CHAPTER 15- LA NEOMPA

N A E A ••P●V••

I felt uneasy for her condition. I had no idea that she was actually the one were looking for. Negligence upon leaving my stuff and even lost my map for my carelessness when we accidentally fell into that underground cave. And now we almost kill her. The arrow penetrated deep in her shoulders. Thankfully it's just her shoulder.

Arrow injuries are classified as low velocity but can be life-threatening, especially when the vital organs are affected. "Oh Aewa do hurry!" I'm getting anxious. "We're sorry hanako"

The severity and extent of the injury depend on the range at which the arrow is fired, As the wound completely healed  but she still won't in range of fear. Her grip tightened onto the material of Aewa's clothes so tight, it almost like she'll rip it.

"Hanako?"i gently pat her head and she flinched in fear and buried her head on his chest

"Don't! You hurt me"

Komori reach out and trying to plea. I just pat her head "Were sorry hanako we though--"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"-sigaw niya at kumaripas ng takbo. We followed her or she'll hurt herself. She pick a stick and trying to scare us away even her fellow deities.  "Both of you are Traitor! You show your identity to selfish human see they hurt me--"she didn't continue and plan to attack and burning sensation came out rising on my face as she slapped my buttocks. I steam in embarrassment when Nyne saw me. She kick ela and punch Nyne's legs. "Stupid giant!"

Nyne grab her like a kitten and she still punching him, she can't even reach his face and she plan to kick him but her legs is too short. Sumigaw ng sigaw lang ito at napiyok. Natawa lang ako pero pinigilan ko. She growl on the back of her throat and reach for a branch above her hand.

"Stupid giants!!" Sigaw niya at pinukpok parin si nyne sa ulo at nang maubos itong nabali sinuntok suntok niya sa mukha. I'm so proud of nyne's patients.

"She's out"-said nyne in a low monotone.

Napahagok lang ito and sucking her thumb. Nyne sat down and the kids are happy to see her and pat her head and they kiss her forehead. "Sleepy hanako"-said jamai, resting her palm on her cheeks--blushing.

I can't resist those cute voice and their chubby cheeks. As if sarap nilang kurot kurotin basta ang cute talaga lalo na yung mga lakad nila. Parang penquin sabayan pa nila ng kaunting lukso. Hanako is a sleepy one. A jaguar.

Jamai is a shy type baby who turns into a mushroom and komori a phenomenal being turn into a normal kid. Naglalakad lang kame at dala dala nina Aewa at Ela ang mga bata, kami lang tatlo yung wala. I heard the tummy rumble and the kids are hungry.

We have stop on a pond and hanako following him. He felt awful nang madumihan niya ang dyosa ng yakapin siya nito habang naliligo siya sa putikan. He wash his hand first at pinaliguan muna ang dyosa. The pond is safe they check it. The sensation of them was slowly turning normal. As if like their slowly loosing their goddesses bodies.

After that he take a long bath. I have no idea. What happen to him? Ela seems drag down or parang may nakaaway na hayop dahil sa gusot niyang suot. Napansin ko rin na natuyo nalang ako ng di ko napapansin hinilom naman ni aewa ang sugat ni spike nung mahulog kame sa kweba.

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Nag ihaw din agad si aewa ng isda kakatapos niya lang nagsaing. Even a simple meal he can make them delicious like the ones cooked in a restaurant. Such talents I'm envy "KAIN NA!"-tawag niya at pumalibot na kame at kumain. Umupo naman si hanako sa lap ng nyne at nagpasubo. Para siyang ama ni hanako and he's natural. Ang cute nilang pagmasdan pano kaya kung anak namin si hanako hahahaha.

"HOY!"-napabalik ako sa realidad ng sikmuhin ako ni spike. Gagi nawala pala ako sa sarili. Nakatingin silang lahat sakin at nagsorry lang ako at sumubo ng kanin.

Matagal na rin akong kalahok pero I was too young and I barely joined bounty if they have a mission because they always remind me that I'm too young for adventure. Hintay nalang if I have come of age.

My mom dream was to be a huntress to joined the hunter game. But I joined to fullfil her dream. It not just because of fame but this also help me for my future. Bounty got it's fame and renamed itself as the eagle of huntress. Which they surpasses all the skilled hunter for their hardwork and dedications. My mom passed away when I was 15.

I was lost in a void but a light shine and came to me, reaching a hand. There, I met our leader Anirfa. She had found me wondered on a cemetery for many days. Dying-feeling the world against me. I had no one tapos nawala pa si mama sakin. Napakasakit tanggapin sa punto na parang gusto ko naring magpakamatay dahil ano pa bang purposed ko sa buhay. Wala na akong tahanan pinalayas narin ako dahil wala na akong mabayaran. Ulan lang ang tanging tubig ko dahil hindi na ako umaalis sa puntod ni mama.

