Evil's Wake

    They started looking for their escaped treasure, which had just been loosed, they swept across thick leaves and plants, beautiful flowers and other magical creatures that adored the territory.

Pradai knew that she would be caught if she continued running, instead she hid herself, but unfortunately the bartuans had a foresight, so it wasn't hard to spot Pradai.

   Pradai trembled and shivered not because of the new unfriendly territory but the cold and fright accompanied with it.

What she have seen, she had never seen before, it was all clear that she was in another world, but she was confused– if they were the good guys or the bad guys, because her fate was in their hands, whoever they be.

   She stopped panting and decided to listen for a while and all she could hear was her throbbing heartbeat.

She could sense danger nearby, but she was Pradai, tired of running for nothing to nowhere, whatever her fate was, so be it. "Well it is what it is" 

   Pradai said as she stood upright, looking around up and down, she saw carvings on a large tree, and it was in a language she couldn't understand. The writing was off the hook.

She bent down to pick the glowing leaf behind the tree when suddenly she heard the sound of an animal. She gasped and started crawling back to where she was running away from, be it her lucky day, Kar was close

"Curl there it is" 

Pointing forward to their front while standing and concentrating on his eyes.

"We should hurry,I sense danger"

"What??? Don't tell me it's the cruk?!!"

"It is curl" 

"Emm I mean isn't it supposed to be in 'deep deep deep sleep, caged by the last spirit guides? I thought that was how it was supposed to be and not' it came alive'! , Hey kar I'm too young to die young, just imagine, 'curl biac fought alongside with Kar tribist, they fought the great deadly cruk with honour and strength, they gave their life so that others could be safe you see Kar I ain't giving my life to no one"

"Or more like the foolish bush hog curl biac went up to the deadly cruk in battle but got killed in seconds! 'no one will even miss you"

"You see….I'm all good for no one,so I live"

"Curl" Kar called him with a quite and concerned voice

"Yes Kar what?" Paying attention to know the important message Kar was going to deliver to him

"You know what I observed?"

"Umm no,you tell me?"

"You're using a spell on me,you pathetic biac!!!" Kar yelled,seems to be getting more and more irritated and angry

"Ho ho ho hahaha That's a shame" !

"...what? I didn't hear you"

"Let's go, let's go face it"

    Unlike curl, he wasn't in for jokes again, he was mean, and suddenly became serious about something, how he got the strength and spirit no one could tell.

    Kar couldn't alter a word, for he was short of words, and he had gotten enough courage and strength unlike before as well. It suddenly felt like someone, or something powerful touched them, but they didn't care to know.

   Before they could finish getting ready, they heard a scream, not far from their spot, they rushed in and found Pradai, the thing covered with ice, about to be devoured by the Cruk, without thinking twice and wasting any time, Kar quickly reached to his back jack and brought out a rod, a rod he alone used when something serious came up in hunting. 

   Curl quickly started saying a spell he got from a piece of paper in the village's museum,he started reciting, but nothing was happening.

It became clear to them that they were no match for the Cruk, such a powerful black magical beast they have never seen before but only heard the legends about evil beasts in their territory.

   As the cruk started preparing for attack, Pradai was still lying helpless on the leafy grounds, eyes wide open with no movement, at that moment she was just paralyzed and couldn't think straight. 

She was like someone under hypnosis and completely lost in oblivion while Kar attempted to demonstrate and show his superior power and moves, casting a spell on the cruk, it didn't move the Cruk,it only stood, still savouring for its prey.

   At a moment everywhere was calm and cool,no movement from Kar and Curl nor Pradai who seemed to had just regained consciousness. Kar locked eyes with Curl and gave him a sign of aborting and running back to home, in their minds. 

   At least there were strong men and women among them, including heads of clans, head chiefs and family heads,two steps already drawn back. 

    Curl wasn't ready to die yet. he still think of the good days and things he hadn't accomplished in his life, he thought about his hupa and sisters, his puha died a great warrior and he was the only head of family they had.

His dreams of being a Biac warrior wasn't just going to waste in the forest for something he wasn't keen to.  

  Speaking to Kar's mind "Kar? Can you hear me?"

"You know I can"

"I'm outta here"

"I'm with you curl"

"Why? You should stay and fight,ain't you a tribist no more?"

"When engaging with an Unknown enemy,strong like this,...Rule Number One.. 'Run, live, survive to fight for another Day"

"Ohhh right,I didn't know tribist had a run-away motto haha" 

"On my count curl"

"Fast,I think is ready for attack"

"One"

"One?"

….."Now!!! "

As they are about to run off,

…"wait! See the cruk is trapped?"

"What?? How??? Ho….ho.. how.. how is that possible?"

   The Cruk had been trapped in a circled light, however the light alone couldn't stop it, with much power and might, it fought and forced itself, having being exhausted

It breath out fire around the circle to neutralise the power with it's fire and aura, while Kar and Curl still had their ground for swift escape and held on to their weapons. 

   Pradai couldn't stop staring at the beast, none of them ever knew what happened and what caused it, Pradai didn't know about the power she got from the book of Santacas.

   The power is at work, just by Pradai concentrating on the Cruk, but she didn't know what she was doing, perhaps the power took control for a while to protect them all, for they still had a long way to go.

   "Kar what do we do? Whatever that is ,it wasn't going to hold it enough, not for long, any moment from now it can break free"

   "The spirits, they are buying us time,time to runnnnnnn!!!!!" Without any more words,Kar and Curl swiftly snatch off their feets, running through the leafy thick Greenlands without looking backwards.

