Chapter 1

“Faster, Chron!” Misha shouted, waving at her brother while bouncing up and down in excitement.

“Why are you so slow?” She continued, pouting her lips. “Slow sleepy brother. Slow slow sloooooooowwww.”

“Watch your steps, Misha,” Chronoth replied with a worried tone. “Stop running please.”

“Yeah and why would I?” Misha grinned, turning twice, gently stopped and challenged him with her clear intelligent eyes.

“You’re gonna get yourself another trip if you’re not careful,” Chronoth sighed, visibly anxious while warning his sister. “Don’t be too hasty, Misha.”

Chronoth knew it was understandable though, since she was two years younger than him.

“And you’re worried about that? A few bruises? Do you think I am a fancy little girl spoiled by some sort of wealthy parents?” Misha pouted, both hands clutching her waist with an upset look.

The sun slowly infiltrated the wood, brightening up her round pretty face.

No but I want to protect you, my sister. You should not be hurt anymore. Chronoth forcefully swallowed those words back into his throat, inevitably suffering a rebellious cough.

“It’s always wiser for us to move with caution, Misha,” he continued slowly, clearing his voice. “Especially in such a place. Remember, peace is always the ally of the cautious, but danger the predator of the hasty.”

“Yet opportunities always befriend the swiftest,” Misha snorted, rolling her eyes. “And fresh food for the early, not the late, don’t you agree dear brother?” Misha grinned, slowly shaking her index finger at Chronoth who was at the moment suffering from a loss of words.

“You do have a cavern of wise words, Chron,” Misha continued, giving her brother a wide cheeky smile. “But no lecturing today, ya? If we do not hurry, we’ll miss out a lof of fun exploring the hidden part of this wood! So be quick! Quick. Quiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick or I will never come out with you anymore. Never never never.” She gave him another pretentious pout.

“Whatever you said...,” Chronoth smiled, knowing that he really had to hurry up this time. Not coming out with him anymore? No joke. Misha might really mean it this time, for this was about the 50th time she had said the same thing. She might have finally lived up to her words, who knows?

“Look, Chron!” Misha suddenly gasped, eyes wide staring at something.

She seemed extremely curious.

“What is it?” Chronoth couldn’t help but become a little worried, the last time she had said this was when she discovered something unforgettable. Some sort of strange looking mushrooms, glittering with thousands of hues like a colourful circus. She said they looked incredibly cute. And harmless. Without even a chance to dissuade her she already had him carry a large bunch of them back home. Back to Mum, as part of their dinner’s ingredients. And their mum, a knowledgeable and educational lady, happily obliged her without a thought.

But to Chron’s surprise, those mushrooms were wonderfully delicious. He had never tasted something so delectable before. It was soft, juicy, overflowing with a seafoodlike flavour.

And it almost killed them three. Yes, three dead bodies found in their house next day --- if their stomachs were not strong enough to expel those toxics by giving them a one-whole-day punishment. Literally one whole day, three moaning individuals crawling back and forth in the house, begging for mercy.

“Over here, Chron!” Misha snapped him back to reality while waving at him, quietly urging him to come closer.

“What?” Chronoth raised one of his eyebrows, fully suspicious of what she was up to.

“Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” Misha reproved, placing one finger on her mouth. “Stupid, don’t make a sound!” she hissed.

Without further ado, Chronoth carefully advanced and moved to Misha’s side, slowly crouching down next to her. She seemed really excited. With caution she slowly directed Chronoth’s gaze towards somewhere ahead of them. There, on a place not faraway, in fact quite nearby, was a lush beautiful clearing. On that green clearing sat a yellow thing. A heavy thing. A ginormous thing.

A fascinating bird. It was like a giant version of a chick. Only that its head was much chubbier. It seemed sleeping, or taking a lazy rest in this peaceful place. A shaft of morning ray seemed to welcome its presence, gilding many of its feathers into gentle glows.

“Why is it so fat?” Misha tried to stifle a laugh, curious of its shockingly overgrown size.

“It might have a large appetite,” Chronoth guessed in awe. “Or maybe a sweet beak? It must have eaten a lot of sweet berries, grapes, honey or tall, extravagant cakes,” he smiled, making Misha giggle. The cute obese bird seemed to amuse Chronoth as well.

“Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrk!” Suddenly the bird made a sound, squawking aloud while flapping its wings.

A movement making both of them jerk. It seemed to reprove them for ridiculing its uncommon size. But the motion vanished as sudden as how it came. Soon the bird restored itself to the initial pose, its chubby head half-sinking back to its chest. Dozing and snoring again. It seemed to thoroughly enjoy itself in the shaft of golden sunshine amidst the ragged shadows. As though nothing had happened. Happy and lazy to care about a thing of this world.

The two, of course, wondered at its sudden noise but soon chuckled again as they noticed the bird slowly melted back to its chubby form. Chronoth was, in fact, more amazed than Misha at this unexpected encounter. For he knew what the bird was. It was Bumble Wind. A fable tale bird thought to be mythical. He had no idea why this creature would suddenly appear in this little wood.

“Do you think Mum would like to meet him?” Misha turned at Chronoth, eyes gleaming with excitement. Obviously brewing up some sort of mischievious idea.

“Of course she would,” Chronoth said without a doubt, slightly scratching his cheek. Mum would not like to meet him. Mum would loveto meet him. He had no idea what mischief would these two females up to. Not that the creature seemed harmful, though.

