They walked on in silence, except for Avril's frequent groan and winces whenever she tripped over a stick or a itchy leaves touched her skin. Tired of the unpleasant sounds, Dakar stood on all fours and made Avril mount his back. She carried the basket of arrows and that of the bread and water. Dakar wouldn't give her the bow and had it in his mouth.
“Why are you too silent today?” she asked after about an hour journey
“Thinking about stuff” he dimly replied
“What stuff?”
“Stuff I shouldn't be sharing with you”
“Hmm. That's strange. You usually share everything with me”
“Sorry for surprising you”
Ten minutes passed and Avril spoke up again “Won't you tell me what's wrong with you? I'm not used to seeing you quiet like this?”
“Nothing's wrong. I said I was just thinking abo
Dakar knew exactly what had happened to her. She had received too much of his wolf vibes into her totally human body and her system couldn't cope. But what he didn't know was if it was going to wear off soon or won't wear off at all. What if it kills her, he asked himself.He took just two steps and was already by her side. Crouching down, he looked over her and carried her up. She seemed lighter than her normal self and his heart raced. Leaving his bow, arrows and the other baskets, he began to run back towards the mountain house. He would have ran faster on all fours but couldn't because she would fall off.As he ran, he got angrier with himself. He kept asking himself questions. Why couldn't he control himself? She was angry because he was hiding something and she had every right to.Why did he let Dojo out? He cared about Avril so much and didn't want to think about what could happen to her. He tried as much as he could to surpress the guilt an
Two days later, Avril had caught a fever and was bedridden once again. Dakar kept running around the island, getting herbs with medicinal properties and brewing them up for her to drink. They were very bitter and he had to drop a plate of roast chicken by the bowl of medicine before Avril would agree to drink it all.“This is no use. The chicken tastes bitter’’ she would complain while eating it.“Should I stop giving you chicken then? Because my chickens are reducing everyday and they're not laying eggs yet, Avril” he would say with gritted teeth.“No. Don't stop. Don't worry, they'll start laying eggs again. I even wish I could eat some omelette. It's been awhile”“When you are done eating, you should rest a bit. Because I'll be back in an hour to dress your wound”Dressing her wound was World War III. She
“What is it?” Dakar snapped. Avril's eyes held horror in them and he looked behind him immediately but didn't see anything, not like he was expecting to.“Avril, are you okay?” he asked again.“It's your...your face. It's different” she stuttered.“Different? What do you mean by different?”“Uhm... Your eyes...er—they look a bit weird. Also your snout has turned shorter and your whole face is shrinking” she said.Dakar touched his face with his right paw.“Your paws are also getting slimmer and longer than before. Something's happening to you, Dakar. Are you okay? Do you feel good?”He purred and dropped his hand.“No. I don't” he answered.Avril dropped her fork and stared at him, waiting for more explanation of what was going on with him.“Every year,
Avril rubbed black seed oil on her already healed wounds as she always does every morning. Dakar had said it was to get rid of scars that might want to stay. She was already dressed up for their hunting expenditure even though she didn't want to go. She wanted to go sit by the mountain and watched birds flying with bowls of fruits in front of her. But she needed to put her lessons to practice and she missed wild goat meat.“You ready?”, Dakar's voice rang.“Yes. I'm coming!”, Avril answered and stepped out of her room. Dakar was standing in front of her door, holding her bow and arrow-basket.“Do we really have to do this?”, she asked as she collected her things from him.“No, we don't. I'm not even in the mood to run or anything. But you're the one who wants to eat a different kind of meat”. She scoffed and hung her bow.“Don't try to pin this on
For the first time in months, Avril was the first to wake up before Dakar. She prepared breakfast and waited for him in the living room. When he got out with a wrapped fabric hung around his chest, Avril palmed her face and choked on her sobs.“I thought you were going to act strong”, Dakar said with a grin.“Does it matter?”, she asked and he chuckled.“Good morning”.“Morning! Come and eat. It's the leftover fish and bread”.They ate in silence until it was time for him to go.“You're sure you will be fine?”, Dakar asked for the upteenth time since breakfast was over. Avril rolled her eyes and groaned.“I have it all figured out. I know what to do, all right?”.“All right. This is where you'll stop. I'll run from here”.They were standing in front of the warrior's statue.“Okay. Bye, Dakar. I'll mi
For the first time in months, Avril was the first to wake up before Dakar. She prepared breakfast and waited for him in the living room. When he got out with a wrapped fabric hung around his chest, Avril palmed her face and choked on her sobs. “I thought you were going to act strong”, Dakar said with a grin. “Does it matter?”, she asked and he chuckled. “Good morning”. “Morning! Come and eat. It's the leftover fish and bread”. They ate in silence until it was time for him to go. “You're sure you will be fine?”, Dakar asked for the upteenth time since breakfast was over. Avril rolled her eyes and groaned. “I have it all figured out. I know what to do, all right?”. “All right. This is where you'll stop. I'll run from here”. T
