Fated

Chapter 14

It was a rare moment of peace sa aming nayon. The usual tension na palaging nararamdaman ng aming tribo seemed to vanish, kahit saglit lang. The sun was low in the sky, casting golden light over the trees and the mountains surrounding us. The sounds of the forest were calm, like a lullaby—the gentle rustling of the leaves, the distant chirps of birds, and the occasional splash of fish jumping in the river.

For the first time in a long while, everything felt normal again.

I was sitting by the river, my hands dipping into the cool water habang ang mga bata sa paligid ko ay nagtatawanan at nagsusubok manghuli ng isda gamit ang kanilang mga kamay. Even Mommy, who was always so serious, joined us. Her usual stern expression softened as she watched us, her lips curling into the faintest smile.

“I’m gonna win this!” sigaw ng isang batang babae, her eyes shining with excitement. She quickly scooped up a fish with her bare hands, grinning proudly.

I smiled and shook my head. “You have to be faster than that,” I teased, grabbing a fish in one swift motion. “Like this.”

Mommy, who had been standing quietly at the edge of the river, watching us, suddenly spoke, her voice calm and gentle. “Mag-enjoy lang kayo,” she said softly, but I knew what she really meant—peace doesn’t last, and it was always followed by a storm.

We continued to play, our laughter echoing through the air. Everything seemed so peaceful, so right. It felt like the weight of the world had lifted, even if just for a moment. But even in that fleeting peace, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. May nararamdaman akong kakaiba, like a chill in the air.

And then, in an instant, everything changed.

The first scream sliced through the air. It was loud and piercing, sharp like a dagger cutting through the silence. My body tensed at the sound, and I immediately turned toward where it came from. Mula sa kagubatan, isang boses na puno ng takot ang narinig ko.

Mommy stood up immediately, her hand gripping her weapon with the precision of someone who had been in countless battles. “Dito ka lang,” she ordered, her voice calm but firm.

But I couldn’t stay behind.

I stood up, my heart hammering in my chest, panic surging through me. I didn’t know why, but I felt the need to run toward the sound. My feet moved on their own, instinctively, and I rushed toward the trees, the others following closely behind. Ang mga tinig nila, calling out to me, started to fade as I ran faster.

The forest was dense, the trees towering above us, blocking out much of the sunlight. The cries and the sounds of battle were getting louder, the clash of metal, the pounding of feet against the earth, the screams of pain.

I broke through the last line of trees and skidded to a halt.

What I saw before me was pure chaos. Unknown wolves—clad in dark furs, their eyes burning with anger—were attacking our village. They were cutting through our defenses, slashing at anyone in their path. The ground was littered with bodies, both fallen villagers and invaders alike. The village was burning, smoke rising in the distance.

I froze for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest. In the distance, I could see mommy, fighting with a ferocity I had never seen before. Her blade flashed in the sunlight as she cut through the attackers, each strike precise, each movement filled with deadly grace.

But it wasn’t enough. We were too few.

One of the wolves spotted me. His eyes narrowed, a wicked grin spreading across his face. He drew his sword and charged toward me, his movements confident and sure.

I barely had time to react. My body moved on its own, and I grabbed a fallen spear from the ground. It felt cold and unfamiliar in my hand, but I gripped it tightly. The warrior was already upon me, swinging his blade in a wide arc aimed straight at my head.

I ducked, barely avoiding his strike. I twisted my body and thrust the spear forward, feeling it sink into his side. He staggered back, grunting in pain.

But I didn’t wait for him to recover. I pressed the attack, my heart racing, my body moving on pure instinct. I dodged another blow from his sword, then quickly twisted the spear and drove it into his chest.

He collapsed onto the ground with a sickening thud, his body crumpling beneath him.

I stood over him, breathing heavily, my hands shaking as I tried to process what I had just done. Dugo ang tumutulo mula sa dulo ng sibat, and my heart was still racing from the adrenaline. I had killed him.

I took a step back, my legs unsteady, but there was no time to rest. I had to keep moving.

I scanned the battlefield, looking for mommy. She was still fighting, surrounded by the enemies. Her movements were quick and sharp, but the odds were not in her favor. I saw one of the attackers raise his sword and aim it at her back.

“Huwag!” I shouted, rushing toward her.

But before I could reach her, something unexpected happened.

The ground beneath us trembled. A low growl rumbled through the earth, vibrating deep in my chest. The sounds of battle seemed to fade as if the world was holding its breath.

From the trees emerged a massive figure—an enormous wolf, its fur as dark as night, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. It moved with incredible grace, its steps silent but powerful. The invaders froze, their faces filled with shock and fear.

I couldn’t take my eyes off it as it entered the fray. The wolf moved with the speed and power of a predator, tearing through the attackers like they were nothing. Its teeth were bared, its claws shredding through armor and flesh alike.

Mommy stood beside me now, her face pale but determined. “Huwag kang matakot,” she whispered, but even her voice betrayed a hint of unease.

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