A TALE'S ENDING AND A TAIL'S BEGINNING

  Mount Laon was shattered beyond recognition. Its flora was charred to black ash and its stranger fauna were either roasted to a crisp or nowhere to be found. What was left of the enchanted land around it was a burning heap of molten rocks and sulfuric fumes. The Bone Gates itself was gone as well, but its effects had left its lingering mark on the land of Vijayas.

  The seven-headed dragon which was now missing one of its head was still in flight, ravaging the skies above and spewing flames on the surrounding ancient forest.

  ***

  On the east-side of the volcanic mount, on top of a hill untouched by the flames, Tihol gently laid Karas on the grass, sighing at the ordeal they had just experienced.

  "We're not going back to Gadlum any time soon, right?" the bagani said, collapsing on the grass.

  "Not plannin' to," her babaylan sister answered, sitting up slowly. "I'm way over my depth." She lowered her voice. "I have to be stronger than this. You listenin'? We have to be, Tihol. Guess I need to quit drinkin', huh?"

  "Oh, the things we do to ourselves..." Tihol spread her arms, letting the breeze do its soothing effect on her sore muscles. "Could we just live unexciting lives for once... I could be a farmer and you could be a mananambal. That would be good to both of us."

  Karas gave her a weak smile and took a deep breath, watching the devastated land before her. Things were bad right now, but they could've been worse. She nodded to herself. Far worse. She knew time would come and the plants would grow again, the animals would come back and the land would heal itself in time. It was the way of things in Vijayas. What they had now was a better fate than letting Sri Kihod's goals come to pass. Thankless it might be, doing the right thing and standing against evil was still the right choice for her. She turned her head to their other companion.

  "Are you still with us, Usong?" Karas said. "We might be needin' your help with cleanin' things up."

  Halmista's emissary buried her face on her arms, sitting like a carven wooden anito.

  Tihol hushed her sister. "I think she's having one of those headaches. Or worse, a personal life crisis... better to not bother her, Karas."

  Si-an Usong occupied herself, massaging her temple over and over again to no effect. Getting beat up like this was not on her to-do list. The plan was to win flawlessly, not by the skin of their teeth. Not by this margins. She grumbled a curse. Technically, they haven't won yet too. They just escaped. Sooner or later they might have to fight for their lives again.

  Karas ignored her sister and began to pester Halmista's emissary. "You listenin', Usong? Why so quiet?"

  "Can't talk yet," she answered. "Need to rest. Bother me later, babaylan."

  Karas made a face and Tihol chuckled.

  Beside Si-an Usong, Jurah took out varying sizes of bamboo receptacles containing all her healing salves and unguents. It was everything she could carry, but she still wished she had a bigger satchel bag. Moving efficiently, she placed them neatly on the ground, choosing different combinations and applying them on the various injuries of her companions, starting with Si-an Usong, who moaned and moaned even before Jurah started.

  "You will be okay, in no time," the ati said.

  "I don't doubt that," Si-an Usong replied, wincing at the salve placed on the side of her head.

  "What are you doing, Mistress Usong?" Jurah paused. "Stop rummaging through my belongings. I told you before, I don't like carrying liquor with me. And you just said you want to rest!"

  "I'm not looking for arak." Si-an Usong dropped the satchel bag. "I am a respectable emissary of Devata Halmista. I abhor drinking of all things, mortal. But is there a chance you have basi wine with you? I'm just parched, really."

  "No."

  "Oh, that's unfortunate." Si-an Usong sighed, mildly disappointed.

  "But there is leftover pangasi."

  "You said you don't carry liquor with you. You liar!"

  "What do you want me to do? Cure your hung over after too? As the kids would say, that's just a drag... And I don't have any other kind... and that's also my favorite. And by the way, withholding things and lying are two completely different things, Mistress Usong."

  "You play dirty, puyang."

  "Thanks. It is a useful trait as I observed. You could say, I learned from the best lot."

  "No." Si-an Usong smiled. "Thank you! Haven't had this fun since the second rebellion. Fun, of course, being a relative word here. And to be frank, I really shouldn't have let you convince me that easy. Coming with you here shaved half of my life away... and I'm an immortal goddammit!"

  "All this is a complicated mess."

