Realm of Thorns

Bound by the Mane

The two tikbalang that had emerged from the shadows fixed their eyes on Joaquin, their gazes thick with malice and unrestrained excitement. The tikbalang with the fiery orange mane stepped forward, its grin wide and unsettling, a predator's smile gleaming in the dim light. "Stand aside, Hagibis. We will take it from here," it declared, its voice echoing like a war drum, each word dripping with menace. The very ground trembled beneath its powerful hooves, vibrating with each slow, deliberate step as though the earth itself was warning Joaquin of the danger closing in.

"S... Stop it, Talimun!" Hagibis interjected, a sudden urgency in its tone that broke through the oppressive atmosphere.

Talimun halted mid-stride, a sinister grin still plastered on its face. It slowly turned to face Hagibis, amusement dancing in its eyes. "What did you say?" it mocked, the words laced with condescension.

"I said... stop it," Hagibis repeated, its voice firmer now, a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the air. "The boy is mine."

Talimun squinted, studying Hagibis with a mix of skepticism and amusement. Then, as if unable to contain itself, it erupted into roaring laughter, the sound echoing through the trees, chilling Joaquin to the bone. The tikbalang with the pale white mane, Marahig, joined in, their laughter mingling in the thick, damp air like a taunting chorus. "Can you hear this, Marahig? Hagibis claims he owns the boy!" Talimun cackled, their voices ringing out like dark music in the gloom.

Joaquin stood rooted to the spot, confusion flooding his mind. What was happening? Why did their words feel like a storm brewing around him?

"The boy is mine!" Hagibis shouted again, its voice rising above the chaos, determination etched into every line of its face. "I will not let you harm him."

Talimun's laughter gradually subsided, replaced by a dangerous calm. "Hagibis thinks he owns the boy," it jeered, pointing at Hagibis with a mocking flourish, its hooves digging into the ground.

"Isn't it the other way around?" Marahig asked, stepping closer to Hagibis with a predatory grace. Its gaze bore into Hagibis, a challenge lurking behind its cold demeanor. "The boy owns you, doesn't he?"

What do they mean by that? Joaquin thought, a knot of unease twisting in his stomach. What was really happening here?

"It doesn't matter. The boy is now under my protection," Hagibis insisted, a fierce glint in its eyes. "And based on the rules of the tikbalang—"

"Ah, you're an avid follower of the clan rules now, are you?" Talimun interrupted, its voice dripping with sarcasm. "If you really do, then why is he still alive?" It leaned in closer, the threat palpable in the air. "I know you've always been a weakling, unreliable, but now more than ever, you've failed." Talimun's voice dropped to a whisper, cutting through the tension like a knife. "Your mane got stolen."

Hagibis stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the forest floor, as if seeking refuge in the shadows beneath his feet. His arms trembled at his sides, betraying the turmoil roiling within him. Marahig, sensing the vulnerability, raised an arm and draped it over Hagibis's shoulder, a predatory smirk spreading across its face. "Don't be too hard on the boy, Talimun," Marahig said, his voice dripping with mockery. "We can't expect anything from him. Especially for a half-human like himself."

Half-human? Joaquin's heart raced at the revelation, confusion and fear mingling in his chest.

"Isn't that why you're such a weakling and a softie, boy?" Marahig taunted, his fingers poking and prodding Hagibis's cheeks and stomach like a bully delighting in his power. "You can't kill your own kind, can you?" he jeered, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "You'll just lead them back to the entrance once you're done playing with them, right? That's what you've been doing with the last few humans who wandered in here." Marahig paused for effect, leaning closer, a sinister grin stretching across his face. "So how about you leave now and let us take care of this for you instead?" He stepped back and, with a sudden burst of arrogance, barked, "Scram, boy!"