"What can my enemies do to me!

My garden and my paradise are in my breast, wherever I go they are with me..." (qt in Al-Qarni, Don't Be Sad)

-Ibn Taymiyyah

"The garden is in my mind.. Its essence resides in my heart.

Fragrance emits from he who embodies of the divine lessons.
Attracting the people to his presence.

For he who is a friend of the Qur'an,
Never is he lonely..."

Inaayat Al Iskandarī(TCOTQ)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mierda! Mierda!! Mierda!!!"Arafat swore vehemently even as they stayed crammed together within the narrow gorge of the mountain range. They were now two mountains away from Mt. Shirah itself where Masjidur-Rahmân was located.

If that old Khidr hadn't interfered, they probably might have made their way to safety by now.

"Carajo!(Darn it!) "He hit the sedimentary rocks at the mountain's bottom.

The others looked at him in disbelief.

"It's not like what you're doing is going to solve our problem, boy."One of the eldest among them, a youth from Khidr's earlier contingent, who was with them said.

For now they were in a temporary safe haven in that gorge, but soon enough, the swarm might find their way there.

"The map is useless now!"Arafat spat angrily, ignoring the guy.

"If only, - somehow, we were able to find another way out of this gorge.."One kid from Arafat's team said.

"There's no way out of here, except by a miracle. The bees are probably kept out of here by the amount of citronella and peppermint we've used,"Humayd looked at the gathered group rather dryly.

That morning, they had stocked themselves with all those things for honey harvesting. Who knew, it'd come most handy in this perilous situation of theirs.

"Anyway, we can't stay here forever.. Lemme see that map."The youth from Khidr's group who spoke earlier said once again.

Arafat threw the map at him with a scowl. He didn't want to, but if the guy suddenly came up with an idea, it'd be good for them all.. He was also a part of the people who ruined their escape plan after all. So he didn't really think about being polite with him.

The man coolly looked at Arafat, and took the map up.

He had began to examine it when Humayd exclaimed,"Look! Up there!"

A little to one side of the mountain side, Arkaan and Khidr had appeared, a little boy with them.

"And that's Muhassan too!"A boy from Arafat's team exclaimed. He was Salih. A boy whom Arkaan had met in Humayd's group, the day they had played the ball with him.

At this revelation, a boy in their group whose eyes were red from excessive crying looked up. When he saw the little boy holding Arkaan's hand, he started wailing, once again.

"Ay Dios mio!"Arafat exclaimed annoyingly.

"Elder brother!"The little boy called out, joyously. He had gotten separated from his akhii during the bedlam, and had constantly worried what happened with him. Having seem him in Arafat's group now, he was at peace. It seemed it was the same with his elder brother, who was being patted comfortingly by the boys around him.

Arkaan shook his head, even as they descended into the gorge. He wondered who was truly the elder one among the two brothers."Husayn, don't leave your brother and run away again.. - ever."He added for emphasis.

The elder boy nodded his head, wondering how Arkaan remembered his name from the last time. After all, he was also part of Humayd's group that time.

"How did you guys pass past the bees though?" The youth with the map asked. He was surprised because, any entrance or exit for that matter into the gorge was blocked at the moment, by the destructive swarms.

"We had another way.. A passageway of tunnels through the four mountains.

We entered through one of them. Khidr guessed the direction you guys had fled to though.."Arkaan answered.

"Not surprising for a bunch of delinquents you'd say."Khidr said at last, a scowl on his face.

"A bunch of delinquents who saved your sorry as--"

"It's okay Arafat." Arkaan sighed. Now was not the time to fight."We've to get out of here first. Then we'll solve whatever grudges we've with each other then."If there are any.. He still couldn't believe why all this happened in the first place. He was starting to think Khidr's story was not that simple after all.

The two groups found out they were complete, after a little headcount.

While they were wondering the next step forward, it became a dispute of who would lead the entire group, now consisting of Khidr's men, and the boys of the halaqah.

"A little boy like you can't lead while an older man is among us, as well as your elders.." One from Khidr's group reasoned. As soon as he made his statement, the rest from his faction agreed with him.

The boys from Arkaan's group wanted to complain. After all, Khidr led them into the havoc in the first place, while Arkaan alone knew the mountains' labyrinth well than any of them.

"No need."Arkaan said, raising a hand to silence his group. He turned to the old man, who smiled and put up a sagacious look,"What do you say we should do old man?"

"Ahemm.. I say, we wait here till dusk, when the bees would return to their hives. Then we make our leave. Safe and sound, nobody's hurt.
We don't also have to pass an underground tunnel."He really did not want them to use Arkaan's help in any way. He was already indebted to the boy in a way. No more, if not he would not be able to continue his matter against them.