  Jurah just smiled. "But you know, I did not really expect that all of us would work so well. It's such an interesting dynamic to see how our strengths compliment each other. As a team, we did quite exceptional given the time we had and the circumstance we faced."

  "Yes, the good kind of complicated basing on the favorable result. If you could call us beaten to a pulp as favorable, that is." Si-an Usong turned to the sky. "Perhaps, my master would agree on your remark. He likes interesting things after all. He might even hire you all for his bidding next time."

  "It would be an honor to meet the God of the arcane arts one day."

  The emissary of the deity of magic snorted. "I agree. You should meet Lord Halmista. He'll like you. He likes the weird bunch after all." She cracked her neck. "Maybe, he'll even reward your lot. Me? I might have to take a few months off after this. Probably gamble and feast for awhile in the pleasure temples of Madia-as." She waved at the bagani. "Hey, Tihol! Wanna come with me?"

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  "After all that happened to us?" Tihol looked at Karas roguishly and gave a meaningful smile. "I'm really considering your offer, I mean the farm lands could wait a little bit and–"

  Karas interrupted them. "We just survived a near death experience. We're all lucky we didn't get annihilated. And you're plannin' a vacation? What the hell are you two all about!"

  "Good thing it's over, right?" Si-an Usong smiled, trying to push her own agenda.

  The puyang shook her head as the roaring moon-eater in the skies flapped its massive wings, sending a gust of wind down below. The ear-shattering sound it created startled them. "I fear this is not over yet, Mistress Usong."

  "With that thing still flying? Yeah." Si-an Usong nodded at the enormous leviathan soaring above them as it answered her curse with another roar. She took a deep breath. "I guess you're right. I hate it when you mortals are right, puyang. And to imagine that there are a dozen other moon-eaters roaming around this realm alone. Vijayas... you untamable beast."

  The ati agreed. "A land of beauty with a bite my elders used to say."

  After mending Si-an Usong's injuries, Jurah turned to Tihol and Karas's wounds. But she suddenly halted when she saw a tear in space that looked like a fractured piece of pottery. As the pieces fell in place, she saw that there was only darkness on the other side. Her heart skipped a beat, swallowing a bitter curse.

  The others saw the portal too and they readied themselves as best they could. Whatever would came out from it, they would stand and give their all. A long second passed in anticipation before Jurah took a step towards it. She wasn't as badly beaten like the others but she was compelled to protect the rest. Even though she wasn't exactly the strongest among the women, she felt like doing this was the right thing to do. She only wished she drunk one of her potion to dull her many aches first. Or the wine.

  She clenched her fist. They were not exactly fit to fight Sri Kihod again. Not this soon, in her opinion. But who was she to defy the spirits' will. She took a quick assessment of things. Yes, it was true that Gadlum weakened them gradually while they were there. But even here, outside of the Dark realm, they still stood little chance to win.

  The Lord of Manghihiwit was a crafty adversary. Jurah slowly shook her head. If Tikum and Amburukay failed to win against Sri Kihod it would surely be a problem for everyone that's not a buruhisan. She flexed her fingers. She was not sure if she can summon her god-spirit back. But she would try. Her hands shook as she fixed her eyes on the opening in space, praying earnestly for a favorable outcome.

  "Oh, the gods!" Jurah sighed in relief when she saw Amburukay with Ukok on her arms walk out from the portal.

  "Is... is she okay?" Jurah said as she approached the pair, eyeing the child she owed her life to.

  "No worries, Jurah." Amburukay nodded her head to her daughter. "She is fine." She placed Ukok on the ground, letting her walk down the hill. Even bruised and battered, Ambu was still able to smile at the ati. "Thank you for your help. For everything. I am in all your debts." She nodded at everyone who helped them with kindness and gratitude in her eyes. "I will repay you in time, I promise."

  "I do this all for Ukok," the ati said. "She saved my life a while back and I will always be indebted to her. And how about you?" Jurah thought of offering her puyang skills to her, but the manghihiwit's eyes were transfixed on the flying monster high above them.

  "Gi-atay," Ambu said. "Did the world fell over. I think we really made a damn mess of things." The others agreed with her, even Karas nodded as the mother and daughter joined them.

