The Other Side

A young maiden named Esmeralda resides in the distant land of Domus, where a legend was told that certain creatures have powerful abilities. Esmeralda first heard this from her late parents who already died, saying that strong creatures were hidden riches in their homeland. However, these were difficult to find, and only few people with necessary skills were permitted to have them. But Esmeralda doesn’t think they’re real. They are just fables to her, a tale to be told and then forgotten. She better take care of their sheep since her parents were shepherds before they left her. Esmeralda made the decision to travel to the mountain of Evlogia on the first day of the month of Ashwin in order to obtain some medications for her ill sheep. She never imagined that this would be the most significant period of her life—the moment that would alter everything. “WHAT is that?” I was reluctant in coming near to it for I saw how its tail blazed in fire, glowing in the darkness of the night when most people in our town are already sleeping. It’s crying out of pain for a huge rock has fallen into its knees preventing it from moving. “Shee… Shee…” The sound of its crying that I am hearing. I looked closer to it, recognizing it was a kitten. A kitten? How can its tail blazed with fire? I helped it by removing the rock in its leg. It stood up and wiggled its tail, that has now stopped from emitting a fiery glow. “Shee…. Shee…” “Don’t cry anymore…” I said and carried it in my arms. It stopped from wailing. Looking closer to it, I noticed that it’s body obtained deep cuts and wounds. This kitten must have gone through a lot of fight considering it was only that small. I cleansed its wounds and put bandages into them. “Who could have done this awful thing to you?” I chuckled in amusement. I am heading to the mountains of Evlogia, the place where I used to tend my sheep. I need to get some herbal medicines to treat the plague that had started in some of them, before it even worsen. Yet, a certain situation unexpectedly came like this. What a captivating cat this was… Its eyes were like the bluish ocean sparkling in the moonlight and it’s body is covered with ash fur. The prominence in its eyes delivers calmness in my mind, an emotion that I’ve never felt before, only when I stare in its own eyes. Its tail is enough to cover its entire body, and it seems to me like it was a… Persian cat? No… It’s more than that. Its tail was blazing in fire a while ago how come it was only a Persian cat… I brushed my eyes to remind me that maybe, I was just a little sleepy. Yes, I denied what I saw. I convinced myself that I've only mistaken it for blazing with fire awhile ago.. I sighed but at the same time, I laughed to myself. This may be the result of my parents telling me fables about some powerful creatures in our town… I got stunned. Remembering the fable, I stared in dread to what I was holding. Are you some kind of a powerful creature?! “What could your name be? And where is your family? You seemed like you were lost on your own.” I said to him. Its tail wiggled again as an answer to what I was asking. Upon knowing that idea, I thought of naming him “Eureka” since “I have found” him. I put Eureka at my basket where I will be putting the medicinal herbs from the mountains of Evlogia. “Just stay here, Eureka… No one’s going to hurt you anymore…” I covered him with cloth and fixed the bandages again in his wounds so they won’t bleed as we travel. I also gave him antidote to strengthen his body. I saw how Eureka felt relieved doing the first aid on him. “Shee… Shee…” It yawned and started taking its nap while I decided to leave that place together with him. I fixed my things including the bow and arrows I carried for self defense, as my protection from accidental encounter with the wild animals in the forest. And I slowly started taking steps towards the place I was heading. All that I need was enough strength throughout the entire night in gathering the medicines. All for those who are hoping for me… I smiled while remembering their names. My flock of sheep.