"That'll not work."Arkaan said bluntly.

"And why do you say so?"He suddenly felt infuriated and insulted that Arkaan was challenging his old age and experience.

"What you said is practically possible. But.. -under the circumstances we'd soon find ourselves, there's no way that'll work.

The tunnel's the best bet."

At this, Khidr gave a cold snort,"Who knows matters of betting more than I?"

"Sir,"Arkaan continued once again, before their discussion became prolonged,"It's going to rain soon, and the bees would be in a chaotic state soon, to return to their hives.

They probably wouldn't bother then to pass through this gorge. And believe me, we did be in sorry states then."

The whole group was silent as they listened to Arkaan so you could almost hear a pin drop. As if the words he had just spoken, were taking time to sink in.

Then, - sudden raucous laughter sounded out. The hysteria in it was maddening so one would think a mad man had suddenly entered their group.

Everyone looked at the hysterical man laugh his heart out, tears in his eyes. Though no one laughed with him, they understood why. The sky was clear, and sunny, - no sign of rainclouds..

"Hogwash!" The old man spat, suddenly coming to end his laughter abruptly."And here I thought, you were an intelligent kid.. Ah~ sorry, --for overestimating you.

Men! We wait here till dusk. These guys can do whatever they want to."

Arkaan looked at the group expectantly, as if hoping they'd believe him. But he himself, did he believe his own words just now???

He had just spoken on impulse, remembering what the voice had said. He didn't want to trust it. But he couldn't also gamble with their safety on whether it was true or not. Better safe than sorry.

"Then we're going.." Arkaan said, already on his way. He didn't look back,"If anyone wants to stay with them, they're free to do so."He wasn't begging anyone to follow him after all..

Husayn's younger brother, Muhassan ran to hold Arkaan's hand firmly, as he did when they first arrived. Arkaan smiled at him.

He looked back at his elder brother. It seemed generally, even Arafat's group was skeptical about following Arkaan, and they just stood there.

Husayn saw the look on his brother's face. His brother trusted Arkaan.. He looked back at Arafat and the others, then turned back hastily to follow Arkaan and his younger brother.

Arafat turned to the two new groups for a while, aside his own; the many staying in the gorge with Khidr, and the two who followed Arkaan. It didn't take any longer for him to make up his mind. Gritting his teeth, he followed up after Arkaan.

With Arafat gone, the boys had no more reason to stay with Khidr's group. Slowly but surely, they all made their way to follow after Arkaan.

"When anything happens, don't say I didn't warn ya!"Khidr called out.

"Hmph!Kids!"

•••

"Sayyidi, what do you say we tell the kids' parents. Ya know, - if anything were to happen to them.." It was a little while after Arkaan and his group had left, when one of the men addressed Khidr.

"Hyah.. Nothing.. We didn't see them. We had nothing to do with them."Khidr said immediately, without a thought. His men looked at him with wary expressions. They knew the personality of their Sayyidi all too well.

"Well, we still could have stopped them from leaving anyway. We're in a position of seniority over them after all."

"Forget about them"Khidr muttered under his breath. They could see he was thinking about something, and their suggestions were rather irritating him.

"Arkaan.. The boy with the green eyes.."He harrumphed to himself."Let's see how far you can go.. to achieve what you've set out to." Not everyone was going to support him, much less him. He was happy being an interference to them. After all, he'd not forget what happened to him yonder day ago.

But something within him, ..also wanted to see how far they would go.. If anything.., he was interested. He'd play the villain for revenge, as well as for the fun of being a hindrance. Ah~ Their pain was going to slake his thirst for comeuppance against that dotard of a scholar!!

"It ain't my fault after all, Al Iskandar.. Let the students pay the dept their master owed!!"He chuckled to himself, his eyes glinting.

As if that was the tip-off signal,

"Sayyid.." Was followed by a loud boom of thunder.

They all stood up from their resting places at once.

"That jinx!"Khidr cursed under his breath.

•••

The insides of the caves and the labyrinth smelt of flowers.. But there were no flowers.

It was like a how a well-kept garden would smell, and yet, it was a dark tunnel. Cold and humid.., especially now that the rain had started.. Yet, the fresh scent still wafted around them, blowing their senses.

Even as Arkaan and the boys made their way through the tunnels, they heard the sudden clashes of thunder. As the sounds became louder, and their duration apart shorter, they could imagine what great of a thunderstorm might have picked up outside.

Occasionally, the lightning flashed so brightly, entering deeper parts of the maze so they could see their way.

Most of them sighed in relief at the decision they had taken. Arkaan didn't say anything though.

He had mothballs, which he'd leave trails on every path they turned in. It was like the breadcrumbs from that childhood story he had read in the books.

