The Tale of Xenosa

New Adventure

The next morning I woke up early and gathered all kinds of stuff Luci and I will need for the journey we’ll take. I grabbed a bigger bag from Nana’s cabinet and filled it with food, clothes, and emergency supplies like flashlights, batteries, and first aid kits. I also grabbed Nana’s “gunong” it was said to be a knife of the ancient Mindanaoan people, used for sacred rituals and in cases of emergency as a thrusting weapon. This is called a punyal for the Tagalogs, this is the only weapon I ever held and practiced with. I wrapped it in layers and stashed it in the bag. I then went down to the kitchen and prepared a meal. We’d head out after lunch, that would give me enough time to prepare. After I ate, I took a bath and dried my hair. I tied my hair into a braid and wore some shoes.

I went to find Luci and got her to eat first before we leave. I glanced at the hut one last time and felt hot tears threatening to fall from my eyes. Nana wait for me okay? I’m coming

After Luci ate, I headed outside and locked the doors and windows. “C’mon Luci” I called, we got a long way ahead. As though she was excited she hurriedly got up and led the way.

It was around 4 in the afternoon when I felt tired, we just passed a waterfall nearby so I decided to fill some of our empty water jugs. I sat down and drank some water from my bottle.

Much to my surprise Luci somehow knew where to go, or was she just leading us to nothingness. We were surrounded by large trees and vines as thick as ropes used by boats. I’d hate to be a party pooper but I think we were lost. Great lost and tired, what a perfect combination.

There were no signs of houses or people, only trees that seemed to go off for miles more. I needed a map but my guts were telling me that I should trust my cat.

And as if Luci could hear what I was thinking she stopped in her tracks and began to circle a certain spot.

I looked around the place we were in and somehow had a feeling of deja vu. I began to realize how familiar this place was. This was the place from my dream a few nights ago! I exclaimed in my head. I crunched down to where Luci was at and lightly patted her head. “Way to go girl, but how did you know about this place? We’ve never been this deep into the forest before.” Luci just meowed in response and continued to circle the spot.

As she was moving around a marking caught my eye. I moved her to the side and swatted the leaves away to get a better look at it. Audere est Facere, which is Latin for the phrase “To do is to dare” I said. Do what exactly?

As if on cue, the ground began to shake.

Alarmed, I hurriedly jumped to the side, and carried Luci with me. It was shaking with so much force that I thought a tsunami would follow.

Normally that’s what would happen right?

Thankfully, I landed on my butt. I was breathing rapidly and felt as though my heart was going to jump out of my chest. When the ground finally stopped shaking that was when I stoop up and went to where Luci was at. As scared as I was, bones shaking and all Luci on the other hand was calm as though knowing that would happen. Weird. Luci is one weird cat.

I got up and peeked at the spot where I was at moments ago. There was now a large gaping hole at where I stood.

The sun was already setting and unfortunately, Luci and I were still stuck in the middle of nowhere. The only good thing that happened today was that we were able to find a pathway. I’d hate it if I were right with my dream.

Time seemed to speed up, the sun was already gone from the horizon.

Just a few more minutes and it would already be dark out. The pathway seemed to be the only sensible way to go, but I had this feeling that I was supposed to go there when it was morning not when it was night. I could hear cackles from the forest, sounds from wild animals getting louder by the second. There was no time to contemplate I had to decide now. I picked up Luci and braced myself for the inevitable darkness that would come. To my surprise, the pathway had stairs, and once I stepped inside the hole a lantern lit up. Well, would you look at that, another detail from that dream? this just keeps getting better and better. I sarcastically muttered to myself. I really do hope whatever was down here would be worth it.

As I descended the makeshift stairs, I noticed that the hole was now closed. That’s just great, I thought to myself. “There’s no going back now Luci let’s do this”. We continued to walk until we were faced with two tunnels.

On the right one, I could hear sounds of animals or perhaps creatures, and on the left one, it was quiet. Perhaps too quiet for my liking. Luci seemed to be bothered by that as well. She jumped from my arms and took the right tunnel. I took the lantern from the side and followed.

“Luci wait up!” my pet seemed to be in a hurry, if I were her I’d probably do the same thing anyway. When I finally caught up to her, I noticed that she was sneering at something in the wall.

Curious and a little scared myself I decided to shine some light into it. That probably was the worst decision I’ve ever made. I could now see one large red-eye, and fangs as long as my fingers and a humungous upper lip. I gulped loud and hard. I could feel my legs shaking and for the second time today, I felt the color drain from my face.

In front of us now was a dog, or it somehow resembled a dog. It had the ears and tusks of an elephant and it was as big as Cerberus, the dog from Greek mythology.

My whole body was shaking and my mind couldn’t think, “A Bungisngis” I croaked out.

Cold sweat now dripping from the sides of my head. My hands were shaking and probably a little slippery as the lantern slipped from my grasp. The creature growled at me and the only word that came out of my mouth was “Oh s**t”. I was brought back to my senses just in time as I carried Luci and ran away from that place.

I could hear the Bungisngis running after me.

Ah what do I do, what do I do? My mind was in shambles and my legs seemed to have a mind of its own, which I was thankful for as it was dark and I couldn’t really see anything.

And then I remembered I packed a flashlight! I also had a knife. “Use the punyal, and cut off its head Xen” a voice suddenly said. I stopped running and put Luci down. I told her to stay and wait for me, hoping that she would actually understand. I ran and when I’ve finally put some distance between me and the Bungisngis I stopped and then crouched down on the ground. I frantically looked for the knife, and just in time, the Bungisngis caught up with me.

Everything happened so fast, it was as if something foreign occupied my body instead of me, but I knew of my movements. I ran, jumped, and propelled myself from the side of the wall with the dagger instinctively in my hands. And with one swing of my arm, the head of the Bungisngis has been severed. I landed with one knee bent on the ground, and arms spread across, and with my head bowed. I got up and noticed that there was something on the punyal. My knife had blood on it, weird though it was smoking or sizzling, I quickly wiped it away though scared of what might happen to my dagger if I were to leave it there a little longer. I glanced at the severed body behind me. Bit by bit I could see it dissolving into black and red and smoke. I then remembered the voice, whoever she was I was grateful for her help. I heard crackling sounds from afar. What is this place? I'm pretty sure this was the place from my dreams, thought my dream didn't include any wild creature running after me I was still somehow thankful for the feeling of familiarity. I was startled to see a black kangaroo, well it looked like a kangaroo.

I then remembered Luci! I quickly ran to where I left her.

“Luci!” I called out when I got back. I saw her hiding behind a rock. I quickly picked her up and caressed her fur, “it’s fine now the monster’s gone”. Though it seemed like I was comforting her, it was more of a comfort to myself. I stood up and quickly felt my head spin causing me to tumble back onto the ground. After that, I quickly realized that I had drained my energy from my heroics. “Let’s set camp here for tonight,” I said. Luci nodded as if she understood. I quickly set up camp and got the materials I'd need to sleep. My stomach growled with hunger but I couldn't do anything about that right now. I was too tired to even stand up. I drank some water and laid down on the sleeping bed.

A Bungisngis on the first day huh, can’t wait for tomorrow. I bitterly smiled and closed my eyes with far thoughts of the voice that helped today. My brain seemed to be too tired to comprehend my thoughts guess I’ll find out tomorrow.