  "We'll be in another fight soon enough, Mistress Amburukay," Jurah said, wiping dust from Ukok's face.

  "What do you think, Tikum?" The manghihiwit had a serious look on her face before she turned towards him and then back to the destruction around them. Maybe after this, they could genuinely talk and settle things like adults for once. She sighed. Maybe it'll take more time than that. After all, all things of value always take time. But she could wait. All for Ukok. Her daughter's father would definitely agree on it.

  Tikum sighed as he lagged behind. His face was haggard and his body was bruised all over, but there was a curious glint on his eyes. "Well, I'd call for a proper celebration first... Yes, a grand feast would be in order, but with how things are blown to bits and burned to a crisp, all I could do for now is thank everyone for saving our child's life–"

  "No. What I mean is–"

  "It's all worth it." Tikum nodded as he whispered almost to himself, eyeing Ambu first and then each heroine who answered his call for aid. "She's all worth it. No doubt about that." He looked a bit delirious, but maybe it was just him being so sincere for once.

  Jurah approached him with all the medicine she had. But Tikum held his hand up, showing her the golden tikbalang's mane tied on his missing arm. The wound was slowly healing and the bleeding had stopped.

  Jurah halted as she realized that no one could do anything about it. Tikum would have to make due with what he had.

  Tikum paused and exhaled deeply. The pain was not as strong as before. And with the magical artifact, he would be back in top shape. Well, not exactly like before, his missing hand was a testament to that. But he could manage. All things considered.

  "I guess we'll have to fight that damned thing first before calling it a day," he finally said, catching his second wind. "So, how do we do this?" He counted the people around him. "One head... each?"

  Every reasonable person around Tikum shook their heads slowly, not sure if it was a joke, or an invitation for another life or death fight against the odds.

  "They could also join, if they want to, right?" Amburukay said, gesturing towards the gathering of people on the base of the hill.

  Tikum stared at the countless troops of Ulayan soldiers that marched to a halt below them. All were armed to the teeth. But his focus was on their leader- borne in a gilded palanquin. The regal, Princess Ramendang and her trusty advisor, Milong met Captain Ulisong and the rest of his men. Tikum could only smile as the binukot and her aide waved at them. Their chances weren't that good. But having more help was infinitely more favorable. If he learned something, it's that having people around you could rely on when shit flooded you to the knees was always good. It was the difference between losing your head to a kampilan and having it still attached to your neck at the end of the day.

  "Well, better late than never." Tikum took Ukok on his arm and held her tight. "Are you okay?"

  She nodded as she buried her head on his bare chest. "What will we do, bapa?"

  Tikum soothed her daughter, kissing her gently on her forehead. "Don't worry, little mongrel." He nodded at Amburukay and she nodded in return. "Me, your Ma, and the rest of our friends will just have to save all of Vijayas for you. Save it over and over again if we have to." He kissed her forehead. "For you."

  From the distance, the dragon of Mount Laon soared through the clouds and roared a deafening cry of defiance.

  "Gi-atay." Tikum cleared his throat, feeling all the pain in his body all at once. Then, he whistled slowly, trying his best to center himself as he watched the seven-headed dragon. It wasn't hard to be in awe at the vast leviathan above, as it spat fire at the clouds. He stifled a laugh. "It sure looks like it'll be easier this time around. What do you all think?"

  Everyone around him smiled nervously, some longer than the others.

  He placed Ukok on the ground, holding her hand as tight as he could. "We'll probably take it down before lunch."

  "Promises... promises..." Amburukay whispered, holding Ukok's other hand.

  Tikum grinned, eyeing the manghihiwit with a new found respect. "You know... You've changed."

  Ambu nodded. "We all have." She took a deep breath, readying herself. "We're supposed to."

  "Of course. Naturally."

  "So, what's the plan? You do have a plan, right?"

  Tikum gave a curt nod, a feral glitter sparkling from his eyes. "Well, you know me. I always do. And I think this is my best one yet." He smiled weakly. "You can join in too. No pressure. But first, I have to steal Devata Kaptan's lightning spear."

  Amburukay only rolled her eyes. While those within earshot gave a confused look towards the former thief.

  Well, one thing you could say about Tikum Kadlum, is that he will always have a plan. But are they really the best? Now, that's for another tale.

  THE END?