tutuloy ni Anabeth sa mga susunod na araw. It was a like a cute little house with a small balcony, bunk beds and desks, and a working bathroom. We immediately unpacked our things and clean ourselves up from the long trip bago muling lumabas.

Paglabas namin ng cabin, everyone was headed to the large open structure on the side of the perimeter. Habang naglalakad palapit, I realized the structure acts like an open dining hall with long wooden tables and benches.

Nakaabang si Alexander sa paanan nito at sinabihan kami na sumabay muna sa tanghalian before an order would take us to a short tour to familiarize ourselves to the facilities in the area. It was the first time I  saw Alexander in his real working environment, his presence was approachable yet strict. Hindi maipagkakaila na nakatadhana siya sa posisyong ito.

Habang nakapila sa pagkain, I stared at the green beans the order had scoop to put on my plate. Nagdalawang isip akong sabihin nang biglang magsalita si Alexander sa tabi ko.

"She's allergic to green beans."

Agad humingi ng paumanhin ang order, pero nanatili akong nakatitig  kay Alexander.

I didn't remember telling him about it.

***