Breaking the peaceful atmosphere of the morning, they suddenly heard a sound similar to that of a rolling thunder. It reverberated throughout the forest that caused flocks of birds alarmingly fled away from the vicinity.

It was highly doubted that the sound was an actual thunder. For the sun was brightly shining up above, bathing this abundant forest with its glamorous rays. The light that has reached the ground confirmed this fact for Yana.

“Quick! I believe it’s nearby!” Yana yanked Jiro’s arm, almost dragging him, as she led the way to see what was making the massive sound.

“What if it was another weird creature?” Jiro asked worriedly.

“We don’t have to reveal ourselves!” she replied. “Besides, there’s no way this kind of sound is made by a living being of our size! We’ll immediately see it!”

They had found a forest path earlier and Yana suggested to follow it. Hoping that it would lead to a road or a small town, they had decided to leave the river and took this unguaranteed path.

After, probably half of an hour, in Yana’s guess, they had decided to take rest for a bit and during the period they had rested, they heard this loud noise, completely surprising the two of them.

Not far from where they had taken rest, they saw the bright sunlight up ahead, brighter than the light that has managed to skim through the thick layers of leaves of this forest.

Yana could tell that, that was the end of the trail, and far ahead a wide space was awaiting them. She silently wished they had not stopped walking but it was not important now, was it?

They had stopped near the edge of the forest, nervously waiting for the origin of the storm-like noise. At each second, the sound became more distinct. The ground beneath their feet started to tremble, but they themselves knew that this was not caused by an earthquake. Whatever caused every bit of this was coming from their right. And it was getting nearer.

A few moment later, clouds of dust entered their line of sight. To Yana, it seemed like a sandstorm was heading their way. That was until she spotted the shadows of unknown creatures.

Yana was half correct. The source of the sound was not close to human in size. What she got wrong was the number. It was a group of humongous creatures running towards them.

A herd of four-legged creatures closely resembling cows, buffalos, and bisons. Their heads, topped with short horns, were leveled to their knees. While their rump was lower than their shoulders, where a noticeable hump could be seen. The creatures are covered with thick white fur all over its body except for their prided hump, the tip of their tails, and each of their shins, where, instead of the snow-like threads, a gradient of ash was painted by nature.

These details were not known to both Yana and Jiro. Because, as the waves of beasts ran past through where they were, they left dust flying off around the area.

Yana did her best to see everything but the smokescreen which rose from the earth effectively hindered her sense of sight.

Not abiding with her own words, Yana partially covered her eyes using her right arm and stepped out of hiding to get nearer to the stampeding herd.

Jiro had called out at her, but his voice was eaten up by the crackling noise.

Entering the field of haze, Yana could now somewhat make out a few things.

First was the dashing creatures. The closest animal she could refer to, to describe the beasts, was a yak. But she was sure these were not the yaks she knew of. Nor it’s a close biological relative of the specie.

The second thing she noticed was, despite the chaotic atmosphere the herd had brought, the beasts were not in fact scampering aimlessly nor showing any signs of panic. They were organized, running by pair.

Each of them were pulling large stagecoaches, probably two meters in length and three meters in height. With wheels that is sturdy enough to carry the weight of a hugely built carriages and withstand the force from being pulled by humongous creatures.

She supposed those stagecoaches were specifically adjusted for the yak-like beasts which size was close to a young elephant.

“Could this be a caravan?” she mused aloud.

Each stagecoach were driven by a human or so that was how they appeared to Yana.

“We have to stop at least one of them,” Yana said at the highest volume she could manage.

Jiro, who was already standing beside Yana, heard her and instantaneously disagreed on the idea. “That’s reckless! Those things could easily step on you!”

However, Yana was not listening to him anymore. Or to say it correctly, she had not the chance to. She quickly acted after saying what was on her mind. And right now, at this very moment, she was already shouting while waving her hands in the air. Attempting to take the chauffers’ attention.

Being this close, she could feel the light gale coming from this rushing procession and the stronger tremors of the earth beneath her feet. It was a frightening experience, somehow this reminded her of a rushing train with a chance of getting derailed any moment, and ran straight unto her. Literally, squeezing her guts out of her body.

Mustering all the might she could, she did everything to remain standing beside the rushing beasts. That alone was remarkable. However, her efforts did not bear any fruit.

No one has stopped for her.

Heaving for air, Yana stood there for a moment looking at the cloud of dust that had invaded this area minutes ago. Her hope of getting out of this wilderness had appeared instantly and had slipped through her fingers at the same instant. Can she really call that hope? The mocking question ran in her mind.

Dejected, Yana sought for the shades of the forest. The heat from the sun was not blazingly hot, Yana had just become used to the protection of the forest that she impulsively acted on it.

Jiro followed her without saying any word. He thought of ways to cheer her up but he could not think of any. He was beginning to hate himself for being useless. It had been Yana who was making things work out for them since yesterday. Though she failed recently, at least she was giving her best. Meanwhile he was merely there, standing and staring at her.

