Nightfall

Prologue

"Don't run away from fate..."

EURUS

Mabilis akong tumatakbo sa kalaliman ng gabi sa kabila ng malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan at matatalim na kidlat na gumuguhit sa kalangitan. Pinipigilan ko ang sarili na manginig sa takot. The sound of thunder rumbled in my sensitive ears. Kahit saglit na nawala ang kulog at tanging mga patak na lang ng rumaragasang ulan ang maririnig ay hindi ito mawala sa tainga ko.

The sound was still echoing inside my head. Muling gumuhit ang matalim na kidlat sa kalangitan. Biglang sumagi sa alaala ko ang mga matatalim at mahahabang kuko na bumawi sa buhay ng mga magulang ko.

The alpha was dead. My mother, the alpha female, was dead, and my father chose to die with her. I was left alone. No. I was always alone.

They kept me hidden because I was different. No one knew that I was their child. Mag-isa akong tumatakas at lumalayo sa bangungot na hindi ko inakalang mangyayari. Hindi ko na alam kung nasaan ang mga kapatid ko, kung nakatakas ba sila o sa kasamaang palad, wala na.

Those murderers had control over our territory now. They controlled the whole pack my mother and father protected with their lives.

Napasinghap ako nang tumama ang isang matalim na kidlat sa isang puno, sa isang bahagi ng kagubatan kung saan ako tumatakbo. Hindi ko napigilan ang panginginig ng katawan at halos madulas pa ako sa pagtakbo. The forest was frightening. This was the first time I was left alone in the deep woods.

Napakaliwanag ng kidlat na ito dahilan upang mas makita ang totoo kong anyo. I was a werecat. To be specific, an albino werepanther. My claws dug in the mud as I tried to steady my balance. Sticky mud covered my white wet fur while I was in my panther form.

Ngayon lang nagkaroon ng kulay ang mapuputi kong balahibo. Matagal ko na itong hinihiling pero hindi sa ganitong sitwasyon. Gusto kong maging normal pero hindi sa ganitong pagkakataon.

Malayo na ang narating ko. Pakiramdam ko nasa kabilang bahagi na ako ng mundo. Sapat na ito upang malaman na ligtas na ako pero hindi ito sapat na konsolasyon. Wala na akong tirahan. Wala na akong babalikan.

Now, I was now one of those stray cats. I didn't belong to any pack. I didn't have any territories. An albino like me didn't belong anywhere. I was now alone in this world.

I screamed and growled at the top of my lungs. I didn't have anywhere to go and I didn't know where I was now.

How will I survive? A twelve-year-old girl like me knew nothing.

Sumisikip ang dibdib ko habang unti-unti akong bumalik sa anyong tao. Unti-unting nawala ang mga balahibo ko sa katawan at matatalas na kuko. Malaporselanang kutis ng balat na nababalot ng putik ang tumambad sa mga mata ko. My gold eyes with black slits turned back into their original green color. My whiskers disappeared and my gentle, pale face came into view. Punong-puno ng luha ang mga mata ko at nanginginig ang buong katawan ko dahil sa walang tigil na pag-ulan at panlalamig. I knew I had to take shelter, but my heart was too heavy for me to run and move.

Pitong oras na akong walang tigil sa pagtakbo. Kung hindi lang bumabagyo, tiyak na mag-uumaga na o maaaring umaga na. Sumasakit ang buo kong katawan at hindi man lang ako makatayo mula sa pagkakaupo. Nanlalabo at dumudoble na rin ang paningin ko. I wanted to rest, and I gave the rest that my body screamed for as I collapsed and lost consciousness.

Sharp claws and dripping blood haunted my dreams.

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