Cayden's Crusade

In The Woods

Rangers are coming, make a way!
Rangers are here to make your day!
Come and see display our strength!
Come and stay to witness our wit!

That was our song as we jog around the plaza since Sundays are mostly spend with jogging now. We jogged in two lines. Ako yung nasa hulihan at walang partner dahil wala si Tarquin dahil nasa training with the Elites.

Mula nang dumating siya, siya na yung kasabayan ko sa hulihan kapag nagjojogging kami. Tahimik lang kasi siya at may sense kausap. I am still envious and sometimes jealous of his closeness with Orielle, but, I already see him as a friend. No, not just a friend. More like a brother.

"Wow! Congratulations, Cayden! They're right, you deserve that title", sabi niya nang malaman niya na ako ang napiling Team Captain.

When he gets home after his training with the Elites, he would excitedly tell us what they did. Even Alloutte already warmed up to him. Siya na ngayon pinaka excited sa pag-uwi ni Tarquin.

His stories about the Elites encouraged us more para magtiyaga at magpursige sa training namin. It was during joggings like this na kaming dalawa ang nasa huli nagkukwento siya tungkol sa Team Captain.

"I just think this will help you when you officially become the captain of the team", he would always say. "Captain Larkin is the best Captain amd I believe you'd be a great as he is, someday".

Minsan naman, nasasali sa mga kwento niya si Orielle. And I can't help but notice the adoration and fondness in his voice when her name is mentioned. It made me think that he doesn't just like her, he worships her. I'm just not sure, or maybe I am just afraid to admit, that his feelings towards is more than just that of a friend or a mentor.

And it's funny, because every detail he mentions about Orielle are those that I treasured the most as well.

And speaking of Orielle..

Malapit na kami sa may kakahuyan, and I could see Orielle going into it. I stopped and looked around. Walang ibang tao. Medyo malayo na rin sa kinatatayuan ko ang mga teammates ko na hindi man lang napansin na wala na ako sa likuran nila.

Alam kong hindi dapat pero dahan dahan na akong dinadala nang mga paa ko patungo sa kinaroroonan ni Orielle.

I wonder kung saan siya pupunta. I remember lage siyang nakatingin dito. Di bali na magmukha akong stalker or masamang tao, my curiosity got the better of me.

I realized that we are in a man made forest. Kapansin pansin ang linear na pagkatanim nang mga kahoy although meron nang mga shrubs at maliit na mga halamang ligaw na nagpapalibot sa bawat puno at lupa. Tanging ang daang tinatahak namin ang hindi pa masyadong nasakop nang mga halaman.

Diretso lang ang lakad niya habang pasukal nang pasukal naman ang gubat.

Tumigil siya at dali dali naman akong nagtago sa isang puno. Kinakabahan na ako. Anong iisipan niya kapag nakita niya ako at malaman na sinusundan ko siya.

I heard her footsteps again, patuloy sa kung saan man ang dulo nang daan.
Sumilip ako at nakita ko siyang medyo malayo na. Ngayon ko lang nakita na may dala siyang kulay puti na bagay.

Sumunod ako. After a few minutes, I saw a clearing. Tumigil na naman siya. Nagtago na naman ako sa mga puno. Dahan akong nagtiptoe para makalapit sa ilalim ng mga malilit na halaman para di niya ako makita.

I heard another voice. It was a man's voice. Strict. Authoritative. Captain Larkin.

What are they doing here? I can't make out their voices pero alam kung may pinag-uusapan sila. Gusto kung sumilip pero natatabunan na sila nga mga puno at halaman sa kinalalagyan ko.

Their voices stopped. Kasabay nang pag-ihip nang hangin ang isang kakaibang tunog. Parang wind chime. Walang pattern ang rhythm pero maganda pakinggan. Tila mga daan-daang wind chimes na nilalaro nang hangin.

Tumigil ang tunog. Narinig ko naman ang mga nag-uusap na boses ni Orielle at Larkin. I tried to do my best na masilip man lang sila nahinto nang marinig ko ang footsteps nila sa magkaibang direksyon.

I stayed still. Hanggang sa papalayo na ng papalayo ang tunog nang mga yapak nila. I waited for a few minutes just to make sure na wala na talaga sila bago ako lumabas sa pinagtataguan.

I saw the clearing. Curious kung anong nandoon at kung saan ang tunog na narinig ko kanina.

The clearing was just small. There was nothing except a rectangular structure which looks like a wall painted green.

Nilapitan ko. It was not painted green. The structure was covered by these small plants. Kumuha ako nang dahon to make sure that it is a real plant. Totoo nga.

Tiningnan ko ang likod. Same. Kung ganun, saan galing ang tunog kanina. Sa paanan ng structure ay mga puting bulaklak. Yung dala ni Orielle kanina na puti ay ang mga bulaklak na ito. Para saan? I looked around just to make sure I did not miss anything. Yung green wall lang talaga ang nandito. I tried to check the nearby surroundings but I found nothing. Nothing that could give me any clue kung anaong meron sa green wall or structure na iyon at kung saan galing ang tunog na narinig ko kanina.

Hindi napansin nang mga kateammates ko na nawala ako nang ilang sandali. I went back to my position as if nothing happened nung bumalik na sila sa may kakahayon, patuloy ang pagjogging.

I went to bed, confused, with questions unanswered. Anong meron doon sa gubat? Ano yung green wall at bakit naglagay nang bulaklak si Orielle doon? Ano yung tunog na narinig ko kanina?

I still could not get the connection kung bakit palaging nakatingin doon si Orielle.

***********

Ano nga ba ang hiwaga at misteryo sa gubat?

Read more to find out.

xoxo
vampig30