"Are we close?" Keiko asked. She was hugging Makaskas's left arm as they walked the tunnel.
"We'll be out of here soon," Makaskas answered.
Hanabi was slightly ahead of Makaskas, looking back at them when she went too far. As they entered from one tunnel to another, the luminous crystals decreased in number and the winter chill was slowly reintroducing itself to them. Hanabi then retreated to Makaskas's vacant side and grabbed his arm for comfort when the paths became too dark.
Makaskas placed his full trust on the crow, Itohm, which made him feel a bit ridiculous. However, he constantly had to remind himself that Itohm was a shadow familiar and its avian visage was nothing but a temporal form. Makaskas was not fully aware of what abilities familiars possessed. He was more knowledgeable about their purpose than that of their nature since Maalon detested the North's deathly magic. The Maalonians were the only people of the five kingdoms to refrain teaching exorcism but instead used their godkissed people in the art of mystical healing called Avolario which the other four kingdoms adapted.
They had kept walking the entire length of the tunnel, with barely any more crystals to light their way. Itohm's squawks grew louder as Makaskas and the two children approached.
The crow was perched on a bulging stone from the wall, looking at Makaskas instead of the way in front of them. Makaskas stepped forward which set the crow flying in front of Makaskas, blocking his path.
"Is there something wrong?" Makaskas asked and extended his arm so Itohm could land on it. "What are you trying to say?" Makaskas leaned forward. When he was close enough, Itohm pecked his forehead once and a vision bared inside Makaskas's mind.
Past where they stood was a slope that lead to a current of water. It flowed to a river which seemed to be the only exit from the labyrinthine dungeon, however, the passage was barred with iron.
Makaskas bent down and had Itohm transfer to his shoulder. The clouded leopard gathered the children in front of him and knelt so he could see them eye to eye.
"Hanabi, Keiko. We are going to get out of here," he said to them carefully. "Heed my words strictly. We are going down the water."
Both children nodded their heads strongly from side to side.
"I know it will be dangerous which is why we need to help each other," Makaskas said and placed his hands on their cheeks, one for each. "The water is cold and it will be colder once we emerge but the real danger lies in the path of our exit. There are…" he paused, thinking of a way to euphemize the next part of his sentence but came up empty, "There are bad monsters out there who would take us if we're not careful. We do not want that. So do as I say and we should be safe."
Makaskas got up and walked to the edge where the path ended and the slope began.
"It's not steep. Come," he called the children.
Hanabi and Keiko took slow steps toward him and waited for Makaskas to get down before following. Makaskas had no trouble maneuvering in the dark but he wasn't so sure about the children so he made sure to guide each and every step they took.
When they were finally down, they grimaced at the first contact with shallow water. They were barely dry from the earlier submersion and they were about to get wet once more. Ice formed on the rocky corners where the water had stuck but the current was strong enough to resist the freeze.
Makaskas looked ahead of them where the light pierced through the barred exit. The gaps should be wide enough for them to squeeze through. After all, whatever those bars tried to keep inside was certainly not humans or any of the Guren.
"Let's go." Makaskas waded through the water. "Be quick or this water would kill us before any of the wolves do."
Makaskas swam until his feet could no longer kick the bottom. He turned behind him to Keiko and Hanabi who were shivering as they followed him to the deep. Makaskas reached his hand and pulled the children one by one close to him and they all swam farther until the current swept them toward the exit.
They fought to stay afloat. The children's hands were taught against Makaskas's remaining article of clothing, paddling with their hands, trying desperately as much to keep their heads above water.
The current became faster and it was much more difficult to keep sight of what lied ahead. Makaskas had to struggle twice as hard as he would be the one to brace the impact against the iron bars before they could squeeze themselves through. There was no word or warning when Makaskas felt the impact shake him. A breath escaped his lungs and was followed by a mouthful of icy water. Then he felt the children's grapple on his body.
Makaskas cupped the iron bars while holding his breath and carefully, he passed the children to hold on to it. First Keiko and then Hanabi. Once the children were securely gripping the bars, they had no trouble fitting through the gap. Their next struggle was keeping themselves from getting dragged by the current.
Makaskas had to suck in a lungful of air and forcefully push himself through before he was able to exit.
"Keiko, Hanabi," Makaskas raised his voice, fighting against the sound of water splashing against them. "When I let go, count to three and follow." Makaskas did not wait for a reply. The moment he eased his grip, the current pulled him. He tumbled twice underneath the water's surface but he directed himself as quickly as he could. He resurfaced, eyes bared wide and it burned with the wet and cold. He could not spare a second to wipe his vision clear but instead used that time in spotting the children.
Keiko was the first to near Makaskas's vicinity. He quickly intercepted Keiko and wrapped the young girl's arms around his neck. Then he looked back for Hanabi but she was no longer behind him.
