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Change Course

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RAYS FROM the sun fell on us in sharp glints, blinding my vision as I stepped closer to the huddle that the other team members formed.

"Luna Team," Royce calls out and we turn around to face him. Mayroon itong hindi namin maintindihan na ngiti sa labi.

Royce as a mentor was so different from him as a person; ito ba talaga yung muntik nang patayin ako sa wet market?

"Piece of advice before you start," he says, the tone of his voice was thoughtful habang pinaglalaruan niya ang matalas na espadang sinummon niya kanina.

My forehead creased as I saw Madison slightly raise an eyebrow from the corner of my eye.

"Take your steps light and little. Need not for you to rush; let the journey carry you instead." He nods, before walking away and soon enough, he and Rome disappeared in a speck of light.

"What the hell was that supposed to mean?" Madison mutters under her breath. Nag-kibit balikat naman si Hugo.

"It's him trying to sound wise as a mentor." I scoff quietly at agad naman naming hinarap ang isa't-isa.

"We'll get to that later," Sabi ni Gabryle as he sticks the spear he holds on the ground. "Ang importante ay ang kasulukuyan."

"So, what's the plan captain?" Damien asks.

"We were instructed to follow the faeries so we'll do just that." Gabryle replied at saka humarap kay Haisley.

"Lead us the way."

Tumango naman si Haisley at nagsimulang maglakad na agad ko namang sinundan.

"Do you sense the presence of a faerie?" Tanong ko sa kaniya as we walked across the grassy plains.

"Yep. If I'm not mistaken, there's one in that tree over there." Sabi nito as she pointed out to a tree at the edge of the plain.

From where we were standing, I narrowed my eyes to see something shift above the branches of the tree.

"That's not the only presence I can feel though," she mutters at napalingon naman ako sa kaniya.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" Nag-aalala kong tanong.

"There's something beyond the woods that's making the hair on my skin stand."

At those words, bigla rin akong nakaramdam nang kaba.

"Haisley, what do you sense?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Gabryle na medyo napasabay sa amin.

"I-I'm not so sure yet, but it feels dangerous." Sabi ni Haisley sa kaniya and I grip on my necklace.

"Shouldn't we have some weapons before we go further?" I said, pausing. "I mean, kung tama nga ang hinala ni Haisley then we need something that can help defend us."

Madison shook her head. "Are drifts clueless as well o ikaw lang yun?" She said snidely and I rolled my eyes.

Here we go again.

"I don't know what the hell your problem is with me but I'm just suggesting what I think is best." I snap and the girl scoffs. The audacity.

"Well your suggestion is wrong." She huffs. "I don't know what cave you've been living in but no weapons are allowed in the Ethearia Crown Match. That's why we have our abilities."

"Suit yourself," I say coldly and turned my back to continue walking towards the path. Needless to say, I felt a tiny sense of embarrassment.

"Madison, you have to cut it out." Narinig kong sabi ni Haisley and I groaned.

"She started it with her own ignorance."

"She didn't know."

"Well, now she does." Madison snaps back and at the same time, I stopped right at my tracks nang nakalapit na kami sa puno.

There above the branches was a faerie fluttering around quietly.

"I can sense the location of the next faerie." Tahimik na sabi ni Haisley na para bang may pangamba sa kaniyang tono.

"What are we waiting for? Halika na!" Matapang na sabi ni Damien at agad na pumasok sa loob nang gubat, leading the trail.

"D-Damien wait!" Haisley shouted and ran after him.

"What's up??" Kunot-noong tanong ni Hugo at agad naman kaming napakaripas rin nang takbo.

Leaves and plants barricaded our path, making it quite difficult to run through the thickness of the forest. Trees were filled with moss and sap, as vines hung from some branches. May mga iilang bato at piraso ng kahoy na nakakalat sa lupain that also added to the difficulty of following the path.

"You airhead, sabi nga ni Haisley na tumigil ka!" Madison yelled to Damien who seemed to enjoy being chased.