Pinakilala ako ni master anirfa sa mga bounty at twenty lang sila pero may katandaan na ng iba. Anirfa never hesitate to adopt me so sad because i didn't even met his father captain Ali. All was left was his book. Our master's ancestor was a voyagers and they travel gaivera and made a map and also before i turn 17 she gave me half of her extract and that's how i got two abilities. She shared me her night vision and strenght and i thank her for that.

She loves me and her guild she even passed her sleep and taking a look out on the tower; to guard the guild at night. Tanging ako si Spike at mavion ang bata samin. Nakilala ko si Spike dahil sa kanyang aktibong galing sa paggamit ng kunai, samurai at pana. She's good at any weapon sabi rin sakin ni Anirfa isa siyang assassin noon pero nang magkilala sila she desperately joined the bounty. Nauna si spike tapos ako bago si Navion. Tatlo lang kame ang tanging naiiwan sa guild namin. Marami kaming memories pero ganon din ang nangyari.

Everything wasted away. Maraming sumuko at namatay na bounty kasama na ang leader namin si anirfa.  Misteryoso sakin ang pagkamatay niya dahil di na namin natagpuan ang bangkay niya. Naglaho na parang bula ang bounty at gumuho na ang aming guild even our beloved flag burn down to ashes. Navion leave us at sumama sa viper. Since anirfa left us. We had nothing. It just unexpected and i still couldnt move on.

Spike almost leave me but she didn't. Taas noo ko paring mamahalin ang bounty ket kaunti nalang kame ang kumakapit. At ngayon nasa punto na kami ng pagwawakas ng grupong ito. Hindi ko rin maibabalik ang pangalan ni anirfa. Kaya hindi pwede, di pa pwedeng sumuko.

Kaya through these day buhay parin ang bounty. Wala ngang impossible hangga't di kapa susuko Kailangan nalang naming matapos itong mission. Maiibabalik na rin samin ang dating agila ng hunter sa kasaysayan and bring back Anirfa's name in history and bring our honor to our ruin guild. And for my mom too. As promise

I had gone to jaffa and ask a bank for a ship at babayaran ko ito kapag marami na akong maipon na gold at salamat naman sa tulong ni spike at ram. Sumama si ram samin dahil gusto niyang mag adventure at tinanggap ko agad siya dahil nakikita ko na itong lalake na ito tatagal sa grupo at hindi siya tatraydor at iiwan kame na ginawa ni navion. His desperation wins my trust.

Naglalayag kame ng buong etheria at nakilala ko si nyne ng dumaan ang isang royal ship na kasama ang apat na prinsesa ng jaffa mukhang papauwi na sila galing sa devion empire. Lahat sila may takip sa ulo, tanging mata at kamay lang nila ang nakikita ko balot na balot talaga.  May isang prinsesa ring lumingon samin at nakakulay pula siya lahat at sakit nga sa mata. I saw the princess hand gesture us at napabow kami sa sinabi niya.

Bring back what once lost. The eagle will rise back. You have a heart of a hunter, dare fight the cause of chaos who ruin your dignity.

As your leader my fate depends on you now.

E LA R I E N ••P●V••

Nasarapan talaga ang mga bata sa niluto ni aewa. They take a nibble on the food so adorable. Si Hanako napaka tamad na deity gusto niya talagang sinusubuan siya. "M-mommy!"-tawag ni komori na sumisinok, nabulunan. Inabutan ko siya ng tubig at nag agawan naman sila ni jamai.

"MINE!"

"NO! MINE"

I take the bottle of water away from them and they began to hit tantrums, I freaked out all of a sudden but thankfully Ram save the day and gave them each glass of water.

After that we have continued our journey and its sunsets already and we must get out of the amazon before it gets dark because we can never know what wild animals could attack us in our sleep. Woods is a place of wild life not for human habitat. It's uneasy for me to sleep in the woods because we have kids with us.

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We've gone into a deserted place.I saw a sign written. Welcome to LA NEOMPA. Naea took her map and I take a peeped look. It is around, 1, 208, 764 square miles/ 3, 130, 684 sq. km in size and is covered in massive dunes. It has existed for thousands of years and is showing a little change in size. It is home to some hardy plants and animals and flowing water can be found in one oasis near the edge of the dessert.

"The arena of hunters. So this is the place. Where have you been on my life!" Naea said in full of excitement on her voice. Pero bukon dun napailing ako sa nakita kong tatsulok na cemento pero nakabaliktad. Maraming rin mga tahanan dun. Nakakapagtaka na bat nakalutang ito kaunti sa lupa.

"Its the arena of hunters which have been visited by our late leader and they said that only few wins the battle"-said Ram. Mukhang alam na alam niya talaga base palang sa pagsasalita at expression niya "I know a place to take shelter. A tavern here was my uncle's"

"You've been here?"-walang kaideyang tanong ng iba kong kasamahan and he scratch his nape "How come you didn't told us before?"

