“What do you think?” asked Nick.
“You know the answer! What was her reaction when she found out that I was a girl?” Nick wasn’t surprised by Devada’s question. He had expected it beforehand.
“You know the answer too!” said Nick with an even expression. After that, Devada was no longer interested in seeking answers.
“Wait! Do you feel something is wrong?” asked Nick. His eyes darted around the expansive sky. Even Devada, the girl was silent observing the movement of the clouds. The sky light was dimming so fast.
“Is it cloudy?” Nick was so curious.
“No, Dad! Look at that!” Devada pointed her index finger at a small spot that emitted white light above. Yes, the crystals scattered there are stars.
“Impossible! How can the night go so fast?”
“Don’t worry about it, Dad! We have to find mom as soon as possible,” Devada said as she quickened her steps.
“Dad, do you know their secret place? We can’t possibly find mom quickly in this wide forest,” Devada said without slowing down her pace.
“You’re right! Unfortunately, I don’t know the secret place of the demons.” Nick’s answer made the girl a little disappointed. Dev pouted softly.
“While I was exploring, I didn’t come across the strangest place besides their village. That place has an unusual sky. The atmosphere is also very different.” Nick explained.
“Alright, let’s go back to that place!” take Devada.
“I can’t believe your mother was there,” Nick thought.
“What makes you so sure that we haven’t looked into it yet?” Devada looked a little annoyed, but she could only say it through her eyes.
“We’ve been there, haven’t we?” Nick asked.
“But that was a while ago. What if they did go back there? Sometimes we can get caught up in our own thoughts.” Devada raised a rebuttal in such a cold voice.
“So stubborn!”
“That’s the treasure you left me!” Devada responded to her father’s expression which sounded low. She smirked meaningfully.
“Okay, it’s up to you!” Devada’s lips curved. Finally, Nick was willing to give in even though he was reluctant.
Nick glanced at the watch on his wrist. The watch was already pointing at 19. 00. It made perfect sense for the sky to change its cloak. It turned out that their journey with Masma took quite a long time. On the way, Nick suddenly heard something that was quite disturbing. Like the cry of an animal in pain.
“Dev, did you hear that?” Nick’s eyes wandered around hoping to find something he meant.
“What?”
“Like a big cat.” Devada rolled her eyes, then said, “If what you heard was a music concert that just doesn’t make sense.”
“Yes, you’re right!” After saying that, Nick chose to ignore the sound and continued to pedal even though the animal’s groans were getting louder and louder.
Brack!
Unexpectedly, Nick’s footing fell. The sound of an animal suddenly shrills along with its stumbling body. A male lion growled and stared at Nick like an enemy. The man didn’t move at all to make sure he wasn’t a threat to the lion. Nick retreated slowly calmly to the limit, then exhaled. He saw the big cat’s eyes lit up and continued to growl. Nick had to be careful. It could be that the carnivorous animal devoured him alive.
“Daddy!” Nick looked up to see Devada holding out a piece of rope. The trap hole was deep enough to make Nick unable to climb up without help. Holding the end of the rope, he felt something strange.
“What are you sticking out for me, Dev?” Nick was curious, because the rope was squirming quietly and had a ridiculous texture.
“Whatever it is, you have to go up as soon as possible!” Nick looked thoughtful. His curiosity grew. To answer everything, he took the initiative to turn on the led feature on the watch he was wearing. After the white light expanded, the adult man jumped. Unfortunately, the shock made the growling of the juvenile lion with him even more intense.
“Shit!” he cursed, cursing two equally dangerous conditions.
“Hurry up, Dad!” said Devada impatiently.
“You gave me a snake. How can I climb up with it?” Nick protested as he watched the snake stick out its tongue.
“Just a snake. You are more savage and venomous than it,” said Devada without thinking about her father’s feelings. Nick sighed, holding something in his heart. He was very understanding. The child’s nature was really annoying this time.
With no other choice, Nick must cooperate with the poisonous beast. In order to maintain his pride as a real man, Nick tried to ignore the snake’s hiss by closing his eyes. His hands moved quickly to grab the snake’s body with both feet starting to rest on the dirt wall. Inevitably the fast movement made the rough scaly animal startled and reflexively pecked several parts of Nick’s body. Nick ignored it until he could reach Devada’s outstretched hand.
“You’re great, Dad!” Devada praises her father’s bravery sincerely. The adult man exhaled roughly as he wiped the sweat that trickled down his face.
“Come on!” That was all that came out of Nick’s mouth.
They hurriedly continued on their way, but a miserable roar suddenly stopped them in their tracks. Nick turned and walked back into the trap hole. There, Nick finds the poor lion crying. He just realized that the jungle king’s body was full of wounds. Maybe because of fighting with other predators or because of trying to get out of that death pit. Nick looked at the lion with pity.
“Daddy, what are you doing?” Devada is shocked to see Nick purposely re-entering there, after struggling to get rid of himself by risking safety.
“We’ll help him, Dev!” The girl suddenly fell silent with a confused look. Nick doesn’t care what Devada’s reaction is. He started the action even though it would be difficult. His approach made the poor lion fierce again.
“Relax, I’m not your enemy! I came back here to free you.”
His efforts did not immediately make the carnivorous animal melt. However, he kept trying to make the lion tame.
It took a long time and of course it would slow down their journey to find Masma. Devada didn’t want to stay still, she immediately ran to find something that could help them to climb up.
A few moments around the area, she found a fairly strong and long creeping grass. The grass stems are covered with fine hairs that can make the skin itchy. Devada slashed as needed carefully with bare hands. At first glance, there was something odd about the root-like stem, but Devada didn’t want to pay attention to it. She had to get back to Nick as soon as possible.
“Daddy!” Devada throws the stick in panic. Nick grabbed it and quickly climbed up holding the lion who had apparently been subdued. Nick shrieked with his facial muscles bulging. There was a slight quiver in each of his slow movements. However, Nick made it up safely.
“Thank you!” said Nick to Devada. The lion rushed off his back and went somewhere.
“Your hand is hurt!” Devada said. Nick spread his palms and saw the blood spots there.
“It’s okay, just a little.” Nick tried to calm his daughter’s anxiety. However, something was strange. As Nick removed the ropes that had stuck to his legs, he felt the vines creep up his groin. They were both shocked, then ….