It was Aqua who opened her eyes first.
The view before her rendered her speechless and completely immobile as the weight of its reality finally sunk in her comprehension.
We’re in a freaking forest! She thought with a shiver. She noticed that all of them were at a small clearing in the middle of the forest, but she was unsure about that. Her cousins were all strewn about around her, they were unconscious and very much unaware of their situation.
Aqua tried pinching herself to prove she’s not dreaming or hallucinating the whole thing but decided to discard such absurd idea as she felt the stinging pain, she inflicted upon herself. After spacing off for a few minutes, she decided to wake everyone up.
“Hey, Mint wake up. Help me.” Aqua said while shaking her sister violently to rouse her. After a few more violent shakings, Mint woke up and underwent the same state Aqua experienced a few moments ago.
“Wha-where are we?” Mint sputtered out, her mouth opening-and closing like a fish-out-of-water expression.
“My thoughts exactly. Let’s figure that out later, we have to wake them up first.” Aqua told her sister before shaking their cousins up one by one.
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After a series of cycles of repeated shocked expressions, questions about their whereabouts, and ‘what the hell happened’ later, the cousins tried to figure things out.
“So, what you’re trying to say is that-that blasted book brought us all here? In the middle of nowhere?” Jade asked while gesturing the book on the ground.
As the appointed leader of the group, Hurricane decided that they better leave the book alone as of the moment before something entirely crazy happens again. And Jade was trying her best to understand the logic in Cyclone’s theory as to why they were all there in the first place.
The others were listening silently, only giving in a few comments and questions here and there.
“Exactly… maybe there’s some sort of magic in it?” Hurricane supplied unconfidently.
“That’s also my guess. I mean it can’t possibly transport all of us here without magic right?” Cyclone.
“So, the book is the primary culprit then… How about what happened at granny’s home?” Jethro.
“What part are you talking about exactly?” Jade.
“Everything. About why Jullian and Lucy acted that way, where that monster came from and what it came for. I guess we haven’t exactly established the last one before we killed him.” Jethro answered.
“True. I guess the instinct to save ourselves from harm kicked first before thoughts of interrogation ever came to mind. I mean that guy Karo was intent to kill… hey, maybe he was sent to kill us?” Jade said with a renewed interest of the matter.
“And who would want to kill us? Gosh! Can’t this day get any crazier?” Mint said with a huff.
“I don’t know about that part, but this day is the craziest day of my life!” Jethro.
“Guys… about what happened this morning… what Cyclone said about the premonition thingy… do you think he’s right? I mean… after all, what Lucy said about the dead man and the orc were spot on.” Hurricane started.
Everyone seemed to see the logic in that as they turned all their attention to the still unconscious Lucy.
“How about you Jullian? What happened? Why did you shout suddenly?” Jade decided to gently ask Jullian who’s silently listening at the sidelines.
They all thought Jullian was going to keep her silence but they were all proven wrong when she spoke.
“I really don’t know Jade… I suddenly got this feeling that someone will die and that I was sure of it. It…it overwhelmed me that’s why I shouted like that… sorry, it was just so horrible.” Jullian replied softly.
“So, both had an inkling as to what was about to happen. Wait does that make them either some sort of clairvoyant or something?” Cyclone.
“Ugh… I really don’t know about that. All these questions are hurting my head.” Mint commented.
“Let’s leave those questions for later. But for now, let’s start finding food and a place to sleep… my instincts are telling me—dangers are lurking everywhere. So, before it gets dark let’s get going yeah? I don’t really trust this clearing.” Hurricane said before getting up.
Everyone immediately followed suit. Jethro, as the eldest of the male-carried the sleeping Lucy, Jade kept Jullian to her side while Mint gathered the younger kids, mainly Emmanuel and Yellow beside her.
Cyclone held the orc’s dagger tightly in his hand and walked alongside Aqua-Hurricane stopped for a moment to pick the book from the ground and placed it in her makeshift backpack made from her hair turban, before they continued to tread the grounds of the endless sea of forest.
