LUNA: The Rebellion

56: The Beginning After the End

My heart had been pounding, raging inside my chest for the past two hours. I have been preparing since we took camp and settled for an hour to have an immediate meeting with all the leaders of the army, and didn't stop doing so until it was time to gather and move. I have pulled my hair from my face and tied it up into a high ponytail. Braided some particular parts to secure it more. Kaimana had done the same with her hair but instead of a high ponytail, she braided her hair from roots to the tips. Nagtali 'rin sina Arius at Tartarus.

Day and Dhar were the only pack members who weren't assigned to be at the frontlines. They had their own duties with the rest of the healers who took camp hidden behind boulders. Midnight didn't want them too far from the battlefield. He wanted them as near as possible without jeopardizing their own lives. At times like this, healers were essential just as much as the warriors were. Sinigurado ni Day na bigyan kami ng mga gamot na inilagay niya sa isang tube. It was meant for healing. Instant regeneration. Each pack had at least 5 tubes of them. The kid made sure the container was resilient enough to be brought to a battlefield.

Isang oras na lang bago ang pagsikat ng araw. All the warriors were silently preparing. Some might have done some rituals, I wasn't sure. I was busy with myself too. All the pack members were scattered around. Even Arius had things to do. Nakaupo ako sa isang putol na kahoy, honing each of the daggers I would be using. Matulis na sila actually. I just didn't want to stop because I didn't know what to do by then. I was anxious. Scared. Terrified even. But I was also excited. My hands were cold but they craved for bloodshed. I wasn't entirely sure if I was feeling fine.

I had my mother's journal with me. I read them before going here and stared at the drawings my father drew when he was still alive. I've safely hidden the rose necklace Sage gave me back then. I have kept with me only Bluezold, Angel, and Wrath. Tartarus tried offering me a nice sword but I rejected it. Hindi ako sanay mag espada. Mas mapapadali ang libing ko kapag iyon ang ginamit ko. At isa pa, hindi ko kailangan ng espada kung dala dala ko naman si Bluezold.

Inangat ko kaagad ang tingin ko mula sa kutsilyo ng mapansin ko kaagad ang presensya ni Midnight. Binalik ko ang kutsilyo sa lalagyanan nito.

Midnight offered his hand and I quietly took it. Tumayo ako pagkatapos.

"Wrath will be too much of a burden to you. Wag mo na itong gamitin" Mabilis ang kamay niyang hinila palabas si Wrath sa damitan ko. Aangal pa sana ako ngunit naalala ko bigla kung ano ang kaya nitong gawin sa labanan. "Ako na lang gagamit nito"

Kumurap kurap ako. Tinignan ko ang kanyang mga kamay, mukha--- pababa sakanyang mga kamay uli. Iniwas ko ang aking mga mata sakanya sabay kumurap kurap uli. Midnight cupped my cheeks and made me face him. Despite the darkened sky, I saw how his eyes turned from blank to expressive. "Okay lang ako" Agad kong sabi sakanya.

"Halika dito" Binitawan niya ang aking mukha at hinawakan ang aking kamay. Nagsimula siyang maglakad kaya napasunod ako wala sa oras.

Hindi ko alam kung saan niya ako dadalhin kaya nung huminto kami sa tapat ng isang puno ay kunot noo ko siyang nilingon.

Midnight swiftly unsheathed one of my daggers from its sheath. Binigay niya saakin ito pagkatapos. "Go on" He said. "Throw, my love"

I made a face but didn't complain anymore. I reluctantly weighed the dagger in my hand and with enough strength, threw it straight into the tree's body. Tinignan ko si Midnight pagkatapos.

"Throw some more"

I wasn't even aware my hands were already unsheathing daggers from my body. Sunod sunod ko itong tinapon sa puno. Each throw was only getting harder and rougher. Midnight had stood beside the tree, pulling the daggers out and throwing them back to me. I found myself not stopping, as though my mind and body had wanted to do this since the very beginning.