The Alistaff potion works. My body feels light, movements are effortless. The bokken is like a feather. I swing it with only one hand, smashing Kaelen’s bokken away and staggering him back. I use this opportunity to strike.

  Whack! Whack!

  He tries to counterattack, but I see it—his sword arm lowers whenever he does. I parry before his strike even comes close. With one powerful rising cut, I send Kaelen’s bokken spinning into the sky.

  Whoa! I haven’t felt this good since that night.

  Victory! Power!

  I leap high, bokken swinging overhead.

  Time to finish him off!

  “TAKE THIS!”

  The impact I expect doesn’t come.

  I land on both hands and break into a sprint.

  Huh?

  Everything is a blur, moving too fast. A soft golden mist fills my vision. I’m running along a massive bough, leaves and vines brushing past me. A familiar, comforting laughter rings out, bright with excitement.

  Natalie is far ahead, running, leaping across the branches.

  And I’m jumping too.

  I glide through the air.

  The feeling is just so good.

  I land on the next bough and zip across its length like lightning, gaining on Natalie. She comes within reach.

  I pounce.

  We tumble down.

  “AAAAHH—!”

  Her laughter turns into a terrified scream.

  “NATALIE—!”

  And everything goes black.

  Quiet.

  I look around.

  Whatever thrill I felt is gone, replaced by a strange dread.

  Crash—crackle!

  I know that sound. I’ve heard it before. But I can’t see anything.

  Slowly, silvery-blue light reflects off marble-white columns.

  This isn’t the jungle.

  Then red.

  That accursed red.

  It comes in flashes.

  Silver-blue. Black-red. Arcs of them—flying, spinning, clashing in the dark. The lights spill across a tapestry beside the columns: blue banners embroidered with a golden winged harp, and azure curtains.

  No...!

  Wings flare. Silvery-blue. My dad’s.

  Then the black and red one.

  Helel’s.

  The giant room lights up from my father’s wings.

  This is... Mommy and Daddy’s throne room.

  Not this again! Wake up!

  WAKE UP—!

  “UWARGH——!”

  “PAPA—————!”

  “Your Highness! We must go!”

  “NO—! KAELEN! HELP PAPA!”

  Then red.

  Just red.

  It is the Red Room.

  I see Mama. Bloodied. Her platinum hair is matted with blood. Her cold hands cup my cheeks, sticky and slick. Her eyes… hollow. Blood runs down her face and mouth. She gasps through it.

  Tears pour down her pale cheeks.

  She is dying.

  But—

  She is smiling.

  “Boy-Boy, you must live, okay?”

  Kaelen stands behind me. Around us, her handmaidens bow their heads—some bloodied, one leaning on another’s shoulder. Everyone is crying.

  “No! Mama! I don’t want to go!”

  “No, my love. You are the last of our line. You must live.”

  I shake my head. I can’t breathe properly.

  “Boy-Boy, whatever you decide after this, know that Mommy and Daddy will always love you.”

  Her hands begin to glow. A glyph lights up in the ground around us. Some of the handmaidens weep openly.

  My hair begins to turn brown.

  So does the blue of my eyes.

  That familiar pain coils inside me.

  “NO! NO—! MAMA—!”

  I feel her last kiss—cold, soft, gentle—on my forehead.

  Mama turns to Kaelen. “Take care of my son, Kaelen.”

  “Your Majesty…” His voice wavers, but he salutes, arm across his chest.

  Finally, she turns back to me.

  Her final smile.

  “Live, Boy-Boy. Mommy loves you.”

  A bright light burst from the ground around us.

  “MAMA——!”

  “AAAHHH———!”

  I awoke, my heart pounding so hard I thought I was going to die. My breathing was as messed up as it was in the dream. And everything was blurry and spinning...

  Then, silver...

  I squinted.

  *Come on... See!*

  The rough texture of my blanket brushed against my palm as my fingers curled in. Slowly, the world refocused. I was in Ibis, inside my hut, on the thick mat that I had always slept on. That silver was actually the thin ray of moonlight coming in from outside.

  My body was wet, cold, and shaking. Each breath made an embarassing noise and my teeth rattled against themselves.

  Kaelen was beside me in an instant, his strong hand resting on my back.

  "It's just a dream, Herald."

  I clutched my blanket close, breathing in my familiar scent.

  What else could I do? I wanted to forget. I wanted it to never had happened.

  But I was powerless.

  "Make it stop..."

  The plea hung pointlessly in the dark.

  His sigh proved it.

