CHAPTER 13- KAMUMA

E L A R I E N ••P●V••

This forest is over a thousand years old, It is home to a wide range of different plants and a few rare species of animal and unknown mythical creature roaming the entire forest.

We have separated from each other and I don't know where are the others.

I winced as I felt it began crawling around my arms and it's too tight, Like a python clutching it's prey. it's squeezing me. Negligence after been caught in a trap. I couldn't run fast because I'm carrying to children with me "Stay there! Wag kayong lumapit mapapahamak kayo. Just wait for me"

"Mommy!"

"Mama will be okay just stay put. I'll get myself free okay"

The vines wrapped around my body. Like a snake and it's gripping tightly in my flesh. I can't even reach my knife in my pocket. My babies ran away after been attacked by other man eating plants. I must act fast or they'll be hurt or fell on a higher place. The vines began to crawl around into my neck and choke me. I ran out of air and it's getting tighter. I'm gasping for breathing. I can't loose hope. My babies need me. I Widely open my mouth and began biting the vines as quickly as possible before I ran out of air. And luckily its not that thick. I bit fast until both of my hands are free and reach the knife; quickly in my pocket, slashing the vines and wither to the ground. I landed gracefully on the and clear my throat after been choked up. I take a deep breath and took my knife and began to looked for them.

Something grabbed my foot and I flopped on the ground but I was too agile to chopped it off. A man eating plants arise from the ground and began to widen it's petals and I saw her larynx, sharp teeth to eat me whole. But before it could snatch me. I chopped it from its stem and began to flaccid together with it's body. The other vines came closer and had suffered the same fate. Other plants surrendered but some still want to avenge their fellow plants after it lies dead, withered on the ground.

"Mama!!!" Sigaw nilang dalawa agad akong tumakbo ng mabilis sinusundan ang kanilang boses hanggang sa makita kong nasa kamay siya ng mga maitim na tao. Naramdaman ko ang pagsindot ng isang matulis na bagay kaya napabitaw ako pero bilis ko itong dinampot at di niya binitawan ang kanyang armas at lakas ko siyang binalibag pero napigilan ako at napataas ng aking kamay dahil hindi ko malalamangan ang mga pana nilang nakatutok sakin.

Their aborigine I can tell. Men are all naked pero nakabalot lang ang kanilang ari at pwetan and they have a lot of tattooed in their bodies and faces. Marami ring mga buto ng hayop ang suot suot nila sa katawan.

They captured me and tied my hands from the back and I had no choice but to followed their commands or they'll kill me and left me dead or worst they'll consume my flesh and bone. I winced when something pricked my foot and it's went deeper. My slippers left behind nd I'm walking with my barefoot like them and I'm all mess. A few miles I saw the bamboo gate and a lot of deadly spears around it. I also saw a trap everywhere, how did I know that? there's a wild animals stab to the throat and bodies. I flinched and shivered with disgust. I didn't knew that there's a trap in this forest. Lalo na sakin walang alam sa mga trap surely I can see heaven right away. Or even meet satan to hell.

The bamboo gate widely open at napadilat nalang ako sa mga taong timambad sakin saloob nito. They looked at me and they been terrified with disgust. Napalunok din ako sa mga dibdib nilang nagpaluwa ng mata ko.

The women touches me and they are taunting. Maraming rin mga bata na nagsasalita ng kanilang lenguahe.

Sinisindot parin nila ako hanggang sa napaharap ko ang isang babaeng morena at may kulot itong buhok.

Someone push me to bow at the woman sitting on a skeleton throne and she has a dark color skin but she is beautiful. Pinalipad niya ang kanyang alagang paniki at tumayo tsaka ako hinarap at inangat ang aking mukha sa kanya. She smiled and leave me stilled. Her teeth is black! I don't know kung bulok ba yun o ganon na talaga.

May mga salita silang diko naintindihan at hinila ako ng isang lalake para tumayo at sinigawan niya ako. Tinuro niya ang kataas taasan nila upang makinig sa mga sinasabi nito pero wala akong naintindihan niisa.

"Permission to speak your lady"-i said.

