Back to the Sacred Mountains

Halimun approached Max and whispered.

"Byakki lost his children and his partner. His son was arrested and his partner was nowhere to be found. I witnessed it all, it happened very quickly, when he tried to save his son, he was shot at and then abandoned, while his partner, while trying to do the same to save their children, was devoured by fire."

"You said somewhere, does that mean she's alive but going somewhere you haven't been able to find him yet?"

"Right, I saw her run towards the waterfall in the NorthernMost Forest. I tried to catch up with her, but the man-made fire was blocking me. So, I saw her burn, but maybe she's still alive. After that, the man-made heat kept me from getting around. The point is she didn't come here."

Max's forehead shriveled. Max suspects the tiger knows better about the true condition from his mate. They have an inner bond and because of that inner bond, he must have felt something if something bad happened to his partner. On the other hand, Halimun's exploration area can be around the world, but it can be hindered by man-made heat. I had to figure out what all this meant, it felt like history was repeating itself. Max thought with his mouth locked.

"Whatever has happened, I am sorry, but you still have hope to see the children back," Max said.

The tiger looked up.

"What do you mean? Can you bring them back?"

"I'm going to try to figure out where they're being taken and free them," Max spoke confidently.

The tiger chuckled but then coughed up blood.

"Young man, I know who you are, you're overconfident, you know the children that humans bring will never come back," Byakki said, mixed with a cough of blood.

Max was horrified by his safety.

"Even if you don't, you might have a chance for revenge," Max didn't think of anything else that could motivate Byakki.

"Just take them to safety," Byakki, the tiger, moved his chin towards the gathered baboons. Max looked back. Not only baboons but there are also various species.

Halimun must have led them here, Max was grateful in his heart.

"Is that all?"

"Yes," Halimun replied. Her words implied her compassionate feelings for all living beings.

"I don't need protection. Let me die here," said Byakki with a gasped breath.

"No, I can't let that happen."

Max then took out a bag of fairy powder given by the Rang Rang. The fairy powder moved out then made a path. He decided to hold Byakki on his shoulders. The tiger couldn't rebel. He's too limp.

"Some of us will stay here. Especially the healthy ones," an owl said.

"Why?"

"We thought we had to wait for our family, they might be lost somewhere," the owl spoke firmly.

"Bring the wounded first, I'll tell you if they want to stay in the Pegunungan Sakral," Halimun mediated as if there was no more time to argue.

Max realized their purpose.

"You know the risks of living here, so be careful," Max sounded like a true leader who understood his top priorities. Finally knowing there was no need to debate their wishes, Max turned around and followed the directions given by the fairy powder. Various animals of different species followed suit. While several others of each species also live in Hutan Terlarang with Halimun.

The journey back to the Pegunungan Sakral hidden from the outside world runs safely. Fairy powder giving Rang Rang is very helpful in shortening their travel time.

The portal has closed, and Rang Rang welcomes Max with joy. They have provided a place of care for their beloved creatures.

Max lulled the tiger he was carrying on a bed made of woven grass and leaves under the direction of the Rang Rang Utara team. The bed felt soft when Max backed his own body with his knees when going to put the big tiger to bed. He did it carefully.

Afterward, he handed over treatment to the Rang Rangs, while he rested. Max leaned against a Gayam Tree not far from the treatment site. While he was sleeping chickens, Xixi and some of his friends approached Max. They brought drinks with glasses made of bamboo.

"You guys are always skilled at making equipment," Max praised the beauty of the glass from the bamboo made by the Rang Rang Selatan group.

Xixi smiled, while her team members blushed.

"We're just doing what we can," Xixi clumsily spoke with respect. "Thank you for helping our beloved." Her attitude was followed by another Rang Rang. The sight made Max stand up formally and feel like he was getting a gift from the universe.

"I don't think you need to behave like this. It's an exaggeration in my opinion. They were injured and I was almost late. Halimun and you are the ones who play more of a role in helping them."

"You still deserve credit," Terice slid from somewhere. "Because of your courage, they can see their way home. Oh yes, they'll recover quickly," Terice spoke cheerfully as when she teased Max earlier.

