The Dissolving Flower

Kabanata 4

THE BLIZZARDHOUND

"OH, damn!" alburoto ni Lis nang masubsob ang kaniyang mukha sa bundok-bundok na niyebe.

Sumuot ang lamig nito sa kaniyang bibig at tainga. Oh, dear spells of the mighty broken tree! Para siyang naghilamos ng isang baldeng yelo. Napatayo siya nang mabilis at pinagpag ito. Pero katatayo niya pa nga lang ay kamuntikan na ulit siyang matumba dahil sa bagsik ng hangin na kanina pa siya hinahagupit.

Hanggang baywang niya rin ang kapal ng niyebe kaya naman hindi siya makapaglakad nang maayos.

"Whoa!" He wiped the dust of snow on his face with his coat again, and again, and again. Nilingon niya naman si Aster na nauna nang maglakad. He cast a spell on him, but he could still feel the cold.

"Uy! Hintayin mo 'ko!" Napatakip siya sa kaniyang tainga sa umaalingawngaw na hangin, tila ba may galit ito at gusto silang liparin paalis.

Huminto naman ito sa paglalakad pero hindi lumingon. Mabilis siyang sumunod pero kahit anong pilit niyang maglakad nang mabilis, pinipigilan ng makapal na yelo ang mga paa niya.

'For Dragon's sake! Makalipad na nga lang!'

He was saving his energy since he didn't have his Dragon Stone, but it left him no choice. Tinakpan niya ang tainga habang dahan-dahan din siyang umaangat. Bahagya pa siyang napangiwi dahil sa mga boses na naririnig niya.

The voices of the Conifer trees. They were laughing at him.

"Lampa."

He rolled his eyes and replied, "Shut up. Why don't you just tell me the direction?"

"Saan?"

"The mainland of Faegika."

"Ayoko nga." At muli itong humagalpak ng tawa.

Napairap muli si Lis at sumunod na kay Aster na lumilipad na rin.

He looked above. It was still dark, but there was a hint of greyish light coming out from the clouds. It was almost morning.

Hinawi niya ang nakaharang na tangkay ng Conifer tree sa kaniyang direksyon. Even though they were rude, he couldn't help himself but be fascinated by the trees.

'How tough you are despite the cold.'

He took a piece of its leaf and kept it in his pocket.

"You're taking too long," salubong agad ni Aster kaya napangiwi siya.

"Palibhasa kasi 'di ka naman nilalamig!" asik niya habang nakaturo sa sarili nitong napalilibutan ng pulang liwanag. Lis guessed he casted another spell. "At least share some with me."

Right after he said those, Aster held his shoulder. He snapped his finger on his right, and just that, the cold he felt disappear. Just like him, he was also encircled by a red light. Ah! So warm! Niyayakap siya ng init. Kumakapit pa rin ang mga niyebe sa kaniyang damit ngunit hindi na niya maramdaman pa ang ginaw.

"Thank—" Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin nang may marinig siyang tumahol. Kahit na ang lakas ng simoy ng hangin, nagawa pa rin niyang marinig ang isang napakamatinis na boses.

Isang tuta ang nahagip niya. He gasped and didn't think twice to cancel his Aerial Spell. Nang makababa si Lis ay mabilis niyang nilapat ang palad sa ulo nito.

His heart was struck when the puppy waggled its tail. Kinarga niya ang puting tuta at doon niya lang napansin ang kulay abo nitong mga mata.

"You're so cute. Anong ginagawa ng isang kagaya mo rito?" he asked, smiling from ear to ear, as if the dog would reply.