Chapter 6: Foraging

"What happened? You look panic-stricken."

Ito ang bungad ni Anabeth nang makabalik ako sa apothecary. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba ito sa maputlang mukha ko. Binaba ko ang mga biniling gamit sa sahig ng kwarto ko at binigay sa kanya ang pastry na nakalagay sa paper bag.

"Sorry, nadurog ko ata," sabi ko nang mapansin na hindi na buo ang mga tart sa loob.

"Seryoso, ano bang nangyari? May nang-away ba sa'yo?"

Umiling ako. Actually, it was the opposite of it. I witnessed a fight between Zackary and Alexander. But it seems like it was no ordinary fight. Parang matagal na silang magkakilala and would usually do such thing out of spite for each other.

Umupo ako sa bed at bumuntonghininga. Madilim na sa labas at noong una nagaalala ako na maparusahan pagdating ko sa apothecary. But then, Anabeth reminded me there was no such thing. Every decision I make from now on would reflect only to me. That kind of freedom was something powerful and unnerving.

"Do you know someone called Alexander?" I asked, hesitant. Hindi ko parin alam kung saan ang limitasyon ng nga pwede kong malaman sa lugar na ito. The limitations were the first thing that was being given to me before a name. Pero sa Van Zanth, nangangapa parin ako kung saan lulugar.

Tumigil siya sa pagkain ng tart, eyes slightly widen. Humarap siya sa'kin habang pareho kaming nakaupo sa higaan, feet dangling off the bed. "Oh..." It was a first time to hear a single word response from Anabeth. Dapat ba hindi ko ito tinanong?

"Sorry," sabi ko agad.

Bigla niya akong pinalo sa likod. "Ano ka ba! Nagulat lang ako nang slight kasi sobrang close niyang si Alexander kay Sir Zackary noon. Sabi ni Uncle Sebastian, he even expected him to be the next beta to the point of training him."

Anabeth's lower lip pulled up into a frown. "Kaya nga sayang eh," she muttered. "Some time a year ago, things changed. Alexander's family was imprisoned in Fabrice kasi nakipagsabwatan sila sa mga taga-labas for human trafficking. In our case, hybrids."

Bumuntonghininga siya. "Ang weird, no? Some decades ago people treat us as monsters to the point of hunting us. Now they hunt us for our skills."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Trafficking. The word was a whiplash to me, ang dahilan kung bakit ako nandito ngayon. I was one of those people pulled from my hometown and sold from person to person for my skill. Para kaming mga laruan na kapag pinagsawaan o may nakitang mas pakikinabangan, ibebenta kami sa iba... that was what happened to me until I reached the ownership of Madame.

"Eleanor?" tanong ni Anabeth nang makitang nag-space out ako. Pilit akong ngumiti to let her know I was listening. "Anyways, after the incident, the two drifted apart and left their friendship behind. Kaya ngayon, walang kino-consider na next beta."

"Would that be okay?"

Anabeth shrugged, nibbling the corner of the pastry in her hand. "If an alpha couldn't find a next in rank he could trust, I don't think people would take it easy. I mean being a beta isn't about wealth and power but trust."

Nanatili si Anabeth sa kwarto ko habang kumakain ng tart. Nagd-dinner na ang karamihan ng staff sa baba kaya ayaw niya munang lumabas. Dahilan niya, baka hindi siya matunawan.

"Did something happened at your foraging?"

She swung her feet off the bed, munching. "It was kinda okay since the weather was good and I love the overall activity. But Senior Violeta was so nagging." Nagliwanag bigla ang mukha niya. "Let's be partners tomorrow!"

I have a general idea about medicinal properties of plants and herbs. They're usually good for hybrids who don't rely on modern medicines since some have adverse effect that could mess up natural skills. But I wasn't sure if I was familiar enough to go foraging which is a task for senior staff. The first tasks given to me in the apothecary were all pretty basic.

"'Wag kang magalala, mas masaya mag-field work kesa sa loob," hagikgik ni Anabeth bago nagpaalam lumabas ng kwarto.

That night, while staring at the nearby forest from my window, hindi ko mapigilang isipin ang nangyari sa downtown. Alexander had mentioned about Zackary betraying his family. Would he really do that?

Maaga akong nagising kinabukasan. I wore a foraging outfit of waterproof coat, black boots, along with some equipment like small shovel and scissors. We also had with us a wicker basket with empty glass containers kung saan ilalagay ang mga nakuha namin. We had a reference book from the tower and a snack of bread, some meat and cheese.

The senior staff adored the idea of us foraging. "It should really be the young ones assigned in this task."

Anabeth was excited to leave the tower. Hindi pa tuluyang sumisikat ang araw when we took the path to the forest, passing by a small bridge over the running stream near the apothecary.

Maganda ang panahon tulad kahapon. The sky was clear with thin sheets of clouds. Hindi nakakapaso ang init ng araw. Anabeth was humming when we entered the edge of the forest ground. From the low plants and grass field, we were slowly surrounded by tall trees and green, moist forest ground.

Every now and then, we would slow down para tignan ang mga tubo ng halaman na sinaboy nila sa gubat. There were little green seedlings poking out of the ferns and tree roots and in between moss covered boulders and rocks.

"Meron din tayo ng mga seedlings na 'to sa greenhouse," sabi ni Anabeth habang pareho naming pinagmamasdan ang maliliit na tangkay ng goldenseal habang nakaupo sa tapat nito. "We study the growth and effect of the same plants in different environments."

