Chapter 6: BUDDY

CHAPTER VI: BUDDY

"The creation of value is the only and everlasting source of profit."

(Anonymous)

Chirping of birds is what to welcome, the running of water from the nearby stream can be heard. The crystal blue sky was covered by towering trees and giant mossy rocks are on the trail. The ground was deluge that makes the ambiance cold, tempting and serene, the scent of wild flowers lingers everywhere, very natural, relaxing and are suitable for the vividness of the place.

Gripping tightly on her bag, she entered the forest fascinated to the majestic place she's just in. Greenhill, is a sanctuary for hundreds and years of trees, herbs and caves but unlike the sorrow sensation she felt during visiting that forest, this place are very comfy.

After thirty minutes of trailing, she still hasn't seen what she was searching. She hasn't seen anything wounded, injured nor dead at all, like there are no killings happen. She check the time, and it is already 10:47 am and realized she's wandering for almost two hours straight, much longer than she thought. Time past, her direction was changing, and she didn't know anymore where she was heading nor if she's still trailing the right way. Her feet started to feel numb, her joints are in sore and her body feels too exploited.

Regaining strength from a large tree, she heard a splashing sound in the distance that excites her and encourage her to at least take a look, and so she carried herself forcefully just to filled her curiosity. Behind the bush and a big tree, despite the arduous trail she path, from where she stood, is something that capture her heart in an instant- a waterfall.

She climbed down on the big rock, carefully not to slip, with her boots supporting her from the mossy rocks. She stayed on a dry flat rock below the Golden shower tree, in front of the waterfall. It is huge, alive, and has trees surrounding it, making it relaxing just by gazing on it. She brought out her biscuit and bottle of water and consume to at least gain energy. It's past 12 pm and the sun was hectically shining above, and so she is glad the rock was under the tree. She just stayed there laying and staring at the water falling.

"Why not to have a try?" She said to herself.

She removed her boots and walk barefooted in the cold, crystal clear water never minding her jeans to be soaked. She felt relieved, like the numbness she felt suddenly disappear. The splashing of falling water is like a music to her ear, the pebbles below her feet are very gentle, massaging the soreness she felt. She was walking near the falls and is fascinated by the stone, she was about to let herself feel the entire coldness of the water when she heard a gunshot somewhere near.

She looked from where it originates, but she heard it no more. Seconds passed, she heard a growl of a wild animal that makes her heart beating twice the normal. She quickly hid behind a huge rock and try her best to not make any suspicious noise. The growling sound went louder and wild but on how she heard it, it's like the animal is whimpering in agony. A moment later, she heard a loud sound of slamming near and a whimpering sound followed, like crying. And so, despite her mind saying that stay still, and it could attack her, her heart felt otherwise as she heard how it sounds like asking for a help.

Little by little, she reached the edge of the rock, visualizing the animal in her mind as a big and wounded. She completely fixed her gaze and nearly went fall on the water as she saw a massive, brown and black furry thing that is breathing so fast and blood flowing to its side. She silently crawls to the big rock up to the other to inspect the animal identity. At first guess, she thought it was a bear but what shocked her is when the animal suddenly faced her, she found out that the big animal in front of her is not a bear but a wolf- a big one.

Her eyes grew larger as she scans the big furry thing looking directly at her. Panic and fear climbed to her body as the wolf was about to stand. She couldn't run, her muscles became stiff, and her breathing became abnormal, thinking the large thing would swallow her alive. She gets her pocket knife for protection but to her wonder, the wolf didn't growl nor attack her. It's stared at her peculiarly like a wild but with timid personality. The look in its eyes makes her heart break as she saw a hint of pain and terror towards the wolf's eyes.

She looked at her pocket knife where the animal was staring, and so she close it and hide it in her pocket. The big, fright wolf's face lighten up and growl to her. The once horror and panic she felt melt right away and was change by pity and worry. She slowly climbed the rocks and walk to the wolf looking in its eyes to show that she mean no harm. She slowly went in front of the wolf and the wolf and open her bag to get some food she could offer.

She looked at the laying animal, went closer to it's head and give her last piece of bread in which the wolf accepted. For her, it felt so enchanted to meet an animal much bigger than the average one, plus the fact that it is friendly. The wolf stare at her eyes for a moment and rub its head to her hand, makes her smile and cause her heart to filled with joy. She squatted to reach the level of the laying figure and gave the most precious smile as she rubs its head. The wolf growl in agony that makes her realized it's wound.