Most of the others didn't notice it though, except Arafat.

He shook his head in disbelief. Then giving a cryptic smile, he proceeded to follow.

Arkaan was silent all the while. Something felt strange to him.. During one of the bright flashes of lightning, he saw it.

It looked as if the walls were cleaned, - normal..

But the dark red stains still appeared on some parts of the walls.

He knew that, if this place was bright enough, the caves wouldn't look so docile anymore..

•••

Khidr and his men entered the mouth of the cavern amidst commotion.

They were thoroughly soaked in the rainwater, and some of them had beestings on parts of their bodies.

Fortunately, they made away before the bees arrived in their numbers.

..Fortunately again, they had found the path Arkaan had taken by the trail he left.

Khidr sulked. This was the second time the boy was saving him that day.

They knew that the shrewd boy had left them a trail to find their way, in case they changed their mind, out of the kindness of his heart. He could have chose to teach them a lesson, by leaving them to find their own way.

The groove where the cavern entrance was, had so inconspicuously hidden the opening, one might not have easily located it.

The first thing that hit them when they first entered was the strong and fresh scent of flowers.

For a moment they were stunned, before proceeding, knowing full well they had no other place to go.

They began making their way through the cave.

Soon, the raging booms and thunderclaps were too much for ears to handle.

Both groups were stunned by the continuous echoing. It suddenly made them feel spooked out, especially in this dark place.

They had to cover their ears, even as the groups proceeded.

Arkaan was the only one who seemed unfazed. He seemed to be thinking something, as he held close to the walls, like he could hear something from them.

He would occasionally stop, to study some of the stains on the walls. At certain places, he actually stopped completely for a while.

Soon enough, he was so occupied in what he was doing that, he stopped throwing the mothballs.

Nobody understood what was going on, but they didn't also question or stop him..

Arafat though, took over throwing, continuing the mothballs' trail, and keeping the group together as they moved forth.

•••

It got to a time, the trail moved straightly, without any curves or bends.

As Khidr and his group walked faster, they could soon see Arkaan's group at a distance.

"Wait up!" They called.

Unfortunately for them, that was when Arkaan started moving faster, clinging closer to the walls. It suddenly seemed like he had gone mental.

Arafat and the boys who had looked back, and were about to wait for the others to join up, suddenly looked in the direction Arkaan was moving swiftly towards.

If they lost him, they were all lost.

They all started at once, - running after Arkaan, calling him..

But the green-eyed boy, seemed not to be hearing them.

"Hey!!!"Khidr's group started in pursuit, hounding after them.

The tunnels echoed with their shouts and calls, as they slowly made their way, to Mt. Shirah, - Masjidur-Rahmân.

•••

It was awfully a long time since Zak, Ukashah, and Haru had returned to the masjid.

The group sat together, with Abdullah and Rafik, just at the minaret's base. The trapdoor was widely opened. No one was coming..

The rain had started to fall heavily, and they'd probably have to wait there for a time, till it had subsided.

They couldn't go out to check the situation from the valley, and they couldn't also hear anything as a signal that the boys were coming.

The blackhooded boy had long parted from them, and they didn't know where he had taken off to. The moment Arkaan left, he somehow had disappeared. For the brief moment their eyes were taken off him, he suddenly was gone, without a word.

"Maybe something happened down there.."Rafik voiced out their fears.

"Impossible!"Abdullah refuted,"I know Akhii. He definitely would not let anything stand in his way! He's definitely coming back up!"

Abdullah said it in so much conviction that even the silent three who returned from the mountains were smiling.

Even Haru was impressed by the younger boy's optimism and faith.

His words had lifted the dark clouds of foreboding from their hearts. They'd trust in their Rabb..

"You're right, Abd!"Zak smiled,"Arkaan would surely make his way here. ...In shaa Allah."

As if that was the cue, they suddenly heard the resounding echoes from underneath. Looks of excitement appeared on everyone's faces.

___________________________________

Next Crescent is -

Khidr's Story[The Hâ Mîm Furore]

In shaa Allah, we're travelling back to the past to have a glimpse at the important event that happened two years ago, - that changed the lives of many people.

What was it that Arkaan saw, that made him suddenly behave strangely?

Join me in the next releases of 'TCOTQ' in an uproar that sets a basis for our story!

Also try to check out amaturrahmaan7's story'Shadow Of Light',as well as her short story,'The Fading Rose'.

They're one of a kind👌. The short story is completed, and really gave me the feels.

P.S.

Due to its nature, coming Friday's release might delay a bit. But expect it within these two weeks in shaa Allah.

Till then, Fee Amanillah!

Was-Salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh...