The First Buddy

Outside the cave, there was a humungous ape beating it's chest wildly while roaring. Then he looked at the cave in front of it sniffing. From the cave came out Lander and the white wolf.

"Damn! What kind of ape is this? Are you King Kong?" Lander asked as he cursed staring at the humungous animal. This ape is about 15 feet tall.

On his side was the white wolf that was cowering in fear. It never imagined that they would stumble upon the King of the Apes. More importantly, it just came to it's mind that they had to face this ape when it's mate was wounded.

The ape stared at Lander and white wolf then it sniffed. It was then that it noticed the meat that Lander was holding. The ape's eyes twinkled upon smelling the aroma coming out from the meat and it made him salivate and excited. It beat the ground that made the earth tremble and rushed in front of Lander.

This ape caught Lander in it's hand and stole the meat that he was holding. It directly stuffed it into it's mouth then as if feeling a bliss, it started jumping around while it's eyes were closed.

After a while, the ape went away while still holding Lander. Lander struggled in the ape's hand but it was futile that he can't even move an inch so he just shouted, "Yan Yan, take care of the alpha. I will be back in here. I promise!"

The ape king ran for around twenty minutes away from the forest until they reached a mountain. It climbed at the top most where in a large cave was situated. There were 3 apes around with a height of a human not exceeding 6 feet. They all bowed towards the ape king when it arrived.

The ape king growled at the three of them as if ordering things. The next instant, the three apes went out. Then the ape king dropped Lander in front of it. It stared at Lander then just sat and slept.

The ape king knew that Lander can't escape even if he tries to run away. Lander on the other hand knew that well so he didn't try to escape, he was just sitting pondering on how to get out of the place.

About an hour, one ape came carrying firewoods entered. Then after it came, around ten minutes when another ape came carrying a jar of water. Lastly, the last ape came about twenty minutes when the second ape came and it was actually carrying two dead big bores.

After all of them came, they stared at Lander. The ape king woke up and used one of it's finger to push Lander in front of the firewoods and two bores. "So you really liked my cooking huh?"

Upon understanding the intention, Lander tried to command the apes pointing at the bores and firewoods. He wanted them to hunt more bores and gather more firewoods. The apes were looking at him dumbfounded but Lander tried his best using actions to convey what he meant. After a while of no response, Lander gave up.

He sighed, "Urgh how can I escape if you won't eat a lot and sleep afterwards?"

With no other option, Lander did his best by making barbecues out of the bores without his spices. And even without the spices, the aroma coming from it made the apes excited.

While it made them excited, the three bores went out again. Then they came back carrying another six bores. And it made Lander happy, as this would be a feast where in the apes will be stuffed. So another barbecue session began.

***

While Lander was busy cooking for the apes, Yan Yan was staring at the three wolves while trembling. The alpha howled as it felt the pain again in it's wounds. Seeing the pain coming from the alpha, Yan Yan took all the courage she has left and slowly went towards the three wolves.

Upon arriving, Yan Yan checked it's wounds and saw that the bandage was filled with blood. Then she remembered how Lander treated the wolf, she went towards their stuffs and carried the last jar of alcohol they had. She first removed the bandage filled with blood and she sprinkled alcohol unto it's wounds. The alpha howled another loud howl that made the white wolf growled at her staring with murderous intent.

Yan Yan closed her eyes with fear but calmed herself afterwards. She focused and changed the bandage of the alpha using her remaining clothes she carried. And when she saw that the alpha stabilized, she wiped her sweat on her face and went back to where Lander cooked a while ago.

The cub went towards her and laid beside her. Yan Yan caressed it's furs and prayed that nothing will happen to Lander, "Please come back safely big brother."

***

It was already at the middle of the night, when the apes stopped their feast and just laid anywhere. Lander was still wide awake when he heard the snoring coming from the ape king.

He went around the apes and ensured that they were asleep before stealthily moving outside. He looked up and sighed, "Thank God! The moon shines brightly."

He then went down the mountain slowly. Reaching the flat ground, he ran towards the cave where Yan Yan was located together with the wolves. Despite his agility and great eyesight, he stumbled a lot of times. His foot even got injured without noticing.

