Maia's POV
"And he didn't leave one for any of us." Spoke the young wolf who settled beside me along with the others.
"Good that I don't need to lift my my paws then." Agreed the other younger one.
The three from Black Lilies seemed more entranced as they witnessed something for the first time. I guess they didn't see their Alpha do such stunt before.
I returned my eyes to Hunter who helped Layla stood up on her feet but he shook his head when she collapsed back to the ground instead.
"I'll carry you." He said which made Layla's face fell but then nodded in agreement with him.
When Hunter came to our direction with Layla on his arms, all of us turned to our human form.
"Search the whole area to see if there's more of them." He instructed to us.
I looked at Layla who appeared to be really in pain.
"I'm fine." she said in response to my inquiring look.
"We'll talk after this." I said grudgingly which she only just dismiss with a chuckle.
"Can you help the injured animals first? Simon and Rolex are badly injured. The mother squirrel too is in distress."
I could see that Layla was trying so hard to stay awake but I grabbed her hand and squeezed them.
"I'll treat them. For now, try to recover because I still need to smack your stubborn ass." I said.
"Alright but be easy on me, Maia." Layla said with a forced smile and finally giving in to the tiredness of her body.
I ushered both Hunter and Layla with my eyes as they both disappeared into the heart of the forest. That made me wondered.
"I think that's not the direction of the exit of the forest." I mumbled.
"They're heading at the circlet of genus."
I blinked in pure dumbfounded expression. "Excuse me, where?"
"The circlet." The man that Hunter came in with said with a grin. I couldn't concentrate on how he handsome he was due to the place that Hunter was bringing my friend. "Is he out of his damn mind?"
The man's grin became wider as if entertain of my astonishment. No, not astonishment. I was pretty sure I exhibit horror on my face but this man seem too dense to see it.
"They'll be fine. Don't worry. Hakyi knows what he's doing." The man said and went on to join his pack when they called for him.
I heard the call him Nin or Nine or whatever. I couldn't care much since I got all my thoughts fixed to Layla who will soon wake up in a circlet of genus, a lake famous for its horrifying legends. Those who were braved enough to go there weren't around anymore to tell the tales.
Why would Hunter bring my weakened friend there?
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Layla's POV:
I felt like floating in cold water, swaying me in gentle waves, pulling me further into deep oblivion. The event in the forest became a distant memory for me. As if everything didn't matter to me that very moment.
Then I felt a warm hand caressing my cheek gently. My brows twitched in wonder as I forced myself to open my eyes. The first thing that greeted me was a large tree, having vines falling from its top then to the body of water. My brows twitched in confusion.
Hold up. Water?
I hastily looked down, realizing that I was in the water.
My heartbeat quickened as I tried getting off from there, fully aware that such place was known for its legends for taking away unsuspecting people into its depth to drown. Some even suspected it was infested with sirens who enticed people with their beautiful voices, beckoning them into their own death.
Why the hell am I even here?
"Stop moving, pumpkin. You're still not fully recovered."
I turned my head to the right side, enough to see half of Hunter's face, hovering from behind me. I then noticed that he was securing me with his arms around my waist.
"W-what are we doing here?" I can't help but stuttered as I darted my eyes from every direction of the water we were both half submerged. Though there was no imminent threat in such peaceful state, but I can't help but be absorbed with the legends I learned from school.
"It's fine. The water's a cure."
"What? Are you crazy? Haven't you heard about this part of the forest? This particular lake?" I asked in low voice but I know my point was already accentuated enough for us to get us out from there.
Instead of panicking, Hunter had the audacity to chuckle at our situation. "There's no need to fear, Lala. I got you."
"People was said to drown here and never to be found, Hunner!"
"Shh. Stay still. I'm still not done here."
"W-what were you doing while I'm unconscious? I'm injured as it is and it hurt the devil and you're doing something unacceptable for all I know."
Hunter raised his brows to me with a playful smirk on his face. "I like what your mind is leading you right now but I hate to burst it to you, I ain't doing any of that." He assured and shifted my position into facing him.
"T-this is a very compromising position." I muttered.
"I'm checking something." He said and proceeded into inspecting my face down my neck. "Tell me, are you still feeling any pain."
"Ofcourse I feel-" I stopped when I twirled my arm and no sharp pain came. The same with my spine which I thought I broke when I was hauled by the orc."Wait, this is not right. How many days I was out again?"
"It's midnight. Basically hours later after the event.You passed out." He answered.
"Then h-how you explain the disappearance of pain on my body?"
"I reckon you're not feeling anymore pain base on your question." He said and started to lead me out the water.
"W-wait. I don't understand." I yelped in surprise when he lifted me up the ground and placed me down to a brown hammock under a big old tree.
"Dry yourself first. It's getting cold out here and for a reason." Hunter only said, handing me a towel and a spare clothes.