"Hanabi!" Makaskas yelled, no longer cautious of what he might alert.
Keiko was coughing out water. "T-there…" she said with much effort. She pointed her finger to the far length of the river and Makaskas saw only Hanabi's hand bulging out of the water.
"Hold on tight," Makaskas said to Keiko and paddled with the current. Makaskas felt the burn of his muscles with each overexerted motion and the numbing bite of the cold on the surface of his skin. He could not bear to imagine how the children received the same suffering.
"Hanabi!" Makaskas called when he could no longer see any part of the little girl.
Then right in front of him, there emerged a pale hand. Makaskas immediately pulled it up to the surface and Hanabi arose in a desperate gasp for air and misty coughs.
"You're okay," Makaskas said, "Just a while more…we'll be out of here soon."
Makaskas felt the repercussion of his actions finally catch up to him. He felt lightheaded and numb. The sensations inside his body were slowly fading, turning calm like the river as they flowed further along its path. He looked around them but could not recognize whether they had already passed Shinsou's dungeons or not. He barely felt Keiko and Hanabi's cling to him. His head sunk deeper into the water, the fizz of bubbles rung inside his ears as it bobbed over and under the surface. The last he had seen was the pale sky turning silver in his hazing vision.
~
Something cool permeated the burns of Makaskas's skin. The air around him was warm and rich with the aroma of eucalyptus and pork broth. He instinctively got up, supporting the weight of his upper body with both arms anchoring his weight. A piercing headache struck him behind the eyes and crawled to the back of his head, squeezing his brain. When the pain stopped, a high pitched ringing inside his ears followed. After it had cleared, he began to notice the melody of plucking strings in the background.
Makaskas looked around, groaning with each subtle action he made. He caught sight of a steaming bowl of noodles placed on a tray at arm's reach from where he sat. It was accompanied by two pork buns and a cup of maccha. Makaskas resisted the temptation despite the demanding urge in his stomach. His hands instinctively reached to his hip where his dagger was attached on a harness but the weapon was not with him.
Makaskas stood up and the blanket fell to his feet revealing not only the absence of his weapon but his trousers as well. He stepped out of the futon and on to the matted floorboards where sheets of bandages fell from his wounds.
The melody stopped and it became eerily quiet.
At the edge of the room, a sliding door parted revealing a white wolf, robed in a pink kimono with prints of cherry blossoms. She had a lotus ornament between her right ear and eyes that were darker than blood. She carried the thirteen stringed koto like an infant, staring at Makaskas emptily.
"Where am I?" Makaskas bared his fangs.
The wolf entered and closed the sliding door behind her, placing the instrument at the corner of the room where Makaskas saw his hilt and dagger upright. He projected a growl when the wolf came close to his weapon and lowered his stance, preparing to pounce should the need ever arise.
"Yofune," the wolf said without turning to Makaskas. She set aside her instrument delicately, running her hand on its varnished surface.
The clouded leopard cursed under his breath. He was in Shinsou's village.
"Hand me my dagger," Makaskas commanded.
The wolf looked over her shoulder. "Is that all you need?"
Makaskas did not wait a minute longer. He marched toward the wolf and grabbed his weapon. Then he remembered.
"Where are the children?" he asked.
"Children?" the wolf returned. "What children?"
Makaskas opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself before any words could come out. He did not want to risk the children if the wolf truly did not know what he was asking about.
"Where did you put my trousers?" he asked.
"I put it out to dry but wait—"
Makaskas did not wait for the wolf to finish but instead went to the door where he saw the wolf enter. He slid it open, hoping to grab his trousers quickly and be on his way but instead, he stopped as tens of wolves were shocked to see him. Some choked on their noodles and some were completely mortified.
Makaskas closed the sliding door in one swift swing and took a few steps back.
The wolf from earlier was laughing uncontrollably.
"Are you still in a hurry after that?" she asked after getting a hold of herself. "That ought to teach you from your bad manners."
"I have no time for your tricks. Hand me my trousers and I'll be on my way."
The wolf approached Makaskas, face smug. "You're very ungrateful, do you know that? I drag you here and tend to your wounds. It's not enough that I don't even get a simple bow but you act like abducted you." She looked at Makaskas head-down. "It's not like there's anything to gain."
Makaskas sighed. "I'm sorry, Miss. I am very grateful that you saved my life. May I please have my pants now?"
The wolf smiled. "Lady Eika. I've always wanted to be addressed like nobility."
Makaskas rolled his eyes. "Lady Eika. Please hand me my pants. Thank you."
"It shall be done. Wait here for a second," Eika said and went out of the door to retrieve Makaskas's trousers.
