My steps were heavy just as how I stepped from that labyrinth in the palace before. The only difference is that I am in more dangerous reality now, this is life and death. This ain't fairytale and illusion anymore. This is happening. My extrasensory perception remained awake. We made a quick journey to the place I was heading; to the cave I saw last night.
"Are we still far?" Corinthians asked.
"We're near." I replied.
"In your vision, we are near. I can't even see a cave here, it's full of thick bushes and stems." said Nathalia, I didn't respond. I just went straight. The cave came closer and closer to my sight, and the things that shone inside became clearer.
"Fray is coming!" Greyson's enthusiastic voice boomed. But his forehead immediately wrinkled as the eagle landed on his shoulder.
"What is it Fray?"
The eagle was loud, it was restless.
"Did you roam around?" Greyson didn't stop asking his pet as if they were the only ones there and they were the only ones who really understood each other.
"Greyson, what did Fray said?" The Prince asked.
"Fray said that many animals roam in this forest. They are fierce, big and fast. Others are said to be here in our area, right near where we are standing." Greyson said. It took us a moment before we finally realized what our defense has just said.
Wait, what?
Suddenly, blood rushed to my face upon hearing a loud crack and unusual sounds. It's different from the normal sound of the forest, it's something more than thick bushes and leaves. Something roared, it was the voice of a lion. I slowly turned to my left. Suddenly I stopped, so did they. I knew I was the only one hearing that voice because the lion was far away from us. It's 48 meters away from us and it's running towards our direction.
I stepped back..
"What is it?" The Prince immediately asked.
The Echelons voiced their questions as well, "What?"
Their position was confused. Chrysler immediately approached me.
"What is it?"
"There's a lion..." I almost stutter as I roamed my vision around. Just then, my heart clenched in worry when I just realized what's coming to us. What the heck is this? No sh*t! I gasped, "There are lions," I became hysterical, "There are six lions coming on our way. The cave in front of us is 67 meters away, the lion on our right is 48 meters away and there are two of them. Approaching 37 meters away 3 lions from left. And, 17 meters away... No, 16 meters away, It's running fast!" I was starting to panic because of the abrupt adaptation of my senses. This never happened to me before, so I'm just barely handling myself at the moment. I saw my companions prepare their own weapons, I swallowed as I prepared myself mentally as well.
I shut my eyes. This is my purpose, this is why I was brought here. This is why this group included despite my situation and lack of knowledge, because I have extremely adept senses. They could use me... and I am a bait. So whether it's good or bad for me, I'd have to do it.
I sighed and looked around again, "Approaching 13 meters away. In front of us. This is insane! Oh gosh, what the hell is happening now?" I confusedly exclaimed. I don't know where to look, I don't know whether I should be happy with what's happening to me right now since my senses are getting sharp and wide or I'll sulk around for the sudden changes in my life.
No, nows not the time to zone off. I can't let my stupidity rule right now. I have to survive... so I need to focus. Even if the biggest turning point of my life happens here, I must survive. I aimed my bow and arrow to the lion in front of me. They couldn't see it approaching us but it's so lucid before my eyes. I swallowed hard, I'm getting nervous for unknown reason. Gosh! This is crazy, I am totally not mentally and physically prepared for this! And these lions... Can't these lions be just good to us? We're good persons anyway, we mean no harm.
"What are we going to do?" Nathalia asked. "Hey, we are in a dangerous situation right now. Mind getting into the game already?"
"Stay calm baby, just aim your weapon from your right." Greyson answered, "The Prince and Corinthians are probably taking things on their minds right now."
"What the heck! How can I calm down? We'll wait for the lions to grab us? Look here, I am not that patient and I never want a freaking lion to attack me. If you don't spill your schemes right now, I'll head my way and shoot these creatures dead!" Nathalia exclaimed.
Greyson growled, "Shh, just aim your weapon!"
I was also panicking because I could see the lions running towards us. If they're hysterical because they couldn't see, the pressure on me is higher because I could actually see our enemies and yet I didn't know what to do. I should be leading them since I can see better, but I'm nothing but a citizen confused of the situation right now. Oh gosh, this is so embarrassing. This jungle is dangerous, these animals are the rulers here, it's just normal for them to attack us since they see us as a threat to their habitat or territory. We are total strangers and they could see us nothing but a threat to their home.
"Corinthians? What's on your mind?" Chrysler asked.
Oh right, Corinthians is the game player here. She could control the nature, the environment... the nature is her, so she's the best choice for the initial plan.
"Okay, calm down everyone. Nathalia, guard your right. Gray, and Chrysler to your left. And Zavan since you can do anything... guard all of us, I know you already know what you're going to do Prince. I will be with Nathalia. And you witch--" She pointed at me with confused look, "Watch out ahead of you. Since you can determine your distance and the lion, just aim your weapon. We will be firing a bullet with the nearest lion first. Next, we will attack. Bombing will be the last. We have 2 minutes to run after the plantation of the bomb. Since the cave is 67 meters away from us, we will run as fast as we can to get away from the explosion of the bomb. Ready?" Corinthians said seriously. She's more than serious at the moment and so are we.