Right in a moment, she searched the open wounds, apply pressure for the blood to stop flowing before figuring out what is the cause. She patted its head, caressing it to make it feel relax.

"You will live okay? I will do everything I can. I want you to live." She uttered before bringing out her first aid kits and paraphernalia.

First, she clean blood with the fresh water from the falls. Second, she picks up a tool and widen the wound. Third, she observed if there's any residue inside the wolf's and was dumbfounded when she saw a bullet but compared to the local residence and hunter's use, the bullet is much larger. This must be from the gunshot she heard earlier, she thought. Fourth, she removed the bullet from its flesh and remove the tool she used. And fifth, she stitched the wound, apply antibacterial before covering it with bandages.

"There. You will be okay soon. Don't move too much, okay? Be safe and keep away from hunters." She up and noticed that sun was no longer bright as earlier. "I will visit you here when I have a free time." She said while caressing the large furry animal in front of her.

"I wish I could take you home buddy, but I can't. You're too large, and I bet you can't fit in my car. My mom will be hilarious. I wish the best of you." The wolf suddenly stand and so she is.

“It's going late now. I need to go. Be sure to take care and always remember my reminders, okay? Stay away from hunters." She patted its head for the last time and started trailing the way back. She didn't found the thing she's looking, but she found something spectacular, something greater than what she expected and that didn't regret her from visiting the place.

She started climbing the rocks, taking slowly but surely not to fall down. She managed to get herself out and was about to continue when she realized she doesn't know anymore which path to take. She check her phone, and it's already 2 in the afternoon. She decided to just walk way down the forest and until she could found a way out. She walk, and walk until she felt like she's walking forever. She check her phone hoping to make a call, but there's no service. It's already 3:47pm and her heart was pounding fast as she did the running-walking strategy. Her body felt so nervous and her sweat starting to turn cold. She was about to make another running when she heard a footsteps behind her.

"Buddy? What are you doing here?" She asked as if the animal would talk. However, to her surprise, the wolf walk onto the other direction and look at her like motioning her to follow.

She did follow the animals and was surprise to see the familiar place she tackled.

"Good job buddy." She said, rubbing the head of the wolf.

The walking takes no longer. She could almost see the road and her car park nearby. She was busy talking to the wolf when she heard three voices approaching their way.

"We need to hide. Maybe they're the one who shot you. I cannot save you this time, let's hide!" She whispered and drag the head of the wolf, but it doesn't follow. Instead, it leads the way to the path where the talking people were.

"I told him to just let the hunters go,, but he's very hard-headed!"

"Just shut up! I can smell him. He's here."

She was afraid but chose to trust the wolf. She doesn't know why but with him, it feels like her life wouldn't be at risk. She heard the voices mumbling about something and in the last turn they did, she saw three persons she least expected. They're all look at her, and she just stood there not knowing anymore what to felt.

The Madrigals.

"She's the lady from the school, right?" One of them asked which she concluded Lennox Madrigal.

"Yeah, If my memory serves right, her name is Brigette." Said the one named Maxton.

"What are you all doing here?" She asked them didn't know where she get the courage.

"Obviously, we live here. Don't question why we are here because truth to be told, you are the impostor." Chase said directly looking at her.

"Okay. Now we that found what we are looking for, we can now leave the place and enjoy yourself. Come here Wolfy." Lennox said, but the wolf didn't bother to move. He just growled at them and went closer beside her.

"Don't make this hard for all us. Come on and leave the poor girl alone." Maxton march the distance between them and a sudden realization cross her mind that generates her adrenaline and went in front of the wolf covering him from the coming figure.

"A-re you the one behind his wound? Are you hunting him?" She asked, this time with much courage.

"You don't fucking care about that, so Just tell that damn wolf to come with us!" Chase said angrily and the wolf growl at him.

If it's just a normal day, maybe she would be terrified, or perhaps she would just stay silent and put her words in the back of her mind. However, the situation makes her gather her courage. She decided to not want to stay silent this moment.

"And what if I don't want to? Whatever you say, I'm not giving this animal to you without me making sure that you're going to take care of him." She said loud and clear.

"Okay. Fine. Bring that animal and the stupid girl." Chase said and walk out.

"What does he mean?" She asked.

"Well, he wants you to come to our home and see for yourself that we're not doing anything with that animal. It's ours, actually."