"Maron, c'mon, let's do something. You will have to assist Akib. You've got to prepare well," Grandma Betty said as she walked out of Akib's presence.
Maron was excited. She basked after her boss. Akib smirked.
"How could an ordinary animal take the place of a human," he thought.
Even if Maron was forced on him, he would just pretend to be satisfied. As soon as the two were separated from Betty, he would discard the animal. He didn't want to have anything to do with this 'basking thing.'
Before the interactive lesson started, Betty said, "I need to explain how Maron and I met."
Grandma Betty came to know the hyena known as Maron when she went hunting. That very day, she couldn't get a catch nearby, and so discretion informed her to go further. Not far from an oak, she heard the howling of the hyena. Swiftly, she advanced to the tree and settled behind it. Her hand touched the Dane gun as a form of defense and assurance to bring down the howler.
"What a loss!" she said when she saw the hyena.
Killing a huge animal was not what she wanted; a small one would do. This one was bigger than what she had in mind.
"Why were you not interested in a huge catch, Grandma?" Akib asked, his voice filled with surprise.
"I would just waste it. I've lived alone for a long time."
The hyena would not allow other animals to stay. It kept on disturbing the area in an annoying manner. Like a coward, Maron left where it sat opposite her to the side of Betty. Rubbing its body on her, Betty fumbled her hand over its fur as a sign of consolation. Maron knew the story was about her, and the incident that brought the two together was what she was talking about.
"It's okay, that's over now," she said.
Maron could interpret human language, but not all of it. It could understand when Betty was talking because of the connection between them. But for Akib, there was no link, so it was difficult to decode his words.
He had watched the relationship between them, and for some time, he chose his words carefully when he discovered the presence of the hyena. And as for Maron, she had kept her distance from Akib too—possibly because of the fight they had, which presented her in an unfriendly light. Both had stayed aloof of each other.
"What happened?" Akib could not take the delay.
"When I saw Maron, I pointed my gun at her. Luckily, she was just directly opposite my hideout but..." Betty's emotion flowed through her words.
"What?" he asked.
"She walked straight to me, and I was shocked. I wanted to pull the trigger and release the bullet, but I found out she was crying. Maron had just lost her three cubs."
"Oh, sorry. But she's with you now," he said.
"She was willing to desert the forest. Tired of losses to unknown predators," Grandma said.
"But she's a predator too. She must have killed to get here," Akib's words sounded harsh.
Maron growled. Akib stepped backward, but Betty came in between to settle the matter.
"Okay, okay, you two. Maron, Akib didn't mean to hurt you," she pacified.
Akib knew the bond between the two had gone beyond just friends. Through sorcery, Grandma Betty had infused the spirit of Maron into herself, and the two had become one in a way. This oneness gave privilege to Maron to exhibit some of the characteristics that belong to humans.
Akib had a new understanding about his journey to Eskamay. He was happy to realize that when Grandma Betty suggested that Maron would follow him, she was actually saying she would be embarking on the same journey with him. The logic was becoming clearer because both Maron and her mistress were one.
"You are going with me?" exclaimed Akib.
"I need to help, and the time is short. You could meet dangers—as in dangerous animals—Maron would help you deal with those," she replied with a smile.
He turned to see Maron again, but she was already coming toward him. So, there was no need to turn anymore. When she reached his front, she focused her eyes on Akib. She stood defiantly. He didn't understand why she left her boss to stand before him.
"What is it?" Akib said.
Shocked, he discovered Grandma was no longer where he left her. It was only the two of them in the open. When Grandma spoke to Maron, she had stepped a few metres away, but Akib didn't know she had left totally.
Maron growled like she did the other time. The fur around her neck rose up, and the aura coming from her body spread over. For sure, Akib knew he had to act fast. Already her claws were set for a fight.
"What's your intention?" Akib said, not sure if she understood him. But he needed not wait for an answer.
Maron charged at him, but he paid more attention to the claws than to her head. There were four feet to determine if he would survive this. The two at the fore were the leaders in this game. If only he could beat the forefeet, the hind wouldn't pose any threat. After all, Maron wouldn't fight from the back.
The bite from the head would follow the action of the forefeet also. It is whatever the front holds, the head would tear as a meal.
With his calculation, he had more advantage by stepping to the right side and then returning to the place Maron took off from. After that, he would be able to know what his next reaction would look like.
Narrowly, his plan worked out. Maron crushed her feet against the ground, forcing her to kneel with half of her body. Akib ran forward, and Maron took after him. Soon, the place turned into a marathon field with Akib and the hyena running all over.
Grandma Betty was back.
"It's okay, Maron," she called out.
Maron stopped the chase to watch Akib, who was still panting. Someone was laughing hysterically.
"You failed this one," she announced.
"Is this a test?" He was angry.
Akib had blown off an opportunity to prove himself as a hero who could stand the test of time. Betty wanted to see what his reaction would look like because that thing called danger never announced before interruption.
"Of course, yes!" Betty said, not yet recovered from her laughter.
"You didn't inform me before you left. It happened so fast," he gave an excuse.
"Yeah, I know. Anything can happen anytime. Will you still proceed with this journey?" Grandma Betty asked.
Anyone could have thought he would decline straightaway, especially with the challenge he went through. Betty would love it if he could change his mind because that would make the boy become her human partner. The rejection from his foster parents would be advantageous, and she would have a boy apprentice to nurture. It's going to be something great to have a young boy trained by her hand. Although, that could not be compared to the glory ahead in Eskamay.
"I'll go," he said.
"In that case, let's rest for a while. I'll see you soon," Grandma said to cover the disappointment she felt.
"But let me tell you, when you see danger coming your way, use your staff and use your initiative to help yourself. Never run,"
Grandma Betty sounded a stern warning.