Sign of the Zodiac: Aries
[Sign 1: Aries] The Lost Sheep

Anaru and Airyung were arguing while coming out of the Chieftain's house when then Anaru realized in the front of the courtyard was already standing angrily with his funeral queen. Anaru let out a long sigh, preparing to receive all the silt that his death might spurt. Unasked, Anaru walked to where his parents were standing.

A blow landed on Anaru's head, followed by his back, and thrust all over Anaru's body. Anaru bowed trying to protect herself, but had no intention of retaliating. His mother rebuked the Anaru with the language of the Khitai Tribe that Airyung did not understand. The sound of his eyes sounded furious with a loud high tone. Seeing the cornered Anaru, Airyung immediately endured the old man's blow with his hand. Instantly the three people standing at the place stared at Airyung.

“Why did you beat him?” tanya Airyung still clasped the wrists of matu Anaru.

“Airyung, he's my father..” 'Anaru tried to explain.

Airyung immediately released his hand. “Pardon my impoliteness, but you shouldn't beat up Anaru like this.”

The father did not seem to understand the words of Airyung and instead grumbled even longer with the language of the Khitai tribe. Finally Anaru replied to his dead words and the two now engaged in a mouth war. Airyung who did not understand a single word just watched their quarrel in confusion.

The cuss finally reached the top. Anaru's father slapped the young man's cheek so hard that Anaru fell to the ground. Airyung hurriedly helped Anaru stand up while staring at the ferocious father of Anaru, preparing to counterattack. But Anaru held him back.

“He wheekadang! Kotu ore tok tamai! You're toa haere ki whare![1]” exclaimed the father ending their quarrel. The old man then turned to leave them, followed by his wife who had cried without doing anything.

Anaru was speechless seeing the departure of matu and umanya. His mouth was bleeding from the slap of his death and it seemed like his entire body was going to turn blue due to the merciless blow he had received earlier.

“What happened?” airyung asked later, patting the clothes of Anaru which was full of land.

“My father kicked me out of the house,” replied Anaru while wiping the blood from his mouth.

Airyung seemed concerned about the state of Anaru. It seems that Anaru's father was angry because Anaru came home without bringing a sheep. Airyung felt somewhat guilty because he also contributed to killing the last two sheep Anaru. Perhaps if there were at least two sheep left, Anaru's father wouldn't be that angry.

“It looks like I have to sleep outside again,” said Anaru while grimacing at Airyung.

“You can stay at my house for a while,” once again Ngaio comes at the right time. “This Miss's horse I tethered in my sheep cage. I also live alone because my parents have long since died. You can rest comfortably, at least for tonight.”

“Indeed I hope it won't go berserk if we sleep in your house?” ask anaru.

“Hope to have brought her sister earlier. I explained that he was hit by a kinokambe attack and saved by Miss from the Giyatsa tribe. When I realize later I hope to feel indebted to Miss, so she will not protest much if I help you,” explained Ngaio at length.

Anaru. Why is Ngaio being nice to her. Their past is actually quite bad considering that Ngaio chose to leave her and instead became the lover of Kaharap, the arch-enemy of Anaru. But Anaru could not seem to lament his heartache any longer, because instead of refusing, Airyung responded positively to Ngaio's offer.

“My name is Airyung. Just call me that. We will be very grateful if you are willing to accommodate us for some time,” Airyung replied without discussing with Anaru. Anaru looked like he was about to protest, but Airyung glared at him fiercely and made the young man just lightly screech.

“My name is Ngaio, tenako,” replied Ngaio. The three of them finally walked towards Ngaio's house.

Anaru looked at the girl carefully. Ngaio has always been very diligent in household matters. Both of his parents died two years ago, and since then Ngaio lives alone. Therefore Ngaio is very deft to take care of his own life.

“I just did what I thought was most appropriate. The miss of the Giyatsa tribe did not seem evil.”

“Airyung.. his name is Airyung,” cut Anaru correcting.

Ngaio was silent for a moment while staring at Anaru. “You turned out to care about him a lot,” commented Ngaio.

“She... has helped me a lot,” replied Anaru misbehaved, like a thief who was caught off guard.

Ngaio smiled slightly. “I'm glad you found someone better than me. I honestly feel guilty for you for leaving without explanation. And precisely choose Kaharap..” said Ngaio lirih.

The crack of firewood in the village became the background of their discussion. Airyung had already slept in the room that Ngaio had prepared.

“You don't have to feel guilty. I wish I had more things than me. Even his brother is an uluwero and his family is also quite distinguished. I have nothing to hold you back from staying with me,” said Anaru again overwhelmed with anger. He was angry at himself who had nothing left. Even now that he had been dumped by his family and pitied by his former lover, what could be more miserable than this?

Ngaio grabbed onto the hand of Anaru who was clenching on the wooden table. The girl then bowed to look at Anaru who was sitting in front of the prayer.

“Anaru, you are the bravest man I have ever known. You have that power in your heart, and that's what makes me fall in love with you. I might not be able to be by your side at the moment. But believe me, you must have found someone else who was much better than me,” Ngaio said in earnest.

The blazing flames of fire made the silhouette of Ngaio's face twitch. But it does not necessarily melt the beauty of its face. Anaru looked back into Ngaio's jet eyes. Her beauty was still the same, even more beautiful than the last memory of Anaru. The long wavy hair that used to be caressed by Anaru, now can no longer be touched. Anaru took a deep breath, then pulled his fist from Ngaio's grasp.

“You helped me out of guilt. You don't have to kill me, Ngaio. I can take care of myself,” said Anaru who then stood up, about to leave Ngaio. “But I am still grateful for your help. Especially when you testified to my lies about the kinokambe on the beach.”

Ngaio looked confused. “But there is a kinokambe there. Me and Miss Airyung saw it. He also killed the kinokambe just before the creature attacked Kaharap.”

Now Anaru was surprised. “But I didn't see anything,” sergeant in disbelief.

“You're bending over because of a slap. And that kinokambe turned into black smoke after Miss Airyung killed her. Miss's attack then hit Kaharap and made him faint,” explained Ngaio.

Anaru could only gawk at Ngaio's explanation. It seems that the girl did not lie.

...***...

[1] You fucking crap! You're not my son! Don't you dare go home!