Chapter 34: Glimpse of Fate

Along with the watchers, she was imprisoned there for a long time before Egypt established its civilization. The leader's daughter was obsessed with her ability and found Dudael interesting. And when she saw it a few miles from Canaan, she freed her and possessed her in the process. Ursula knew that our tribe was the last remaining shaman, and we would hinder her plan, so she killed us by making the three monsters who were once a watcher and molding them into her slaves. Our leader has been calling out for you since you were the only one who can imprison Ursula back to where she came from," he translated his leader's words for me.

Upon hearing this, I became confused.

"Why me? I'm just a shepherd?" I answered him back.

"Because your ancestors are the ones who imprisoned her to the Dudael. You're the last one that the wolf spirit guarding the Dudael listens to, who's currently sleeping. Wake him up and tell him what I told you," he said.

"I'm what?"

"A wolf whisperer," he repeated.

"Please, do this for everyone. If we can't imprison Ursula again, she will kill everyone here and the future generations," the old man begged me.

"Where can I find her?" I asked him.

"In Dudael's. She has been trying to summon more of her kin."

Armed with a single dagger and a sheet of the spell, my loyal dog and I started our journey after. But when we were miles away from the tribe, I forgot to ask the old man how I could summon the wolf spirit in the Dudael. I was beginning to make my way back when my dog started to bark. I looked in the direction where he was looking, and I saw someone lying down in the desert. My dog and I hurriedly ran to help whoever it was.

I was shocked when I saw that it was a kid from the tribe I've been into. In her hand, she was holding a parchment paper folded neatly.

"W-water," she said hoarsely.

I immediately gave her water and then helped her walk to the tent I made beside a large rock. I also gave her some food to ensure that she would regain her strength.

Around midnight when she woke up and was so terrified.

"What happened to you, little girl?" I asked her.

"Few days after you left, Ursula attacked us. She demanded the chief surrender you to her, but the chief declined it, and he never said anything about you. Ursula was so angry, and she attacked us. Father made my escape, and with this," she replied with tears. "I want to go back, but father told me that we will all die if I do," she added while sobbing.

She then gave me the parchment paper. Written on that paper is the step to waking up the sleeping wolf. It needed the blood of someone who guarded the Dudael thousands of years ago. The sun hadn't risen yet when I began walking with the young girl and my dog. I can't leave the girl alone, especially when she's the only one in that tribe.

I don't have any choice but to bring her along with me.

We encountered storms and calamities upon getting nearer to the prison's location, but that didn't stop us. One night when we were in the middle of sleeping, my dog suddenly became agitated, but he didn't bark. He keeps on whimpering on my side until I wake up.

"What's the matter, boy?" I asked him.

He then pointed his head towards the direction where I heard some footsteps and growls. My instinct kicked in, and I immediately woke the girl up and grabbed all our things before hiding away. The moon shines so bright that it makes me see the whole desert. Luckily, I saw a large crack on the large stone that probably started to break and become a part of the desert sand. Lucky for us, it fits the three of us and our things. I embraced my dog, hoping for him to keep quiet as the girl wrapped herself with her arms and shut her mouth. A few minutes after we managed to hide, the growls and the sound of footsteps stopped where we slept.

"Sniff them!" I heard a woman commanding her company.

We heard howls and then a sudden break of footprints like they were going in different directions.

Two of them stopped just above us, sniffing the air as if they were trying to smell our scent, my heartbeat so fast that I thought it would explode inside my heart, and I could almost see the two hands of the animal above us. The only thing that bothers me is why can't they smell our scent. If this monster could look down, they would see us. But it didn't happen. Aside from the saliva dripping on us, they walk away after howling.

We sighed in relief. For a few minutes, we waited after they left.

"I sprayed us some perfume to hide our scent," the little girl said. "My father told me that I have to use it in case of emergency," she added after we came out of where we were hiding.

"Those monsters are chasing us," I said to her as we began to walk. We used the map the old man gave me to follow the trail of our destination.

I was immersed in reading the book when I heard a few murmurs. At first, I wasn't bothered about it until I heard a whimper. My ears are more sensitive than my pack's, so I took the book and the dagger to my safety lock that no one knew. After securing it, I opened the window to see if I heard right.

I heard whimpers again.

What the heck was that?

I jumped from the window and landed on the ground without a sound. The night is quiet. I can see the moon's light and the trees that weren't disturbed by winds.