Srinayu On the Hill of Randu
Chapter 9 | Demon Wolf

RAIN subsides, leaving only the faint specks. However, the atmosphere remains dark. And the weather, it's so cold, it's getting into the bone marrow. Trees and leaves are silent. Only the tired night breeze was grim, unable to bring him the waving nyiur. The blow was too soft, almost without the whirring of a sound.

The entire wilderness seemed to be in complete silence. The cicadas did not dare to raise their voices. Only the remains of rain and rabas sounding smooth and timid hit the roof of the cottage made of simple leaves. This kind of atmosphere awakens mystical paintings in human delusion. Tempting the body and soul trapped in the chaos. Moreover, the magical air is also so thick felt here. Randu, must be feeling it. It's like being in another world, the world out of nowhere. A world that is not on earth. However, if this was indeed another world, how would he be able to get to this place? Or is this just a place behind the jungle, surrounded by hills and mountains, which are never touched by humans, other than this mysterious family, of course? Then who are they? Why is it here?

They grow, fish, find firewood, and cook. Everything is normal, nothing strange. Does all this not explain enough that this family is also ordinary people? Not a demon, like the prejudice that always haunts his mind. Or even related to the story of an angel who lost his shawl while bathing in the river, because it was stolen by a young man so that he could no longer return to heaven. Mr Linggihkah the young man? If that's true, none other than Ms. Srining is an angel. Then, Nyu? Is Randu in luck? Will get the offspring of angels. It's only in the movie... Sandu smiled shyly.

Every now and then lightning flashed swiftly incised the face of void air. Feels so close. As close as a heartbeat, as if it could touch and slash his face. It seems like the rain is going to fall again. The look of Randu returned empty.

Mr. Linggih approached Randu who had been sitting on a wooden bench earlier. The size is quite long. "Son...," he said hesitantly, "..what is unthinkable to go home? How's your parents...? They must be thinking of you."

Pandu was stunned to hear the question. His gaze then swept around the cottage. Tracing the saka— pole made of enau—pondok tree that began to be gnawed termites, continue to up to the top of the texture of the roof of the leaves are jutting, then his gaze dived down following the rate of raindrops, rainwater droplets, it ends in a puddle on the ground. The puddle broke, Randu said, "I don't know, sir... Here I feel safe." replied Randu.

"Hm. Actually, we have no objection to your existence here. Your presence warms our isolated lives."

"I'd be very happy if that were the case, ." - timpal Randu. Quiet for a moment, pondering something. His face was like he was carrying a heavy burden. "Then let me stay here longer."

Mr. Linggih mangosteen, then patted the shoulder of the young man next to him, whose soul—Pak Linggih knew very—sedang brittle. "It doesn't matter to us... Instead, we feel happy..," replied Mr. Linggih confident.

The roof of the leaking hut spawned a drop of water, perched and broke right on the trunk of Randu's nose. But he doesn't care. He did not try to wipe his face, nor did he get out of place. Once he had fallen in love he was in this estranged wilderness.

"If you want to go home later, change your mind, I can help you, son..." Mr. Linggih took a deep breath. "Father thinks of your parents who must be worried about your circumstances... And, you're so you think."

Randu looked, then turned. "Come on..," he replied uninspiredly.

"We can not leave this place___\," said Mr. Linggih suddenly and\, stopped instantly.

"Why can't it?" chase the already curious Randu.

Then, unexpectedly, very surprisingly, "Nayu can, and we want her out of this place."

Oh... Nayu again... Sayu again.., thought Randu fretting. Every time the name is heard, uttered, it invariably gives rise to another taste. A feeling that is not easy to understand. And he believes, the taste is not just a taste caused by the action of reactions between two people of different types. But more than that. Although he did not deny himself, that he did put his heart on Nayu. What a very beautiful girl beautiful again charming. And apparently, not an ordinary girl. More than that, Nayu approached an angel. Or maybe, really an angel.

