The peaceful morning breeze comes together with first light of the new dawn, gentle. Almost peaceful compared to early days, this day was majestic in its own ways. The vibe it was carrying was something else, the sunlight knocks on the cave's front door by piercing through the clouds and early morning smoke.
Limbo Rin and Gaja were sitting together after bath—sometging is missing. Uhh...how can we forget newcomer Sambha he was in centre of them. Finally he was opening a little bit without panic and fear of others.
Sambha was wrapped in clean cloth, his tiny face was washed and covered in bandaged in injured area's. He leaned against Limbo's shoulder like a kitten.
Rin was preparing something from herbs she collected when she went out with gaja.
It was calmed — almost too calm.
Grr... Grrr... Grrr.
Rin we need breakfast, I'm starving. Her stomach also growled in agreement.
Limbo smiled lightly, half-absentmindedly patting sambha's head.
" We should gather fruits and things that we can eat."
"Fine then," Gaja stood up while stretching. "And we shouldn't delayed in such a good work."
Rin responded.
We should also collect Herbs for sizining.
They started to argue on something..
The boy tugged Limbo's sleeve.
"Brother...outside?"
Limbo blinked, "....you want to come?"
A small but full spirited nod, eyes full of hopeful — yet carrying something behind and beyond the age.
Rin hesitated, will that be safe?
"Why not, are scared of something?" Limbo replied.
Limbo stood up. I'll keep him close to me.
Rin didn't argue further —just handed Limbo a small pouch of dried herbs and fruits for the kid.
Morning forest was seems to different.
They slipt in two groups. Gaja and Rin.
Limbo and Sambha in other group. They went on their ways and decided to visit at cave after discussing the time.
Sambha walked beside Limbo, holding his fingers gently. He was taking big steps with his tiny legs — but it was different from others pointof view it's was tiny steps with tiny presence.
The forest was watching them, with many tiny eyes some in open areas while some were hiding in different places.
Rin and gaja found the berry bushes first, Rin kneel — humming while picking ripe fruits. Gaja climbed on low branches gathering nuts on other side.
Limbo was searching for herbs while sambha wanders not far, just circling like cautious deer.
Rustle... Rustle...
Before Limbo could respond—sambha leapt. One light hop up—two spins, landing on branch with balance that no ordinary child should have. He plucked a white ripen fruit by smeling it, and then he jumped down and presented it to Limbo with shy pride.
Limbo was speechless,
"How...did you move like that?"
Why did you plucked a unripen fruit...this Limbo wanted to say, but seeing the expression on Sambha's face he just keep the words on his mind.
And just took a bite from the fruit.
His mind blown, delicious....
How did you know which one to pick?
Limbo smiled faintly, taking a bite of fruit.
Sambha brightened his eyes - just like a
Taiiless puppy he was filled with joy.
As they moved deeper to gather food. Sambha ran ahead slightly, Limbo kept watch on him... But...
Sambha was moving and hoping here and there, one moment here and there and reappearing beside Limbo on other second. Silently...
No sound of footsteps.
Just like smoke or wind.
He's moves wasn't like a human...
But Sambha's innocent smile — made it harder to doubt further.
While gathering mushroom under an old tree, Rin stiffened.
And suddenly Limbo and sambha appears from the bushes. What are you two doing this side. Well things happened and sambha insisted on taking this path and it was unknown to me... And some how we ended up here.
"Limbo... The atmosphere is shifting."
Limbo sensed it too, the wind wasn't playful like it was just few moments before.
Leave were trembling though nothing has touched them. The forest was holding its breath.
System flickered in Limbo's sight.
[ Unstable Mana ripple detected ]
[Unknown source— nearby ]
Limbo's heart tensed after listening to notification.
Gaja instinctively gripped his blades while unsheathing them.
Sambha suddenly hid behind the Limbo's leg his small body was shaking while his fragile hands grab Limbo's clothes.
His...voice broke...
"...red eyes...here."
Limbo's mind went back, memories of dogs come on surfaced. The bite marks.
Rin read the room instantly, "we should return, now... We have gathered enough for everyone."
Limbo scanned deeper, some of the branches were snapped at distance.
Low growl was echoing faintly, it wasn't like a wolf it was something different.
Let's Move back to cave. They hastend back, Limbo stopped in midway.
Sambha was staring elsewhere, not with fear and scared, but — listening.
Limbo knelt to match his height.
"What happened... Did you notice something?"
Sambha slowly raised his hand but the direction...
Was not the forest but rather...
Towards the cave ..
The direction where he slept last night.
Where Limbo saw the peacock-lotus symbol.
A chill crawled at Limbo's body.
Only sambha knew... What was he's eyes looking at, but to other it was just a direction is hand was pointing.
What's was inside?
Limbo swallowed.
Suddenly the memories of last night when he saw the marking on the wall where he founded the peacock Lotus surfaced all of sudden.
Gaja notice something.
Did we don't know something that should we know?
And you two, acting strange all of a sudden.
Limbo looked at sambha, the child pressed his forehead against Limbo's hand seeking comfort.
Something I side the cave glowed once.
Limbo felt it, a strange but familiar pull again, just like he felt it yesterday.
But a little stronger this time.
Sambha little eyes.... — his voice broke...
"Brother..door."
Limbo froze.
What door?
Rin was listening and watching them with wide eyes opened.
Gaja's hands tightened his fist on swords.
Door?
The sealed wall? Limbo in his mind.
How does he know?
Birds scattered suddenly.
A branch cracked loud behind them.
Some unknown danger..... Arived?
But Limbo's eyes looking at other direction same as Sambha's.
Sambha was wasn't scared of beasts, it was something else, maybe—
Feeling of being left alone again.
Somehow Limbo grasped the feeling — maybe the feeling of past life surfaced.
"I won't leave you.."
Sambha look up with eyes full of hope and relieved.
Gaja exhaled, while Rin nodded.
One weirdo wasn't enough that we get another?
Let's protect each other's back. Together...
Limbo smiled faintly.
Let's face whatever is coming...
As they walked back, within the silent forest. Soon Limbo's glance meet the cave's entrance.
The vine covered wall shaking faintly.
Something was Awakening.
Was Sambha's presence random or it was a trigger...