"Nyct, can't ya get us out of these chains?"

Naiinis na tanong ni Carteron habang pilit pa ring sinusubukang kalasin ang mga kadenang tinali sa kanila. After their little torture session, those bastards tied them up after knocking them out cold! He already tried biting these things off, but it seems like his sharp teeth can't even leave a scratch on them.

He fucking hates black magic.

["The witch used an ancient magic that I am not familiar with. All I know is that this magic clearly negates powers. Kung nandito lang sana ang spell book ko, tiyak na makakahanap ako ng counter spell. At this state, none of you can transform into wolves."]

["In short, we're doomed?"]

["Yup."]

Mahinang napamura si Carteron.

He began tugging the chain again, but they only cut deeper into his skin. Hindi man niya nakikita ang kanyang paligid, naaamoy niyang nasa malapit ang prinsesa. Heck, he can even hear her heavy breathing! At sa hindi niya malamang dahilan, naaamoy rin niya kanina ang panggatong at pintura. Akmang tatanungin na niya sana ito sa kanyang mga kapatid nang mapagtantong hindi pa rin sila umiimik mula pa kanina.

Whether that witch successfully tortured them to keep their mouths shut or not, he doesn't wanna know anymore.

Fuck everything.

As the hunter of the pack, Carteron feels so damn vulnerable right now.

Ilang sandali pa, narinig niyang nagwawala sina Macednus. "Damn it! Get away from her!" Agad niyang nahimigan ang pag-aalala sa tinig nito na lalong nakapagpadagdag sa kanyang kaba. Sa kanyang kaliwa, hindi na makapagsalita si Linus habang nakatuon ang atensyon sa anumang nangyayari. For the very first time, it seems like the poet was at loss of words...

The smell of a lit matchstick made his senses alert.

"Anong ginagawa nila?!"

Helisson's voice traveled from his far right. There was a hint of fear in his words, "They're...s-starting to set the fuel on fire."

Nanlamig ang kanyang buong katawan sa sinabi ng kanyang kapatid. Sinubukan nilang kumawala sa mga kadena, pero wala pa rin itong silbi. Ni hindi sila makapagpalit ng anyo. Ramdam niyang binabantayan pa rin sila ng kanilang mga dating kapatid, handa silang patayin sa hudyat ng mangkukulam.

Indeed, Carteron can feel her energy nearby. It was the kind of aura that speaks of a thousand deaths.

"DON'T KILL HER! PLEASE, DON'T! I-I'LL DO ANYTHING!"

Lycros' desperate voice tore through the smell of smoke. Naririnig niya ang pagkalansing ng mga kadena sa bahagi nito. Patuloy pa rin ito sa pagwawala. Halos magmakaawa na siyang iligtas nila ang buhay ng prinsesa, despite the fact that they all know there was one word missing in that vile witch's vocabulary...

Mercy.

*

Red Ridinghood could feel embers attempting to lick her bare feet.

Kani-kanina lang ay binigyan na ng hudyat ni Miss Evelyn ang Piped Piper para silaban na ang mga kahoy sa kanyang ilalim. Hindi na makahinga ang dalaga. Hindi na rin niya maaninag ang mangkukulam dahil sa kapal ng usok. She was slowly starting to suffocate. Mabilis na lumaki ang apoy.

'Is this how those witches felt when King Lycaon ordered to execute them?' she couldn't help but wonder.

Gustuhin man niyang sisihin ang haring naging mitya ng kaguluhang ito, nauunawaan naman niyang marahil ay ito na mismo ang itinakdang mangyari ng tadhana. What King Lycaon did is unforgivable, of course, but if he had known the consequences of his carelessness, Red doubts that he'll proceed with the witch huntings. Humans are prone to commit mistakes. Sinasadya man natin ito o hindi.

Pero sa kaso ni Miss Evelyn, naging malinaw sa kanyang pinili nito ang kasamaan. That old witch knew what she was doing, and she still blinds herself with revenge. Hindi na magtataka si Red kung wala itong kahit anong pinagsisisihan sa dami ng mga taong dinamay niya.

