What does it mean to win a battle?

Despite being cursed for a thousand years, the Big Bad Werewolves were still struggling to grasp an answer...

"What's the matter, wolf? You're not as useful as they think you are, huh?! Hahaha!" Kasabay ng pag-alingawngaw ng boses ni Piper sa kagubatan, tuluyan nang bumagsak ang mga forest muses. The music of his bamboo pipe drained their powers, giving him an advantage.

Napasimangot na lang si Nyctimus at mabilis na gumamit ng mahika.

Maya-maya pa, nagkabiyak-biyak ang lupa at sumulpot ang dambuhalang mga ugat. The monstrous roots stretched into the air and started attacking the musician. Ngumisi lang si Piper at walang kahirap-hirap na tinalunan ang mga ito.

"And they call you the magician? Such a shame!"

Piper easily deflected the attacks and ran along the roots. Muli niyang pinatugtog ang kanyang instrumento. Nagkaroon ng anyo ang mga anino---isang ahas. Before Nyctimus could even mutter a counter spell, the shadow snake wrapped around his body, squeezing him; crushing his bones.

Nyctimus cough out blood.

Ngumisi nang nakakaloko ang musikero bago hinulma ang isang punyal sa mga anino.

"I'll show you what a real magician can do."

Meanwhile, by the courtyard, a white werewolf was struggling against one of the undead enemies. At kahit ilang ulit na niyang tinatamaan ang vital organs nito, tila wala pa rin itong epekto. Mabilis na nagre-regenerate ang kanyang katawan at nagsasara ang mga sugat.

'Not only do they defy the laws of magic but they also defy the laws of medicine.' Isip-isip ni Helisson bago umilag sa atake nito.

Habang nag-iisip ng paraan si Helisson kung paano matatalo ang kaaway, nabigla na lang siya nang nabasag ang stained glass window sa kanyang likuran.

'What the hell?'

Kasabay nito, tumilapon mula roon ang isang kulay kahel na lobo. That was Corethon's wolf, if he remembers it correctly. Maya-maya pa, sumunod namang lumabas sa nasirang bintana si Macednus. The reddish brown wolf still had rose petals stuck on his fur.

["Let me guess, they attacked your garden?"] Helisson mentally asked.

Tumango naman ang kanyang kapatid. Halatang naaasar pa rin.

["Yeah! Tsk. They ruined my roses! Mga walang-puso talaga sila!"]

["Well, your roses are the least of our problems now, brother."]

Indeed, the two undead werewolves started stalking towards them again.

A menacing glint in their eyes.

Sa loob naman ng kastilyo, nagkalat ang pira-piraso ng mga estatwa at dekorasyon. Tuluyan nang bumigay ang chandelier at bumagsak sa pagitan ng dalawang halimaw. Hindi naman nagpatinag ang mga ito.

Carteron grinned mischievously at the brown wolf.

'Pallas is not gonna give up, is he?'

Agad ding nasagot ang tanong na 'yon nang bigla na lang hinila ni Pallas ang carpet sa paanan niya. Out of balance, Carteron mentally cursed himself and fell with a thud. Wala namang inaksayang oras ang lobo at sinubukan siyang atakihin.

But before his sharp teeth can rip off Carteron's ear, bigla na lang pumulupot ang lubid sa leeg ng kaaway.

Soon, the ropes were hoisting him up in the air.

Bumalik sa pagiging tao si Carteron at humagalpak nang tawa. That crazed look in his eyes remained while he watched his brother struggle.

"Ya know, we should really 'hang' out more often. Don't you agree, brother? HAHAHA!"

Inside dining hall, Linus and Lycros weren't doing well against Thyreus. Nakatumba na ang long table at nagkalat sa paligid ang basag na mga gamit.

["I see he still has his tantrums, huh?"]

In response, the bronze-colored wolf snickered.

["When it comes to Thyreus,
his bratiness is a constant pain!
But judging from this chaos
I daresay, his strength is insane!"]

Kasabay nito, muli siyang dinambahan ng halimaw at ibinaon ang matatalas nitong mga pangil sa kanilang binti. The ferocious wolf started twisting its snout, cracking the bone. Mabilis na kumilos si Lycros at kinalmot ang kapatid. A low growl escaped his lips with the action. Hanggang ngayon, kumikirot pa rin ang sugat na natamo niya kay Socleus.

