CHAPTER 3: IMmortal
2358 Words
CHAPTER 3: IMmortal
Die what must die.
Bleed what must bleed.
For a heart that makes you lie,
never be overpowered by your greed.
For the love that lets you cry,
hopeless, you will plead.
I woke up with a heavy head. Tumatagos ang liwanag sa talukap ng nakasarado kong mga mata. I had to wake up. Hinilot ko ang pumipintig kong sentido bago inilibot ang tingin sa paligid.
The walls were painted yellow. The comforter of the bed had the same color as the walls, and even the pillows. There’s a side table beside the bed where I am lying at may nakapatong na maliit na halaman. Pumasok ang sinag ng araw sa bintana at ang ilaw ng kuwarto ay mas lalo lamang inilarawan ang kabuuan ng lugar na kinaroroonan ko.
This was not the room where I slept.
This was not my room.
Where was I again?!
The door opened, and a lady entered. A white fur coat sat on her back tracing the tiled floor of the bedroom as she closes the door. Her slender body made way, holding a tray with foods in both of her hands.
“Good morning, Delta.”
Namilog ang mga mata ko sa mga salitang otomatikong lumabas sa bibig ko at sa naging pagyuko ko bilang pagbibigay-galang sa bagong dating.
The Delta walked to my bed and placed the tray above the comforter. “How are you feeling?”
I sat properly on the bed. Naramdaman ko ang p*******t ng buo kong katawan at ang hapdi ng mga mata. Isinandal ko ang likod sa headboard ng kama. “Ayos lang po, Delta.”
My eyes grew wide again.
The lady laughed at my remark. “We’re the only people here, Catori.”
Who’s Catori? I am not Catori!
She moved closer to me, disturbing the already messed bedsheet. I got to look at her face better. Her almond shaped eyes, pointed nose, and natural shaped lips looked perfect for her. Bagay na bagay ito sa porselana niyang kulay at sa mahaba niyang buhok na umaalon sa t’wing naglalakad siya. There’s something inside that tells me that I have seen her face before.
“How’s the pack, Terra?”
I covered my mouth when it spoke out of my will. Natawa na naman ang babaeng nagngangalang Terra dahil sa inasta ko.
“Bakit? Nahihiya ka bang magtanong?”
“Hindi naman sa ganoon.”
I don’t have a control over this body!
Terra shifted her gaze to the wall on my right side, worried look flashed all over her face. “The other pack wanted to claim this place as their territory.”
“The Chiannon Pack, you mean?”
“Yes,” she confirmed.
“Ang pangit talaga ng pangalan nila.”
Terra laughed. I laughed, too.
“But their Alpha is powerful,” she commented.
“Our Alphas are powerful, too. Even our Beta, and the Deltas, and warriors.”
Hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko na magkomento dahil tila wala akong kontrol sa ibang pagsasalita at pagkilos nito. This may be a past I am seeing. A history I believe I cannot alter. For the reason why I am seeing this, I have no clue. And they are talking about werewolves I think that do not exist. They are mythical creatures.
Where am I?
Pumailanlang ang katahimikan sa aming dalawa hanggang sa muli akong nagsalita.
“Nasaan si Alpha, Terra?”
“Naglilibot, naghahanap ng ipapakain sa mga batang lobo. Naghahanap din siya ng lugar na maaaring tirhan,” wika nito sa mahinang boses.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Terra. “Pinaplano ba niya na isuko ang pack sa Chiannon?”
“Hindi sa gano’n,” saad nito sa kalmadong boses. “Naghahanap siya ng lugar na maaaring tirhan para palawigin ang kaniyang sakop sa pamamagitan ng pag-ampon sa mga ligaw na taong lobo.”
Napatango ako sa kaniyang sinabi. Ang paningin nito ay bumagsak sa aking balot na katawan.
“You should rest, Catori. As the lead warrior, you need to heal as soon as possible.”
I smiled. “I will, Delta.”
“Ilang taong lobo ang namatay sa magkabilang angkan.” Bakas ang kalungkutan niya hindi para sa kabila kung hindi malamang ay para sa amin. “Kung ipagpapatuloy ng kabilang panig ang pag-uumpisa ng gulo laban sa atin, mas magkakaroon ng malaking problema.”
Kinuha niya ang tray at inilapit sa akin. Nakahain ang hilaw na karne. Nanubig agad ang aking bibig sa pagkaing nakita. A low growl escaped my throat; I ran my tongue to my lips.