After a couple of hours walk later, they found some sort of cave and decided to stay there for the night. With the stray twigs and firewood-Aqua and Cyclone gathered from the grounds in their short journey, and Jethro’s fortunate Boy Scout skills, they had a warm fire growing to keep them company for the night.
Their sleeping arrangements were decided later. It was agreed upon that Hurricane, Jethro and Cyclone took the first watch while the others sleep first and take their turns a few hours later.
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Night watch is not an easy task. That’s what Jethro thought as he kept on fighting the battle of trying to keep himself awake for an entirely good cause.
The lethargy was about to take over when Cyclone decided to poke him with a twig, he used at poking the fire they made. He screeched as the temporary pain caused by the still warm twig Cyclone poked him with. Darned it stung! He thought as he threw a glare at Cyclone who raised his hands as a universal sign of surrender.
“What? You were about to drift off you know?” Cyclone said-his tone defensive.
“That stung you know!” Jethro replied while blowing on his hurt elbow.
“I know, sorry. But hey, it’s effective right? You’re awake now.” Cyclone.
“Thank you! You are such a genius.” Jethro replied sarcastically.
Hurricane only regarded their banter with an uninterested glance before she continued to stare at nowhere in particular, she seemed deep in thought that Jethro decided not to interfere. Cyclone must’ve thought the same since he decided to only annoy Jethro.
“What happened this morning…” Cyclone trailed off.
“Yeah… Bizarre right? I’d gladly give my entire all-star basketball memorabilia just to have a clue as to what the hell is happening right now.” Jethro.
“Really?” Cyclone asked dubiously.
“Hell no. I’d rather not gamble my life’s worth of collection for this you know, but I would still want to know what’s happening though. This feels like being stuck in a calculus exam without studying prior the test.” Jethro.
“What a comparison! I’d give you an applause right now, but I’m quite preoccupied at the moment.” Cyclone quipped in a poker-faced demeanor.
Jethro felt like strangling his cousin-but since realizing it would only lead them nowhere, he restrained himself. God knows they don’t need another problem to pile up to their already growing stack.
“You— “Jethro stopped when Hurricane raised her hand, gesturing him to stop making noise.
Hurricane quietly stood and walked near the cave’s mouth, trudging the path slowly as if not wanting to make unnecessary sound. Only the sound of the fire crackling and the cricket’s singing were heard amidst the silence.
“What is it?” Cyclone whispered as he followed his sister—dagger in hand. Both were weary as if preparing themselves for something…
Jethro thought it be best if he kept his position first. His eyes darting between the calamity siblings and his sleeping cousins—his back bristled in anticipation for action, the thrill kept pumping his adrenaline to the max. He easily eased himself in a fighting stance while assessing the whole cave for possible blind spots and escape routes that could help them escape or hide if need arises.
“I think I saw something.” Hurricane replied a few beats later. Cyclone suddenly went on alert as trees and the bushes suddenly rustled as if something whizzed pass it. Hurricane suddenly scoured the ground to find something that can be used as a weapon. She found a long sturdy branch cut with a sharp jagged edge that seemed to be used once as staff but was broken in half—hence the sharp tip. This would do… she thought.
The creature seemed to be intent on hiding itself behind the bushes that Cyclone can’t help but feel impatient and decided to approach the target. He trudged the path painstakingly slow, quickly assessing their situation and formulating quick strategies that will help their situation.
The light of the full moon illuminated his surroundings. Upon nearing the target, he held the dagger in mid-air suspended and ready for an assault. He was about to strike when only a pile of ball shaped rocks greeted him-slightly catching him by surprise.
“JETHRO!!!” Cyclone called.
Jethro immediately ran towards his cousin expecting a fight to happen but instead, he was greeted by Cyclone who looks like he’s about to shit himself.
“Where is it?” Jethro asked frantically.
“In front of you.” Cyclone replied with a deadpan expression.
Jethro immediately inspected the bushes before him-his eyes almost bulged out of its sockets when it landed to some sort of rock lumps-creature, its hollowed eyes staring at him with uncertainty.
“Jesus!!! What in tarnation is that?” Hurricane shrieked from behind them, catching them both in surprise. Jethro almost leapt from where he was standing.
