'The Village'
Tiningnan lang ni Lucas si Audin na nakasakay na sa likod ng higanting lobi. In fact, lahat sila ay nakasakay na sa likod ni 'Shammie'. Wilder was still wiping his face and his hair with a wet towel habang nagmumukmok naman sina Shinshi at Atlas dun sa gilid.
"Anong problema nung dalawa?" Tanong ni Ash kay Xy habang nakatingin siya kina Shinshi.
"I guess it's a wolf thing. Getting licked and all. Especially from a giant wolf like this one." Natatawang sabi ni Xy at tiningnan si Zia na parang tulog na dahil nakapikit ito at nakasandal sa likod ni Reed. Blu was sitting next to them.
"DinDin, hindi mo sinabing ganito pala kalaki 'yung 'aso' mo." Sabi ni Lucas at tiningnan si Audin na dahan-dahang nagmulat ng mga mata. "Wala namang nagtanong." Mahina nitong sagot.
"Take a rest, DinDin." Saglit na natigilan ang lahat dahil bigla nalang nagsalita. It felt like the voice was above their heads but at the same time it felt like it was carried by the wind. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Wilder at tiningnan si Audin.
"Sino 'yun?" Tanong ni Wilder.
"S-Si Shammie." Tipid na sagot ni Audin at huminga ng malalim. "Wah, nagsasalita talaga siya?" Natatawang tanong ni Wilder pero bigla nalang huminto si Shammie. The wolf immediately growled at looked at them kaya siniko na ni Shinshi si Wilder.
"'Wag mo raw kasing pakialam si DinDin." Sabi ni Shinshi kaya nagkibit-balikat nalang si Wilder at humiga sa hita ni Zia pero dahil dito ay nagising niya lang ito. Agad na umayos ng upo si Zia at hinawakan ang batok niya.
"Ang likot mo kasi." Suway ni Ash kay Wilder nung magising nito si Zia. Zia just smiled at them and yawned again. "Ba't parang puyat ka? Puro tulog lang naman ginawa mo sa bahay ah." Sambit ni Xy at binigyan ng tubig si Zia.
Tinanggap niya ito at ininom.
"Ewan. Inaantok lang talaga ako." Sagot nito. Lucas just looked at her.
"Tulong laway ka pa." Pang-aasar niya rito kaya napahawak kaagad si Zia sa pisngi niya dahilan para humagalpak ng tawa si Lucas. Mahina lang siyang sinipa ni Wilder at tiningnan naman siya ng masama ni Zia.
They were going down the mountain and the sun from the mountain top disappeared from their sight at dahan-dahan na silang pinapalibutan ng lamig ng gubat. Shinshi stood up and went closer to Zia to give her warmth.
Tumabi narin si Wilder kay Shinshi pero tinulak lang siya palayo nito.
"Ano ba?! Unfair! Pasali!" Inis na sambit ni Wilder kaya agad siyang hinila ni Atlas.
"Sa akin ka nalang." Sambit nito pero agad na napangiwi ang lahat maliban kay Audin dahil sa sinabi ni Atlas – who obviously didn't have any idea what he just said.
"Pare, straight ako. Sa iba nalang, please." Sambit ni Wilder kaya agad siyang binatukan ni Atlas at tsaka hineadlock. Mahina nalang natawa sina Zia sa kanila at umirap naman si Shammie dahil ang lilikot ng mga nakasakay sa likod niya.
"At tsaka, Wilder, hindi mo naman kailangan ng init kasi—"
"Because I'm already hot?" He cut off Shinshi's words so all of his teammates looked at him in pure judgement, especially Reed and Lucas' face.
"Ayoko talaga sa lamig at kapag nilalamig ako, nanununtok ako, Wilder." Mahinahong sabi ni Atlas na nagpatawa naman kina Xy at Ash na nakikinig lang sa kanila. Wilder just shrugged his shoulders at tinaas-baba pa 'yung kilay niya.
"Ahh, talaga? Kaya mo kaya akong suntukin? Kasi parang may gusto ka sa aki—" Hindi na natapos ni Wilder ang sasabihin niya dahil mahina na siyang sinuntok ni Atlas sa braso. "Ouch, bro! My feelings!" Aniya na nagpatawa naman kay Zia na namamanghang nakatingin sa pinsan niya.
Out of all her cousins, Wilder was always the one who could make her laugh and giggle non-stop.
"Sira ulo." Sambit ni Atlas.