Nilabas ko ang dala kong notebook at pinagaralan ang hugis ng bagong sibol na halaman. Marahan kong hinawakan ang manipis na dahon nito bago gumuhit sa bakanteng pahina ng notebook. It took me a minute before I stood up with Anabeth.

"You're good at it," puna ni Anabeth sa ginawa ko.

I learned the skill from the artist who once owned me. Ilang buwan lang akong nasa kanya but I learned a few things from her. Siya ang pinakamaayos kong naging amo and her death was something that still numb me.

Nagpatuloy kami ni Anabeth sa paglalakad sa gubat. On our way, we found several plants good for wound healing. We took careful snaps of their leaves and dig up some of the roots from the moist soul, which we would dry in the sun and crush into powder once we get back to the apothecary.

It was my first glance at their work as people from the apothecary. Whenever I think of a town dominated by hybrids, the first thing that comes to my mind are the vast lands surrounded with woods and the mystery that comes it. Hindi pumasok sa isip ko ang bahaging ito ng bayan kung saan sila ang nangangalaga ng mga taong pinangangalagaan ang bayan.

It was mid morning pero nanatiling presko ang hangin sa loob ng gubat. The sun shone brightly above the leaves of the tall trees, with a few rays slipping between branches, reaching the ground. The noise of bird chirping, crickets and frogs croaking were a natural symphony that sings for us while walking.

Anabeth had the idea na sundan namin ang ingay ng ilang ibon until we reached a clearing with large overgrown shrubs of wide raspberries. Dali-dali siyang pumitas ng mga ito at nilagay sa basket while popping some in her mouth every now and then.

"This would make great jams," she exclaimed. "You would never die in hunger in the forest."

Pagdating ng tanghali, we organized our forages on a blanket propped near a running stream, grouping them and tying their stems with brown jute twine. Not all plants could be put together that was why Anabeth have several small glass bottles with her.

"Dito na tayo mag-lunch," anyaya niya.

We brought out several of our remaining snacks, some slices of sourdough bread and homemade ham, munching peacefully while watching the flow of the stream.

"May mahahanap kaya tayo ngayong araw?" tanong ni Anabeth.

For the last hour we've been searching for a specific plant that could counter a type of mineral poisoning, which the town had an isolated case lately. The plant has small red flowers in the middle of its leaves and usually grows on damp areas, usually creaks or rivers.

Matapos kumain, muli kaming naghanap. Nanatili kami sa tabi ng batis, inspecting areas where the plant could thrive. The small stream led us to a network of streams connected to a small series of falls on a rocky river bed.

Maingat akong naglakad sa gilid ng umaagos na tubig hanggang sa mapansin ko ang maliliit at pulang bulaklak sa ibabang parte ng ilog. Lumingon ako kay Anabeth to tell her I might have found it but she was busy searching a few meters from me.

Lumapit ako sa tubig, tumapak sa ilang bato para marating ang gitna ng umaagos na ilog saka maingat na umupo, reaching out my hand in between two huge rocks where the small plant was located. I was so close... my fingers almost touching the leaves. I slipped from the rock and fell on the running river.

"Eleanor!"

Narinig ko ang sigaw ni Anabeth, but my vision was flooded by water. I was being pulled down by the flow, falling into a much deeper part. I gasped for air. It was something I never learn... to swim. Tumama ang balikat ko sa batuhan and I saw blood gushing from to the water. Bubbles surrounded me while I drifted down below... hands gripping the flowers in my hand.

Then I saw a hand before me, reaching me out from the water. Inabot ko agad ito, gripping my fingers tight on the calloused palm, which pulled me back to the surface of the water.

Inuubo parin ako na may kasamang tubig while I sat myself up on the river bank, completely out of water. Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko, calming my breathing.

"Tanga ka ba?"

Sumulyap ako sa taong nasa harapan ko na basang basa tulad ko. Naiinis na tumayo siya, running his fingers through his wet hair and cursing under his breath. Alexander?

"Minsan nalang magawi dito problema pa mahahanap ko," bulong niya sa sarili.

Lumapit si Anabeth sa'min, humahangos, madumi ang damit dahil dumaosdos siya pababa para marating kami. I raised my arm, showing her the flower.

"Nahanap ko siya."

Halos bumagsak siya sa harapan ko, hindi alam kung tatawa o iiyak. "Eleanor! Ano ka ba!" she exclaimed, voice visibly shaken. "It doesn't matter."

"Pero kailangan niyo ito."

Natulala siya nang ilang segundo bago huminga nang malalim. "Okay then, I'll take it."

Humarap si Anabeth kay Alexander. "You're not supposed to hang around here. This is a protected area"

He pulled a corner of his lip into an cold smirk saka naglakad paalis. Muling humarap sa'kin si Anabeth at tinulungan akong tumayo. "Bumalik na tayo sa apothecary."

Bago tuluyang makalayo sa ilog, naalala ko ang bagay na nakaipit sa bulsa ni Alexander. It was the same flowers we were searching for the entire day.

Saan niya ito gagamitin?

***

Author's Note:

Hi! I just wanna drop by to say thank you for welcoming this story and for your warm feedback and comments, specially your love for our main character, Eleanor.

Revisiting Van Zanth with new and familiar characters is as nostalgic as visiting an old friend. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoy writing it.

Your feedback means a lot to me and I read all of them haha! So please feel free to share your feels and comments or tweet me breatheapril I also stalk the tag #neverbetamed

Thank you and see you in the next update!

Your author,
April