"This isn't funny Damien!" Sigaw rin ni Hugo. Medyo madilim ang paligid since sunlight only seeped through the few clearings within the forest. Other than that, wala nang ibang source ng liwanag dahil sa kapal ng mga puno at dahon.

"Shhh! Don't shout!" Haisley says in a half-whisper and a half-yell. "They will hear you!"

"Who will hear us?" I demanded. Bigla namang napatigil sa pagtakbo si Haisley, which made all of us halt suddenly. Napabangga tuloy ako kay Gabryle.

Haisley looked in front of us in horror at napaangat ako ng ulo.

Right before us, was a group of buzzing insects that looked like wasps. The only difference was that bumubuga ito ng apoy.

"Trailflamers." She whispers and none of us dare try to move.

"Holy Luna," Hugo mutters st napatingin naman ako sa ibaba. Eventually, Damien had fallen onto the forest ground and was trying hard not to breathe; or else magiging breakfast, lunch at dinner na siya ng mga trailflamers.

"Trailflamers can trail any living thing, capture it using their flames, and then eat it alive." Haisley whispers frantically. "Don't make another move or sound and pretend you're a dead fucking tree if you don't want to be their living meal."

Her warning was too late though nang biglang bumahing si Damien.

"NO!" Haisley shouted in horror as Madison and Gabryle scrambled to grab Damien by the arm and we all ran for our lives.

"Shit, shit shit!" Damien yells as breaths of flames started spewing to our direction.

"If you weren't such a fucking dumbass!" Madison cries out, and I feel my heart on my throat.

"Malay ko ba?!"

"Shithead, didn't you hear Haisley's warnings?!"

"Fighting won't do you good, we need a plan." Hingal na sabi ni Gabryle as we hurriedly take a sharp turn.

"Haisley, how do we lose them?!" Sigaw ko naman pero napailing lang ito.

"They're called trailflamers for a reason! Hide, hide!"

"You mean to say they can trail any living thing right?" Hugo asks thoughtfully as we try to lose the trailflamers amidst the forest.

Haisley nods and Hugo seems to be deep in thought.

"I know that look, what the hell are you planning?!" Haisley demands and a slow smile began to curve on his lips.

"What do you have in mind, Florantez?" Gabryle's eyebrows furrow.

"Split up in two: Damien and Madison turn to your left and the rest, you run to your right." Hugo pants. "On my signal!"

"I swear to Go—"

"Just trust me on this!" He shouts. "NOW!"

Agad na umikot papuntang kaliwa si Damien at Madison habang pumunta namin kami nina Gabryle at Haisley sa may kanan.

I turned my head and to our horror, biglang tumigil sa pagtakbo si Hugo.

Sisigaw na sana ng malakas si Haisley, but Gabryle was quick to cover her mouth and we soon hid behind a crumple of trees.

Peeking out of our hiding place, napakunot ako ng noo nang makitang nawala bigla si Hugo and the trailflamers halted in confusion.

Agad na inalis ni Haisley ang kamay ni Gabryle as she gasped for air, scrambling beside me to see what Hugo was planning.

"Looking for me?" Hugo suddenly reappears, leaning on a tree behind the trailflamers.

Sumugod agad ang mga insekto ngunit biglang nawala nanaman ang binata.

"That jerk!" Haisley exclaims in relief.

"That's what you call using your ability for great use." Gabryle nods in acknowledgement as Hugo kept reappearing and disappearing, further leading the trailflamers away.

Nang biglang tumahimik ang paligid at medyo nakalayo na ang mga ito, we saw Damien wave his hands and the three of us sneaked towards them.

"Hugo is my man." Damien says proudly as soon as nakalapit na kami sa kanila.

"Don't tell me you're gay." Madison snickers, rolling her eyes.

"Gay for you." Damien grins.

"Missed me?" A voice behind us says and we turned to see Hugo who had reappeared.

"HUGO!" Haisley shouts at bigla namang napatalon ang dalaga, wrapping her arms around him. Natawa ang binata as he rubbed Haisley's back affectionately.