On the face of Nayu implied words that wanted to immediately come out telling a story. Sentences held back by something. The long-buried lament, waiting for the right time to be revealed. A long-stoppable outpouring of feelings that the girl immediately wanted to spill, to someone who was truly capable of helping her. Sandy could feel it. Screams, cries, complains of the voice of his heart, in a pitch-black vacuum. What that means is that Nayu doesn't feel happiness here. But it seemed, the cause was not merely because of this place itself; secluded in the middle of the forest, desolate, sinister. Something else made him suffer. Is it because both her parents - or one of them - likes to torture and treat her badly, vilely, cruelly? But still doubtful, everything is impossible. Which parent has such a heart in his own son.

There is something that endangers Jayu at any time. A kind of horror, fear, sadness that always overshadowed his life. It was as if a time bomb was ready to explode at any time, anywhere, without any advance notice. And what he's going through, it's probably scarier than a real bomb.

On the other hand, it was Rand who needed the help of a Bayu in this place. As happened a few moments ago, at the departure of Randu and Mr. Linggih to the river, the gaze of Randu expects an honesty from Bayu. He knew that 'Srinayu' was hiding something. It was Nayu himself who said through his eyes to Randu. All this time, he had not and had never gotten the right opportunity to talk at length with Nyu. The words that came out of Nayu's mouth for her, were nothing more than introductory sentences when preparing the dish, except when Bu Srining first introduced the two of them. That doesn't mean much either. Not a more serious, deeper, more touching talk.

Nayu__ said Randu did not make a sound.

"We'll go to the river for a minute!" bring Mr. Linggih.

He was seen closely by Randu, the moon that seemed no longer perfect in its full time. The dark blue moon looks so scary. The silent moon also makes the atmosphere more quiet. It was as if the round object was a passageway in which the source of evil came from, the place where the demonic aura came out.

When he was nearing the river, Randu heard the sound of bells, coming not far from the direction where Mr. Linggih had been fishing.

"bells...?" Randu clamped, and stared intently at the steps of Mr. Linggih who immediately ran towards the origin of the sound. Nyi Roro Kidul...?! Not in the ocean ...?! This ... It's just a river...!

Randu did not dare to follow, instead he stepped back up to four five steps.

Now there is a shadow of Mr. Linggih that looks faint from a distance. Both hands moved upwards. Up and down, like clawing. While his face looked up, facing the moon. Then his body bent, crawled, then crept on the banks of the river. Suddenly, his back seemed to grow.

"S. si.. stealth... wolfaaaa...! Naayuu...!" Randu shouted out loud. Eyes wide, sharp, lips blue. The heart was pounding hard, it felt like it was almost gone. Fast and fast, making him tired of breathing.

The silhouette of the wolf shadow turned towards him. It seems that figure is very angry.

End my history! Free running, waste of energy. Huh! I will face. and then.., after defeating him, I immediately save Bayu. I'm taking it all the way from this savage forest.

This must be what Nayu wanted to say. It wasn't your fault... I see, you don't have the courage to say it. Especially for a weak girl like you...

No, I should have left this river... Nayu must be in danger. Ms. Srining must be no different from her husband. Nyu herself...? I'm sure he's not a demon....

Too late, Mr. Linggih's distance from him is only a few steps away. With one big leap, the creature can certainly reach it. Tearing his body apart, and ending up as a fine meal.

"Hey...! Stretchers...! Son, where are you going?!"

However, that voice changed everything in an instant. The steps of the Stretcher stopped for a moment. Wait up! Where can any wolf speak... say that...!? His voice sounded ordinary. You idiot! the wind in the heart.

"Pak Linggih...!?" ask Randu to make sure.

"What's up, son...!? The wolf!?"

"Mm.. ma sorry, Mr. Linggih! I saw it wrong..," Randu stammered in response.

"What did you see? Where...!?" mr. Linggih's voice is rising. The parents also became panicked, accompanied by pity for Randu. Actually Mr. Linggih wants to hug him. However, in reality Randu was no longer a child.