" Curl! Wait"

   They stopped for a while, but couldn't resist the heat and the temptation of panting like wounded bears

"W...wh.. what?" He was still catching his breath at the moment and couldn't clearly talk nor think straight

"What about that thing? Back there,we can't let the cruk kill that thing,we are supposed to save that thing,who knows what have befall that thing"

"If it's fate is to die in the Greenlands, there' ain't no diversion, be it to live, Curl ain't no God to change it"

"We can still save the day, I'm going in!".....

   Kar took off and curl followed, having it in mind to rescue the "thing" and coincidentally, if luck be by their side and if fate be it they live that day.

But upon reaching, to their utmost surprise, the mythical mighty Cruk was already facing it's ill luck and fate! Wounded and on the edge of death, still breathing but had no will nor strength. 

   It layed helplessly in excruciating pain, while Pradai stood in awe, still speechless of what she had just done to the Cruk.

The power of the Santacas was acting up, she was convinced that she wasn't alone in her “Chronicles”, however she couldn't fully control the powers consciously.

"Woooh we missed the show" said crul widening his eyes and squeezing his tiny eyes, making a regrettable Face and expression 

"Anyone heard me?? I said we missed the show!

"B….u….hht how is that possible?? I mean ..what could harm the cruk this way?"

"Well, maybe this is a fake or counterfeited Cruk, you know, is possible with all the dark powers inhibiting the greenlands and all"

   "There's only one explanation to this" said Kar deeply concerned and deep in thoughts.

He seemed to have realized a bit of what's happening and the possible reasons, still staring at Pradai who was still standing, but still mute and in shock. She looked back at Kar and Curl in awe of their appearance and nature.

   "And yet, another added nightmare, this must be the curse of the book of santacas" she muttered to herself. Eye-searching for a possible escape route

All the while she didn't understand their language and tongue, and she was ready to outrun them, but they didn't seem to be harmful, as strong and slightly fearful when they are in the mode.

   The bartuans were pure, love-filled and beautiful mythical creatures, almost possessing all the physical attributes of human beings, their young ones would be adored all throughout a year without moving off a single eye, even for a second. 

   They were most beautiful when they are younger, which was one of the reasons they all wished to be productive and to multiply their groups, but of course older ones weren't as beautiful as the young ones, because as they grew, they went through stages in life, touching their appearances, colour, skin,eyes, including their spiritual aspects. 

   They went through some major shedding, to be able to receive wisdom, intuition, power, energies and light from their God source, they were very highly respected and most times, seen as heads of clans, depending on their lifetime frame. 

    …."We are not alone, evil has returned…" continued Kar staring at the cruk 

"But, what beith the cause? I mean it doesn't just have to return,who called it?"... Added curl , shivering and now afraid, because the stories they were told were horrible and fearful about when the war was still on, war fought by their defenders and spirits who laid their own lives and freedom for their generations and clans.

   Kar had sensed Curl's fear and was about to mock him, make a gest of him, and add to his fears, but there was something more serious that needed to be done.

  "Something or someone, has summoned it"

"What if is the barren lands creatures" 

"No it can't be,they are not so foolish and stupid to summon the cruk" said Kar patting on curls back

"And why do you think so?"

   "Because we have a mutual and common enemy, evil is evil.."

"Ohh you think now Kar? Ain't those barren creatures evil?"

"Shhhh,let thy tongue speaketh not of false and lies" 

Curl looked at Kar but didn't say anything, he remained mute,and short of words

"Poor Curl he wins again" Curl muttered to himself and was bewildered

   Kar took out his Knife and rushed down to where the Cruk laid, he raised the knife up…

"No Kar , no Kar don't do that" before he could finish yelling and wailing, Kar had already brought the knife down to the chest of the Cruk.

The Cruk was still staring at him helplessly, but he didn't care about that, he was aware that he had gotten himself into trouble, but he needed the Cruk's heart. 

   He reached in and stabbed the beast down to its heart, while the beast gave a slow emotional moan and immediately he took off the heart, the Cruk died, while his heart was still beating.

   Greenish red blood dripped down from Kar's hand, he held it up with strength and courage, he held it in his hands, but the heart of the Cruk never stopped beating,and blood never ceased to drop.

"What did you do??!!!!We are in deep trouble now,I'm doomed!!"

   Curl started walking around with unease and fear, Kar got some guts but definitely whatever be the fate of Kar for that single act, he would get a fair share of it, including the “thing” who was just down there moping at them.

Curl snapped his fingers "no you need to destroy that!"

"Nonsense!"

"Right now Kar!!! And I mean it!!"

"....and if I don't??? "

   Curl goes into attacking modes, changing a bit in his eyes which turned deep blue sea, and his powers and energies heating up around him,his hands were heated up in flames, claws had their way out, his voice changed and he began to growl babyishly

   Kar was astonished " w..ha..tt is that?! Curl? cranky curl??" 

the heart in his hands dropped off ,but his major concern was Curl...what had happened to Curl, what just took over him, for a moment he feared he had caused this because of the heart.

He had never seen Curl so mean and serious to the point of turning into something else

   He tried calming curl down, but he wasn't going to rest until the heart was completely destroyed.

"Stop curl,stop this, see is me Karl, you know me right"

"Not until I destroy the heart" 

"No stop it,we need it " 

"Stop me then"

"We don't have to do this" both of them locked their eyes down to the heart on the ground, Kar rushed in , while Curl had already raised up his sword to destroy it, he had only gone halfway when he turned back to being his normal self.

    Kar shaked his head, and quickly picked up the heart from the ground.

"Welcome back,we need to get out of here now!!"

"What happened Kar, I feel "not normal…."

"Yes, whatever,we need to get back, I sense so much more than this,here in the greenlands"

   They signaled Pradai who couldn't understand their language, and she followed without necessarily resisting or thinking otherwise, because she had seen enough in the greenlands and on this journey

"I think I have got company" she said to herself, swifting off with kar and curl…

... this is just the beginning, evil swayed in awakening.