“It’s a golem. A rock mythical creature, humanoid-looking, but somewhat a buffy version.” Jethro explained when he got over his almost heart attack. Hurricane looked almost skeptical.
“Is that creature safe?” Hurricane asked while pointing at the creature. The golem in question, was still giving them a frightened look.
“Is anything ever safe?” Cyclone asked rhetorically.
“Touché.” Hurricane replied.
“I don’t think so. It’s still a kid. I doubt it has the ability to hurt us… if it did-then it’s already done it.” Jethro theorized convincingly.
“Really? Can it speak?” Hurricane. She tried poking the creature with the sharp-edged wood in her hand, but it only stepped back further to the bushes in a vain attempt to hide from them.
“How about you ask him? He looks like he’s about to scream bloody murder at us.” Cyclone replied still dubious at the creature. Jethro couldn’t blame his cousin for his hesitation, after all it’s not easy to trust anyone from this strange place they were stranded in.
“How do you know that? It doesn’t have anything in its face except for its hollowed eye sockets!” Hurricane.
“I just do! I don’t know how, I just do. Look at it closely, it’s so scared at us that that it’s retreating behind the bushes.” Cyclone replied indignantly. Indeed, its face conveys multiple expression without even changing. The fact that they recognize the sudden changes of the golem’s expression amazed them. Hurricane stopped poking the creature with the stick after deciding that the golem creature seems harmless.

“H-hey… can you speak? What’s your name little one?” Hurricane asked in a compassionate manner.
The golem’s facial expression abruptly morphed from fright to sudden joy. It suddenly stood up-almost as tall as Hurricane’s waist and sauntered off towards Hurricane-each step accompanied by a slight jovial jump like that of a happy puppy greeting it’s master.
“Look it’s suddenly giddy!” Jethro commented ecstatically.
“Garuba. Me.” It suddenly spoke in a big throaty voice. His words are almost incomprehensive.
“What? Did it say Grub?” Cyclone asked with a frown.
“No. He said Garuba.” Hurricane.
“I like Grub better! Can we call you Grub?” Jethro asked the golem and it bobbed its head happily, seeming to like its new moniker.
“Wait. How’d you know it’s a he? It could be a she, you know?” Cyclone asked skeptically.
“Are you he?” Hurricane asked the golem directly. And it nodded yet again.
“Are you a she?” This time it was Cyclone who asked. Again, it repeated the same action.
Both stared at it in confusion and disbelief.
“Come on you calamity kids, lighten up. Everything doesn’t need to have an answer! Have faith and let him be with his sexuality.” Jethro answered in an amused tone.
“So now it’s a he?” Hurricane asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Let’s just agree to disagree. Shall we?” Jethro replied. His cousin shook their heads and conceded.
“Are you sent here to hurt us?” Hurricane asked Grub. The creature shook his head aggressively.
“No. I come to find friends. Garuba is lonely. No friend.” Grub replied while pointing his stony finger at them.
“You think we’re you’re friends?” Cyclone asked in assurance. Grub nodded before muttering his reply.
“You. Good guys. Grub love good guys. Good guys are friends.” Grub replied while staring at them. His stony finger still pointed in their direction. Cyclone suddenly realized that the creatures they met so far- only had a limited intelligence on them. Enough to survive a decent conversation but not up to construct a whole comprehensive sentence.
“So what’s the conviction? Is he part of the gang or what?” Jethro interjected excitedly.
“He’s in. We need someone who knows this place anyway.” Hurricane decided. “But don’t ever forget, I’ve got my eyes on you okay? Put us in harm, and you’re one dead golem. Are we clear?” Hurricane said again, but this time pertaining the golem, Grub. Grub happily nodded in agreement-not minding the threat thrown his way. Jethro immediately side hugged the golem in excitement and taught it how to fist bump and do a victory dance which consist of bum shaking—which the golem did in an awkward manner. Cyclone and Hurricane chuckled at the comical sight.

Jethro smiled at the sight of the still dancing golem his thoughts drifting towards his sleeping cousins. He could already imagine their faces when they get to meet their new rocky friend...