"Basta"

"Maganda rito mag ensayo dito. To practice our abilities against other huntress and hunter diba" said spike

"Pero matagal narin akong di nakabisita rito since I became a bounty i'm sorry guys."

"Duh! Its fine"

"Nagbounty ako dahil lagi akong lasing dyan kasama si tito. Lalo na kung pupunta ang mga kaibigan niya. Lagi akong sabog sa alak"

I overheard there conversation but my attention is on La neompa. This place is dead for me. No source of life can be seen how can they even survive these climates? I saw ten camels with mercenaries on them, carrying barrel. Nakarating nadin kame at napatinghala ako sa napakataas na hagdanan. Nagsiakyatan na sila at may biglang dumaan sa tabi ko na muntikan ko pang ika bagsak. Nasalo niya agad ako at nahulog ang kanyang dalang gamit. Pinauna ko na sila sa taas 

He sighed in disappointment and pick up his things at tumulong din ako. Nabitawan ko naman ang isang bagay na nahawakan ko ng may tumusok sa daliri ko. Pinalabas kolang ang dugo at kinuha ni aewa yung kamay ko at bilis niyang sinipsip. Akto namang nagtagpo ang kanilang sandata habang nakatingin sakin si aewa. Tinulak niya yung lalake gamit ang kanyang spada at napaatras naman ito at humarap siya sa lalake habang tinatago ako sa likuran niya.

"Hmp sayang. Why can you always so lucky to survived fresh bounty!"-inis na sigaw nito at nalinawan ako sa aking narinig. Siya yung taong muntikan akong patayin. I quickly draw my dart but aewa tried to hide me from his back.

Pero nagmatigas ako dahil gusto ko siyang tulungan pero napapikit ako sa biglaang pagtunog ng kanilang sandata at napalayo ako. Diko halos makita sila ng malinawan sa bilis nilang kumilos. I've never seen aewa fought like this before.

"Ela go now!"-sigaw niya at nagdadalawang isip lang akong umalis. I can't just leave him there. "I said go!"-sigaw niya at napatakbo ako sa taas at nakita ko ang pagdaan ng spada saking harap at mabuting nailagan ko ito. Natakot ako sa pagtarak nito sa cemento dahil nawasak sa lakas.

Inalis ko ang spada habang patuloy silang naglalaban. I pulled as hard as i could at napaupo ako at muntikan pa akong mahulog pero nakuha ko paring mahawakan ang gitling ng hagdan at pinagpawisan ako ng husto sa takot at bigat ko. I tried to reach my foot to help myself.

"Reach my hand! Hurry!"-agad kong inabot ang kamay niya at tinulak niya ako ng biglaang pag atake ng lalake at naputolan ako ng kaunting buhok. Umiwas ako sa mga atake nila at balak kong tyempuhan ang lalake hanggang sa humarap ito at bilis ko siyang hinampas ng malakasang sipa napasighap ako sa bigla ng bumagsak siya at napapikit ako sa bagbagsak niya sa lupa.

I rush down and his trying to get up but he fracture his back. Aewa hold my hand and secretly put the dart on me. And draw the dart at the man whose to weak to move. I pulled it away fast and stop Aewa for. I don't want to see blood. "Aewa stop!"

"Trust me or he'll die"-iniabot ni Aewa ang dart sa lalake at pareho naming hawak iyon. May liwanag na sumanib sa dart ko at lumisan naman ang katawan ng lalake na kinatakot ko.

"Aew--"

"He surrendered. His lost in a game. don't worry his home. Alam mo naman na were in a game, hunters against hunter. Power is power who ever looses and surrender their power will possessed you and upgrading your skill. Wag ka mag alala he's already gone home with a bags of cash and gold he'll be rich. He'll joined next lunar eclipse"

"So if you surrender may kabayaran rin yun?diba gusto nyong may gold kayo diba ganon yung trabaho nyo? So why can't you just surrender? "

I heard a small laughed but it looks like mocking me. I just sneered at him and pinch my nose "I just don't baguhan ka nga talaga. This power will help millions of lives Ela. Including the life of what's important for me even you. And I'm not foolish enough to waste it away. What's mine is mine. I'll protect the thing that is precious to me.."-I was so stun by his words. Its like a flowers rain down on me. I was loose in his sweet words medyo corny pero nakuha niya akong kiniligin

"Corny mo"

"Atleast kinilig ka naman. Our babies are waiting lets go"

"R--right"-hinawakan niya lang ang kamay ko at umakyat na kame. Madilim na pero mabuting may lampara sa tabi ng stairs pero nakakatakot dahil kung mahulog ka diretso kang kabaong.