"Ha.. haa.. haa.."
His breath came in ragged gasps.
His feet trod the damp ground quickly, his heart was beating rapidly. The wind blew across his face, yet his gaze never wavered from the light, even as it seemed to drift away with every step, brought the sense of responsibility through his entire body.
Until finally, he strode past the light and instantly, the brightness that filled his vison vanished, exploding into countless fragments, scattering back go their point of origin.
Slowly, the shape of the wolf on the ground materialised in front of him. There was still a faint, very inaudible roar coming from his gushing blood. Without thinking twice, he immediately rushed toward the wolf.
Upon his arrival, he found himself standing before the wolf, lying weakly on the ground, its chest rising and falling to show that it was still alive. Its weary eyes met Sayda's, eyes that reflected both pain and fading light. A long, bloody gash ran across its belly, the blood slowly trickling and nearly pooling beneath its body.
His right hand trembled. For a moment, his eyes glanced around, as if desperately searching for something until his gaze finally focused on Zagar's body that lying on the ground. Without pausing to think, he jumped to his feet and ran over to where Zagar's body lay, its lifeless form completely still.
With a reluctant expression, he tore his shirt open. Then, suddenly he stopped, his gaze fixed on below Zagar's left shoulder. A written number seemed to be embedded under his flesh and skin. It looks like a tattoo, but strange... unnatural.
The number written there was...
"22?"
Sayda said in a puzzled tone.
"Huh? What does that mean?"
His hand inched closer to the written number, fingers trembling slightly as if repelled by some unseen force. The moment he almost touching it, a voice from behind startled him. A voice that came from a lying wolf, the presence of a faint sound, barely audible.
As he turned, he saw the wolf roaring as if asking for help.
"Shit, I almost forgot"
He said hastily.
He then took Zagar's shirt that he had torn and ran towards the wolf, the air filled with the unmistakable sound of his footsteps. As he arrived, he immediately wrapped the wolf's wound. The wolf's eyes appeared to be half- closed, as if enduring the pain.
"Hang on a little longer... almost done"
He whispered.
Momentarily, the wolf's gaze was fixed intently on Sayda, unblinking and astonishment. Sayda realized it, then he said calmly.
"What... you want to say thank you? I don't need it ya know..."
"I helped you not because I wanted to, but because you needed it, and of course, because you helped me earlier"
He pulled the final strip of cloth tight, securing the wound.
"That's it, the bleeding should stop now"
He then, brought his face closer.
"Go to your tribe, your life is still long.
The wolf roaring a little. Sayda responded with a weak smile in his face. He stood up, walked away and left the wolf behind. Entering the wild forest that lay ahead, slowly disappeared into the distance .
***
In a very distant place, the blue sky stretched magnificently, vast and endless with giant clouds high above the beautiful sky. A gust of wind swept past, like an invisible wave blowing from the ends of the earth.
Far in the horizon, three small black dots were seen floating in the air. At first, it was just like dust blowing in the wind, nothing more than a faint shadow between the clouds. But slowly, the dots grew bigger, the shape became clearer..
The wings are so wide and big, the tail starts to show and finally, the eyes that shine sharply. It looks like a bird.....
No...
It's a bunch of...
Dragon..
The dragons destination was unknown, as they flew with no particular destination in mind. Their purpose was a mystery, although it appeared that they were searching for something valuable... Or perhaps delivering something.
***
Groooowll.
A loud crackling sound could be heard in the middle of the forest. Someone was walking with his head down, trying to hold back his hunger.
"Ughh... I wonder how long i have been walking in this forest."
Sayda whispered weakly.
Groooowll.
"I'm so hungry... my stomach won't stop making noise... Didn't this forest have a food? A fruit or something else?"
The sky had turned almost orange, a sign of how much time had passed. Suddenly, bushes behind him rustled violently. His eyes immediately glanced toward the source.
"Enemy...?"
Sayda whispered slowly.
The bushes rustled again as if someone were coming. With a sense of vigilance...
"Chest 'knife'"
POFFP
A knife already in his hand, ready to face any future attack.
"Come..."
All of a sudden, his eyes widened as he saw the figure moving past the bushes, it was the wolf he had saved. A bandage wrapped around its stomach, proving it was indeed the same wolf. In its mouth, it carried an apple.
"You...?"
Sayda expressed disbelief. It was the same wolf.
Subsequently, the wolf advanced towards Sayda, yet...