It felt like just ten minutes lying down on that hard earth but in reality, Dakar was there for almost an hour. He was reminiscing his memories. He remembered his mother's face, his precious mother. For years he couldn't remember what she looked like. All he knew was he had a mother. Oh! How he missed his kingdom. His best friend and their adventures. The game nights where he always wrestled and won. Everything came back to him.“Dakar?”, Avril's voice sounded. He sat up surprisingly. He waited for five minutes but didn't hear her voice anymore.“It must have been my mind”, he said as he stood on his feet. He was sweating so he went to his room and took a shower. He wore one of his old wooly trousers he had brought along with him the day he arrived. He ran his fingers through his wet jaw-length hair and dampened it with a towel. Then he sat on his bed and rested his head on the rock wall.He d
Avril already lost all connection with oxygen and her strength began to fail. But then she saw that she wasn't the only one struggling for life. Dakar was too. She saw the red eyes flash to green and the grip on her throat loosen but less than a second later, it was back to red and the grip tightened.“Dakar! I know... I know”, she coughed as he raised her higher.“I know you're...in...there... please h-help. Please”, she pleaded as her eyes began to close. Dakar grunted and tightened the grip again. But his eyes turned green and back to red, then back to green and flashed to red again. He was battling inwardly for control of his own body. He had to take control or else he would lose her forever. And he would not be able to live with that guilt. So with a loud yell, he ripped his soul back in and let go of her immediately. She fell with a thud and lay down there, unconscious. He was panting heavily as he held his hand, as if it will loose
“No! No! Give me those!” she screeched and flew at Camper who didn't move an inch. But before she could reach him, she was blasted off into the cage Avril's friends just vacated. Camper hurried over to Prince Dakar.“You came right on time. They've hurt Avril,” Dakar said. Camper looked at the white fog and clenched his teeth.“Verona will help. She's coming. They are coming.”Dakar nodded and took one of the clear crystal balls and lifted it up.“Camper feels emotions more than anyone else can. Which is why he's a playboy, he enjoys the pleasure a hundred times than an average person. And when someone is overexcited, or is hiding something where they've channelled all their protective information... Camper can trace where all those emotions are headed,” Prince Dakar said as Athena began to rise.“Where your treasure is stored, there will your heart be,” Camper recited. “While you were busy flirting and trying to make him take you there on your garden floor, he was looking deep into
Avril had only just slept for a half an hour when she heard a masculine scream pierce through the serenity of the room. She jerked awake, causing a terrible headache to erupt in her head. The scream continued on. Obviously, that person was in deep agony. She rubbed her weak eyes with her weak fingers and realized this agonized person was right there on the floor in front of her. Then she realized it was Dakar.“Dakar!” she screamed and ran out the bed, only to fall on the bed because of how numb her legs were. She groaned but crawled on foura to where he lay. His scream and cries were terrible. She grabbed his arm but he shoved her off as he continued to twist and contort in pain.Avril burst into tears when she noticed he was bleeding from his nostrils, mouth and ears.“Help, please!” she tried to shout but no way her voice could be heard above his.She crawled back to the bedside, grabbed the pitcher of water and tossed it over him. He stilled immediately and lay unconscious. Avril
“Gently get the girls to wake up. We're leaving. Pick up everything. Leave no personal belonging behind,” Dakar warned strictly. The two men nodded and darted into their room.“Where's Verona?” Avril asked.“I'm here,” she replied and showed up too. Verona looked agitated and vigilant.“I can't believe I was such a fool to bring you all here,” Dakar said to himself and looked her he could slap his own cheek. The candlelights were enough to show the look of regret on his face. He held Avril's good hand and led her out while Verona also darted inside the room. The others were already frantically moving and packing stuff.In less than ten minutes later, everything had been packed as affirmed by Camper. They then quietly started out without a word or sound from anyone.They got to the throne room which was empty and dark too. Instead of them to go through the main entrance, Prince Dakar turned them to a different direction. He tugged gently on what was like a door and a secret passage ope
