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“Holy poop! What’s that thing?!?” Yellow shrieked the moment she woke up and was met with a lump of rock peering at her with its hollowed black eyes. Its body is like a pun-intended version of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson-but only, its back was lathered with massive occasional moss, a suspicious pink flower sticking at its back and a woodsy vine snaking all over its arms and legs.
Overall, it looked like a statue made from a pile of rocks. Some of her cousins broke out laughing-some were even jeering at her for being such a scaredy-cat. She immediately stood up and made a dash away from the creature—still scared witless.
“That’s Garuba, but Jethro calls him Grub—so does everybody actually. Anyways, he’s a garden Golem. I once read about his kind from those beastiary books grandma had, a couple of years ago.” Emman said as he sauntered off towards Yellow, smiling sheepishly at his frightened cousin.
Yellow eyed the creature with suspicion. She still couldn’t fathom why her cousins easily accepted such monstrosity without doubting its intentions towards them. Like it might be planning something evil… Yellow thought with conviction.
“Don’t stress about it. I believe Hurricane, Cyclone and Jethro won’t easily put our welfare in jeopardy by trusting just anybody. Especially Hurricane, she’s a good judge of character—I bet she threatened the poor guy first just to get a reaction from him.” Emman said in amusement.
“Yeah, knowing Hurricane, I know she wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to scare someone. But I’m still apprehensive about that creature—I don’t trust every inch of that rock though.” Yellow said with malice.
Yellow stared at her cousins who were happily chatting with each other. Jullian and Lucy seemed to be back to their old self since she could already see Jullian bullying the rock creature with Mint just to get a rise out of Jethro, and Lucy was beside Aquamarine and Jade—engaged in some sort of interview session with Lucy who was answering their queries with a dull demeanor.
Since they still don’t have any ideas where to get answers as to where they are and why they are at this strange place, Hurricane and the others decided to shelter at the cave for another night while they plan what to do and where to get answers from—rather than aimlessly going nowhere and put their lives in jeopardy; and the fact that Hurricane, Cyclone and Jethro needs sleep because after finding Grub last night and the almost scare they got, they opted not to exchange places with the others in fear of endangering their cousins who don’t know a thing about self-defense.