"Pikon ka yata. Bakit, totoo ano?" Panunukso pa ni Wilder kaya tuluyan nang tumayo si Atlas. Agad namang nilapitan nina Ash at Xy si Wilder tsaka ito hinawakan sa magkabilang braso. "Sige, tirahin mo." Natatawang sabi ni Ash.
"Hoy! Bastos! 'Wag po!" Sambit ni Wilder kaya pati sina Reed, Lucas at Blu ay natawa narin sa kanya. Wala nang nagawa sina Atlas at hindi nalang pinansin si Wilder na parang nakahithit ng katol dahil sa pagiging energetic nito.
"Ang pogi mo pero sira ulo ka." Natatawang sabi ni Shinshi dahilan para tumingin kaagad sa kanya si Wilder.
"So, inaamin mo na?" Tanong ni Wilder. "Na ano?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Shinshi.
"Na pogi ako." Sagot ni Wilder kaya napairap nalang si Shinshi pero hindi naman sinagot ang tanong ni Wilder. Wilder's lips arched into a smirk at tsaka na siya nanahimik para naman makatulog muli si Audin.
Shammie kept walking for another hour hanggang sa may matanaw si Xy na mga bahay. His heart almost stopped after seeing the houses. Burned huts, ruined gardens, ruins of temples and fountains, dying trees and plants.
The team stood up to look at the disaster in front of them.
"This.. this is your village?" Tanong ni Shinshi kay Audin na kakagising lang. Audin gave them a quick smile and a simple nod. "S-Sinong.. sinong gumawa nito?" Tanong ni Wilder at tiningnan si Audin na tumayo at tsaka tiningnan ang mga sirang bahay.
"Hindi ko sila nakita ng maayos. Nasa basement ako nung mangyari 'yun. But they had big wings and they were ugly. Really ugly." Sagot ni Audin. "Shammie found me after two days." Dagdag niya at tsaka hinaplos ang buhok ni Shammie.
Shammie stopped and let everyone down at kinarga naman ni Blu si Audin na nahihirapan nang maglakad. Audin pointed at a huge tree kaya agad naman silang naglakad papunta doon.
Wilder and Reed were observant of the place habang hinahawi na nina Ash at Xy ang mga damong nakatakip sa isang templo na malapit sa tinurong puno ni Audin. It was a small temple. A pavilion, perhaps. Sa gitna nito ay may maliit ng fountain.
Audin's face went paler after seeing that the fountain was dry.
"T-The water.. where's the water?" Tanong ni Audin at tiningnan si Shammie na sumisilip sa kanila.
"As time passed by, it went dry. Wala na kasing naninirahan dito kaya natuyo na ang fountain." Sagot nito at napapikit nalang si Audin. Dun niya lang rin nalaman kung bakit tahimik lang si Shammie kanina dahil nag-aalala pala ito sa natuyong fountain.
"Bakit? Anong kinalaman ng fountain dito?" Tanong ni Atlas.
"Wait, do you need that water to heal? Healing water?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Wilder at tumango naman kaagad si Audin at tsaka umubo. Zia looked at Audin's drastic appearance at tsaka naglakad palapit sa fountain.
She ran her fingers along the sides of it and brushed off some dust.
"Lucas, may magagawa ka ba dito?" Tanong ni Blu at naglakad naman si Lucas papunta sa fountain at hinawakan rin ito at maya-maya'y umiling. "Filling it up with water won't work. The fountain has to flow on its own for the water to be effective." Aniya at tsaka tiningnan si Audin.
"Bakit ba hindi natin nalaman ang tungkol dito?" Tanong ni Ash.
"Because clearly, your realm doesn't have any idea about Terantias." Sagot ni Reed at pinunasan na ang pawis ni Audin. "What? Do you have better ideas about Terantias?" Tanong ni Wilder sa kanya kaya pinatigil na sila ni Xy.
Everyone looked at Audin who stood on his own and looked at the dry fountain. Napapikit nalang si Zia nung makita niyang mangiyak-ngiyak na si Audin.
Zia bit her bottom lip and closed her first. "Damn it." Bulong niya na narinig naman nina Blu dahilan para tingnan siya ng mga 'to. Tumingin narin ang Kuya niya sa kanya.
"I know someone who can help." Aniya kaya tumaas agad 'yung kilay ng iba.
"Sino?" Tanong ni Shinshi kaya tiningnan na ni Zia si Xy. "I think you're not gonna like this." Sabi niya rito. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Xy at tiningnan nilang lahat si Zia na pumikit lang at tsaka yumuko. It was as if she was summoning someone.
