SHAVETUH MANTU
Chives

Injured at the nape of his neck by the sharpness of Nanang's pride, the tiger's body that returned to human form was helplessly sprawled on the bushes after roaring in pain.

Nanang drew as much air as possible into his lungs as he laid his body on the trunk of an old tree. His excruciating fatigue burned all his energy into sweat that soaked the entire body. His heart beat as fast as possible. Nanang touched his chest while redeeming the shade of the trees to stare at the distant sky of the mosquito net.

Mas... What are you preparing for your son?

Nanang ducked as arrows shot from behind the trees. He stuck his dagger on the ground then looked up slowly as a pair of pale, black-nailed and scaly legs fluttered in front of him.

Nanang grinned as his eyes collided with the eyes of a half-snake-skinned human entity. His tongue stretched out, from the pores of his pale red and long slimy tongue, came out a poisonous arrow.

Nanang rolled forward as the arrow shot towards him. He plucked his keris from the ground and scratched it at the foot of the indeterminate entity while saying a piece of prayer.

Not giving up on the attack, Dewi Laya Bajramaya's men stuck out his two hands that could extend like a snake to attract Nanang.

Nanang fended off with a streak of his dagger with a random movement while stepping back.

“Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billah.” Nanang snatched the snake man's one hand quickly, an interesting tug-of-war situation to master ensued. Full of power Nanang pulled it and twisted it until it hit the tree trunk hard.

“Do not rush to attack me. I'm old, but I'm not that weak.” Nanang took a water bottle that he had ‘doakan’ from his pants bag before pouring it into the snake's human face.

The smell of burnt skin made Nanang pull over on all fours, age indeed could not lie, his body ached after a short fight full of extra energy.

“I came with a resistance, not coming as a negotiator. Obviously I will not let those who welcome me without death first.” murmured while looking away at the light from the dim torches.

“After.” Nanang gulped down the remaining mineral water as the only logistics he could carry before his entourage was fragmented into groups scattered on the hiking trail as the looks and sounds of tigers roared alerted and scattered faded vigilance replaced by chaos and panic. In droves they run down the climbing route because they consider the tigers that are descended from Dewi Laya Bajramaya are real animals.

The rupture of the group who returned to the basecamp with different duration and panicked face was clearly making Rinjani ketar-ketir, especially Nanang not with them. Rinjani clearly leaned the question to Dalilah who was panting, then Mbah Mangku.

Mbah Mangku shook his head, his affairs were more serious apparently to the point that it was difficult for him to guess what was happening on the mountain.

“I need time to digest. You all go in first, get changed! Do not get hypothermia and pain.”

Jalu Aji, the brave little boy snorted while holding the hand of his mother's substitute. “Budhe take it easy, you must be safe. My dad is cool. At most now just become a puppeteer there.”

“Ora funny, Le!” rinjani Sahut.

“But budhe knows my father anyway? How dad? The handsome?”

Rinjani's eyes glanced at the young boy as hard as his father when he was young and looked at the mountain covered in fog.

“Your father must be home, Le. Relax!” rinjani said as if it calms herself down.

Jalu Aji's eyebrows are fused. “I'm calm, Budhe. I knew my dad would come home. If I can't go home, I'll find my own father. I know the spell.”

Rinjani and Dalilah who heard it immediately looked at Jalu Aji in surprise.

“You don't have to joke, Lu. Open the dimensional portal spell needs special abilities. Assortment! Can die you.” Dalilah hissed but immediately hugged him when the handsome who had never been absent from his mother's father's house was a grandchild.

“Now Pandu Sama Om is already there. At least the two of them, they know the way out. We calm down first, Ma'am tired.”

Rinjani nodded, though she knew there was a search deadline from the SAR team, she told everyone to rest and clean up. It was clearly different from Nanang who was still a ridge running in the darkness of the forest after the ashes of the snake man turned into a storm that attacked him.

Two guard soldiers pointed spears as Nanang fluttered on the ground. The ash storm hit him in a single loud jolt. Nanang frowned, but there was a smile on his face.

“Laras, Genta..” call him.

Laras who was disturbing the calmness of Pandu in front of his room jumped, his face looks grusa-grusu.

“The voice looks like Nanang, Gen!”

“Lah iyo, budeg.” Genta dragged Laras' hand to follow him.

“Ndu... Pandu, ommu come!” shout Laras. “In front, come-ayo..”.

The guide who was watching Dewi Laya Bajramaya on the bed turned towards the door.

“Om Nanang actually came.”

“True, come.” sahut Dewi Laya Bajramaya. “We will still negotiate, you are mine!”

Pandu refused to respond, already eneg with his behavior. The palanquin chose to get out of the room and then pulled out the torch. But as quickly as she could walk, Dewi Laya Bajramaya easily reached her.

With graceful movements, gusts of wind followed his movement towards Nanang to make the ash disappear from his body.

“Om..”

Pandu and Nanang clearly immediately looked at Goddess Laya Bajramaya who smiled sweetly after calling Nanang with that designation.

Nanang commented an amused smile. “Help ommu standing, cah ayu.”

Ih... Pandu brushed off the hand of the outstretched Goddess Laya Bajramaya. “Do not touch the same omku!”

“It's okay, Ndu. It's okay.” Nanang advises Pandu's aggravation. “Come help me stand up. You will definitely give me a bonus after I pass some of your soldiers!”

Dewi Laya Bajramaya nodded, she pushed Pandu towards Genta in order to help the accomplished negotiator rise from his break.

“Prepare me your best room, your servants and cethis to serve me, Pandu and his friends!” demand Nanang after standing up. “No rejection, Laya! Do.”

The breath of Dewi Laya Bajramaya began his agreement.

Nanang momentarily stared at Pandu from the tip of his foot until his hair was messy. He smiled a faint smile, Pandu looked fine, at least he was not as sad as his previous reflection.

“One more Goddess Laya Bajramaya.”

The angel sighed. “What?”

“Do not tease Pandu Mahendra. He is not old enough.”

Pandu actually wanted to protest with the name not old enough, he was already in his twenties. But indeed to be a husband he was happy to admit himself as an onion.

...***...