"DON'T KILL HER! PLEASE, DON'T! I-I'LL DO ANYTHING!"

Lycros' voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

Sandaling nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata. Katulad ng kanyang mga kapatid, pinipilit pa rin nitong sagipin siya sa kabila ng katotohanang ni hindi niya kayang iligtas ang kanyang sarili. His green eyes glistened with unshed tears, begging her to stay alive.

This lone wolf will do anything for her.

'And I guess I'm a fool for not recognizing this sooner, Lycros.'

She smiled sadly at the Big Bad Werewolves, feeling her heart beat slow down as the flames were beginning to devour her.

'I'm sorry.'

Red tried to analyze the situation and look for a way to escape, but every possibility drove her to a dead end. She can almost hear the witch's cruel laughter ringing inside her ears.

'Eteilla, if you still want me to fight, give me a sign...'

Ipinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata, hindi dahil tanggap na niya ang kanyang katapusan, kung hindi dahil ayaw niyang makita ang ekspresyon ng magkakapatid. She doesn't want to see the disappointment in their eyes. She failed them. All of them. Damn. Red Ridinghood wouldn't even be surprised if her entire kingdom will remember her as the girl who almost became their queen...

Almost.

And then, the fire was gone.

The witch's laughter turned into an loud screeching noise.

Nang magmulat ng mga mata ang prinsesa, agad na sumalubog sa kanya ang ginintuang mga mata ni...

"Ynara!"

The forest muse smiled at her as she extinguished the flames with her magic.

"Were you expecting a knight in shining armor, chosen maiden?"

Nang tuluyan nang naapula ang apoy at nagawa nang kalasin ni Red ang mga lubid sa kanyang mga kamay at paa, agad siyang bumaba sa poste. Despite her wobbly legs, she managed to stand on two feet. Huminga siya nang malalim at pinagpag ang kanyang damit. Remind her to never anger a witch again.

"No. Besides, who says girls can't be knights in shining armor, too? Anyway, how did you know we needed help?"

"You'll find out soon."

Nang inilibot niya ang kanyang mga mata sa paligid, doon niya napagtantong naroon na rin ang ibang forest muses. They were already battling against the undead werewolves. Nang makita niyang kamuntikan nang madamay sa gulo ang isang batang babae, Red forgot about the pain in her body and tackled her to the ground.

'That was close!'

"Shh... Don't be scared. Ligtas ka na," hinihingal pang sabi ni Red bago hinatid ito sa mga magulang niyang halos maiyak na sa takot. Doon niya napagtantong masyado silang malapit sa mga kabahayan. Behind closed doors, families were already traumatized with the recent events.

Nang mahagip ng kanyang mga ang ilang gwardiyang nagtatago sa palasyo. She sternly looked at them. "Hindi kayo ligtas dito. Leave the palace now! Make sure everyone is safe and do not allow them to leave their houses!"

Walang inaksayang oras ang mga gwardiya at mabilis na sinunod ang kanyang utos. Bahagya siyang nakahinga nang maluwag.

She can't risk getting anymore of her people involved.

Sa kabilang banda, nagulat na lang si Red nang biglang nagbagong-anyo si Nyctimus.

A howl escaped his lips.

Everyone stared in shock when the magician transformed into a divine werewolf, half-black and half-white. Sa lakas ng pwersa nito, tuluyan nang nawasak ang kadenang nakalingkis sa kanya kanina.

'Well, that's a surprise.' Red smiled.

"Damn.. Finally! Sabi na nga ba late-bloomer ka lang." Macednus sighed.

Linus shrugged.

"Ah, yes. We are all victims
of time that flies so fleetingly!
Now our little brother knows how
to control his beast accordingly..."

"EH?! Ya bastard! Ang sabi mo kanina hindi natin pinipigilan ng mahika ang transformation natin?!" Carteron snarled, knowing what just happened despite the lack of eyesight.

"It restrains your transformations, not mine."

Mahinang sabi ni Nyctimus at sinimulan nang sirain ang kanilang mga kadena.