“Guys I’m going out to find something to eat. Who’s coming with?” Hurricane suddenly asked out of nowhere. It was already morning and they haven’t even eaten yet since yesterday, Hurricane thought it would be good if they start to find something to eat in this forest to feed all of them.
“I’m going!” Jade answered the same moment Cyclone raised his hand to affirm they are joining her in her search for food.
“What about us though?” Jullian asked them.
“It will be better if you guys stay here. This cave is safer than outside, it will partially hide our scents. I don’t think it’s safe to travel in numbers—we’ll stick out like a sore thumb.” Hurricane explained.
“I agree. If we all come, there will be higher risk. We’ll be easy prey.” Cyclone supplied further.
Everyone apart from Lucy and the Golem nodded in agreement. The calamity siblings indeed made a point on that one, they always do anyway—like in the past whenever they get into one too many troubles, it was Hurricane and Cyclone who were always the ones to find the solutions & loopholes to every problem.
“Jethro and Grub will be with you anyways—I don’t think you’ll be in trouble as long as you stay inside the cave. That is if you will… I bet Jethro will be the first one to break the rules.” Cyclone continued with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Jethro immediately took offense at the joke.
“Hey! I’m not planning on it, you know?” He replied indignantly.
“Don’t worry I’ll keep him in place.” Jullian said. Hurricane was satisfied at that.
“Grub! Come here…” Hurricane called beckoning the golem over. Upon hearing his summons, Grub suddenly perked up and ran towards Hurricane like an overexcited puppy. But instead of a cooing master, Grub was greeted by Hurricane’s infamous expression which her cousins dubbed as her ‘scary-face’. All the younger kids smiled in anticipation at seeing the golem squirm in his pants—or in this case, his stony legs. Hurricane could really make a grown man wet his pants when she put her mind to it—not that she often does it though, most of the time it’s her cousins who are at the receiving end of her ‘icy glacier’ attitude that could cut through your tough act. She mostly uses it to keep her younger cousin’s in their places.
Before Grub had a chance to react, Hurricane grabbed the vine creeping near Grub’s neck and propelled him forward—his eye level, aligned with hers. Hurricane was staring daggers at him-realization of the situation hit him hard. She going to kill me! Grub thought with dread.
“Do you remember our agreement last night right?” Hurricane whispered in a slow dangerous manner.
Grub nodded furiously—truly afraid for his life. Jullian, Jade and Mint chuckled at the scene while Cyclone just threw a smirk. However Jethro on the other hand, felt nervous as hell—the last time he was at the receiving end of Hurricane’s wrath, he left with nothing but emotional trauma… his cousin really has a way with words—and not the right kind.
“Answer me Grub!!! We don’t want no mute Grub now, do we?” Hurricane prodded menacingly, her smile a saccharine one, enough to fool you into submitting to her desires. Dang it! Hurricane sure is scary…Yellow thought as a chill passed her.
“Y-y-yes!!!” the golem stuttered out. He was obviously scared witless and is shaking from head to toe. Mint could swear she saw the plant sticking on its back suddenly dried out-the brown leaves falling forever.
“Now that was easy right?” Hurricane continued, her voice louder this time.
“Okay… Hurricane you had your fun now, leave the poor guy alone.” Cyclone drawled out in amusement before attempting to drag his sister away from the horrified Grub—but Hurricane resisted. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the entertainment that was playing before them too much.
“Wait, give me a minute.” Hurricane said before grabbing the golem again. “Grub, remember this okay? If I ever find out my cousin’s lives are in danger, I’ll have Grub’s head on a plate… do you understand?” she continued in a menacing tone.
“Y-y-yes…” Grub replied. Hurricane seemed satisfied at that.
“Okay… out we go!” Jade said before grabbing Hurricane by the shoulder and dragged her outside the cove. Cyclone followed after reminding everyone to keep safe.
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15 minutes of walking and Cyclone is now sure their journey for food is in vain. There are only humongous trees growing in this forest and the nearest branch is not even at least 20 ft. high! Jesus! This is torture! He thought with dread. He’s never felt more helpless in his whole life than how he’s feeling now.
“This is stupid. We get dragged into this strange place with a million giant trees and not even a small chance of food in sight!” Cyclone huffed in frustration. He was following along his sister and cousin as they trudged the path scouring for vegetative trees.
“Ah half a mile left. Let us go left.” Jade suddenly muttered while pointing on their left.
“What?” Cyclone asked in confusion.
“You heard me. Come on, let’s go.” Jade replied and started to walk towards the path she pointed. Hurricane followed suit after her—furthering the frown etched on Cyclone’s face.
“Wait. You’re just gonna follow her? Are you not even weirded out?” Cyclone asked his sister.
Hurricane shrugged before answering. “Yes and yes brother. Of course, I’m weirded out—but all that happened since yesterday at granny’s house is nothing but freaky, yeah? So instead of freaking out every time something happened, I’d rather have my wits with me and face each problem head on.”
“True. It’s not like you to get frustrated, cousin. You were always silent and logical. Maybe all this stress is taking a toll on you yeah?” Jade quipped after pushing another branch covering her way.
“Oh, here we are!” Jade said in a happy tone. Indeed, they were standing at a few groves of apple trees—it’s branches full of red plump fruits, swaying at the mercy of the billowing winds.
“How did you know about this?” Cyclone asked towards Jade. Jade on the other hand just shrugged before answering.
“I don’t really know myself. It’s like having an instinct like how Jullian felt, and I followed it.” Jade replied happily.

Weird cousins… Cyclone thought dryly.

