The waning bonfire provided enough warmth to ward off the cold inside the dark cave, it's crackling whispers accompanied by the heavy breathing of a large beast of black fur and leather wings. Even though alone inside the cave with such a powerful creature Kinabuhi felt no fear for himself but for the beast's instead. Kinabuhi and his teacher found the pitch-black beast covered with wounds along with an unconscious datu near the base of the mountain and upon reaching an agreement the both of them carried the two up on the mountain for shelter.
The beast began to grunt "Wh-where am I?" Since Kinabuhi has been a child he had always been surrounded by animals and spirits alike and being around them allowed him to learn their language freely.
"If what my guro has told me is true, then we're in your cave." Kinabuhi began to hand a bowl of water for the beast to drink.
After quenching his dried throat the beast snorted "It's nice to see someone who can understand me after a long time. You have my gratitude for your assistance, child, but I need to leave. The balanggay is in danger." With great effort the beast tried to stand but ended in failure, it's injuries proved to be a massie burden.
"You need to rest more, you're too injured to get up. Datu Gabbang already told us everything and rushed back to the balanggay."
"Rest will help me do nothing, I know you understand that I am already dying." Kinabuhi exhaled deeply in response. He knows of the nature of spirits, they can live indefinitely and recover from almost any injury but for a price... the faith of men.
"At the very least it can help you last longer, we just need to wait... what happened to your patrons anyway?" Kinabuhi tried to distract the beast from doing anything foolishly.
"Wars ceased a long time ago, the aswangs on the other hand kept themselves at bay... people then required no protecting so my covenant as a guardian left my presence unnoticed... people then began to forget and with their lack of belief time slowly drained my energy away..."
"A guardian spirit? You're an anito then and there's another way to help you. I need your name, knowing your name is the first step in returning your strength."
The beast closed his eyes and snorted "My name? It has been a long time since I've heard my name... it's been so long that I am now a forgotten anito and even I don't remember my name..."
"That's just sad... looks like we can do nothing but wait..." Kinabuhi started to add wood to the fire, then it began to rain outside and the cold wind was passing through them, it was the mark of the storm coming.
"No... we don't need to wait..." Kinabuhi noticed the beast staring at his neck "You have an agimat... strike a deal with me, child... I need to protect that balangay... please..."
"I am sorry, dear anito, but I am not the one to be your amo, please you need to wait a bit more. My guro told me he would come." Kinabuhi felt pity for the spirit but he could do nothing but wait for Manaul gave him strict instructions.
"If not you, then who?... agimats are very dangerous to acquire and you having one means that you are of great skill and strength, do you plan to tell me that another human has one?"
Before Kinabuhi could answer he heard a faint shuffling from beyond the darkness away from the reach of the fire's light. Kinabuhi stood to announce his presence, unwanted aggression should be quarantined as early as possible.