  ———

  Daylight came, Kaelen was outside. Across our hut was a small shed by the river with many big vases. He was scooping water from the river with a bucket and filling the vases. When a Felid called from above, he'd latch a big bucket with water to the crane and they'd roll it up.

  I was allowed off this morning because of the nightmare, but not this afternoon. Kaelen said the best way to fight the nightmare is to become stronger than it. To train, to become one with with the stick I swing. Just like he is one with his sword.

  Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  Easy to for him to say. I can't stop the nightmares.

  I sighed, and Natalie's ears flattened till it was flat against her head. We were huddled up in a corner of my hut, on the mat I sleep on. The food Kaelen made and Natalie brought was on the table, already cold. I didn't eat, everything tasted waxy, dull.

  "It's alright, Herald..." Natalie whispered, "I'm here."

  "I really want it to stop..." My voice was an embarrassing thing. But the monster inside me was just too strong.

  She gave me a piece of Kueh Lenggang.

  I looked. The bright green crepe roll, with a bit of brown from the sugar seeping through, it was color in all this dull grey-brown of my world. But, today, even the dullness ate up the cheer.

  I took a bite. Tasteless... Though I knew it should be sweet. And I nibbled at it like a rat.

  By noon, I was able to stand. Natalie guided me outside the hut for some sunlight.

  "Why don't we go for a walk, Herald?" Natalie asked, "I'll take you up above the canopy. The sunlight is beautiful there, it'll make the nightmare go away."

  Her usual brightness seemed to have been doused down by my gloom too. Her ears didn't twitch much today. And her tail remained near the ground.

  Right now... I didn't like the idea of her carrying me up the trees. If Sylvester or Moy saw us, they'd laugh. I just want to be in Mama's arms. To be with Papa.

  Even if it means...

  "No thanks, Nat... I'll just sit by the river." I said.

  "...Okay."

  So we sat by the river, outside my hut. Natalie, as usual with her, would shift here and there around me. One moment on my left, then over my lap, later draped over my back... She tried really hard to cheer me up. She always do. At times like this, I'm glad I'm here. She's here.

  We listened to the sound of the water, a slow trickling sound. Natalie pointed at a red dragonfly. Then, at a stork landed by the bank, standing on one leg.

  Somewhere further up the river, I saw a bunch of naked Felid children played in the water, splashing, chasing and wrestling each other. Their laughter was light... Cheerful. They don't have nightmares. They have their parents with them. They don't have to be afraid.

  Natalie's ear suddenly turned forward. She was looking up intensely, and I followed her eyes.

  Above us, some of the Felid women huddled together on the porch of a hut, talking about something. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but from the way they stood, and the look on their faces, it was something bad.

  I turned to her; only she could hear what they're saying. Her tongue came out again in focus. I chuckled. She's so cute like that.

  "It's a giant wolf..." She muttered, clutching her hands to her chest.

  "Huh?"

  "Once in every few years, a giant wolf would come close to our village." Natalie began, hugging her knees. "It's very big and very strong, with only one eye..."

  "That time, me and my friends were playing hide and seek in the woods. The sun had already gone down."

  The air grew heavy, I know where this is going. One of them got eaten.

  "It appeared suddenly... we couldn't climb the trees in time... One of my friends got eaten..."

  "No..."

  "The Elder and the others hunted it, but they couldn't kill it. My Daddy blinded one of its eyes, but it bit Daddy really bad."

  I had wondered how did Natalie's dad got such a bad scar on his arm. And the way he always looked at me, I couldn't describe it. Now I know the village had an enemy who ate their children. But that didn't explain his way of looking at me. What did I have to do with the Wolf?

  Or... Was it related to that... Him?

  Now, the sound of water and insects became very loud.

  "If the wolf is back, then we won't be allowed outside after sundown."

  The sunlight began to slant. It's time for training. Reluctantly, I went into my hut to retrieve my bokken, dragging the tip along the ground. And we headed for the clearing together.

  A large Felid man meet us along the way. He was big, full of muscles and fur, and was even taller than Kaelen. He had the same hair and color as Natalie, but his eyes were dark brown. His tail was wrapped around his waist like a belt. A spear was slung over his shoulders in one hand, while his other hand, badly scarred, was holding a basket full of fish.

  Morgan Birdsong, Natalie's father.

  "Daddy!" Natalie called, waving, but her tail twitched nervously, "We were just going to the clearing."