"Ako rin, gusto ko ng hug." Damien pouts and Madison gives him a hard hit on the chest.

"We're on training you shithead!" She snaps, standing up. "We still have to reach the river and then climb to the cliff."

"Tama si Madison," Gabryle nods. "Haisley, can you sense the next faerie?"

Haisley needed not to answer for as soon as Gabryle spoke, a faerie came quicky flying by, leaving a trail of sparkling dust.

"Let's go!" Hugo insists at napatakbo nanaman kami, following the little faerie.

Soon enough, the creature had led us out of the dark forest and were now facing a large, coursing river whose current seemed to be rapid.

"Wow, we're actually here." I say in wonder, stepping close to the river's bank.

"This should be easy," Damien says and steps into the water.

"Wow ang lamig." He shivers, facing us. "It's safe though. Bilisan niyo na!" Sabi nito at saka lumusong sa tubig, crossing the waters.

"It's not even that deep, at saka hanggang bewang lang yung tubig." Dagdag pa ni Damien as he whistles out a cheery tune whilst lounging in the water.

"Well I guess he's right," Haisley shrugs as we stepped into the water.

"Damn, it is cold." Sabi ni Hugo as I felt the water seep inside my boots and clothes.

"A little too cold," Madison shudders. "Let's hurry up."

We nodded in agreement, ngunit nang maglalakad pa lamang kami ulit, biglang napaagos si Haisley.

"Woah!" I shout and grabs her hand. The strength I had wasn't enough though and soon enough, the water was carrying me further as well.

"The current's too strong!" Gabryle frowns as he grabs on my arm bago pa ako tuluyang naanod. Hugo then helps us up at umahon na kami mula sa tubig; clothes and hair dripping from wetness.

"Pinagsasabi mo?" Damien scoffs. Malapit na itong makatawid sa ilog. "Para nga lang 'tong swimming pool eh!"

"I think you're forgetting your ability, Mr." Madison rolls her eyes as she sits on the muddy part of the bank.

"Yeah, you're the only one strong enough to cross the river, Damien." Haisley tells him.

"Pa'no yun, siya lang makakaakyat sa cliff?" Hugo asked Gabryle who was staring at the river, deep in thought.

"It doesn't have to be." Gabryle answered at saka tumayo.

"Damien, balik ka nga saglit dito." Sumunod naman ang binata, easily crossing back.

"What?" Damien asks as soon as he reached the river's bank. "Forfeit na ba tayo?"

"Help Madison cross the river." Gabryle simply answered and Madison looked at him incredulously.

"I can take care of myself, thank you very much!" She said in a matter of fact tone which was silenced when Gabryle shook his head.

"None of us aren't strong enough to cross the river alone. Kailangan tayong alalayan ni Damien."

"Ugh, fine!" Madison grumbles habang malawak naman ang ngiti ni Damien na para bang naeexcite.

"Just hold onto m—" Hindi na natuloy ni Madison ang kaniyang sasabihin when Damien suddenly scooped her up and carried her; bridal style.

"I DEMAND YOU PUT ME DOWN!" Madison wailed and we all snorted out a laugh. Hindi naman nakinig si Damien and soon enough, he was carrying Madison across the river, as if they were on their way to to their honeymoon.

"Man, this is the love story of the year," Hugo comments with a grin and we laughed.

"Madison's gonna kill him."

"Nope. If I know any better, she secretly likes Damien."

"No way!" I exclaimed at natawa naman ulit si Haisley. At that same time, Damien had already placed Madison gently on the other side of the river.

Pabalik naman ito upang sunduin kami.

"I'm not going to let you carry me," I joked at natawa naman si Damien na namumula ang tenga.

"Isabay ko na kayo ni Haisley." He says and soon enough, we splash onto the water, with Damien holding each of us by the arms.

"Huwag magseselos, Hugo!" I called out to Hugo who waved and chuckled. Tahimik lang na nanonood si Gabryle.

By the time Damien had helped the two boys, we had all crossed the river successfully.

"Akala ko bubuhatin mo rin ako eh," Pang-aasar ni Hugo and Damien made a face.