Noticing how Jiro has been quiet for a while now, Yana broke the silence between them with a long sigh. She knew him to well to know what he was thinking at that moment.

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“If we’re going to look at the bright side, we already know where to go. Let’s just hope that this won’t be a very long walk.”

She was smiling as she looked ahead. Her hands were clasped together at her back as she walks forward. Though the thought of walking an unknown distance, barefooted, was not really desirable. She just forced a smile thinking of it, if not she might lose her morale to continue and quit right here, right now.

“I’m sorry,” Jiro said sincerely. “I wasn’t able to offer any help.”

Yana stopped on her feet then turned around facing him.

“Just you being here is enough help.” She flashed a smile again, this time Jiro was able to behold its beauty. “I don’t feel alone.”

She stepped closer and took Jiro’s hands holding it with hers. “If you weren’t here, maybe I won’t be able to do anything right from the start.”

It was the truth for Yana. If Jiro had not been here with her, she would not have any reason to withstand that marathon against that ‘orc’ nor would she have the bravery to stand again this morning.

Actually, she felt lighter this morning, probably because she had said everything out loud. Her complaints. Her frustrations. Everything. Everything was thrown out to the two moons.

She hoped the gods of this world had heard her and would do something about their situation. But of course, that was only her wishful thinking.

Yana looked into his eyes, then to his nose and down to his lips, lingering there for a while before returning back to his eyes. She silently wished he would embrace her to cheer her up. That was what he would do if they were still dating each other but she knew well that would not happen. Staring at him was all she could do for now.

Or probably there was still another one to do.

“Jiro, look there!” She pointed zealously. Her hope was revived by something behind Jiro.

Jiro spun around to see what she was pointing that had brought back the energy to the once disheartened Yana.

Not far away, its huge body was galloping forward.

It was a lone carriage similar to those which had passed by already. Compared to the stampede earlier, the sound coming from this lonely cart could be considered as serene.

It was getting nearer, with its current velocity, it will be right in front of them within a couple of minutes.

Jiro looked back at Yana but she was not where she was standing before.

Yana had a wild idea. She headed towards the middle of the wide dirt road and stood there. Her arms spread wide. Her head looking straight ahead, unafraid of the incoming beast.

She was planning to stop it. With this one-man barricade. A daredevil’s plan, one must say, or rather a foolish one’s.

Jiro yelled at her. Telling her to go back and let the stagecoach pass through but Yana remained stubborn.

Yana had a feeling she could stop this beast. She could feel its kindness and that it would never hurt her. That it will understand her and see her good intention. She firmly believed in this even though there was no warranty for her safety. She could not explain it but she was certain this will work.

The carriage was already near. There was no time for Jiro to push nor pull Yana away. Not even a chance to run where she was standing.

“Please! Stop!”

Yana could hear Jiro’s shouts from a short distance. She was not able to see where he was nor what he was doing at that time. She merely supposed he had run down to meet the carriage halfway to tell them to slow down or at best, to stop. Despite all of that, there were no signs of them slowing down.

The beast was a couple of meters away. Any seconds by now, its bulky body would collide unto her. The proof of it became vividly clear. The ground trembles whenever the beast stomped its hooves over the dirt road. Though it was not as strong as what she had felt earlier.

Maybe it was because she was able to stand near a herd of running behemoths that she obtained bravery on facing a lone one.

She could already hear the ragged breathing of the beast from where she stood. Amidst all of this, Yana remained unfazed of what was in front of her, as if her life was not laid upon the rushing behemoth’s way.

Weird, I should be shaking right now. Yana thought jovially.

She admitted that this was clearly, recklessness in its very definition. But she felt everything will be all right. That this will definitely work out. She had not even gave a single thought about the other side of the coin, if this failed…

She could not bring herself to think about it.

“Yana, run away!” Jiro shouted.

Either if Yana had a change of heart, it was already late for anything.

The beast was already right in front of her, looking strong and unstoppable. If she suddenly wanted to run away, it’s impossible to survive without having broken limbs.

This has to work! Please stop! Yana prayed in her heart.

Yana kept her eyes onto the incoming beast. Her eyes looked straight into its own eyes. She did not know what really happened or how it happened but she and the behemoth were suddenly in a different place where nothing could be seen but the color of white.

“I know you won’t hurt me. Will you please stop for me?”

Yana recognized her own voice echoing in the empty space despite that she had not utter any words that time. Her eyes remained on the creature in front of her. The beast was staring back at her and somehow Yana thought it smiled at her using its own eyes.

Then, a blinding light shone between the two of them that forced Yana to close her eyes shut. And when she opened them again. There, right in front of her, within her hand’s reach, she saw the furry head of the yak-like creature.

Her lips cracked into a smile. That smile was a genuine smile that came from her heart. Her happiness could be seen right in her eyes. For the first time in this place, she felt real joy.

Thankful that everything worked out, she gleefully petted the beast’s head and whispered, “Thank you.”