  Morgan looked from his daughter to me, his face darkened into a scowl before turning back to Natalie. It was brief, but I caught it. He always looked at me funny. I couldn't tell what it was. He let's me play with Natalie, eat their food, but I'm not allowed in their house. He and Kaelen doesn't talk either.

  "You cannot go with him. The Wolf has come back to the area." Morgan's voice was low, the Daddy voice that allowed no argument.

  Natalie froze, shocked, "B-But Daddy, the sun is still—"

  "No buts. Home, now." A growl seeped into this voice.

  He stood there, unmoving like a statue, eyes on Natalie. Her tail went limp.

  "It's alright, Natalie. I can go alone." I patted her back.

  Natalie kept her eyes on the ground. Then, she turned silently and walked back to the village, shoulders slumping. Morgan followed after her, not giving me another glance. I watched as they disappeared back into the village and continued on my way.

  The dull clacks of the bokken rang through the clearing. I'd done my forms, they were clumsy. My body felt heavy and my mind blank.

  Kaelen and I sparred. I was no match for him. His movements were fast. His strikes were strong and precise. I felt the shock go up to my shoulders each clash.

  For every mistake came a word of correction. Or rather, cold, flat criticism.

  I hated it.

  "Focus, Herald. Close your mind. Push the nightmare away with the sword."

  I swung harder, angrier.

  But it didn't help it. It made it worse.

  "Aah!"

  A sharp pain at my wrist. My bokken fell.

  Kaelen hit me with the tip of his bokken. I rubbed my wrist, a little red from the blow.

  He lowered his blade, looking tired.

  "Five minutes break, Herald. Then, again."

  Again? The monster inside me raged. I picked up my bokken, hands trembling. I was breathing so hard through my mouth I think he could hear me.

  I didn't care now. I looked straight into his cold grey eyes.

  "I had enough! Kaelen!"

  I screamed, slashing my sword in the air. I gripped it so hard I felt a pain in my palm. "Mother told me to live! And I want to live and be happy!"

  His brows creased, but I went on,

  "You're not making me happy! You're just preparing me to die in a different way! This! This stupid destiny and way of the sword of yours!"

  "Her Majesty," his jaw twitched, "Your Mother entrusted me to take care of you,"

  a pause. I could see his chest rising,

  "It is my duty to ensure you are strong enough to survive when the time comes. Now rest, Hera—"

  "NO!"

  My voice rose like a screaming Felid,

  "They're not coming back no matter what! I'd rather go to them than to be here with you!"

  His eyes widened a fraction of a second. Then he stepped forward,

  "YOUR HIGHNESS!"

  I lifted my chin.

  "YES! I'M YOUR KING! AND I COMMAND YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE!"

  For a tense moment, we just stood glaring at each other. All I heard was my breathing, and the rustle of leaves as the wind blew across the clearing.

  The moment he so much as moved, I threw my sword at him with all my strength. It hit him squarely in his chest and dropped onto the clearing floor.

  *Hmph!*

  And immediately I ran into the jungle.

  I didn't look back. He could catch me.

  I didn't care. I'll scream and fight even if it means losing my voice again!

  Even being eaten by the Wolf seemed good now.

  Night came.

  I sat on the bough outside my hut, my feet dangled in the dim lamplight of our porch. Mommy was cleaning up after dinner and Daddy sharpened his spear inside our hut.

  Herald's hut below was still dark. They hadn't come back yet. They should be back by now, because the giant wolf is nearby.

  I waited.

  And waited.

  The night went on.

  But they didn't come back.

  The sound of something leaping from boughs approached. A black silhouette of a person landed at the end of my branch.

  I looked, the lamplight casting the approaching figure in a soft glow. She was taller than me, with two tufts of hair at the tip of her ears. Her white dress swayed with each silent step. The light fell on her goldish-white hair.

  "Moy."

  She stopped a few steps away. We looked at each other, and there was no scent of hate in the air.

  "What... Are you doing here?" I asked her.

  "Natalie. It's about..." A pause, "Herald."

  My heart dropped. A picture of Herald hanging in the jaw of the wolf flashed in my head. My hands went cold.

  I jumped up, "What happened, Moy? Tell me!" grabbing Moy by her shoulders.

  Moy lips pressed into a line, like she was bracing for something. She told me what she saw. Herald and Kaelen were training, Kaelen scolded him, then Herald screamed and threw the stick at him.

  Then, he ran into the forest.

  "What?! Where's Kaelen?" I asked, "He's supposed to protect him!"

  "He—I don't know. He just stood there!"

  "No...! Why?!" I cried. "Why didn't you wait and see what he did?"