Bumaling ako kay Terra. “Are there any young werewolves affected?”
She shook her head. “Wala.”
Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi niya, pero base sa mga salita niya ay may nakalaban akong mga taong lobo mula sa ibang angkan.
“I don’t remember much, Terra. My memory is hazy.”
Terra examined my expression. Purong kalituhan lamang ang kaya kong ipakita.
“You don’t remember what happened nights ago?”
Umiling ako. If she hasn’t told my name, I wouldn’t have known. If the owner of this body has not spoken her name, I would not know it, too. Kung hindi napag-usapan ang tungkol sa nangyari ay wala akong ideya.
“On the night of the full moon, the Chiannon pack attacked our village, and the fight was held in the forest.”
I nodded understandingly.
“The Beta helped you when you passed out losing so much blood protecting other warriors.”
“What about the Alpha?” nag-aalala kong tanong. “Was he wounded?”
“Our Alpha was wounded, too, but the healers helped him,” wika nito. “There are more damages to the other pack though.”
I heaved a heavy sigh. Nanatili akong nakatitig sa karne. Nanuot ang malinamnam nitong amoy sa aking ilong kaya kinain ko na ito nang tuluyan.
Pagkaubos sa pagkain ay niligpit ni Terra ang laman ng tray.
“Ako na, Delta. Nakakahiya!”
Akma kong kukunin ang lalagyan, ngunit ang kaliwa niyang kamay ay agad akong itinulak para madikit sa sandalan ng kama. Sa lakas niya at sa nanghihina kong katawan ay nahirapan akong makagalaw. Mabilis namang kumilos ang kanan niyang kamay para ilayo ang tray sa akin.
“Magpahinga ka d’yan, Tori.”
“Pero—”
“Catori.”
Her serious voice scared me. Napalunok ako ng laway. “Puwede naman akong maglakad-lakad mamaya, ‘di ba?”
Tumango ito. “Pero hindi ka pa maaaring magsanay.”
Tinanaw ko ang papalayo niyang pigura hanggang sa makalabas siya ng kuwarto.
When the sunlight hit my window, I stood from my bed and walked towards it. I looked down. There were a group of people sitting on a large log beside their house. May mga lobo ring naglalakad sa basang lupa. Children ran on the grounds.
Lumabas ako ng bahay para maglakad-lakad. Sa pagsarado ko ng pinto ay napunta ang atensyon ko sa mga nakahilerang bahay. We are living in a village—the history of how we managed to acquire this place was not clear in my mind. I wanted to know how a pack of werewolves had this place.
Was this abandoned even before our arrival? Or were there people living just before we came here, and we had this place by force? Have we killed humans to satisfy our hunger? Have we killed humans to have our own shelter? I don’t know.
Ilang dalawang palapag na bahay ang nadaanan ko. Some were painted blue, some were painted yellow. And although it seemed strange for me, my body knew it is its home.
There was a confusion in my mind earlier.
Kung bakit ako narito, hindi ko alam. Naaalala kong napunta ako sa isang mall. There I met Magnus. Where is Magnus?
We swam the water and arrived in another new place. We found a house where we decided to sleep.
I remember we received a roll, and it disappeared in front of us.
Then, I was lying on the bed... and was about to sleep.
Did I fall asleep? Is this a dream?
“Catori!”
My name is Catori.
But I know I am not Catori.
I am...
Who was I?
Where am I?
Where is my house?
Where are my parents and my bestfriend?
Where is Magnus?
“Catori!”
Right. Catori is my name, and I am the female lead warrior of Alnwick pack.
A smile curved into my lips as the feeling of familiarity—home and love—drowned the unfamiliar confusion earlier. Ano nga ulit ang iniisip ko? Hindi ko na maalala.
“Catori!”
I searched for the voice and spotted Largo, our male lead warrior. Hubad ang pantaas nitong damit kaya naman agad kong natanaw ang mga sugat na palagay ko ay natamo niya sa nangyaring labanan. Ang panghapong sinag ay dumaan sa pagitan ng mga dahon ng mga matatayog na puno at tumama sa kaniyang pawisang katawan. His body glistened as he continued to walk near me. Nalanghap ko ang amoy ng kagubatan at lalong naramdaman na ito nga ang tahanan ko.
Tahanan...
“Mabuti naman at gising ka na,” nakangiting wika ni Largo paglapit sa akin. Using his free hand, he combed his hair to the side.