Kunot-noong nakatingin sa kanya ang team hanggang sa magsalita na siya.
"Wesy, come forth." And just then, Wesy showed himself in front of everyone.
"Ahh, you finally called." Nakangiting bungad ni Wesy kay Zia dahilan para kunot-noong tumingin ang lahat kay Zia. Zia breathed out and looked at Wesy. "Get the fountain working." Sabi niya kay Wesy. Wesy just huffed.
"You're not even going to greet me?" Angat-labi niyang tanong kay Zia. "Now, please." Zia said. Napabuga ulit ng hangin si Wesy at nagkibit-balikat nalang.
"Yes, your highness." Ani nito at tsaka na hinawakan ang fountain. Wesy said some words and a few enchantments. His hands glowed and after a few seconds, the fountain started running water again.
Agad na nagliwanag ang mukha ni Audin dahil dito. Zia then looked at the whole team.
"I'll explain later, but now, Audin first." Aniya at tsaka na tiningnan si Audin na pilit inaabot ang fountain. May kataasan kasi ito kaya tumitingkayad pa siya para maabot ang tubig. Reed hoisted him up and put him inside the fountain.
As the fountain was healing Audin and Reed helping him with it, Zia was surrounded by everyone at hawak-hawak naman nina Wilder si Wesy.
"Can you let him go?" Tanong ni Zia kina Wilder pero lumingo-lingo lang sila.
"Not until you tell us what's going on. Why can you suddenly summon this.. this.. I don't even know what he is!" Inis na sabi ni Wilder habang hawak-hawak si Wesy. Wesy just rolled his eyes and looked at Zia. "Do you want me to go now?" Tanong niya rito.
Zia gave him a quick smile.
"Yes, thank you for your help, Wes." Aniya at tsaka na naglaho si Wesy. Wilder was a bit confused at mas lalong nadagdagan ang mga tanong nila para kay Zia.
"Explain, now." Ma-awtoridad na sabi ni Xy sa kapatid niya kaya napahawak nalang si Zia sa batok niya at tsaka sandaling pumikit. "It all started with a bad decision." Paninimula ni Zia.
"Wesy, half-blood Hunter." Umangat agad ang gilid ng labi ni Wesy dahil sa sinabi ni Zia.
"Oh, I see what you're doing here. You need my help, huh?" Tanong niya kay Zia na nakatayo lang sa harap niya. Hindi ito sumagot sa tanong niya at tumingin-tingin lang sa paligid. "Time showed me my death." Aniya at tinaasan lang siya ng kilay ni Wesy.
"Oh, really?" Tanong nito. "It's a horrible death. Because it's a cliché one. I got killed by the enemy. Huh, napaka-common diba?" Tanong ni Zia dahilan para kumunot na naman ang noo ni Wesy.
"Bakit? What kind of death do you want?" Natatawa niyang tanong rito. Zia sat on a small rock and looked at him.
"Oh, you know, getting eaten by a hippo, getting swallowed by a snake, getting burned by a dragon, falling in a bottomless bit, getting struck by lightning, killed by a mouse, getting crushed by a pig or falling down the stairs. 'Yung ganon?" Agad na humagalpak ng tawa si Wesy dahil sa mga salitang lumabas sa bibig ni Zia.
"That's actually a more horrible death than being killed by the enemy." Natatawang sabi ni Wesy pero lumingo-lingo lang si Zia.
"No, you won't be remembered if you just get killed by the enemy. Mas maaalala ka kapag unique 'yung pagkakamatay mo. For example.. 'Ahh, si Zia? 'Yung pinatay ng daga?' 'Ahh, si Zia. 'Yung nahulog sa hagdanan.' Oh baka naman 'Ahh, si Zia? 'Yung tinamaan ng kidlat.' Ganun dapat." Pati si Zia ay natawa narin sa mga sinabi niya at kanina pa tawang-tawa si Wesy.
"You know, I apologize." Natatawang sabi ni Wesy kaya saglit na kumunot ang noo ni Zia. "Apologize for what?" Tanong niya.
"I underestimated you. I thought you were just a pretty face. Hindi ko alam na ang galing mo palang magpatawa. You are hilarious!" Natatawa paring sabi ni Wesy kaya tipid na ngumiti si Zia at hinintay hanggang sa matapos na kakatawa si Wesy.