Till now Chronoth still couldn’t figure out why Mum seemed more like a girl than a grown woman. Although she had aged over 35, she would obliged Misha whenever she came up with a silly or impish idea. The two were like a shenanigans team, always bringing troubles to the village but also laughters and cackles to the young and old.

“Let’s finish picking the herbs and return to Mum the soonest possible we can, shall we?” Misha smiled with glinting eyes, clearly unable to wait to see the expression of Mum and what silly idea she would come up with after witnessing this chubby bird.

Chronoth sighed. “Sure, let’s –“

“What are you two looking at?” Suddenly a voice rattled them from behind.

It was not loud but a little too abrupt. Yet Chronoth and Misha did not feel overly scared. For they seemed to recognize the voice. Granular, sandy and familiar.

Chronoth whirled back to make sure it was the very person he assumed. And indeed it was. No doubt about it. Their kind and broad-built neighbour, Mr. Frank. He had come to the wood as well.

He stood tall, peering at them who were lying prone about ten feet ahead. Misha rejoiced at the sight of him. She quickly got up, brushed away her dirt, and scuttled over to meet him.

“Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Mr. Frank! Don’t make a sound! Hush but riddle time! Do you know what did we see and –”

She stopped halfway, suddenly shocked. Confused.

Bewildered.

“Get away from him, Misha!” Chronoth shouted in a sudden great fear, springing to his feet and rushing over to Misha’s side, all the while hoping not to startle the giant bird behind. As soon as Misha had noticed, he had noticed too.

“Chro.., Chronoth…,” Mr. Frank stuttered, slowly approaching them.

Something was not right. Somethig was really, really not right.

His expression. His movement. His face.., the colour of his face. Something was wrong.

“Misha.., your.., your brother was right.., don’t.., don’t get near to me..,” he smiled in a very unpleasant way.

Upon finishing his words, he abruptly slumped, sprawling to the ground. In the process stirring up leaves and dried flowers. Branches quivered, shedding some fresh foliage down to the little quake.

And it was revealed. Something was stuck on his back. Something dreadful. Something unforgiving. It was a large hatchet. Heavy and glittery. The horrendous weapon had buried itself deep into his back. Drawing up blood like a small spring.

It was not like any hatchet they had seen before. It seemed much, much larger than usual. Blood pooled out from his back, slowly spidering to his front at the moment.

Upon seeing his wound, Chronoth immediately darted, flying to his side and subsequently kneeling down to get hold of him.

“Stay.., stay awake Mr. Frank! What.., what had happened?” he shook him in a gentler manner, unknowing what to do. For his mind was abruptly blank. The wound seemed too severe. Too deep. Too terrific. Too much blood.

Too much blood.

“Tho.., those monsters. They.., they had come for us.., run.., Chronoth.., run.., please..,” Mr. Frank clutched his arms, trembling and speaking strugglefully. His lungs whistling in a horrible way due to the shortness of breath.

“We.., we will not abandon you..,” Chronoth said in a crumbling certainty. Part of his clothes were dyed red. Hot, crinkled and sticky. His two hands full of blood. Warm and waxy. It was like a dream.

Mr. Frank was laughing and chatting with them this morning. He had even made a cheeky remark on Chronoth, making Misha giggle and Chronoth blush before the two left their village for the wood.

“Foo.., fool….,” Frank spoke on.”Ru... Run back to the village pl.., please, Chro.., Chronoth, an.., and.., and alert them..,” he stammered, begging Chronoth’s desperately. Blood constantly pooling out from his mouth, slowly streaming through his cheeks. “Ig….. Ignore me, r.., run…, ple.., please…., run…...”

Frank did not care about himself. He never cared about himself. He always thought about others first. Another reason stopping Chronoth from leaving him to death. Although Frank had a very tall and intimidating body, he was in reality unreservedly kind. He loved spending time with the poor. And he always worked extra hard to provide for his family. To make sure they didn’t starve by submerging himself in all the labour and toil. Whenever children had a problem, he was always there to help, to laugh and even lament with them. Children loved him, too.

“Sta.., stay awake please Mr. Frank..,” Chronoth knew what to do. He knew he had to rush back to the village and alert all the villagers at once for whatever danger told by Frank. But he could not just leave, this could be this man last moment. He admired this man. Frank had treated Misha so well, so well that Misha always felt comfortable to make fun of him. They were like Father and daughter. Of all adults apart from Mum, Misha found him most affable.

And she was now holding Frank as well, clothes and hands profusely dyed red by his blood. She stuttered in a desperate voice, telling him not to give up. Tears rolling down her blood-smeared cheeks touched by Frank.

“Ru…... Run..., Misha..., an.., and.., thank you fo…, for bringing so much joy to my kids…, pl…, please tell my wife an.., and my children th.., that…., I…, I love them.., I.., I re.., real.…, really love them….., I wish I..., I could…..” Without finishing his words, his hands suddenly plunged, crashing down to the reddened grass. Misha cried aloud.

Chronoth immediately dragged his sister away and tried to assure her that Frank might have just fallen unconscious due to blood lost. Although that might really be the case, he certainly could not hold much longer. Misha soon sprinted after her brother, darting through the wood. Whizzes, gusts and swift snaps of twigs. Chronoth knew time was running out. He must get back to the village now. He must seek medical help for Frank, even if the hope was too bleak.

And if Frank did not survive, he must alert the villagers. So his sacrifice was not in vain.

Chronoth still remembered well of what Frank had told him.

Horribly well.

“Those…, those things.., they…, they are coming for us……, th..., they…, they are coming…..…”