My stare dropped down to his right hand. “Anong nangyari sa kamay mo?”
Nabaling ang tingin niya sa ipinunto ko. Tumawa ito. “Napuruhan.”
I snatched his hand and examined it. “Can’t the healers fully heal it?”
Binigyan niya ako ng isang makahulugang tingin. “Mas maraming kailangang unahing gamutin... gaya mo. Ang mga tulad ko naman ay kayang indahin ang sakit. Kayang pamanhidin ang sarili at gamitin pa ang inaakalang hindi na magagamit.”
“Still, mas mabuting makasiguro,” payo ko sa kaniya.
“Mamaya ako magpapagamot. Ilang araw akong wala at kararating ko lang din kaya ngayon lamang ako nagkaroon ng oras.”
“Mabuti kung ganoon.”
Umalis siya matapos ang usapan namin. Ako naman ay nakipaglaro sa mga bata at tinuruan sila ng ibang bagay. Rinig na rinig ang hagikhikan nila sa aming lugar kaya naman nadadala na rin ako.
Sumapit ang gabi, at dumating ang Alpha kasama ang mga Hunter sa bulwagan ng malaking bahay na nagsisilbing opisina ng mga may matataas na ranggo. The Lead Hunter stayed inside to report.
Mula sa isang malaking puting lobo ay unti-unting naging tao ang anyo ng Alpha. I always admired his fur when he is in his werewolf form. I also loved the way he transforms from being a werewolf to human and how he looked more masculine and attractive in his human form.
I followed his every move. Sinalubong siya ng Luna. Behind her is our bestfriend, Terra. Nakilapit din ang isa pang Delta maging si Largo. The Elders remained seated.
The Luna immediately assisted him. “Welcome back, my King.”
They exchanged a kiss in front of us. I saw Terra’s unaffected expression. It remained plain—not emotionless, caught in between smiling and not.
I c****d my head to one side and asked myself how can she not be affected?
When he arrived, his eyes immediately flew to my friend. He had that sweet smile on his face, saying he had found his home. That even when he is tired and weary, Terra’s existence could relax him because she is his home. Hindi ba iyon nakita ni Terra? Can’t she see that our male Alpha loves her more than the held Queen of the pack?
I wonder how can she not know. I wonder how can she ignore his expression of love while here I am, enduring the unknown pain enveloping my whole system. There’s a bitterness consuming my being while looking at the couple being lovely together.
“Kumusta ang paghahanap, Alpha?” tanong ng mga lalaki.
The Alpha occupied his usual mahogany chair. Its color complemented his fair skin and jet black hair. Bagay na bagay ang matibay na kaanyuan ng kahoy na upuan sa depinadong hulma ng mukha nito. Alpha sat like it’s a throne, and he’s the king. He owned the seat like how he owned the whole pack.
He’s powerful, but his simplicity covered his real strength.
“Kailangan na nating pag-igihan ang pagbabantay,” umpisa nito. Nakasunod lang ako ng tingin sa bawat buka ng labi niya na kitang-kita ko kahit ilang metro ang layo. “Patungkol sa mga bahay, may nakita kaming mga abandonadong bahay sa may Silangan. Dalawang magkatabing bahay para sa mga bago.”
“How sure are you that no one lives and no one has owned the place, Alpha?”
It was one of the female Deltas. She has that intimidating aura. Kulay ginto ang buhok nito na kaiba sa karamihan. Ang pares ng mata naman ay kulay asul.
“Because of my sense.” I can tell he wanted to be sarcastic, but still tried to act like a leader. “Walang amoy ng mga lobo at iba pang hayop. There was a scent of human, but it is fading. Wala ng nakatira.”
“Why did not anyone found the place?”
“It’s not that no one found the houses,” sagot nito. “The houses are very visible, but no one probably wanted to take it since it’s the old house of the witch who abhorred werewolves and vampires.”
“Then, why would we extend the pack there?” tanong ng Delta.
“It’s because I met the witch’s granddaughter who bargained the houses with me,” kalmadong saad pa rin ng pinuno.
“You met her in your human form?”
“In my human form.”
“Did you tell her you’re a werewolf?”
Alpha chuckled. “No. One reason was because she said she is too done with werewolves and vampires stories. Ayaw na niyang makarinig pa ng hindi naman totoo. Second reason was because her grandmother hated our kind. She does not need to know it more.”
Amusement filled me.
He is Alnwick pack’s Alpha.
He is Finn.
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- Writer
