"Is it Amir?" Yuki studied Treyton's face. She did not let the subtle changes in his expression escape her.
Treyton's silence confirmed her suspicions. Amir looked truly too sickly, but Yuki had no idea that he was dying, not when he gave off such a positive energy. Not when his eyes seemed so…alive.
"He cannot die. I will save him; I should," Treyton's tone was firm and decisive.
"What does he suffer from?" Yuki was very curious to know just what kind of sickness it was that her godfather's genius son, whose medical skills was popular even in Echt could not cure. She was sure that if the disease was curable, her godfather could have helped in its treatment even if his son could not. But since neither the father nor son could help, it seemed Amir would inevitably die. What once in a lifetime miracle was he on about then?
Immediately Yuki got out of her head and gained full control of her consciousness, a strange sense of fear gripped her. Visible goosebumps emerged on her arms while a strange chill took possession of her body. When Yuki glanced in Treyton's direction; she froze.
Treyton wore an expression Yuki had never seen on him. His jaw was clenched tightly. His brows were knitted, while his eyes, that Yuki always thought were pretty, were now dyed with such murderous intent, it made Yuki shudder.
He was not looking at Yuki; he clearly was looking at nothing in particular. Yuki tried to call him, she wanted to break his trance-like condition, but when she parted her lips to speak, they trembled and her words clung to her vocal tract, shaking and refusing to leave her mouth.
"Treyton!" Beckett shouted and raced to Treyton's side. He hesitated when he reached the place Treyton laid. Both his hands quivered as he tried to touch Treyton. "Hey!" he yelled in a panicked tone.
Jacek had followed Beckett back to the others without a clue about what was happening. As soon as he noticed Yuki's petrified state, he panicked as well. Jacek raced to Yuki's side and pulled her into his arms. She was trembling. He asked her nothing. She did not look like she could speak anyway.
"Beckett, what happened?" Jacek took a glimpse at Beckett who did not look himself either.
"Damn it!" Beckett cussed with gritted teeth. "At this rate he is going to turn," he mumbled while looking at Treyton whose consciousness was overturned with visible rage.
Beckett looked at Jacek and finally noticed his sister's state. Why was she reacting to his aura? He thought. However, the situation was too grim for him to wonder about anything aside Treyton.
"Take your sister away, Jacek. Head back to town first. Be quick," Beckett instructed urgently, his expression and attitude unusually serious.
Jacek did not understand anything, yet, he thought it was wise as well to seek help for Yuki in town. "What about Treyton?" Jacek was worried about Treyton as well; they were friends after all.
"Go back first. We did not come too far; I am sure you can get to town soon. Inform the Alpha about our location when you get back," Beckett covered Treyton's mouth when a low growl escaped his lips. "Be quick. Go!"
Alpha? Jacek was even more confused now, but he put all the chaos aside, picked Yuki up and raced towards the forest without his shoes. Yuki had a deep frown on her face as she clenched Jacek's shirt while sweating profusely. "Hold on Yuki. Please hold on!"
Jacek raced as fast as he could, his body somehow forgot the weight that sat in his thin arms as he made his way back to the town.
After running for what seemed like eternity, Jacek's hope rekindled when he reached the spot, they had seen the wolves mating earlier. The spot made Jacek realize that he was close to the town. He looked down at Yuki whose consciousness seemed to have waned. "We are almost there, Yuki."
When Jacek marched further up the hill, he began hearing several voices up ahead. He was revitalized at the thought of getting Yuki help and quicken his pace immediately.
Several people were standing in the middle of the path that led to town. When they saw the approaching figure, two large men raced to meet Jacek. They offered to carry his sister; except he upright refused them. "I will hold her, please just take me to a doctor or something," he insisted.
When Jacek reached the group of men, he was uncomfortable when he looked on to their overbearing appearances. Nevertheless, as soon as he set his eyes on the town leader in his wheelchair among the men, a sense of solace washed over him. He outwalked the men who were trying to assist him and rushed to Amir.
