Cisterns~7

Nod can feel how uncomfortable it was for their maids who can't deny his words.

"This is how you treat us after such event you have caused?!" His mother screamed.

"You messed up your job, You broke the director's index finger and disappeared for a month and now you act this way. How insolent!" His father scolded.

"I am not here to return. I came here to say that this is not a home for me. It's actually a tormenting place. I will leave quietly. Withdrew your statement then if not I will speak of how you raise me all over the world since you want to be famous that much." Nod delivered as he regain his self control.

Nod gently grab Oak's hand from the mansion and walk out holding hands when they passed the gate. Hue and Stripe winked and teased them. Since that incident Nod started to proclaim his feelings toward Oak.

His parents removed the statement and the issue about the incident died down.

Stripe panted as he forcefully thrust himself out of the forest. Hue came right after Stripe. Oak and Nod followed suit.

"Are you sure that this is the place for gathering herbs?" Stripe asked.

"Yeah. The captain said so." Hue replied.

"So, how are we suppose to look for the herb when this hill is a complete slope?" Oak asked as she looked down.

The fall will surely lead them unto the river or the wild surface.

"No, I bet we should tie ourselves with a rope before going down." Nod stated.

The team did as what they planned. They tied a rope unto their waist and to a tree. They slowly leap downward.

"Can't we just get up now?" Stripe complained.

"Were already here you know." Nod replied as they stepped on the plain. It was like a uncovered cave with few herbs.

"There it is the flowering herbs?" Hue pointed.

The herb had this blue flowers and thin leaves. It's root are spread on the cave's wall.

"Are you sure?It looked like a weed for me." Oak inqured.

"Yes," Hue confirmed as he displayed the picture drawn by the captain.

"Yeah, it look like a flowering spider." Stripe commented.

Nod and Oak just sweat drop at how the drawing seem to be a kid's scribble.

Hue recalled how the fatherly captain easily accepted him and take good care if him when got losed on the forest after being bullied and set up by some of his older cousins. He carefully remove the flower from the cave wall and palced it on the basket. The captain said that it was needed for the rocks by the dam. This herb or weeds supplies nutrients unto moistened rocks.

"Hey, Have you heared the captain say that this cave was the cave where king losed his lover just by looking back?" Stripe stated.

"There you go again scaredy cat." Oak reprimanded.

"No, I heared him as well. What if the woman is still hanging out around here?" Hue teased.

Stripe strided toward Hue and Nod instantly grabbed Oak's hand and stated.

"Then I should not look back or my Oak will be eaten by this cave."

Oak released a fake laugh as she pinch Nod by the side.

"Stop saying those things. The script ended long ago." Oak hissed.

There was a strange sound coming at the cave while they spoke. Stripe started to hug Hue by the waist.

"Please let me go." Hue tiredly stated.

"It's a stone that was kicked by me." Oak notified.

Nod glances suspiciously on all side. The small noise and action startled him and Stripe.

After they have gathered enough, They started climbing up. The smog got thicker as they all get back. Stripe stepped on a weaker side of the slope that almost had him falling down. Stripe hugged the wall and refused to look down. He can feel the chilly atmosphere gathering. His whole body shaking, he was about to scream when a hand grabbed his heel. Stripe started quivering as embraced the wall.

"Hee... lp.. Ek... heeelp." Stripe tried to shout but it came out as whisper.

The smog covered his sight to a point he cannot see where the others are.

The hand got stronger and had him pulling down. His fingers clawing on the slope as he got dragged downward. Stripe started to tear up and wept. The hand held up to his tigh and to his butt and to his shoulder. Stripe refused to look down. If he does the cave might eat him.

"Why... are you shaking." the voice whispered.

Stripe started to shake with intensity.

"No.... please.... no.." he pleaded with the voice to cry.

His nape felt the cold breath coming from behind him. Stripe shivered and was about to cry when he decided to look back and open his eyes. His face paled with embarrassment to see that it was Nod who was climbing after him.

When the smog cleared up their position made Oak and Hue laughed till they reached the top.

"How can you tease me like that!" Stripe cried out toward Nod.

"It was not my intention." Nod raised his hand in surrender.

"I thought that it was Oak." Nod admitted. Oak run to pinch his side.

"You pervert!" Oak scolded.

Hue giggled at them and said.

"We should get going."

The team passed the same places they did. No matter how they speed up the sun going down made them camp within the forest.

"Have you heared of the tale said by the hunters around here?" Hue started to tease Stripe and Nod.

"Stop it. I don't want to hear it." Stripe pleaded.

"It was about a stone altar where the travellers offer some flowers with." Hue continued as Strip started covering his ear with a palm.

"You mean the one we passed by along the way?" Oak asked.

Nod and Stripe hugged each other as Hue nodded with seriousness.

Before the story begun a howl was heared from a distant.