"Bakit ba ang tagal naman ng isang 'yon? I wonder what happened to him."

Helisson wondered out loud while keeping his eyes on the treeline. Kasalukuyan silang nakatambay sa courtyard ng kanilang kastilyo, hinihintay ang pagbabalik ng kanilang alpha. Siguro naman hindi siya aabutin ng sampung minuto para lang habulin ang isang frisbee, 'di ba? Especially since Acontes usually retrieves them within a minute or so.

"Baka nabagok ang ulo niya sa puno? Suits him right for trying to outrun me, ya know. Kapag nagka-amnesia siya, mag-bato-bato-pik na lang kayo kung sinong papalit sa kanya. HAHAHAHAHA!"

Helisson glared at the bastard who bursted out in laughter. Hindi na siya magtataka kung magpapagulong-gulong pa ito sa damuhan kakatawa. Heck, he wouldn't be surprised if his brother died of laughter one of these days. Kung sabagay, mabuti na rin 'yon para hindi na niya kailangang magbigti.

Ang problema?

"Kung magkaka-amnesia nga ang alpha---which I highly doubt---alam nating pare-pareho kung sinong papalit sa kanya, Carteron." Helisson smiled mockingly.

Agad namang tumigil sa pagtawa si Carteron.

He suddenly realized what this means.

"Ah, shit." The creepy man cursed under his breath and crossed his arms over his chest. Parang isang batang malapit nang mag-tantrums.

"Remind me to hang myself if that ever happens, Hel. Tsk!"

Napapailing na lang si Helisson. 'Kahit naman magbigti siya, he won't die easily. Being a werewolf makes us immune to almost anything.' Nang dumako naman ang mga mata ng manggagamot sa isa pa nilang kapatid, napansin niyang kanina pa ito nakatulala. The blonde looks like he was deep in thought, like an anchor plunged into the depths of an ocean.

An ocean of worries and unnecessary things.

"She's safe. Hindi naman siya papabayaan ni Linus. He might be a pain in the ass with his nonstop poetry, but he's a good person...I think."

Lycros snapped his head towards him. Nakasimangot pa rin ito, pero naaninag pa rin ni Helisson ang pamumula ng kanyang mga pisngi. "H-Hindi ko iniisip ang prinsesa! I... I was just counting the leaves of that tree over there!" Sabay turo nito sa isang punong may ilang daang talampakan ang layo sa kanila.

But Helisson wasn't convinced.

"Hmm. You have a crush on her, don't you?"

"No!" Lycros answered a bit too quickly. "Of course, not. Princess Rieka is---ARGH!"

Agad na natigil ang pagsasalita ni Lycros nang pumulupot sa leeg niya ang isang lubid. Nakangisi namang hinihigpitan ni Carteron ang tali. "Oops! My bad. HAHAHAHAHA!"

"CARTERON, YOU DEVIL!"

"I'M NOT A DEVIL, I'M A WEREWOLF! AWOOOO!"

Maya-maya pa, tuluyan na silang nagkarambulan ni Lycros. Panibagong round ng werewolf wrestling. Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Helisson sa inaasta ng kanyang mga kapatid. Napangisi na lang siya. 'Well, might as well join them!' Makikigulo na rin sana siya sa kanila nang bigla niyang napansin ang itim na lobong papalapit.

Just the alpha's mere presence made Carteron and Lycros stop.

Hindi niya dala ang frisbee.

"What happened?"

The black wolf jumped in the air and landed on the ground, fully transformed into a human. Umayos ng tayo ang kanilang alpha at inabot ang itim na robang nasa ibabaw ng isang lamesita.

"Prepare for the worst."

That made them pause.

Binalot ng tensyon ang buong courtyard. Acontes' words lingered in the air, bringing a sense of foreboding. Maging sina Carteron at Lycros ay natigil sa kanilang pag-aaway. Mahinang napamura si Helisson, hindi makapaniwala sa kanyang narinig.

Oh, they know exactly what he's talking about.

"Have you seen them...?"