Linus stood up, limping. Suminghal ang higanteng lobo at sinamaan ng tingin ang kaaway.

Pero bago pa man makapaghinganti si Linus, natigilan silang tatlo nang marinig ang malakas na alulong na nagmumula sa kung saan.

Lycros frowned. 'That's the alpha! Pero ano naman ang ginagawa niya?'

The black wolf's howl bounced off the castle walls; an echo in the battlefield. Maya-maya pa, napagtanto na ni Lycros kung para saan ito nang mabilis na umalis si Thyreus at sinundan ang tunog.

'Damn it! D-Don't tell me he'll...'

Huli na ang lahat.

Mula sa bintana, naaninag na niya ang itim na lobong tumatakbo papunta sa kalapit na kagubatan. The undead werewolves were chasing after him with murderous intent.

Linus transformed, still clutching his arm.

"So, they couldn't staying here for long,
after hearing Acontes' awful howling song?"

Marahang umiling si Lycros. Nakatitig pa rin siya sa labas ng bintana, sa kagubatang tila lalong dumilim. Kasing-dilim ng kalangitang natatanaw niya mula rito. Lalo siyang kinabahan nang mapansing naglaho na ang mga ito.

Natahimik ang buong kastilyo.

["No, brother... The undead werewolves couldn't resist the urge of getting their revenge on the one who killed them."]

*

Hindi niya alam kung gaano katagal na ang lumipas mula nang makatawid siya sa portal.

'Ano na kayang nangyari sa kanila?'

Naiinip na si Red sa kakahintay. Mula noong nakarating siya sa lugar na ito, wala pang nagsasabi sa kanya kung ilang kandila na lang ang natitira. She was hoping that she'll see the portal return sooner, but now she's starting to doubt it. Sa kalagayan niya ngayon, imposible niyang mahanap ang kahit ano.

Because Red Ridinghood found herself in a swamp.

"Paano naman naging parte ng kanilang nakaraan ang lugar na 'to?" Kanina pa niya pinagninilayan habang ibinabalanse ang sarili sa malalaking ugat ng mga bakawan. If it weren't for these mangroves, she'd still probably be stuck in the waist-high waters.

Mabuti na lang talaga at water-proof ang lalagyan ng Tarot cards kaya hindi nabasa kanina.

Madilim at wala siyang ibang naririnig kundi ang kanyang malalalim na paghinga at ang paminsan-minsang huni ng mga ibon. No, she didn't want to consider the occasional splashing of water caused by whatever was swimming in there. Ayaw na niyang isipin pa ang kahit ano maliban sa mga nangyayari ngayon sa kastilyo. She desperately tried to use the telepathy spell, pero para bang wala na itong bisa.

She suspects that Nyctimus' absence within the castle grounds has something to do with this.

'I knew I shouldn't have left them! Damn those werewolves.'

Alam ni Red na wala siyang mapapala sa lugar na 'to.

She doesn't feel anything. Wala rito ang ikaapat na Tarot card.

'This place is another trap. I wonder what Miss Evelyn is planning to do,' isip-isip ng dalaga habang nakatanaw sa kalmadong tubig.

That was when the killer mermaids appeared to her with sinister smiles.

Sinubukang humakbang papalayo ni Red, pero agad rin siyang nadulas dahil sa nakausling ugat. Agad na pumunit sa katahimikan ang nakaririnding tawanan ng mga sirena. Their high pitched laughter rang in her ears, giving her another migraine.

Red tried to cover her ears, but the noise was too much.

Soon, she was biting her lower lip, not minding the rustic taste of her own blood.

"Make it stop...p-please. H-Hindi ko kayang t-tagalan 'to.."

And as the flames on the candles back in Eteilla died away, one by one, Red Ridinghood felt like her sanity was slipping away, bit by bit.

*

A storm came as soon as they ran out of the castle.

Gustong matawa ni Lycros sa nangyayari ngayon. Hindi niya talaga alam kung nang-aasar lang ba ang kapalaran o talagang kasama sa kanilang sumpa ang kamalasan. 'But this isn't a joking matter...not now.' He thought and kept his sharp green eyes up ahead.