"Bro, mahal kita pero hindi ako bakla." Damien says, making a face.

"Rami mong daldal!" Inis na sabi ni Madison as she started walking. "Halika na, nakita ko na yung daan paakyat sa bangin."

"Well she's bitchier than ever." I remarked habang sinusundan namin ito.

"Sus, kinikilig lang kasi yan." Damien smirks.

"Shut up!" Madison yells and we tried to hold back our laughter.

The trip up the cliff was tiring though, at agad na natahimik lahat dahil na rin sa pagod at gutom. Matirik na nakatutok ang araw at pinapaso ang bslst namin as we trudged up towards the path, going higher and higher.

"Are we... there... yet...?" Damien pants. Pang-sampung beses na niyang tinanong 'yan.

"You're supposed to be the strongest one, dapat basic na lang 'to sa'yo eh." Hugo mutters.

"Yeah and stop whining, we're almost there." Madison huffs. Nararamdaman ko nang nasusunog ang binti ko. My muscles were overworked.

"Stop," Haisley gasps, and we all looked up.

The air had become thinner and wide plateau was in our view.

"Oh thank God," bulong ko as I drop to the ground, stretching my limbs and gasping for air.

Lumapit naman agad si Gabryle at Madison sa may dulo nang bangin, peering down.

"That's a rather deep fall," Gabryle remarked and glanced towards the other side of the cliff. "How are we going to reach the other side?"

I close my eyes. Hindi na gumagana ang utak ko sa sobrang pagod.

"Just one moment," Haisley breathes. "Hindi ba kayo napagod??"

"Haisley, gutom na gutom na ako," Madison rolls her eyes. "And the only way we can get food and rest is to cross the damn cliff so let's go!"

"Alright, alright," Hugo sighs and stands up. "Madison has a point."

"Eh pa'no nga tayo makakatawid?" Damien asks, peering down the cliff as well. "Lilipad tayo, gan'on?"

Nagkatinginan si Haisley at Gabryle bago tumingin sa akin.

"What?" I grumble.

"Can you use your telekinetic abilities to make us cross the cliff? Haisley asks and I sit down, startled.

"Woah, you guys are demanding so much of me," I said, shaking my head. "I don't even know if I can lift one body up in the air; anim pa kaya?!"

"Sinasabi ko na nga ba eh," Madison sneers. "Pabigat na nga, wala pang ambag!"

Napatayo ako bigla, my face red from both embarrassment and anger. "Ikaw rin naman ah? Bakit, may naiambag ka ba sa training na 'to."

Lumapit si Madison, her eyes burning with flames. "What do you want me to do, overwhelm nature with its fears? Pathetic!" She snaps. "You on the other hand, you have the ability. But you're not using it right. Sayang, may ambag ka sana."

I wince.

"Tama na," Gabryle says in a dark tone, pulling me away habang nilayo naman ni Damien si Madison palayo sa akin.

I huffed out an angry breath, blowing strands of my disheveled hair out my face.

"Tree," I spat. "Damien can pull a tall, sturdy tree from its roots and place it across the cliff as a bridge."

Damien shrugs. "I guess it's worth a try." He then let Madison go at saka lumapit sa isang matangkad na puno, easily grabbing the tree and pulling it out from its roots.

"Will it work?" Hugo asks and Haisley nods.

"The gap isn't too wide so a large tree would definitely fit. Ang problema lang ay ang possibility na malaglag ito." Sabi ni Haisley at sakto namang inilapag ni Damien ang puno across the cliff. We had created a makeshift bridge.

"I'll be first." Hugo offered. "Magaan lang naman ako."

Hugo was right and soon, he had flawlessly reached the other side.

"It works!" Haisley cheers, jumping up and down at saka sinundan si Hugo.

Agad na sumunod rin si Gabryle in which I followed. The moment I stepped onto the rough surface of the tree's bark, nakaramdam ako nang pag-lula. "Don't look down, don't look down." I chided to myself, quickly walking with my hands extended out on both sides.

