Ari

Chapter 69: Poison and Explosion

I looked around, but I couldn't find Tora and Macan. My anxiety suddenly grew, giving a shiver down my spine as my hunch hit me hard. My heart was beating too fast due to nervousness.

"W-Where are the tiger siblings? Where are Tora and Macan?" I asked anxiously.

I tried to calm down as I hugged my body and grip my arm to stop myself from trembling excessively. My chin is shivering despite all the effort.

My mask, cloak and gloves were already removed. They also changed my clothes into the night dress I made for myself so I felt cold and shivered easily on the slightest gust of wind.

I can see the worried look on my brother's eyes as he places a thick pelt around my shoulder, being careful not to touch me directly.

"Tora was called to the pavilion by Jael's daughter." Blake answered with confusion.

"Brother, why did you let them go alone?!" I asked my brother in a panic.

"Macan is not a fool. He can protect her sister despite being unable to communicate properly." My brother defended despite being baffled.

Suddenly, loud steps began to echo from the hallway. It was Aja and Jael's subordinates who were all filled with fright on their faces.

"H-Help us... N-Nyala... She... She suddenly fainted in front of the t-tiger siblings at the h-hall... We couldn't take her away... Tora didn't let us touch them and Macan was anxiously driving everyone away..." Aja stuttered while crying hysterically due to panic.

"Did Macan hurt anyone?" My brother inquired nervously.

"N-Not exactly hurting anyone. He just didn't let anyone go near them, tackling anyone who goes near. Tora also seemed anxious and weak for some reason. Please help us... Elder healer... We need you urgently..." She answered anxiously.

I snapped upon hearing the news.

My mind went blank for a second before a rush of urgency exploded within me, causing me to perfunctorily transform to my passive-aggressive form. I ran instantly the next second outside the hall, dropping the blanket that my brother placed on my shoulder. Too fast that no one even had a chance to block my way.

Everyone was taken aback upon seeing me dash to the door in a flash. They couldn't even utter a single word or react due to shock.

Upon reaching an open area, I spread my wings instantaneously while running. I started to flap my wings till my feet were no longer touching the ground. My heart was racing like crazy due to fright.

I flew hastily towards the location of the two females and Macan.

The others ran hurriedly from behind while calling out to my name. However, guilt and regret filled my mind and heart, causing me to unconsciously ignore their words.

At a distance, I already saw Tora holding Nyala in her arms while holding the Purple Flower on her other hand. Macan was tackling the guards away while Jael was starting to get irritated.

"Macan! Stop it this instant! Give me back my daughter!" He shouted furiously.

I felt light-headed due to the sudden movement and because I haven't had anything since I just woke up from fainting. I shook my head gritting my teeth before letting out a loud roar that echoed all over the village.

The guards and Jael suddenly looked my way as I landed in front of the anxious Macan who was in his beast form. He was wounded terribly all over trying to drive the others away.

"A-Ari... D-Don't come near us... Call the healer... H-hurry... N-Nyala is... not breathing any more..." Tora mumbled despite the pain she is currently suffering.

"It's my fault..." I whispered in horror, trembling with guilt as tears came streaming down my face.

Jael tried to approach me, but I couldn't hear what they were saying. Then, Macan suddenly tackled me, causing me to slide back quite a long distance. My footwear broke because it couldn't withstand such force. My hands also bled because I tried to hold onto the cemented floor while sliding such distance just to keep myself on the ground.

The poison they have is a poison that has no cure. My mind was filled with the horrifying image of Ayla when she was lying dead in my arms in my dream. It was in the same posture Tora and Nyala have in front of me. I need to save them.

I tried to step forward while enduring the pain of my feet and hands, but Macan tackled me once again, causing me to slide back once more. I moaned in pain while crying in front of them, but I kept trying to step forward and felt the impact of Macan's tackle grew stronger the more I did so. The pain Macan inflicted to me is nothing to compare the pain Tora and Nyala are suffering right now.

Macan was already crying despite not saying anything, I understood his action.

"M-Macan... Let me see them... Please trust me..." I cried, pleading with Macan to let me through.

Jael and his people also tried to restrain Macan but everyone suddenly got distracted when Tora started to vomit blood before fainting.

Macan roared horrifyingly and everyone was terrified. He tackled everyone around, including me, causing us to whirl away at a distance. He then ran towards Tora trying to wake her up before eating the Purple Flower in her hand.

The others had arrived at that moment and witnessed the terrifying situation.

I snapped due to horror as Macan also started to vomit blood instantly.

I felt the sensation of burning insignias, one on my forehead and one on my neck. The burning sensation intensified as if my skin and flesh were burning in hell. I can feel two opposing powers within me clashing causing the necklace to break and fall to the ground.

I can feel the burning of my flesh due to the energy that is beyond this body's capability. My clothes were burnt to ashes by the light blue flame of the power that was clashing within me and nothing left on my body but the burning flesh of this body.

The flame subsided despite the pain remaining while a burst of energy suddenly emerged from within me, causing an explosion of energy around me. I ran instantly towards them and held them all in my arms as my roar echoed all over the village once again.

An eye blinding light emitted from me while my energy drains terrifyingly fast. I tried to endure the pain, covering them with my wings and driving the others away until I passed out and once again went back to the abyss.