Hunting Luna

Prologue

Another morning has come. I was listing the herbs my mom asked me to check. Marami kasing nagamit nitong lumipas na araw at kailangan na niyang bumili ng supply. More and more killings happened frequently. Hindi lang ang mga creatures ang nasusugatan at namamatay sa away, pati mga tulad naming mortal ay nadadamay. Since magaling ang nanay ko sa panggagamot, I became her assistant. I have certain knowledge too, hindi nga lang kasing galing niya. Sinuri ko pa ang ibang mga bote at nang matapos, pinuntahan ko siya sa kanyang garden.

"Ma, ito po yung mga halamang gamot na paubos na," sabi ko at inabot ang listahan sa kanya.

Bumaling siya sa akin. "Sige at maiwan muna kita dito. Diligan mo 'tong mga halaman ko bago magdilim. Marami pa namang nangyayaring hindi maganda sa paligid."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "Huwag kang mag-alala, Ma. I can take care of myself. Saka, tatawagin ko rin si Tatang Pablo at hihingi ng tulong kapag may nangyari."

She patted my head. Marami pa siyang binilin bago umalis. Alam ko namang masyado siyang nag-aalala sa 'kin, kaya kahit alam ko na lahat ng iyon, pinili ko na lang manahimik at tumango.

Sinimulan ko ang araw ko sa paglilinis. From removing cobwebs to sweeping down to our ground floor, napuno ng house chores ang araw ko. I did everything she instructed me to do.

Habang nasa kwarto ni Mama at nag-aayos ng libro, napansin ko ang isang bote na may lamang halamang gamot.

"Hala!" singhap ko.

It was one of the herbs she usually used. Naiba lang ang lugar kaya hindi ko ito napansin agad. Paubos na rin ito katulad ng iba, and I know how important this is to her.

I started pacing back and forth, pinag-iisipan kung susundan ko si Mama. Kanina pa siya nakaalis at hindi pa ako sanay lumabas mag-isa, lalo't masukal ang palibot ng bahay namin. Mahina rin ako sa directions.

We live near the outskirts of Mapple Town na malayo sa kabihasnan at halos walang kapitbahay.

Mga ilang minuto rin ang itinagal bago ko napagdesisyunang sundan si Mama. I put the herbs in my bag, brought a long stick for the trek, and slipped a small knife into my pocket in case of emergency. Sinigurado ko ring nakasara ang buong bahay bago umalis.

I hope I'm not putting myself in danger.

I followed the trail outside. Madalas itong daanan kaya wala masyadong damo na tumubo sa gitna. It was really helpful for someone like me na mahina sa direksyon. I passed countless trees and abandoned houses. Magtatanghali pa naman kaya hindi ako nag-aalala sa dilim... unless maligaw ako.

Every time I passed certain trees, I noticed deep marks. May mga luma na at may mga bago, which meant na madalas ang lugar na ito sa away ng mga creatures. Fear crept into me, but I continued my journey. Malayo-layo na rin ako sa bahay kaya sayang kung babalik pa ako.

Until a massive trail of blood appeared in my way. Halatang sariwa pa ang dugo sa lupa. It stopped me dead in my tracks because it only meant one thing...

Danger.

Dahan-dahan akong umatras na tila natatakot makagawa ng ingay. In my panic, I almost tumbled as I backed away from the scene. Hindi ko na napansin ang dinadaanan ko dahil ang tanging nasa isip ko lang ay ang makalayo.

I was completely off the familiar track. Soon, I heard low growls and heavy movements in the distance. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko ito napansin kanina. I must have strayed too close to the site of the attack, so I frantically tried to pull back.

Dahil sa pagmamadali, I lost my footing and fell down a small cliff. Napaigik ako sa sakit nang tumama ang paa ko sa isang batong nakausli. I could still walk, but running was out of the option.

Nagpalinga-linga ako para makahanap ng uupuan at mabalutan ang injury ko. Instead of finding a sturdy log or rock, I found a man covered in his own blood. He was full of claw marks, and the flesh on his arm was severely torn off. Kalunos-lunos ang lagay niya.

I knew strangers were dangerous, but my healer instincts immediately kicked in. Lumapit ako habang iniinda rin ang sakit sa paa ko. I noticed his labored breathing and the heavy cold sweat on his skin.

I used the water I packed to clean his wounds, along with the herbs I brought. Hindi ko akalaing magagamit ko ang mga dala ko para sa kanya when my original plan was just to follow my mother.

Napansin niya siguro ang pagkilos ko. He forced his eyes open, which startled me and made me freeze.

"Go away..." he hissed. I could barely hear him, but I understood his breathy words because of how close we were.

"No. Stay still, you're bleeding out," I answered softly.

Tinuloy ko ang panggagamot sa kanya. He tried to swat my hands away, but due to weakness, he couldn't stop me.

"You'll endanger yourself. Umalis ka na..." ulit niya.

I shook my head. "Save your strength. You can yell at me after I stop the bleeding."

Napansin niya siguro ang determinasyon sa mga mata ko, kaya hindi na siya umangal. I knew this was risky and I had no idea if the attackers were still around. Natatakot din ako, but I couldn't leave him alone—not when I had the means to help.

"Can you walk?" tanong ko matapos balutan ang katawan at braso niya. I used the clean fabric from my bag, tearing it into strips using my small knife. Kulang ang gamit ko at hindi maayos ang paggamot sa kanya dahil sa sitwasyon namin. I needed to bring him home.

He nodded weakly.

I assisted him as he stood. Nararamdaman kong pilit niyang pinagagaan ang sarili niya sa akin dahil mukhang napansin niya rin ang injury ko sa paa. Walking with him took a massive toll on my energy. Bawat hakbang ay mas mabigat pa sa una, forcing us to stop and catch our breath frequently.

In those moments, no conversation passed between us. We were both saving what little strength we had left.

I tried to recall the path as we dragged ourselves forward. Mabuti na lang at gumana ng maayos ang isip ko, at nakarating din kami sa bahay. Looking back, I still wonder how we made it.

Tinulungan ko siyang maupo sa couch, and he passed out immediately from utter exhaustion. I immediately went back to work, properly dressing his wounds.

I just hope Mama doesn't lose her temper when she gets home.