"How is Byakki? Can the bullet be removed?"

Max asked Merah who appeared behind Terice. Merah's face looked worried and wanted to say something. Hearing Byakki call, Merah immediately slid forward Max faster. She felt a huge responsibility for Byakki's suffering.

"His condition was bad even though it could already be removed from his body, but as a result... There was a lot of blood coming out of his body. What's going on out there?" Merah's voice sounded so loud.

Max locked his mouth. He couldn't make Rang Rang worry even more.

"I don't know yet either. I'll find out. Will he be safe?" Max spoke frankly.

"If in the next three days he is still breathing, he will be safe. We've already given him the necessary herbs to stop the bleeding and recover his stamina. We'll take turns looking after him every night."

"Thank God then," said Max and sat back down. His back was on the Gayam Tree.

"I have something to tell you," Koko said as he approached. Its blue wings look to blend neatly with the environment.

"What's that?"

"Young Master Gorakshana is around here."

Hearing his brother's name called, Max sat up straight.

"Where? When did you see it?"

"When saving heirlooms. I saw it on the river. Looks like he's hurt. The road is limping."

"You didn't approach him?"

"I tried, but as I got close, he threw me away," Koko said as he was unpalatable. He is afraid that Max misunderstands the incident.

"Okay. Thanks for your notice. I'm going to find him. Are the injuries so severe?"

Koko couldn't answer quickly. He should think for a moment. "I don't know, the strange thing I noticed was that Young Master Gorakshana was not with the others."

"What? You mean he's alone?"

Koko nodded.

Why? Max's bad thoughts overlap with the events experienced by Byakki.

"That's all I know. Because I thought it was weird, so I'm telling you," Koko said.

"Thank you. You can go back to taking care of them," Max spoke with a flat expression. The four Rang Rang leaders then returned to their respective posts while Max sat in a row thinking about what was going on with his brother.

Gorakshana was so tough, how could he get hurt? Ask Max in his heart. I never win if I'm strong with him. What managed to knock him out?

Max then remembered again the forest that had been rubbed and Byakki's physical condition. Max's heart was racing. He imagined an event that might make Gorakshana seriously injured. If it wasn't a fight within the clan, it would be against a human hunting weapon.

But, Gorakshana had never gone to the Hutan Terlarang, what made him have to go there? He was always guarding and being in the Pegunungan Sakral, Max was suddenly surprised by his thoughts. They didn't tell me everything, he said to his heart while staring at the Rang Rang. They're still keeping something a secret from me.

"Please call Merah," Max commanded the nearest Rang Rang. That Rang Rang was surprised for a moment because he was suddenly spoken to by Max, but he immediately executed Max's request.

Merah soon came when she got the message. Max immediately knew Merah still wanted to talk about a lot of things earlier. Merah's face seemed to get angrier as she approached Max.

"I think you know why Gorakshana was injured. He's the most formidable Alpha in the clan, I think this has something to do with the fire incident in the Hutan Paling Utara, yes or no?"

Max spoke carefully and tried not to feel intimidating. Merah is very nervous. Merah's attitude makes Max sure Merah knows something.

"Say slowly, was Gorakshana around there at the time of the incident?"

"Young Master Gorakshana told me not to tell you," Merah was finally honest. Then she gathered courage and said, "Before the fire...." Merah's words were stifled by the action that shocked everyone. A wolf attacked Max. They struggle on the ground. Max kicked the wolf's body until it slammed and fell to the ground.

"Gorakshana!"

Max cried out in shock at hitting his brother and was at once confused. Why is the acting rude? He was rude to me a long time ago, but this time it was different. Even in his perfect formation, Max wandered inwardly with a wary attitude because he didn't see Gorakshana relaxing his desire to attack Max. Even Max felt the killing air of Gorakshana very high.

"Stop!" Merah suddenly speaks to Gorakshana with a loud voice, "You forbid me to talk to him! I'm in it! But now we need his help!"

Gorakshana is still growling.