Himari’s POV.-I wake up to the rustling noise issuing close to me, blinking groggily, and still sleepy as I let out a tiring yawn. I see a familiar brown tail sticking out from my hair on a pillow and crack a smile on my face. “Oriel...” My voice comes out scratchy and my throat throbs with dryness, making me cough with my shoulders shaking. I groan, biting down the fleeting surge of pain that rattles across my loin, coming aware of the strong bind around my torso.I come to know I’m in Zorien’s bedchamber, and I shudder, the last I recall was thoughtlessly jumping in to save Kitra, and...did I pass out?Oriel rustles out of my hair and I smile widely, “Hey, I’m sorry all I seem to do these days is give your little heart occasional heart attacks. Sorry” I croak out and Oriel just stares at me with his sharp eyes before darting to settle around my neck.I hear Oriel whine, “Do this again and it’ll be me disappearing for a while this time”.He’s throwing a threat? I giggle a
Himari’s POV.-“I’m so sorry for what I did to you, Himari.”At this juncture, I snap my eyes wide open, gobsmacked to see the all-pompous and saucy Kitra acting fretful and fumbling with her fingers just to speak to me. ‘What a total 360-degree turn’ Runa chuckles in my head while I fix my jaw, moving to speak before she does something that might make me faint.“Uh, um...Kitra, that’s-”She cuts me short with a sudden outburst, shooting forward with a regretful expression on her face as she regales, “I know I haven’t been nice and considerate towards you- I was such a disgusting bully, and yet, you didn’t even bat a lash to jump in to save my life last night...”Kitra...I’m compelled to lax back, watching her quietly as she battles with herself, wobbly lips parting again to say so solemnly to me, “...no matter what we do to you, you always tolerated us. I’m so sorry, Himari. I want to make it up to you”.I’m stunned when she darts forward to clasp my hands in hers. Kitr
Himari’s POV.-My feet feel reluctant to walk into the rowdy hallways. Anxiety wraps my body like chains, in fear of what will blast me once I step in. Are the nasty rumors still circulating in the school? Will everyone scorn me? Will I be bullied and insulted every corner I turn? Will I be summoned to the principal’s office and be kicked out of the school?“Hey, the ground won’t move you forward if you don’t use those legs, you know”.I look aside at a smirking Ciel and I blush, getting flustered as I look away. I don’t know what to feel replete with. Ciel already assured the matter had been taken care of, and no one believes in it after the culprits were exposed and the images were taken down from the school’s website barely twenty minutes after it broke out. I do feel relieved and thankful, however, it doesn’t mean they aren’t those who’ll speak about it behind my back when they see me.“Don’t stand in the way if you’re still deliberating on being a coward or not”.A gruf
Himari’s POV.-“I want to go to Welma’s hometown and partake in the festivity. Will you go with me?”What am I saying?! I reflexively clamp my shaky palms on my mouth and cower in. I hear a burst of laughter across me and glare at Ciel and a cackling Ashton. Gee! What have you done, Himari? I gulp with turmoil, rattling my stiff and defiant neck to check on Zorien.Peering up from one anxious eye, I see Zorien with eyes wide open and I wish to faint right this moment. Way to go for a first try. What if he misunderstands and finds me rude instead? I panic, pulling my clammy hands away as my face burns with embarrassment. And I do the stupidest thing, ranting like a derailed train.“Uh, don’t mind me, I said that accidentally. Welma told about the little holiday and invited me to her hometown to celebrate together- I already gave her my word, and if you still don’t feel convinced, have Kitra go with me. Ah yes, I don’t have to stay for all four days as it’s only for one day al
Himari’s POV-“What are you?”A sweat drop rolls down my temple as the intensity of her demanding question bears down my throat. I don’t understand what she wants to know about me. Wait, I glance down at my hands long and hard in deep contemplation and a bitter realization unfolds in my head.“I...don’t know” I find myself confessing, more in desperation for an answer myself. I know my Omega ability is exclusively the gift to comprehend animals, and not those mystical flames imbued in my fists. I look up at them all, helpless in my need.The blonde takes over and speaks to me calmly, “I understand your plight, Himari” She starts to say, having my attention on her as she goes on, “I’m one like you, a Werecat; a Leopard precisely”.‘What?’ I and Runa marvel at her who gives me a confirming nod. I look over at Welma and her mother, Winter, who’re donning the same expression. Then I gulp, unable to know what kind of reaction to give as the woman continues to talk.“My great
Himari’s POV. - A camera? No, wait, she said it’s a Chimera. ‘I was wondering when your ears got faulty. Didn’t you hear her mention it has a Dragon for a parent?’ Runa brings shame to me as I pout and hide my face away. It was only a harmless mistake! Someone chuckles and I look to see Welma returning to her sit beside her mother as she laughs, “Your face is funny. You haven’t heard of it before, have you?” She pokes at me and I sheepishly nod my head. The blonde perched on the armrest of the chair I’m sitting on, giggles at that as she says, “It might interest you to know we do have images of it in our history books. Oh, and it’s even more exciting to see a real one up close”. “A real one?” My ears perk up with curiosity and Kitra lunges forward, “There’s a live one?” I look to her who looks back at me, both clueless. Welma breaks into our confusion, “You really disappoint me, Kitra. Oh well, there is a live one, but...” She suddenly goes dim there and the gloomy air is resur
Himari’s POV.-“Uh, guys, I think we’ve got company”.Kitra rolls in alarm, her voice ringing with caution not to increase the volume of it despite her rattled state. I freeze just as she says that, and so does Welma as we all stiffly watch the purple torch of flame float farther and elevate.There’s no wind in this evil shroud, but a gust of spine-chilling wind blows across us, evoking heavy but distinct rumbles that tremor beneath our feet and undulate the dark fog. Sheer fear with the intent of tightly clasped hands grip my being so petrifying that I skip breathing.“There’s something in front of us” Kitra whispers in a hushed voice, and just like I and Welma are emulating, she stills herself like a statue as we gulp simultaneously, watching the flame bringing shrouded details to life. But, why’s it climbing even higher?“Welma” My voice airs out thinly, panic causing me to be on the brink of fidgeting openly when the flame suddenly brightens. The light flashes so brigh
Himari’s POV.-Runa makes a pause, ‘It’s the moonlight’.Together, we both lift our head to the diagonal thin flow of faint blue light filtering through the tree-tops above. It's a fine line of gentle light that contradicts the malicious air within this forest. Just the sight of it alone restores a sense of peace to us.‘Himari’Lost staring at the light, a distant weak call comes ringing our ears. It’s like a supernatural call that seeks out my soul, and we find ourselves peering in the direction in front of us. ‘Runa, what do you think that was?’ I ask tentatively, but Runa’s sprinting forward in the next second.She tells me with a desperate edge to her voice as she ups her speed, picking up a breeze, ‘Don’t you feel the tug against our souls? I might not know what has made that dying call, but it’s something that needs us’.She’s right, I can’t describe this strange emotion unfurling within me, but I know it’s a call I can’t turn away from. Runa begins to slow down a