"But seriously, what do you want from me?" Tanong ni Wesy nung makabawi na siya mula sa pagtawa. Zia went into a serious mood and bit her lip before she said another word.
"The Hunters want me dead." Sabi niya.
"Well, of course. You're a half-blood Hunter. Talagang gusto ka nilang mamatay." Agad na sagot ni Wesy pero lumingo-lingo lang si Zia. "No, that's not what I saw. They want me dead so that I could join them. I-It's what the embodiment of poison said." Sagot ni Zia at dun na natigilan si Wesy.
He gathered his thoughts for a whole minute at tsaka tiningnan si Zia.
"Huh, interesting." Aniya.
"You really caught their attention—well, you are catching everyone's attention wherever you go—but anyway that's not my point. You caught their attention, in a good way." Agad na kumunot ang noo ni Zia dahil dito.
"What's good in being dead and becoming a Hunter?" Agad na tanong ni Zia kay Wesy. Wesy was once again taken aback by Zia's questions na hindi siya nakasagot kaagad. "You are already a Hunter, Zia. Take note of that." Sabi ni Wesy sa kanya.
"Maybe what the poison is saying is that you need a fresh start." Sabi ni Wesy.
"What do you mean I need a fresh start? I can only start once. I can only live once. If I die, I won't be born again, Wesy. I'm not like my Mom. I'm not like my brother. I'm not like anyone. If I fail in this, I'm dead for good." Wesy tutted after hearing Zia's words. He also looked at her with pity.
"See? You're already fucked up. Sa pag-iisip mo palang, patay ka na, Zia. With a mind as weak as yours, you will never be anyone but a scared little princess hiding behind Mommy's back." Zia glared at Wesy but her stare softened when she realized that what he was saying was right.
Sinapo na niya ang noo niya at humugot ng malalim na hininga.
"I just.. I just don't know what to do." Aniya kaya dahan-dahan nang naglakad si Wesy palapit sa kanya. She looked at her and as a Hunter, Wesy could see right through her soul.
A very weak soul, a very weak mind and a much weaker body.
"And everyone still thinks you have it all." Mahinang sambit ni Wesy nung makita niya kung gaano na kasira ang katawan at kaluluwa ng babaeng nasa harap niya. She was so pitiful. So fragile.
"Eighteen and broken. Life fucked you up, huh?" Tanong niya at tinapik na ang balikat ni Zia. Wesy breathed out and looked up to think of a solution. Hindi niya rin alam kung bakit niya tinutulungan si Zia.
But it was the same feeling that he had when he saw how weak Duke's body and soul was after Flow's attack. He was just repeating what he did to Duke. Once again, he was offering a helping hand.
"Fine, I'll do it. I'll help you." Dahan-dahang inangat ni Zia ang tingin niya kay Wesy.
"But we have to seal the deal. A favor for a favor." Sambit ni Wesy at dahan-dahang naglakad papunta sa plantation ng pomegranate at tsaka pumitas ng isa rito. Agad na napatayo si Zia dahil dito. "Wait, you're not going to let me eat that, are you?" Takang tanong ni Zia sa kanya.
"A deal for a deal. You take a bite on this on and you can ask me three favors." Sabi niya pero nanatiling nakatingin si Zia sa pomegranate na hawak ni Wesy.
"One bite for three favors." Wesy said. Zia thought about it hard but it seemed like she wasn't thinking at all. "Pero kapag kinain ko 'yan, hindi na ako makakalabas dito." Sabi ni Zia pero agad na natawa si Wesy.
"If you eat from the plantation but this, this is my pomegranate. You'll only be bound to me until you ask all three favors. So, ano na?" Tanong ni Wesy sa kanya. "What do you mean I'll be bound to you?" Tanong ni Zia sa kanya. Wesy huffed out a breath and couldn't believe that Zia can sometimes be very clueless.
"That means I'll be your demon.. for a while." Sabi ni Wesy.
"But you're not a demon anymore. You're a Hunter." Ani ni Zia. Napasapo nalang si Wesy sa noo niya.
"Alam mo ang ganda mo pero ang kulit mo minsan." Naiinis na sabi ni Wesy sa kanya kaya napairap nalang si Zia at tsaka na kinuha ang pomegranate na nasa kamay ni Wesy at walang pagdadalawang-isip itong kinagat.
As soon as she bit on the pomegranate, a thin black line appeared on her wrist the same time it also appeared on Wesy's wrist.
"Three favors." Sabi ni Wesy habang pinapakita kay Zia ang itim na linya. Zia just wiped her lips and gave Wesy back the pomegranate.