Sa kabila ng malakas na bugso ng ulan at ihip ng hangin, nagawa pa rin nilang makarating sa kagubatan.

Bumungad sa kanila ang madilim na kapaligiran.

Right now, the blonde werewolf was silently thanking they had enhanced visions and other senses. Sa kanyang gilid, napansin niyang seryoso rin sina Carteron at Helisson. Mukhang pareho rin sila ng itinatanong sa kanilang sarili:

Ano bang kabaliwan ang gagawin ni Acontes?

It terrified and frustrated all of them.

Well, Lycros knew that he was probably trying to lead them away from the castle (just like what he told the princess), pero isang kalokohan na ang gawin niya ito nang mag-isa! Alam naman nilang minsan nang nagawa ni Acontes na talunin sina Socleus, Thyreus, Corethon, Pallas, at Eumon, but that was before they turned into these invincible red-eyed monsters!

Hindi na niya magagawang patayin ang mga ito.

Mas mabilis maghilom ang kanilang mga sugat.

They're as good as zombies, for crying out loud!

'And against Acontes who is in no condition to fight them all at once, mas malaki ang posibilidad na magtagumpay ang limang 'yon sa paghihiganti nila.'

Hindi naiwasang matakot ni Lycros para sa kanilang kapatid. Yes, since he made that "mistake" a long time ago and became a lone wolf, they weren't particularly in good terms. Pero hindi ibig sabihin 'non ay hindi niya itinuturing na pamilya si Acontes. Indeed, Lycros doesn't show it much, but he gives a damn about this brothers.

That's what got them into this mess in the first place.

["Fuck. I can't smell their scent nor see their tracks! Masyadong malakas ang ulan!"] Carteron telepathically told them.

'Shit! Oo nga pala.' Nilingon naman ni Lycros ang puting lobong nahalatang nag-aalala na rin.

["Hel, alam mo kung saan naglaban noon sina Acontes at Socleus?"]

["No. Why? Sa tingin mo ba doon ulit sila dadalhin ng alpha?"]

["Knowing Acontes, yes...]

Tumahol naman si Carteron.

["Nah! Si Nyct lang ang nakakaalam 'non. Sa kanya dati pinaligpit ni alpha ang bangkay nina Socleus. We just need to keep going until---"]

Natigil ang tatlong magkakapatid nang maamoy ang hangin. Sa normal na sitwasyon, hindi nila magagawang alamin ang pagkakaiba ng mga amoy sa kagubatan tuwing umuulan. The rain waiter disrupts their sense of smell. But somehow, one scent was becoming clear to them...

The scent of fresh blood.

Lycros' heart pounded inside his ribs as his green eyes searched for the source.

Below them, there was a pool of blood. Agad siyang kinutuban nang masama. Maya-maya pa, tinawag nina Carteron ang kanyang atensyon.

'What the fuck...?'

Drenched in rain, nanginginig niyang nilapitan ang nahanap nila. His brothers' heads were already bowed down, trying to avoid the gruesome sight in front of them.

The corpse of a black werewolf laid on the forest floor; soaking in his own blood with the rain washing away the morbid hues of red.

His limbs and tail were ripped off from his body; bite marks and peeled skin.

His large head twisted in an odd angle.

His canines and strong jaws were smashed.

His gray eyes stared blankly...

Indeed, an attack like this was enough to leave mortal damage to an immortal.

Helisson transformed back into a human, his face was pale. Agad niyang sinipat ang kalagayan ng werewolf. Naghanap ng pulso o anumang indikasyon ng buhay. Maya-maya pa, naikuyom na lang nito ang kanyang mga kamao. A defeated look on the pack doctor's face.

"He's dead."

Namayani ang katahimikan sa kabila ng nakamamatay na ulan.

Soon, the mournful howls of three werewolves filled the forest with grief.

A last sign of respect for their fallen leader. 

---

If hate is what made you,
how does one replace it with love?
You learn sweetness despite being
built with jealous commands,
You choose a different path
than your blood demands…

---"Lessons From Hephaestus", Nikita Gill