Umiling si Acontes, "No, but they've left enough evidence. Hindi na ako magugulat kung ubusin nila ang mga tao sa Eastwood para lang magpapansin sa'tin."

"Eastwood? Hindi ba't iyon ang pinanggalingang kaharian ni Miss Red?"

"I'm afraid so."

Matagal na nilang alam na darating ang araw na ito. Magmula noon, nagbigay na ng babala ang tadhana sa posibleng maging katapusan ng Big Bad Werewolves kung hindi nila mababasag ang sumpa. The ironic thing is, no matter how much you prepare for something, it still finds a way to leave you speechless.

'Like dabbing antiseptic to an open wound, you'd still feel the sting even after telling yourself you won't,' Helisson thought.

"Kung ganoon, kailangan na nating madaliin ang test ng prinsesa?"

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Acontes. Alam niyang hindi sila dapat nakikialam sa proseso ng pagpili ng Etteilla, pero sa nangyayari ngayon, either they try to break the curse before it's too late or wait until their enemies murder more humans.

"Hindi niyo ito pwedeng ipaalam sa prinsesa. We'll weigh our choices and act when it's necessary. Nagkakaintindihan ba tayo?"

Helisson nodded. Kung anuman ang mangyari, may tiwala siya sa kanilang alpha.

Maya-maya pa, binulabog sila ng boses ni Carteron...

"Nawawala si Lycros!"

Dahil dito, mabilis na ibinaling nina Acontes at Helisson ang kanilang atensyon sa pwesto kung nasaan lang kanina ang lone wolf.

Tanging ang lubid na nakapulupot lang sa kanyang leeg kanina ang naiwan sa courtyard.

*

The princess wasn't even sure if she's asleep or simply trapped in one of those bookworm fantasies again.

Pero hindi niya maitatangging  nakakadala ang kapayapaang ito. Para bang hinehele siya ng katahimikan ng silid. Isang maliit na mundong pinupuno ng mga libro. The fireplace crackled in front of her, the flames were nothing compared to that lone candle she carried during the ceremony. Nararamdaman niya pa rin ang brasong nakapalibot sa kanya, but she didn't mind.

'I wouldn't mind staying here forever, actually.'

Finally, some peace---

"KITTEEEEEEEN! YUHOOOO! NANDIYAN KA BA?! HOY, LINUS! ILABAS MO ANG PRINSESA KO! SUNTUKAN NA LANG, O!"

To say that her moment of "peace" was broken beyond repair was seriously an understatement.

'Lycros?! Anong ginagawa niya rito?'

Agad na napalingon sina Linus at Red sa bukana ng lobby. Tumalim ang mga mata ng makata nang marinig ang malalakas nitong pagkalampag sa pinto. Maging ang apat na guardians ng lugar, napapangiwi na lang sa ingay. Kung may mga kamay nga lang sila, baka kanina pa nila tinakpan ang kanilang mga tainga.

"TAO PO?! DELIVERY! NARIRINIG NIYO BA 'KO?! KITTEN!"

Inis na napabuntong-hininga na lang si Linus.

"That obnoxious brother of mine
shouldn't dare step inside,
or else I will kick him out of this tower,
and maybe skin him alive!"

Red was about to comment something, but she quickly stopped herself because of the Rhyming Rule. Baka lalo pa siyang madisgrasya. 'Ano na naman ba kasing kailangan ni Lycros?'

Ilang sandali pa, nabigla na lang sina Red at Linus nang makita nila ang ulo ni Lycros sa may pinto---sa bunganga ng leon! The blonde werewolf scanned the entire lobby until his forest green eyes finally found her. Lumawak ang ngiti ng binata.

"Aha! Fancy place you got here, bro. Pero kailangan ko na munang nakawin ang prinsesa. I hope you don't mi---ARAY! WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"Our darling Red Ridinghood is with me,
so don't disturb us, fool! Go on, flee!"

Napahimas na lang ng noo si Lycros nang batuhin siya ng libro ni Linus. Mabuti na lang isang pocket book lang ito.