Makaskas sat back on the futon, rubbing his temples. How could he have lost the children? He was sure that the children were alive somewhere. Otherwise, Eika would have found them with him unless…
Makaskas waited. When Eika returned with Makaskas's newly washed trousers, he slipped the question.
"Lady Eika," Makaskas said. "Do you remember the time you crossed?"
Eika handed the pants to Makaskas. "Oh, I didn't cross," she said. "I'm second generation. I was born here in Yofune village."
Makaskas had an epiphany of Eika's naivety. "So you're twenty years old at most," Makaskas guessed. He was relieved that Eika didn't consume the children.
"I'm turning eighteen on the next full moon," she said.
Makaskas did not ask any more questions after that. He wore his pants and fastened the harness around his waist.
"You still haven't eaten yet," Eika said.
"I'm not hungry," Makaskas replied but his stomach grumbled loud enough to reveal that he was lying. "I shall be going now."
"Wait, I still haven't gotten your name," Eika said.
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does," Eika said firmly. "At least let me know the name of the leopard I dragged all the way back here. Did you know that I got into a quarrel with my father because of you?"
"Hikikomori," Makaskas said.
Eika's face went blank. "Do you think I'm stupid?" she asked.
Makaskas swallowed. "Why would I lie about my name? You asked and I told you. Hikikomori is my name."
Eika folded her arms. "Firstly, if you're going to lie to an Easterner, try to use other names than 'shut-in'. Secondly, there are no clouded leopards in Hatsukochi which brings me to my third point. Your possession of a B'koli blade and your strange accent. Besides, if you were native to Hatsukochi and your name is Hikikomori, you would have spoken with me on the Eastern tongue and tried to hide that your name was Hikikomori."
Makaskas could not hold back the smile. "You're right in that you are not stupid. I've been to Kumokage and Yofuchi as Hikikomori and none of them ever brought up those fine points."
"Perhaps they just did not want to be rude," Eika corrected. "So, what's your real name?"
Makaskas sighed. He looked at Eika, trying to come up with another lie. "Halawig," he answered after a while.
Eika raised a brow.
"What is it this time?" Makaskas groaned.
"You took too long in coming up with that name. And to do it right in front of me. Do you really take me for a fool?"
"Makaskas," he said truthfully this time. "And that's all you need to know about me."
Eika seemed to believe Makaskas as the wolf finally stopped rambling.
"I'll be going now. Farewell, Lady Eika," Makaskas bade.
"Makaskas," Eika said just feeling the echo of syllables on her tongue.
Makaskas stopped and turned to Eika but after realizing that the wolf was merely playing with the sound of his name, he began walking again.
"Makaskas," Eika called. This time, she meant it. "You still haven't touched your food."
Makaskas stopped being interested and was just about to head for the door.
"Don't you want to know how I found you?" Eika asked.
Makaskas froze on his spot. There's a possibility that he might know the children's location. He turned to Eika. The white wolf was already sitting beside the futon where Makaskas previously lay, patting the vacant area.
"I'll tell you if you eat the food I prepared. Don't get me wrong. I merely don't want this food to be wasted."
Makaskas sighed in defeat and walked back to the futon. He sat down, took the tray and began eating.
Eika was smiling smugly. "It's not poisoned if that's the reason why you didn't want to eat in the first place," she said and then added after a while, "Or is it?"
Makaskas paused eating.
Eika chuckled. "I'm just joking. Here, I'll take a bite of the pork bun and show you it's okay." She demonstrated by taking a chunk out of the bun and swallowing the morsel in front of Makaskas.
"You promised to tell me how you found me," Makaskas reminded.
"Did I?"
Makaskas eyed her sternly.
Eika chuckled again. "Okay. Patience. I was heading back home from the market earlier this morning. Last night was Lord Suirou's name day celebration so most of the town would be asleep until later morning. I decided to take advantage of the lesser than usual crowd to strike fair bargain. On my way back, I saw a floating blue light by the bridge. It seemed like it wanted me to follow it. So I dud. And obviously, it lead me to you otherwise you and I wouldn't be here. You were almost frozen to death by the riverbank had it not been for that blue flame that circled above your unconscious body and the other one that lead me to you."
Fox spirits, Makaskas thought. He stopped eating completely and placed the tray back on the floor. He had speculations but he did not want to believe it.
Keiko...Hanabi…both of them couldn't have been—no, Makaskas stopped himself. He'll find the two children himself and prove his guess wrong.
"Makaskas?" Eika snapped her fingers.
Makaskas shook his head and got up. "I really have to go now." Makaskas bowed to Eika. "Thank you for the meal and thank you for taking care of me."
Eika reached her hand toward Makaskas, hoping to stop him but she had no more words that could keep the leopard. Makaskas exited the door and he was gone as quickly as he had come.