Truly, Corinthians is wise. Who would have thought she organized that kind of plan in a split of seconds at such terrifying ambiance and situation? These Echelons are superb, I am too stunned to speak.
We prepared ourselves and aimed our weapons. Right now, I can't make a mistake. I need to be careful, a single mistake can affect my group. I'll never be a burden to them, not atleast now, it's so early to slack off, it'll be embarrassing. The nearest lion, is in front of me. I aimed my bow and arrow for its impending attack. It was running fast towards us. Jus the , I saw large rocks blocking us as a shield. I knew it was the prince, he can do anything with his mind and hands.
Now, I know and understand how powerful he is. Imagine learning anything by observing, watching... and then executing it immediately? That's a total different ability, it's superb... scary and dangerous. And yeah, Prince Zavan has that kind of ability.
"Aiming, 8 meters away..." I voiced out weakly. I swallowed hard, I could feel my sweats toppling down my face. The pressure on my shoulders is hefty, I even had to conceal my trembling. Sh*t, get yourself together! I inhaled sharply and focused once again, I can now see everything clearly.
"The nearest lion is in front of us, after we get rid of it we run ahead." The Prince's simply command and was seemed to be immediately understood by everyone. Everyone is prepared. Including me, I also prepared myself. Though not the same level with them, but I have also prepared myself with all I have. I carefully pointed my bow at the ferocious lion running towards my place. I should be shooting it now... but I just stood still and waited.
"What the heck!" Chrysler shouted, "Why haven't you shot yet?" Chrysler yelled at me.
"Just focus on your right!" I shouted back.
Five meters away.
"Are you damn insane? Shoot it!" Chrysler shouted once again.
"Just wait!" I exclaimed. The lion is very fast, and its running direction turns different from point to point. I was still doubting whether to shoot the poor lion dead when the lion itself stopped 3 meters away from us.
"I said shoot it!" Chrysler beamed.
I beamed back, "I said wait!"
Chrysler and I continued arguing as I waited for the lion to jump towards me. Once it steps back, I'll let it go. But once it attacks me, I'd have no other choice but to ruin it. I don't want to hurt the poor lion, these animals are alarmed by our presence. It's normal for them to feel threatened. So I'd give it a chance, however... if it mess with me, I'll shoot it dead without hesitation.
And at the moment, I think the lion understood me. Because it slowly retreated away from us.
"What are you doing?" Chrysler asked in surprise, "If you don't shoot it, I'll shoot it!" he threatened.
I glared, "No! It's listening! It'll run away."
"Oh shut up!" And with that, Chrysler shoot the lion. I gasped as the lion jumped away and went berserk. It escaped, and as a result the lion became very angry. It roared the area. My eyes widened in shocked when it rushed completely at me.
"OH NO!" Corinthians shouted.
Even before the lion could run away towards me to attack, a large rock hit its body and threw it down. It was the Prince!
I took advantage of that opportunity to shoot the fallen lion. I let go of my arrow, and it shot the leg of the lion. Another bullseye.
"Run!" The Prince yelled
He commanded us to run, so I f*cking ran for my dear life. We ran! I quickly headed in the direction of the cave, while another lion ran in our direction and continued to chase us.
"Gray, the f*cking bomb!" The prince shouted again.
"There you go!" Greyson looked back, ready to throw the bomb but then he hesitated since the blonde was still there, "Corinthians faster, I'mma gonna throw this at your back!" And just that, Corinthians sprinted.
I turned around, just as Greyson dropped the bomb, the strawberry like exploding thing was met by the big mouth of a lion as the animal tried to catch it. I almost stumble and fall to the ground when it exploded so hard. Other parts of the lion were scattered and thrown in different parts of the area. It looks like it's raining blood and raw meat in the forest where we were standing.
'Come on, just run away already. We don't mean to harm you, go.'
I growled, "We mean no harm lions, stop chasing us!"
"Run! Faster!" The Prince yelled.
This is crazy! They drive me insane! I know what happened in the labyrinth was insane then, but what is happening now-- I cannot fully explain!
"Witch, run fast. Lead us to the cave, don't worry about us, we got your back so just run!" Nathalia yelled at me.
So I did. I ran as fast as I could, I no longer cared how stiff, how thick the leaves and trees I encountered. I just jump then I run. Death is behind me, and I need to come home alive. All I have to do is run. My eyes widened as I turned to my left. Fudge! Now, a huge bear threatened to knock down the big tree next to me. Its movement was fast, and I was completely confused as to what to do when I stumbled over a large rock.
I'm m falling hard, and i can't control my body. Oh gosh. I'm doomed.