Kung anuman ang mahikang ginamit ng mangkukulam, mukhang hindi nito inaasahan ang pagkakaiba ni Nyctimus sa kanyang mga kapatid. Red thinks that this has something to do with the fact that he spent his cursed life more as a human than as a wolf.

Nang makakawala na ang Big Bad Werewolves sa kanilang mga kadena, isa-isa silang nagbago ng anyo.

Walang inaksayang oras ang mga ito at agad na tinulugan ang forest muses laban sa kanilang mga kapatid.

A war broke out around her.

["We'll get the cards back, Princess Rieka."]

Nyctimus' wolf immediately attacked the Pied Piper. Lycros stole a glance at her before following him.

Mabilis naman niyang sinulyapan ang balkonahe kung nasaan kanina ang mangkukulam.

Wala na ito roon.

Maya-maya pa, agad siyang nilapitan ng puting lobo, tila sinisipat ang kanyang katawan sa anumang sugat o lapnos. Thankfully, she was able to get out of the flames unscathed. Red smiled reassuringly, "I'm fine, Helisson. Kaya ko na 'to."

The pack doctor nodded and joined his brothers in the fight.

'Now, I'm left to deal with that witch.'

Tumakbo pabalik sa palasyo si Red Ridinghood at umilag sa mga atake ng mga lobo. With a newfound determination, she ran through the steps and found herself frozen at the entrance. Bumilis ang pintig ng puso ng prinsesa nang makitang nag-aabang na roon ang matanda. Kalmado lang itong nakatitig sa kanya na para bang hinihigop ang kanyang kaluluwa.

"Were you looking for me, Little Red Ridinghood?"

The tension grew between them as she felt a dark aura radiating off the enemy.

Hindi na napigilan ni Red ang kanyang galit.

"Kung hindi mo kayang iwan ang galit mo sa nakaraan, 'wag mo nang idadamay ang kinabukasan ng iba! Hindi mo ba nakikita ang nangyayari sa labas? We' are all gonna die. King Lycaon's sons suffered enough, and now they're killing themselves!" She took a step towards the witch and glared.

"With what you're doing right now, you're are only proving their father's point...that witches are no good in the mortal realm."

Dumilim ang ekspresyon ng mangkukulam. Mukhang natamaan nga ito sa sinabi niya. Sariwa pa rin ang pilat ng nakaraan. Suddenly, Miss Evelyn's pure black eyes pierced into hers.

And when she screamed, the princess was taken aback.

"KILL HER!"

Sa isang kisapmata, bigla siyang nilapitan ng dalawang undead werewolves mula sa magkabila niyang gilid. Agad na napahakbang paatras si Red nang makita ang mababangis na mga halimaw. Socleus and Corethon growled at her, taking her surprise to their advantage. And when she turned to the entrance, the doors already slammed shut.

No way out.

'Shit! W-Wala akong pandepensa!'

Mabilis na umilag si Red at lumusot sa ilalim ng kahel na lobo. Inabot niya ang pinakamalapit na pandisplay na nakita niya---isang antigong plurera---at hinampas ito sa ulo ng halimaw. Unfortunately, that only angered him more. Gone was the sweet and cheerful Corethon. She cursed under her breath and dodged the sharp claws. Sa bilis ng mga pangyayari, hindi na niya nasusundan ang mga kilos nito.

SLASH!

He cut through her red cloak. That move distracted her long enough. Hindi na niya namalayan ang isa pa nitong tangkang pag-uukit sa kanyang mukha...

That was when the ash gray werewolf changed course and blocked the attack for her.

The wolf stood against Corethon and shielded the princess away from the enemies.

Wait...

Is he really taking her side?

"Socleus...? B-Bakit mo ito ginagawa?"

Nang dumako ang mga mata ng dalaga higanteng lobo, doon nya napansin ang isang nakamamanghang katotohanan.

The werewolf's ash gray color faded...

Revealing black fur underneath the paint.

---

I sat beneath a willow tree,
Where water falls and calls;
While fancies upon fancies solaced me,
Some true, and some were false.

---"In The Willow Shade", Christina Rossetti