She glance at me and tell me to continue "Patawad pero I can't understand your language. I want to say that I came here unarmed and I didnt want any troubl--"

"Clearly your a hunter from jaffa. I hate hunters!"-tumango lang ako "hmmp what are you doing in my tribe? To steal my precious my ruby?!"-biglang himagsik ng kanyang salita at naglabas silang lahat ng kanilang armas. Nakita ko ang pagsidlak ng ruby sa di kalayuan.

Nakita ko kung pano ito umilaw at nagbigay buhay sa nalantang halaman at nagkaruon ng bunga ang mga punong kahoy. This ruby must be their source of life. Kaya pala ganito siya ka higpit sa pag aalalaga nito, talaga namang kakaiba ang ruby nila. It's not just a mere red stone.

May isang babae na lumapit sa kanya kulot ang buhok pero singkit ang mata nito, inabot nito ang inumin. Mukhang di nagustuhan nung chief at tinapon sa kanya and inumin at naawa ako sa pagsampal niya dito and they batter her up. The girl is been mistreated badly just for a drink! I don't like these chief napakasama niya.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa chief nila. "I didn't came here to steal that ruby. May hinahanap kaming--"

"Clearly were not foolish enough for falling to your trick!"

"Don't hurt mommy!"-dinig kong sigawan ng mga bata na hawak hawak ng mga lalake. "Mommy!" they cried helplessness.

"Please don't hurt them i beg you. Don't!"

"Oh I won't. You'll the one i'm holding hostage. And burn at stake at dawn!"-tuwang sigaw niya at naghiwayan ang mga tauhan niya.

May pumukpok sakin at nakita ko pa ang mga bata bago ako bumagsak sa lupa. Dumilim na ang paligid at dinig ko silang sumigaw.

"Eat!"-napamulat ako bigla sa taong nag abot sakin ng isang pagkain sa plato. Siya yung babae kanina na sinampal nung chief nila. "Eat. You need, I know you not eat. They come here and battered you up again. Look what they do to you. I pity--you"

Naawa siya sakin even she had too much injuries in her body. I think she's much more than just a slave. Hindi siya marunong magsalita ng ingles paputol putol siya magsalita pero sinusubukan niyang makipag communicate sakin. Napalingon ako saking balikat at namilipit lang ako ng makita kong puno ako ng sugat. "Why are you helping me"-i said in a low monotone. Napapangiwi ako sa hapdi ng mga natatamo kong sugat at hinihipan ang mga langaw na dumadapo saking sugat.

"Because you not bad. You are good-- I can tell it. By seeing you. I come here and save you-- just stay here and wait for me and don't make noise"

"Is this a trick?"-how can she even help an outsider. She can't just simply do that. She's being a traitor to her tribe. She urges me to follow and trust her, and i did. There's no doubt, my life depends on her.

"You must trust me. I'm is a friend. I kamuma"-turo niya sa sarili

"Nice to meet you kamuma, call me ela. And thank you"

"Its enough for that. They coming.."

Inabot niya sa kamay ko ang kutsilyo at bilis ko itong tinago at pinakain niya ako. Muntikan pa akong mabulunan sa kakasubo niya ng mabilis at tinitingnan ang buong paligid. I'm afraid because she'll put her life at risk by saving me. Tumingin siya ulit sa labas at bilis nang umalis. Ilang minuto naman ng marinig ko ang mga yapak na papalapit at may lalakeng pumasok para bantayan ako. Nagsalita lang ang mga ito sa kanilang lenguahe at nagkakatuwaan sila.

Iniwan din nila ako pagkatapos. Dahan dahan kong pinuputol ang tali at nawala na ako. Tumayo ako ng dahan dahan and check the place. The men are asleep at nagpapaliwanag ang bonfire sa paligid. I quickly sneak and hide after someone pass by at pareho kaming nabigla at agad niyang tinakoan ang bibig ko and huss me. Its her! She hid me from the bushes and I saw women pass at nagsasayawan sila. Kamuma just simply smile she knows her assignment. Iniwan niya ako after she's been called.