"Stop!"
He raised his voice.
"What... You want a revenge? Sadly no one can help you anymore, not even me."
The wolf kept moving forward, ignoring his words.
"I said stop didn't I..."
The wolf finally stopped.
"I won't hesitate to do something if you move just an inch."
His hand holding a knife, trembling weakly. Suddenly, the wolf dropped the apple from his mouth, letting it roll until it hit Sayda's leg. His eyes dropped.
"An apple?"
For a moment...
Groooowll...
His stomach growled loudly. He wanted to take it. But he felt it was just a trick. Then he looked up, the wolf stood there silently. But because of hunger, he slowly crouched, picked up the apple, and brushed off the dirt with his sleeve. The wolf didn't move, watching quietly, its golden eyes shiny and calm as if waiting for his reaction.
"You really... brought this for me?"
He asked softly.
The wolf wags its tail.
"Is that so"
Sayda took a small bite. The sweetness spread across all his mouth. Sayda's expression shifted abruptly, as if he were taken aback, having just savoured a remarkably distinct apple that he'd never encountered before.
He kept on eating, the second bite as eagerly anticipated as the first bite, and the third just as keenly. He ate as if he hadn't eaten for days. Seeing that, the wolf then barked at him.
"What?"
He mumbled with his mouth full.
The wolf continued barked at him multiple times.
"What...? You want a fight?"
The wolf then walked slowly towards him made Sayda flustered and immediately pointed his knife at the wolf.
"Opp, hey, Stop there... Hey...hey... Don't move"
The wolf ignored him and continued to approach Sayda step by step. He could only watch as the wolf approached him, unable to do anything about it. Until finally, the wolf reached him and rested its thick fur against Sayda's feet. He flinched slightly and pulled his leg instantly.
He lowered his gaze, his expression suddenly changing. In an instant, he swung his knife at the wolf, making it step back. The apple that had once been in Sayda's hand dropped onto the ground.
"I already told you... Don't come closer"
Sayda raised his voice.
Suddenly, the wolf lowered his body, tail tucked tight between its leg, trembling slightly. The fur along its spine flattened as fear crept through its body. Its pupil dilated, reflecting the flicker of the torchlight. Sayda saw it strangely.
"Is he scared?"
Sayda saw its eyes, radiated fear and looked glassy. A feeling struck him abruptly, guilt.
"I... I'm... "
He saw that wolf was staring at his hand, which was still holding a knife. He stored his knife away immediately after noticing it.
"Look, nothing there's... It's gone now. I was mistaken, no need to be scared."
He tried to calm the wolf down by showing it his empty hand. Sayda slowly moved his hand towards the wolf. As Sayda almost approached it, the wolf pulled back, and he hesitated for a moment. Then, he stepped closer again, this time more carefully, and finally placed his hand on the wolf's head, stroking it gently.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore. I was wrong... I thought you came for a revenge, but instead, you came to give thanks"
The wolf slowly returned to its normal self, no longer afraid.
"I really appreciate it. But it has to end here... you cannot follow me any further, go to your tribe... Our paths are different, i have my own journey that has to be done.
Sayda slowly freed his hand from the wolf and began to walk away.
"Farewell. I hope we will meet again at some point."
He took a few steps forward, but only after walking further away. A feeling of amusement spread throughout his body. He paused and gaze downwards, realising that the wolf was trailing closely beside.
"What are you doing?... "
Sayda then lowered his head to the same level. His eyes met those of the wolf.
"I already told you, you can't follow me. Unless..."
Before he could finish his word, the wolf wagged its tail as if it understood what he was about to say.
"Unless.... you join me"
The wolf eyes flared with light, unveiling a deep golden hue within. Sayda froze, seemingly disbelief.
"You really, want to join me?"
The wolf wagged its tail eagerly.
"Really... really?"
With a sense of excitement, the wolf barked at him, clearly expressing a desire to join him. At first, Sayda seemed in disbelief, but out of nowhere, he let out a small laughed.
"Heh... guess we're even now."
The wolf barked at Sayda, a sound filled with joy.
"But... The first thing we need to do is give you a name."
RUFF RUFF!
The wolf barked.
"Okay... How about... Eldras?"
The wolf wagged its tail and nodded slightly.
"Huh... You like it?"
The wolf nodded again. Seeing this made Sayda smile widely.
"From this moment forth, your name is Eldras."
"The Faithful, Eldras"