"Nah, I don't trust poets. Tsk! Baka mamaya pagsamantalahan mo pa siya diyan!"

Nakasimangot pa rin ang makata. Sinamaan na niya ito ng tingin.

"This lobby is no place
for fools who cannot rhyme!
Get out before I hit you with an encyclopedia;
I'll give you five minutes' time!"

Kasabay nito, napansin na nga ni Red ang pagyanig ng buong Lobby of Literature. Kabado siyang humakbang papalayo sa mga librong mukhang anumang oras ay tatabunan na siya. But before the princess could even say something, she felt someone dragging her out of the lobby.

Huli na nang napagtanto niyang lumalabas na sila mula sa bunganga ng leon, leaving a stunned poetic werewolf inside.

"L-Lycros!"

Ngumisi ang taong-lobo sa kanya.

"You don't mind if I steal you from my brother, now, do you?"

She sighed. "You're already dragging me away, asshole. May magagawa pa ba ako? Sa susunod na magtatanong ka, siguraduhin mong may options ako."

Lycros just laughed at her. Hindi pa rin nito binibitiwan ang kanyang kamay.

"Hahahaha! Noted, kitten. Isipin mo na lang na ako ang knight in shining armor mo!"

"Werewolves don't save princesses, Lycros... That's not how the story goes."

"Aray."

Nang tuluyan na silang nakalabas ng lobby, noon lang napansin ni Red na wala rin itong suot na pang-itaas. His black wolf tattoo visible on his shoulder. Bago pa man niya ito tanungin sa kanya, nanlaki ang mga mata ni Red nang mapansing pababa na sila ng hagdan.

"Shit! Teka! L-Lycros, may rules din dito!"

"Hmm? What is it, kitten?"

Pero hindi pa rin tumitigil sa paghakbang ang binata. Nanlamig ang kanyang katawan sa kaba. Lalong nataranta si Red Ridinghood nang mapansing ni hindi nito tinitingnan ang nilalakaran niya!

"W-We can't step on the---AAAAAAAHH!"

In that moment, the stone steps crumbled beneath them.

Mabilis namang kumilos si Lycros at nagbagong-anyo bilang isang dambuhalang lobo. In a split second, Red Ridinghood found herself clutching onto the golden wolf as they raced down the remaining steps. Sa kanilang likuran, isa-isang nalalaglag ang ilang bahagi ng hagdan. Unti-unting gumuguho ang tore na para bang may malakas na lindol.

'This place is crazy!' The princess braced herself.

"LYCROS, DAHAN-DAHAN NAMAN!"

She yelled at the wolf when it descended too fast. Para bang anumang oras ay malalaglag na siya sa likuran nito.

But just when she thought her worries were done, biglang nahagip ng kanyang mga mata ang mga higanteng insektong lumilipad sa kisame ng tore---no. Right now, Red Ridinghood was sure that these weren't oversized insects. Wala naman sigurong matatalim na ngipin at namumulang mga mata ang mga insekto, 'di ba?

"T-These are...pixies?!"

Unfortunately, it was already too late when she realized this.

Agad silang inatake ng mga pixies na naging dahilan kung bakit huminto si Lycros.

Sinubukang itaboy ni Red ang mga maliliit na nilalang na nakikita niya lang noon sa mga librong pambata sa kanilang kaharian. But unlike the "small and friendly" appearance those children's books portrayed them, these pixies have black bodies, paired with razor-like teeth and claws. Mistulang higanteng mga paru-paro na may apat na pakpak.

"AWOOOOO!"

Lycros howled in irritation when one of the pixies tried to hide inside his wolf ear.

Mabilis namang kumilos si Red at hinawakan sa pakpak ang pasaway na pixie at hinagis papalayo.

"Bakit ba may pixies dito? D-Damn it! Aray!"

They stared playing with her long, black hair. Entangling themselves on her head. As she tried to swat them away, hindi na namalayan nina Red at Lycros na naabutan na sila ng disgrasya.