There's a lot of hut and uses bamboo as their walls preventing outsider to enter. I'm disappointed I don't know where was my babies are being held. I'm crawling to the grass and I saw a women carrying a fruits on their hands. I followed them and they lead me to their master. Nakatago ako sa tabi ng mga kawayan at may mga lalakeng nakaguard sa bahay niya. I had to think about something.

I heard a whistle and I saw kamuma's calling me. Dahan dahan akong gumapang pabalik at may babaeng nagdadala rin ng mga inumin. Bilis namin siyang dinampot at tinali ang kanyang bibig para di siya makasigaw. Tinali ko siya at hinila papunta sa kung saan nila ako kinulong at may aninong papalapit at nagkunwari akong nakatali. Bilis niyang napansin at nasuntok ko siya ng malakas at bumagsak siya.

"You a lucky one. De all busy"

Pinunit ko ang aking damit para talian at takpan ang kanilang mata at bibig. Hinubaran ko yung babae at siya ang pinasuot ko ng damit ko. Ako na ang pumalit sa pwesto niya. May uling siyang dala at pinahid sakin at inayusan ako ng mabilis. Inayos ko rin ang mga gamit na nahulog kanina at dinala niya ako sa paglulutuan nila at naglagay ng mga pagkain at iinumin.

Dinala ko na ang inumin at pinapasok na ako ng mga lalake dahil sa tulong niya. Maingay sa loob at kumatok ako Biglang bumukas ang pinto at sinigawan ako ng babae sabay talsik ng kanyang mga laway. Wala talaga akong naintindihan sa sinabi niya pero napansin ko naman ang pagturo niya sa dala ko para ibigay dun. I leaned on kamuma at ngumuso siya tsaka naman ako tumango. Bilis akong lumakad at may mga babaeng nagsasayawan at nagpapatugtog. Nakita ko ang masayang inaayusan ng mga kababaihan at pinaglilibutan ng mga alahas sa katawan.

Nandun sina komori nakaupo at muntikan ko pang hindi makikila. Dahil ginaya na nila ang mga bata sa kanilang panunuot. Lumapit ako at inabot ang inumin na nakabow sa kanya upang hindi niya ako mapansin. Tumabi naman ako pagkatapos malapit sa mga bata na nakatingin sa mga nagsasayawan.

"Si mama to! Komori!"-tawag ko ng mahinahon. Lumingon sila sakin at napangiti sila. I huss them at tumango lang sila and trust the process. Biglang bumukas ang pinto at may mga lalakeng nagkakagulo sa labas at dala dala ang mga tinali ko kanina.

"FIND HER!"-sigaw niya at nagtakbuhan na sila at napapadilat ako sa mga matutulis nilang armas. Lumapit sila sakin at binigyan ko sila ng senyales na wag muna silang gumalaw at manatili lang. Nagalit talaga siya at pinagsigawan ang mga bata.

"Mama help me!"-nagalit ako ng marinig ko ang paghingi ng saklolo nila sakin at di ako nagdadalawang isip na luksuhan siya pero may humarang na mga babae and they protect their ladies.

"Okay this is unfair"-sinipa ko pataas ang spear at sinalo ito sabay ikot sa ere and aim at them with smirk. Umatake sila at inikot ikot kolang ang spear sa king katawan at natatamaan sila sa tira ko sabay ko naman silang sipain at suntukin. Masakit pero masarap sa pakiramdam ang pagsabay sabay nilang pagbulagta sa harap ko.

Hanggang sa siya nalang ang naiwan.

"Hmp tapos na ikaw nalang. Alam kong tatawagin mo ang mga kasamahan mo para lang protektahan ka"

She smirk at me and didn't even move a muscle "don't belittle me!"-bigla niyang dinampot si Jamai at tinutok ang patalim sa leeg nito. Pumasok na rin ang kanyang mga tauhan at dinampot ulit ako.

"Don't hurt em, Its me you want! I forbid you to lay your fingers on them ket ako nalang saktan mo.."