After a full thirty minutes of running, he was out of breath and decided to stop to rest. While resting, a loud roar came from up above and it made him scared out of his wits. It was no ordinary roar, he looked up and there he saw a dragon, "What the hell? Seriously? A dragon?"

The dragon was 30 feet tall and roared as it traverse the air. What made Lander more scared was that it stopped and slowly moved towards him.

On the head of the dragon was a human, an old man with a white long beard touching his belly and a long hair. Before the dragon landed on the ground, the old man jumped about 10 feet. Touching the ground, Lander felt a shake on the ground and with an 'O' shape plastered on his mouth, he stared at the old man in front of him.

"Young man, who are you? I've never seen you around here." The old man carried a hint of murderous intent. But when the old man saw Lander and found him harmless he calmed down.

Lander was fully aware of this kind of murderous intent, he has felt this a lot of times when he was fighting on the streets saving his life. Then he noticed that the murderous intent was gone and he bowed to the old man, "Elder, I am not from here and I mean no harm. I just wanted to go back to meet a young girl and a wounded wolf not far from here."

"Oh so your'e a young man in love," The old man said and noticed his wounds.

"Let me heal your wounds," The old man said as he went towards Lander and touched his wound.

"How come I was wounded?" Lander asked bewildered.

"Your'e funny young man, you were wounded and never even realized it," The old man said casually.

"E'go Zegaza helum," The old man chanted and Lander saw his wounds closed in an instant. He's so shocked, even the blood was gone.

"Ho... Ho... How did.. did.. you do.. do.. that?" Lander stuttered as he was shocked witless.

Lander touched his wounds ensuring it was really healed then the old man noticed his tattoo, "So your'e an outcast?"

Understanding his words he bowed, "Thank you elder. But even if I am an outcast, I would not submit myself to be your slave."

The old man laughed, "You sure have guts. But I am not like those lowly scums who makes an outcast a slave."

"Thank you elder, but I was wondering why aren't you afraid to touch an outcast? Aren't you afraid that you would become like me?" Lander asked with curiousity.

Looking closerly at the old man, he was not actually so old because he looked like just around fifty years old. Then this elder laughed, "You're quite the funny ignorant man. A man like me who has the power can't become an outcast just because of touching one. Besides, if ever I feel the curse will affect me, I have a Blessed Water with me."

"I also wonder how come you were able to survive here despite being an outcast?" The old man continued with a question.

Lander smiled at him, "Well, I used to live in the mountains."

"Being used to live in the mountains is not enough for you to survive." The elder spoke casually.

"Ah, excuse me elder. But would you mind helping me please?" Lander tried to ask for his help.

"AHAH! You really do have the guts to ask for my help," The elder laughed amused.

"Forgive this ignorant man for asking you're help," Lander bowed again and felt dejected.

"I'm sorry elder If I can't continue having this conversation because I'm worried that a wolf might die if I stay here long." Lander excused as he stood up and faced towards the location of the cave.

The old man laughed, "Since there is still a time before dawn. You are lucky that I still have time to help you."

Not expecting that from the elder, Lander bowed, "Thank you elder."

Then the elder told him to ride on his dragon which made Lander felt awed and excited. He never expected to be able to ride a dragon and soar up high.

In just three minutes, they arrived in front of the cave. Lander hurriedly went inside, "Yan Yan, I am back. How is the alpha?"

Inside the cave, a fire was still burning that made the cave bright. Yan Yan who was peacefully sleeping woke up upon hearing Lander's words, "Big brother?"

The three wolves also woke up and stared towards the entrance of the cave. Then they saw Lander and following him was an elder that made the alpha and the white wolf cower in fear.

Yan Yan also noticed the elder and saw a five star badge on his chest and was shocked. She quickly went in front of him and kowtowed, "Greetings, Great Baron

"Hmmm, if I'm not mistaken you're also an outcast. And these wolves are the lowest ranking wolves, Rank E." The elder assesed.

The cub, upon seeing Lander wiggled it's tail and went towards him happily. "Hey there little wolf, how's your dad?"

Seeing the scene in front of him, the old man smiled, "I never imagined an outcast to be able to have a strong connection to a beast. You are indeed not an ordinary outcast."

Then the elder went towards the alpha and healed it in an instant, "Young man, drip some of your blood and let the cub drink it."

"What do you mean elder?" Lander asked curiously.