A week passed by so quickly. Pakiramdan ni Ayla, na parang kahapon lamang nung umalis siya sa kanilang tahanan ng walang paalam na labis na kinabahala ng kanyang pamilya. Ngayon, ito na naman siya, nakahanda nang umalis ng wala na namang nakaka alam.Hindi niya batid, kung ang sulat na hawak niya ngayon ay sapat na para hindi mag- alala ang kaniyang pamilya. Ang pag iwan ng sulat lamang ang alam niyang solusyon upang hindi siya pigilan ng kaniyang mga magulang, at para na rin hindi niya masabi kung ano man ang nagpapahirap sa loob niya ngayon.For the past week, she stayed home and never let her parents lose sight of her. She made sure that they can feel her presence and gave them all her undivided attention. During the day, she always reminds herself to not let her family feel that something is wrong with her, but at night, as the day her journey draws near, her heart is getting heavier and heavier.She knows, that after always being with them and just disappea

Hindi muna masyadong lumapit si Ayla sa batang babae, bagkus ay sinuri muna niya ito at inisip kung ano ang maaari niyang gawin. Halos limang minuto na niya itong tinitingnan pero wala man lang itong ginawa kahit na isang maliit na galaw. Naka upo lamang ito sa gilid habang yakap-yakap ang sarili. Halatang takot na takot ito at galing sa pag kaka abuso.   “Has she calmed down already? Should I go to her? Did she saw me fight the rogues? Is she afraid of wolves? What should I do? What if she freaks out if I go near her?” Habang nakapikit na kina kausap ni Ayla ang kaniyang sarili, bigla na lamang siyang may narinig na isang mahinang kalabog. Dahil sa gulat at pag aalala, tinitingnan agad ni Ayla ang batang babae at nakita na lamang niya ito na nakahiga na sa lupa at walang malay. Dahil hindi pa alam ni Ayla kung ano nga ba ang gagawin niya sa batang babae, nilapitan na lamang niya ito at kinarga pagkatapos ay naglakad pabalik kung saan nakata

“Aster?” Nagtatakang tiningnan ni Aidan si Aster nang bigla na lamang itong natulala at sinambit ang pangalan ng kapatid nito. “Is something wrong?”Para namang biglang nataohan si Aster sa biglaang pagtawag ni Aidan sa kaniya.“Ah…no. I just suddenly remembered Ayla. You`re stubbornness a while ago reminded me of her.” Habang kausap si Aidan, naglalakad na si Aster patungo sa kusina para kunin ang pagkain nila. “Come to think of it, I haven’t visited home for a week already. I hope Ayla didn’t make Mom and Dad worried again.” Napa buntong-hininga na lamang si Aster. “If she made up her mind to do something, no one can stop her. She always finds a way to make everything work on her favor. Sometimes, her ricklessness and just doing everything that comes up to her mind without further thinking worries me. I just hope her mate can keep up with her personality.”“You and your sister

“Samara, did you have fun yesterday?” Magiliw na tiningnan ni Ayla si Samara habang kumakain ito ng meryenda at siya naman ay umiinom ng tsaa. Tiningnan siya nito at tumango-tango. “Do you want to go out again?” Tanong niya ulit. Napangisi na lamang si Ayla nang tumayong bigla si Samara at mabilis na tinango ang ulo. “Are you not scared anymore?” “Ka-kasama ki-kita…hi-hi-hindi a-ako takot.” Utal-utal na sagot nito sa tanong ni Ayla. After hearing what Samara`s reply, Ayla felt like something tugged her heart. “A pure trust from a broken child can sometimes hurt a person more than a cut from a blade.” Hindi na naman mapigilang pumasok ni Zira sa pag-iisip ni Ayla nang marinig ang sinabi ni Samara. “Before she completely put her life in your hands, do what you must right now. It`s also for her own good.” “I know Zira. I know.” Sagot na lamang ni Ayla. Tumayo si Ayla at ngumiti kay Samara pagkatapos ay nila

Bago siyang tuluyang umalis sa bayan ng Neoma, huminto muna si Ayla sa nadaanan niyang bilihan ng mga pagkain at bumili ng kaunting supply na kakailanganin niya. She even bought a small cauldron for cooking.After buying all the things that she deemed necessary, she finally exited the town and followed the road that will lead her to another. Her next stop is the town of Dolivo. It will take at least five to six days for her to get there, it will also depend on how much time she stays on the road.If the circumstances this time are on her side, she doesn’t have any plans to stay long at Dolivo, unlike what she did in Neoma.“Just great.” Zira sarcastically mumbled while Ayla, is currently busy making a fire inside a hidden cave that they found just a little further from the path that they are following. “When we left Neoma, there were no signs of any rain or strong wind and now, it`s raining cats and dogs outside! How can you be so unlucky