  "I—I...! I didn't want him to know I was there!" Moy yelled back.

  What now? My world felt like its going to come apart one more time.

  "No... No, this can't be happening. I must—"

  But I know Daddy and Mommy wouldn't let me. I casted a glance back into the hut, and their faces said it all. They heard it, and they don't want me going into the jungle.

  Moy grimaced, and I smelled a whiff of something rancid like old cooking oil. She was annoyed at my attachment to Herald.

  But... I can't. It's just too much.

  "Don't get me wrong, Natalie. I'm not doing this for him." She looked away, "I'm doing this for you."

  Something tugged at my heart. My eyes began to water.

  "Moy... I thought you hated us..."

  "I just don't like you choosing him over us!" Moy snapped, "I know he looks like him. Just..."

  She swallowed, "I don't want the wolf to eat anyone anymore."

  That tugging in my heart became so strong, I just shot forward and hugged her.

  "Moy... Thank you."

  Her hands closed around my back. "We need a plan now. We need to find him and get him back."

  "I think..." I casted a glance back to my hut, then whispered, "We'll wait till everyone's asleep."

  "Right," her voice lowered to match mine, "I'll try to convince my brother to come."

  She made a sign with her hand, careful not to let Mommy and Daddy see. It was part of our secret code, something we use when we were playing hunting.

  Meet at the platform at midnight, the sign said.

  "Goodnight, Nat."

  "Goodnight, Moy."

  That night, I waited, lying next to Mommy. Daddy went out sometime after dinner, he didn't say where. He just took his spear and machete and left. Mommy and I went to sleep, and she assured me that Herald will be alight. Kaelen hadn't come back yet, so he should still be with him. But I didn't feel comfortable. Not when Herald was not down there in his hut.

  I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep. Until I heard that soft, slow breathing from Mommy. I shifted, brushing Mommy a bit. She didn't stir.

  She's asleep.

  Quietly, I took out a small scent potion I made at Juno's place and dropped a drop onto my pillow. That would create a scent like mine, strong enough so she doesn't realize I'm gone. I put the pillow where I slept and snuck out of our hut.

  My heart was pounding. And my hands and feet were not listening to me. I actually stumbled jumping along the branches.

  But I made it to our meeting place.

  Sylvester and Moy were already there.

  "Syl, you really came."

  "Look, Nat, don't misunderstand." Sylvester repeated the same words Moy said. Same manner, arms crossed. "There's the Wolf prowling around. If he gets him..."

  He paused, thinking.

  "We don't want to you see cry again."

  I sighed, putting my hands on my waist, "This... After what happened that day...?" I eyed him, just to see if he's lying.

  "I could've slashed him, you know?" He snapped, showing me his extended claws, but I could see his face blush a little.

  My body relaxed, and I smiled at them.

  "You really do care, Syl. Thank you."

  "Sh-shut... Ugh!" Our young elder's face became redder. He never stammered, until now. "C'mon, let's hurry before anyone finds us."

  And the three of us headed into the darkness, following that familiar ashen scent.

  The forest felt different tonight. Knowing the Wolf was nearby made it felt like our enemy. Our usual sense of familiarity and safety was gone, replaced by a hanging dread that didn't go away.

  Sylvester, Moy and I prowled through the branches. Before any leap, we'd listen for noises, look around for danger. Only when we saw it's safe did we jump.

  It's so different from how we did it in the day. We simply jumped.

  "That way," Sylvester whispered, pointing, "Hurry."

  His voice sounded anxious. Our heart pounded as we moved quicker. I watched Sylvester's back as he pressed forward, a warm feeling blooming inside me.

  He does care, he just doesn't want to admit it.

  Or maybe he's jealous.

  But that feeling was quickly flattened. Herald... And maybe Kaelen were out alone in this jungle. Their smell would attract the Wolf quickly.

  Even if Kaelen was protecting him... No way he would stand a chance against it. Not when the Elder and Daddy together couldn't kill it.

  A soft breeze blew through the canopy and Sylvester muttered a curse. The wind had changed direction, and Herald's scent is gone. This is bad because the Wolf might catch his scent.

  We hurried. My heart pounding harder. I don't want Herald to die. It'll be like losing Nathan all over again.

  Juno's voice appeared in my head: He is not Nathan.

  I know that! But I don't care—!

  I just want my brother back!

  Something strong was boiling inside me, and it gushed out.

  I drew a sharp breath, and screamed,

  "HERALD! WHERE ARE YOU?"