Athena plastered a too wide smile on her face as she smoothly walked towards them like she was gliding and not actually taking steps. Her outfit was all gold, blending too much with the throne room itself. If her visible skin and hair were also gold, she would be invisible in the hall.“Pleased to meet you again, Athena,” Prince Dakar said with courtesy. Athena turned her full attention to him as she stood a few feet away.“Ah, my handsome nephew. You look amazing despite everything you've been through. I guess strength and good looks runs in the family. How is your father?” she asked and cocked her head to the side.“He is doing very well. Sends his kind regards,” Prince Dakar answered. Athena grinned and moved closer to him. A little bit too close. She looked up into his eyes and tucked loose hair behind his ear.“When this is all over, I would love to see his final look,” she said then grinned again.Avril frowned but quickly tucked her face right. What did she mean by ‘his final l
Prince Dakar got up, then jerked his jacket by the lapels to get it aligned with his body. He took a deep breath, relief flooding in that Avril was not dead. And she was right at the other side about to come over. He heard a feminine gasp like the one had made and made a quick turn to see the person who had come out. But he was disappointed to see the slim, black friend of Avril. Chidi. She wasn't crouched down like he was, but she was standing straight and breathless.“Are you all right?” he asked as she stood rooted to the spot, oblivious to him standing there. After he spoke, she raised her eyes abruptly and saw him. Then she looked back at the innocent look archway.“Congrats. You got out. Come over, let's wait for the others,” he said again and walked a few feet from where he was standing. Chidi followed silently and leaned against a tree with her eyes closed. Dakar was tempted to ask her what she saw, but he didn't want to intrude. Chidi however surprised him.“T saw Avril fall
The Porta Metus was situated in a vast region of land that was very mountainous. Solid, smooth rock was the ground and scorpions could be seen tittering around. Flying, giant bee-like creatures swarmed about and scared the living daylights out of the traveling group.The gateway itself was an archway of smooth grey rock that began on the ground but went over to cover the small bridge. There was a deep ditch dividing the rock terrain, and earthy terrain.“We have to be very careful. The Porta Metus is the archway. It doesn't come up this time of year so I'm worried about you all. The Porta Metus brings out your greatest fear. Between you and your greatest fear, only one will make it out. To reach your destination, you must defeat your greatest fear against all odds.”After Prince Dakar's information, everyone stared still at the harmless looking archway of rock.“What if you do not have a greatest fear but just little little fears?” Xiao Wéi asked.“Then I consider that person the luck
“What in the world are those thing?” Nana yelled amidst the screams. The horses that were at the far end of the cave startled up and began to neigh and thump around.“Stealth wraiths. Half-dead creatures but more dead than alive. Which means you can't see them. They're very rare!” Camper shouted out.“How do you kill what you cannot see?!” Avril shrieked as Camper sliced through the air again and black blood poured out of nothing.“They are as cold as ice. You feel their chill and strike,” Verona answered as she trotted to the entrance to assist Camper. The rest shifted back but didn't lose their guard. The horses were causing a scene on their own and Avril instinctively ran over to calm them down. It didn't work.A cold chill was taking over the entire cave, the entrance had turned into a battle ground. Camper and Verona were fighting invisible, shrieking creatures that seemed to be pushing them backwards and not the other way around. Whatever does things were, they were plenty and t
They trespassed through the Soot Forest, as Camper had called it, for five hours straight. They only rested at most ten minutes while standing because of the human girls who were not as tire-proof as the wolves. Avril and her girls even surprised Prince Dakar. They didn't tire as easily as other humans.“One more hour and we'll be out,” Camper announced to the group.“I hope there's a place we can sit our butts down?” Nana grumbled.“Well, I see sitting your butt down is very important to you. Seeing you carry a lot over there of course,” Xiao Wéi joked and the girls burst into laughter except Verona who had not smiled since the journey began. As was usual of her.“If we don't sit soon, I'm afraid I'll lose all my assets,” Nana replied. Avril slapped Nana's butt.“Nope, you're still good even if you walk the whole day,” she teased and Nana butt-kicked her. Avril wasn't expecting that move and it pushed her, making her feet unbalanced on the ground. She yelped as she felt herself desc
Avril laughed loud again and everyone rushing food at the table looked over at them. “Is there a comedy show going on there, Fiorella?” Verona asked grudgingly. “Are there any tickets left? I need a good laugh also,” Nana spoke and Chidi elbowed her. “Don't mind them. Just talk and laugh all you want. You're not bothering us,” Chidi said and glared at Nana who shrugged. She looked away and her eyes caught Camper staring at her friend in amusement. He had his fork twirling in his salad as he stared at Nana. “It's going to be too obvious that you like this girl. Put that face straight,” the new guy ordered with a frown. Everyone at the table frowned except Camper who smirked at him. The way he spoke was so authoritative and haughty. Who was he? Avril's laughter rang up again but nobody looked back at them this time. “Why are you all looking at me like I said something bad?” he questioned. “That's because you sound like a nagging mother. It doesn't suit you,”