"Let go of jamai--!"-sigaw ni komori at pinukpok yung babae at nanlalaki ang mata ko sa pagdaan ng patalim sa mukha ni komori at bumagsak sa harap ko. Kamuma grabbed jamai away from her but she just fell down in front of me. She was stabbed by rescuing them..

I couldn't hold it in any longer and an onslaught of tears came pouring down on my face. "How could you. You devil!!" Namuo ang galit ko at pilit kong pumiglas at pinagsusuntok ang mga humawak sakin ang iba naman umatake at nadaplisan ako pati nasugatan sa balikat pero pinilit kong makalapit sa kaniya at niluksuhan siya hanggang sa magulong kame palabas at nasira ang dingding. Sinakal ko siya at di rin siya nagpatalo at sinabunutan ako.

I wrapped my legs to her but she bit me and my flesh ripped out. Napabitaw ako pero sinubukan ko parin siyang pigilan. Pilit niyang mag abot ng bato at mas hinigpitan ko ang pagkahawak at nahilo ako sa pagpukpok ng bato saking ulo na kinabitaw ko sa kanya.

We both bathe on our own blood and as she began to attacked I manage to side stepped, slightly leaned forward and puch her on the face. My anger looses my senses and I aggressively grabbed her and dragged her down on the ground and she coughed blood.

She didn't want to loose and be humiliated by her people. She has

pride, an urges to win, but I glide my hands a chop on her neck and she fell to the ground again. Nagsitakbuhan sakin ang mga katribo niya at kinumkom ko ang aking kamao pero bigla silang lumuhod sa harap ko.

FAST FORWARD••

Ginamot ni aewa ang natamong sugat sa pisnge ni komori at walang tigil sa kakaiyak si jamai. Her eyes is all swollen.  I embraced kamuma in my arms after she was healed completely. I was so glad I thought I couldn't save her. The lady chief sent her owl to lure my friends on her tribe after I told them that I have a friend that has an ability to heal. We had a deal if she didn't send her pet, I'll have her head. It's just a joke but I can't leave this place leaving Kamuma like that.

And I even refused their request to make me their new chief after seeing their lady was defeated in infront of her tribe. But aside from that. Nagdesisyon akong ibigay sa kaibigan ko ang pwesto. And made kamuma the new leader; she deserves it. Her family celebrated as she sat on a throne and finally regained her honor and everybody respected her now. Karma never disappoint me.

Maayos na ang lagay ng kanilang lady chief pero takot na takot ito sakin at humingi siya ng kapatawaran sa nangyari. Wala rin ang iba kong kasamahan tanging ako lang at ni aewa ang nandito

"She deserve to replaced me, i was been so harsh and almost killed her that day and now-- I'm ashame of myself "-she chuckles with a mixture of embarrassment and shame radiated off her.She glanced back to kamuma "I'm sorry chief kamuma. I really am"

"Apology accepted Chieftain katuka"-said she with humility on her tone

Lady katuka bowed at her presence and leaned on me "I oath to protect this ruby away from bandits and any hunters to steal it from us. It tooks hundred years when our ancestors found it and gave life to our clan. It gives us food and shelter without it we must kill each other in order to survive"

"I'm sorry to hear that. But we came here not for the ruby. May hinahanap kaming mahalagang bagay--"

"And whats that? Is it that important"

"Yes. And darkness spreading across etheria. This children are no mere normal. Their deities of our land--"

Mukhang nasopresa naman ang lady chief sa kanyang narinig at pati siya lumuhod sa harap ng mga bata na nagtatago sa likuran ko. Umiyak siya sa kasalanang nagawa niyang paghuli at muntikang saktan ang mga ito. Pinatayo kolang siya at di siya makatingin ng diretso sa mga bata. Pero niyakap kolang siya. Hindi naman niya kasalanan dahil nagawa niya lang iyon para protektahan ang kanyang nasasakupan. Di rin nagtagal ay umalis kami at natuwa siya sa paghalik ng mga bata sa kanyang pisnge. Lady kamuma embrace me for the last time.

"If you ever needed me. I'll be there ela. Don't forget me okay"-her last word before we left the tribe and wave her goodbye.