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“Are they really safe right now?” Yellow asked for the umpteenth time. From the moment three of their cousins left, Yellow has been incessantly asking questions of the same context that is slowly grating on her cousin’s nerves. Yes, they are all worried, but they tried to suppress it by muttering prayers every now and then just to ease their rampant imagination. Yellow huffed in irritation when she realized none of her cousins are about to reply to her questions any time soon—she slumped on the ground beside Emmanuel who was intently engaging the golem in a conversation.
Jullian however, felt more agitated the moment Jethro asked to get a wink of sleep for a couple of hours to regain back his depleted energy. It was like she was left to supervise everyone and that is what’s sending her on edge. She is already on edge, and Yellow’s incessant asking is just a cherry on top effect that is driving her mad with worry and something else entirely.
That and the mystery of what happened yesterday is still bothering her. At least I’m not having the whole ‘someone’s-going to-die’ feeling again…She thought with dread—as if the thought would comfort her. At that thought, Jullian threw her cousin Lucy a sidelong glance before deciding that she really need to find answers for her mind’s sake.
“Lucy… about what happened yesterday.” She trailed off, not really knowing how to continue. Lucy must have an idea what she’s talking about.
“If you’re trying to ask me if I knew what happened then—then no, I don’t. What I knew however, was what was about to happen… I saw it happen like a fast forward dream. No, more like a nightmare. It happened so fast and I don’t even understand it… hell, I wasn’t even given the time to process if what I saw was real or not. Bam! It happened. I know you know that too.” Lucy replied her face showing little to no expression. Sometimes Jullian really wondered how their youngest cousin manage to keep up her poker-faced demeanor in times like this… it’s almost scary.
“I felt the same way too…the only difference is that—I didn’t see it like you did. I just felt like I knew someone’s going to die and it freaked me out.” Jullian answered truthfully.
Instead of making a comment, Lucy decided to divert her attention towards her brother who was pressing the poor golem with answers. It was not time yet to dwell on what happened the other day, the trauma was too fresh… Lucy thought grimly.
“Do you know where we are?” Emman tried asking Grub. Grub nodded in reply.
“Um where are we?” Mint decided to ask next.
“Infinite forest.” The golem answered happily as if they were just playing a television game show.
“And where is that?” Aquamarine. Grub shook his head vigorously that bits of pebbles and moss kept flying off, something suspiciously close to a thumb sized pebble almost hit Mint near her left eye. Luckily, she jerked fast to avoid getting hit by the pebble. Reflexes as fast as the wind… that was her superpowers, she thought with a secret smirk.
“You don’t know?” Emman.
“I don’t. I live here all my life… before I come back to rock form.” Grub replied.
“Rock form? Are you kidding me? You look already rock to me.” Mint replied with a smile.
“I meant our end. Rock form…we come back.” Grub explained with a frown.
“What? Can anybody please explain what this stoned guy is telling us? It’s like talking to Yoda or something. I’m losing brain cells!” Aquamarine said complete with exasperated hand gestures.
Emman was about to state his theory when Aquamarine raised an arm to stop him.
“But hold that thought for a minute, I need a pee break!” Aquamarine shrieked before running towards the cave’s mouth and hiding behind a bush.
“Don’t stray too far Aqua!!!” Jullian reminded in which the latter just replied with a grunt.
Then they heard the slight hissing sound of her pee.
“Oy! It’s like a faucet raining down here!” Mint joked.
“Nah it’s nothing like the waterfall!” Emman joined in.
But the hissing sound gradually became stronger as if it’s closing in. That’s when Aqua went running inside in a disheveled, panicked state—while looking at something behind her.
“Guys! We gotta run! It’s a spider woman!!!” Aquamarine screech loud enough to alert all of them. Jullian immediately jumped into action and slapped her twin hard to wake him up. With his face still stinging with pain, Jethro got up feeling disoriented and darned hurt.
“Ow what the hell!?” Jethro bellowed.
Jethro’s eyes almost bulged out of their sockets as a gigantic insect with hairy legs was coming at them in fast speed like a predator zoning in for the kill. But what surprised him the most was that instead of seeing its face, he was staring at a human half—a girl. Its face was littered with one too many eyes and its mouth though open with all its screeching, was filled with razor sharp set of teeth. Jethro threw a sidelong glance at his cousins and was not shocked when he saw their identical horrified expressions. Jullian and Mint hid the kids at their back, even Grub was hiding himself behind Jullian like a little kid.
Jethro was wracking his brain on how to distract the monster so that his cousins could escape-then he decided to take the humor route. Jethro whistled at the creature appreciatively.

“I know I’m attracted to boobs and all but damn your hairy pair is a sight!” Jethro commented with a wink. The creature must have understood what he said because it emitted a guttural growl.
“You PERVERTED IDIOT!!!” Jullian bellowed at her twin, wanting to either stab him with Hurricane’s wood weapon or render him blind with the idiocy he’s been exhibiting. But instead of getting scared at his twin sister like he always does, Jethro shook his head slowly as if gesturing to them to escape while he distracted the creature. The human-spider creature must have sensed their plans for escape because it moved to action.

Jethro felt a strong force slamming him towards the cave wall so hard that he felt his vision blurred. He was about to pass out! He thought in panic.
“Oh my god! It puked on me!!!” Yellow shouted in disgust.
That was the last thing Jethro heard before he passed out.