"You better drink some pomegranate juice on your way back para hindi ka mapaghalataan. Hindi pa ako handang patayin ni Xy." Sabi ni Wesy kaya tumingin ulit si Zia sa kanya. "Bakit ba parang takot na takot kayo sa Kuya ko?" Tanong niya kaya agad na napabuga ng hangin si Wesy.
"Oh, you haven't seen his rampage, have you?" Tanong ni Wesy at saglit namang nag-isip si Zia. She had never seen her brother got so mad before. Kung magagalit man ito, hindi naman sa puntong sasabog na ito sa galit.
Dahil sa naisip niya ay dahan-dahan siyang lumingo-lingo.
"Well, no one wants to see his rampage. He was raised by Team Alpha. I guess everyone already gets the hint." Sabi ni Wesy at tinapon na ang pomegranate. Zia just looked at him.
"I apologize too." Aniya kaya noo na naman ni Wesy ang kumunot. "For what?"
"I misjudged you." Sagot ni Zia at tinapik na ang balikat ni Wesy.
"I'll see you around, Wes." Nakangiting sabi ni Zia sa kanya at tsaka na lumipad palayo. Wesy just crossed his arms and looked at Zia. "She just called me Wes. Huh, real cute." Aniya at tsaka narin naglaho.
"So, nung sinabi mong uminom ka ng pomegranate juice sa canteen, that was a lie?!" Inis na tanong ni Wilder at yumuko nalang si Zia at tsaka tumango-tango. "How could you make decisions like that?! You didn't even consult us!" Inis rin na sabi ni Ash sa kanya.
Napapikit nalang si Zia. She knew she made bad decisions while her mind was twisted.
"But it did help, right? I mean, Wesy got the fountain starting again. Nakatulong rin naman 'yung sakripisyong ginawa niya." Sabi ni Lucas dahilan para tumingin narin ang iba sa kanya. Dahan-dahan nang lumapit si Xy kay Zia na nakayuko lang.
Zia stepped back a little when her brother came close to her pero hinila lang siya nito at niyakap.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid." He said harsh words but his tone was very soothing kaya hindi alam ni Zia kung anong dapat niyang maramdaman. Xy rubbed his sister's back to soothe her too at dun na nalaman ni Zia na hindi ito galit sa kanya.
"But at that moment.." Saglit na tumingin ang lahat kay Atlas dahil sa sinabi nito.
"..at that moment, why did you asked for someone else's help when you already have us?" Dagdag ni Atlas dahilan para tumingin na si Zia sa kanya.
"Because we weren't good enough to help her." Sagot ni Reed na nagpapatuyo ng basa niyang kamay. Tumingin naman ang team sa kanya at tsaka kay Audin na nakatulog na habang nakaupo parin sa loob ng fountain.
A glow was surrounding him, meaning that he was still healing.
Kumalas na si Xy sa pagkakayakap sa kapatid niya at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi nito.
"You want us to keep this from Mom?" Tanong niya pero lumingo-lingo lang si Zia. "No, sasabihin ko kina Mommy pag-uwi natin." Sagot niya kaya tumango lang si Xy at tsaka na kinnurot ang pisngi ng kapatid niya.
"Wala na akong magagawa. What's done is done and I have to accept every decision you make because the bottom line is that you're still my sister." Xy said. Zia gave her a gentle smile and a simple nod.
"Thank you, Kuya." Nakangiting sabi ni Zia.
"Anything for you." He replied.
"Pero sa tingin hindi na muna tayo makakauwi ngayon." Napalingon silang lahat kay Shinshi dahil sa sinabi nito at tsaka sila tumingala. The sun was setting and the place was getting dark. "So, we're staying the night here?" Tanong ni Wilder at tumango naman sina Lucas.
"Pero 'san tayo matutulog?" Tanong niya ulit. "Sira ang lahat ng bahay dito." Dagdag niya.
"Then we fix one before it gets too dark." Sabi ni Blu at nagsimula nang kumilos ang team. Tinanong naman ni Blu kung saan ang bahay ni Audin at tinuro ni Shammie ang isang simpleng bahay sa bandang kanan.
"Let's start fixing DinDin's house." Sabi ni Atlas at nagkibit-balikat nalang si Wilder at wala nang nagawa kundi ang tumulong nalang sa team.
It was getting dark and they are staying the night at a village they were unfamiliar of. A village they barely know what creeps in during the night.
❅ Snow ❅