"My sister, please help my sister," Jacek panted and stared desperately at the town leader.
Amir extended his arms to him, gesturing for Jacek to put Yuki in them.
"Alpha!" the men exclaimed. "Let us. Please let us hold her!" their faces were overwritten with concern.
"Amir, you shouldn't," Hayes also said behind Amir. He had a disheartened expression as he looked at Amir's determined look.
"Silence," Amir's voice was still. It was calm. It was commanding.
The men immediately stepped aside and lowered their heads. None of them spoke up any longer, not even Hayes.
"Hand her to me, Jacek. I will hold Yuki," he said with and assuring smile, his hands still extended. "Trust me."
Jacek looked at the town leader hesitantly. As if his body finally found the help it needed all along, it finally let all the pain, exhaustion and fragility it was curbing out; all at once. Jacek's calves began trembling incessantly. His arms shook while threatening to drop Yuki any time soon. His bleeding feet sent bone-chilling pain throughout Jacek's body. Gradually, his consciousness started to wane as well.
Jacek tread cautiously towards Amir while ignoring the excruciating pain under his feet. When he reached Amir, he gently set Yuki into his arms. He eyed Yuki painfully, still, as soon as he saw her frown ease up in Amir's arms, Jacek smiled slightly and collapsed.
⸙⸙⸙
Yuki felt a light wet pressure on her forehead and stirred. She slightly frowned and brushed the warm pressure off her forehead before opening her eyes.
"Yuki. Oh, thank goddess. How are you feeling, dear?" Zora neared the girl and felt her temperature with the back of her hand.
Yuki stared at Zora blankly then when she scanned the room, she sadly weakly, "Treyton, is he alright?"
Zora's eyes widened a bit. She kept her emotions in check and picked up the wet towel Yuki had brushed off from the bed. "He is alright now. He scared you, didn't he?"
"I think I might have triggered a trauma by my choice of words. He did nothing wrong."
"Trauma? Can you tell me about it?" Zora's curiosity was piqued. She knew of only two things that could provoke Treyton; everything else could hardly rouse him.
Yuki thought hard of the last thing she said to Treyton. "I think it had something to do with the illness Amir suffered." Yuki stared at Zora.
"Oh." That was all Zora let out. Yuki narrowed her eyes. "I guess it is a trauma story for all of you. Forgive my thoughtlessness," Yuki apologized genuinely.
Zora tried in vain to hide her dejection. The pain that was concealed in her heart manifested on her face. She sat beside Yuki on the bed, "Yuki…" she called the girl softly and glanced at her. Yuki held her gaze.
"Do you believe in the existence of mythical creatures?" Zora observed Yuki. Her expression did not change and neither did she show any contempt after hearing the question.
"Mythical creatures as in fairies, unicorns and mermaids?" Yuki raised a brow. Zora laughed and visibly loosened up.
"Any others you know aside the ones of your bedtime story books?" Zora teased. "But well, let's just say those exist. Do you believe they really do exist, somewhere out there?"
Yuki looked at the ceiling of the room and pondered over the question. "I am not sure. The world is a big place and humans can only look so far. Though I personally do not believe in things I do not see, it does not mean I will completely distrust someone who claims to have seen them."
Zora beamed. "Well, our town believe in mythical creatures. We believe in the existence of some creatures, at least."
"I see. You believe Amir's illness was caused by a mythical creature?" Yuki felt as if Zora was making an excuse to avoid speaking of Amir's condition. She did not like the idea of being seen as a halfwit; it was not pleasant.
Zora's expression turned sour again. "Do you know of the myth of the Vixen of Frost?"
"Vixen of Frost?" Yuki repeated with a puzzled look as she sat up in the bed.
"Well, they are known as Fuyu no Kitsune in the legends of their origin. How you ever heard of them?" Zora asked.
Yuki shook her head and replied with a small "no."
Zora frowned in repulsion. "They are the worst creatures to ever exist on the surface of earth."