Tuluyan nang gumuho ang hagdan.

Red Ridinghood and the golden werewolf screamed and desprately tried to beat gravity. Pero huli na ang lahat. Tuluyan na silang nahulog sa isang kawalan. Isang malaking hukay na hindi nasisinagan ng anumang liwanag. 'Just like a black hole,' she thought and let her red cape dance in the air...

Pero bakit parang nag-iba na ang direksyon ng hangin?

Soon, Red realized she was floating in the air.

Nang sulyapan niya si Lycros (still in his wolf form), she noticed the mirrored confusion in his eyes. Mukhang wala rin itong ideya kung ano talaga ang nangyayari. Para bang may mahikang unti-unting umaangat sa kanila, hanggang sa tuluyan na silang makalabas sa malalim na hukay.

'And there's only one werewolf I know who can use magic.'

Nang makabalik na sila sa ibabaw, Red Ridinghood wasn't surprised when she saw Nyctimus standing at the end of the stairwell.

Hindi ito kumikibo. Nakaangat lang ang isa nitong kamay habang inililipad sila papalapit sa pasilyo. Kumunot ang noo ni Red nang makitang may hawak pa itong tasa ng juice sa kabila nitong kamay. 'Mukhang naistorbo pa namin siya,' naaaliw na isip ng prinsesa. Well, at least they were alive, right? Even the pixies fluttered away when they saw the magician, making the princess sigh in relief.

Nang maibaba na sila sa lupa, Red Ridinghood smiled in appreciation.

"Thanks."

"...."

"Uhh... Naistorbo ka ba namin sa pag-inom ng juice?"

Silence.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ang dalaga. Oo nga pala, bihirang-bihira nga lang pala itong magsalita. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, the proper word is "laconic"---an adjective used to describe a person who uses as few words as possible.

Yup. Nyctimus is definitely laconic.

Hindi na nga siya nagulat nang tahimik na lang itong naglakad papalayo, tuluyan na silang iniwan.

Meanwhile, Lycros transformed into a human again. Mabuti na lang at bago umalis si Nyctimus, nag-hokus-pokus muna ito ng isang roba at ibinato ito sa hubad niyang kapatid. As much as Red was curious to know how much of their clothes can survive their transformations, mas pinili na niyang manahimik.

Hindi niya priority ang mga damit nila.

"Geez. Akala ko talaga mamamatay na tayo kanina! Anyway, I wouldn't mind dying with you, kitten. Doesn't that sound romantic?"

Umirap na ang ang prinsesa. Nagiging iritable na naman yata siya dahil sa kawalan ng tulog kagabi. And Lycros dragging her away from a sanctuary of books doesn't help much with her mood.

"Ano nga palang sasabihin mo?"

"Sasabihin?"

She gave him that "don't play dumb with me" stare and explained, "Siguro naman hindi mo ako hahanapin at kakaladkarin papalabas ng Lobby of Literature kung wala kang mahalagang sasabihin, hindi ba? I assume you don't want Linus eavesdropping, that's why you took me away from him."

Napahawak na lang sa batok ang werewolf.

Mukhang tama ang hinala ng prinsesa.

Sa pagkakataong ito, seryoso siyang tinitigan ng berde nitong mga mata. Sa hindi malamang dahilan, biglang nakaramdam ng kaba si Red. What bad news could Lycros possibly tell her? Napagdesisyunan na kaya nina Acontes na palayasin na siya rito? Well, that does save her the trouble of planning an escape. Pero may maliit na parte sa kanya ang nalulungkot.

She pushed that part aside and tried to prepare herself for the worst.

"Kitten, I shouldn't be telling you this but... Your kingdom is in danger."

---

Following my

instinct like a silver

wolf to lead

the way.

This wolf pal

watching me,

begging me to stay.

He lowers his head

on my lap and watches

me with sad eyes of his

own,

"Please don't be sad anymore,

my darling. You don't always

have to travel this journey

alone."

---"More Wolf Than Woman", Shevaun Stonem