The Selfish Demon King (MewGulf AU)

🌻Chapter 30

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He didn't know how much time had passed, but at some point he heard the sound of tall grasses being parted.

He twitched. Anxiety ran through his body.

He strained his ears and heard the sound coming closer. He saw something in front of him.

It was a palace guard. He had a sword and was looking around himself nervously. He was searching through the grass, probably for Gulf. He was too on edge to be just in a regular patrol.

And just as Tong had said, he couldn't see Gulf at all, even though he had walked right in front of him.

Gulf put a hand on his chest, relieved. He checked over and over again to make sure the cloth was still secure. As soon as he was satisfied, he hunched over again and held his breath.

Now that he knew Mew was searching for him, he started to feel a strange sense of happiness. He wanted to leave here and go to Mew's side. But if he did, their escape plan would be ruined and his family would be killed.

He wanted to go back, but he couldn't.

He was absorbed in his own thoughts, when suddenly he sensed a presence and glanced up.

It was completely silent.

He didn't hear the sound of grass parting or footsteps on the earth. By the time he realized it was near, it was very close, about five meters away.

With just one glance, he knew it was a beast. It was a fearsome creature and resembled a wolf, but was much larger. It was maybe the size of a bear, and had a mouth on its stomach.

Chills went through Gulf's body, and he turned pale.

Even though he knew he was protected by the cloth, he was still frightened.

The beast pushed its nose to the ground, sniffing.

Soon more beasts came.

One, two, three beasts.

Gulf began to get more nervous.

He wondered if he was really okay. Maybe they had gathered because they smelled him?

Just then the tree he was leaning against made a loud creaking sound, and the branches began to form a set of stairs.

It was so sudden and abrupt, Gulf turn towards the tree and said, "What? You want me to climb up and escape?"

No one answered him, but he had a feeling it was telling him that. No matter how much he was told that the beasts couldn't see him, he felt the situation was too dangerous. He was scared. He gave in to the urge of wanting to get out of their reach and started climbing the stairs.

He still wore the cloth on his head, but he had to be very careful or he would fall down the precarious stairs.

Finally, Gulf reached a height that was out of reach of the beasts. After completing its duty, the stairs disappeared and change back into the giant tree.

Gulf stared down at the beasts and saw them howling below. They were persistently sniffing around the place where he had been, and finally looked up towards Gulf and roared.

The beasts tried to jumo up the tree. They definitely knew their prey---Gulf---was up there.

Doubt began to grow in Gulf's chest.

"But I was wearing the cloth, so why?"

Tong had said as long as he wore the cloth the beasts couldn't find him. But they had.

Why would Tong purposefully lead him into a dangerous situation like this?

From the fear of watching the beasts try to climb the tree. Gulf grasped the necklace that dangled on his chest, the one that belonged to his mother.

"P'Tong...please come get me." As soon as he whispered this, he saw Tong appear.

"Gulf! Where are you?"

"P'Tong!" Gulf took off the cloth and started crying.

"Gulf, why are you here?"

"What?" It was Tong who had brought him here, so Gulf didn't understand his question. He tried to find a way down to his brother.

"No, wait there! It's too dangerous to come down!"

"But..."

The beasts were gathering around Tong. He was their target now, and they raced towards him.

"P'Tong! P'Tong!!"

Tong produced a sword and stabbed one of the beasts, but there were too many of them. As soon as he stabbed one, another came running towards him.

"Thanks for leading me here."

TBC