A surge of relied engulfs me by the time I was with the others.

"Come on Maddie!" Haisley shouts, waving her hands.

Hindi ko alam kung namamalik mata lang ba ako, but I saw a flicker of fear in Madison's eyes as she hesitantly stepped onto the piece of wood.

Just as she slowly took a few steps forward, sweat started dripping down her forehead.

"She needs help," Damien realizes at lalapit na sana siya ngunit pinigilan ito ni Haisley.

"No," she says grimly. "The tree can hold only one person. Mabigat ka pa naman Damien. Once you step on it, both you and Madison will fall."

Damien had no choice but to stay put.

"I can't," Madison gasped. Nasa gitna na ito at unting hakbang nalang ay makakatawid na siya.

"You got this, Madison." Hugo says but Madison shakes her head, glancing down at the cliff.

"I'm getting dizzy—" Madison's foot suddenly took a wrong step, making her slip and fall.

Damien was quick to run and grab ahold Madison's hand.

Haisley gave out a loud yelp, covering her mouth as we all rushed to the edge of the cliff where Madison was dangling in mid-air; holding on to Damien.

"Shit, ang dulas ng kamay niya!" Damien yells in panic, trying to hold onto Madison's sweaty fingers.

"Of course she is, she was having a breakdown!" Sabi ni Haisley, desperately trying to look around for help.

"I-I can't hold on any longer," Madison cries. There was a loud thumping in my chest, my eyes blinking rapidly at the sight beforehand.

"WAIT, I'LL TRY TO CONTAC—"

"MADISON!" Damien yelled as Madison's fingers slipped away.

I shouted in surprise, shutting my eyes tightly whilst my hands reached out in the air as if I was about to grab Madison.

There was a moment of evident silence and I felt heavy, habang saglitang napatigil ang pag-tibok ng puso ko.

"Skylar..." I heard Haisley gasp.

Unti-unti kong binuksan ang mga mata ko, my gaze shifting down to the cliff's edge.

To my amazement, Madison was caught in mid-air, as if frozen in time.

"SHIT!" I yelped, at agad na nahulog ulit si Madison.

"Skylar, no!!" Haisley shouted yet again and I quickly extended my arms to recapture Madison.

With my breath tucked in, I slowly raised my hands and lifted Madison in the air, before dropping her on the grass.

I plopped down on the ground, weak and out of breath habang pinagkaguluhan nila si Madison.

Nagawa ko. I managed to lift a human using my abilities. I couldn't believe my eyes as I looked down at my palms. Nanginginig ang mga daliri ko.

"Congratulations, nene." A voice suddenly says out of nowhere and I whirl around to see Rome and Royce who seemed amused and were slowly clapping their hands.

"And of course to the Luna Team," Royce continues, before checking his pocket watch hidden beneath his cloak.

"Ah well, it's now past lunch time." He remarks. "That's enough training for today, we need to return to the castillo."

"I was almost killed!" Madison blurts out, catching her breath. Napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya.

"Yet you weren't," Royce winks. "Fret not, Rome was actually stationed below ready to catch any of you; alongside with the faeries." Sabi nito and a group of faeries next to them waved their little hands to say hello.

"C'mon kiddos, let's go home," Rome urges and Gabryle, the person closest to me, helps me stand up.

I pant, glancing at Madison who turns her gaze away. I then looked at Gabryle, who too, seemed out of breath. He places a hand on my shoulder and soon, we were gone.

---

note: the chapter title: change course does not necessarily pertain to the obstacle course itself; but rather suggests a metaphor relating to the course or direction of the Luna Team's relationship with one another.

this chapter is dedicated to my good friend, papergxx! thank you always for being ever supportive, i wuv u! 💜

important: i decided to change Madison's ability to simply inundation ability rather than audible inundation ability; meaning she can use fear in any sense to overwhelm her victims, para hindi limited sa noise lang ang kaya niyang gawin.

also: if you aren't following me on twitter yet; what have you been doing?? charot lang guys, follow me as @isa_quagmire on the bird app!