Stretcher stunned empty. Mutely momentarily. His words met with impasse. He was only fixated on staring at Mr. Linggih who was also looking at him with astonishment. Randu felt very sorry, felt guilty, for his stupidity.

Just a few steps away, for no apparent reason Mr. Linggih suddenly laughed like a mentally ill person. "Ha ha ha. haha..." He pulled something from the basket on his back. A fish hung up while fluttering lightly, as if thrashing to be released. The sockets were still on the hook's eyes that were still connected to a piece of clear white nylon, and at the end of the net appeared a pair of small golden bells. The shape of the head is somewhat round, the tail is small reddish. And the scales are grayish in color. Maybe this fish was meant by Mr. Linggih earlier

"That's a big one, sir."

"Very big... Ha ha - ha..." The fish was then put back into the pelvis basket. "Let's speed up our steps. Nayu must be happy, and is waiting."

The name made him feel peaceful again. It seems love is starting to blossom.

"The fish must die immediately before they get home. If not.., Nayu can't bear to cook it, let alone eat it..." Mr. Linggih looked at Randu's eyes that seemed to reflect light.

Of course, the fish must have died before arriving home.

"Woodoo girl who is soft.. her nature is very loving," continued Mr. Linggih, "Didn't you also want to quickly meet Nayu...?"

Randu's face flushed. But thankfully it was bad.

"Content... Accelerate our steps... Instead of lingering here, you'll worry more about Nyu."

Pandu getting more and more misbehavior. He is unable to protect himself. The shame is not the cross. Like being naked in front of a crowd.

"Hm. in a safe house. There's nothing to worry about. No wolves or anything else is dangerous."

Randu could not stand being attacked. "Eee... earlier.tokay..," he tried to defend himself, but not the power of stringing sentences.

"Ha ha..," Mr. Linggih was more than happy to play Randu. "You've been in my house for six days, but I've never seen you talk to Nayu at length. Are you a shy person? Um... Father never forbid you or Nayu to talk to each other. You young man yesterday afternoon."

You idiot...! Stupid!?! Just yummy! I almost died of fright earlier, Randu protested inwardly. But I really like Nayu. Your son is perfect in my eyes. For other young people, I think the same is their assessment. You should have locked him up in the middle of the wilderness. How expensive your son you appreciate, Old Man... Ach Nayu again...

NAYU was still sitting on the stairs. His gaze was thrown far away, trying hard through the darkness of the night, down the thickets and trees. The moonlight brushed his restless face. His eyes sparkled, refracting a very intense anxiety.

Ms. Srining came back to accompany. At least, he hoped to make his son's anxiety subside a little. "Nayu..," but the sap stopped. Doubt prevents what he wants to say. There is something taboo to talk about. That will reawaken the gripping memories. Keeping the feeling of the moment is more important.

"They'll be home soon. There's nothing to worry about" Ms Srining said, changing the course of the talks.

Nayu slightly calmed down to hear her mother's statement, but her gaze remained unchanged, instead growing farther into the embrace of the forest.

His hopeful gaze bore fruit, the forest as if granting his do'a. There was faintly seen the shadow of two human figures in the darkness that were slowly approaching.

Nayu stood up, and turned her body. "Because it's not time yet," he said cynically, then went into the house. And Ms. Srining was just speechless hearing it.

"Get the fish?" ms. Srining asked as soon as her husband and Randu were in front of the stairs.

"One," Randu hurriedly replied.

Ms. Srining scrunched her forehead. As if confused by the efforts of the two people all day. From day to night, only one, he thought he did not understand.

"But big. More than enough for the four of us," comfort Mr. Linggih while lowering the basket from his back. It looks like a big fish is sprawling. Length and magnitude almost as large as an adult .

"Of course, more than enough."

Ms. Srining brought the fish into the house. While Mr. Linggih went straight to the back, circling his house, until finally disappeared in the dark.

Stretcher immediately up the stairs. As he climbed into the vestibule, his steps came to a halt. Something caught his attention. His eyes were fixed on a small rocking chair. Then, he walked slowly to approach the thing.

The rocking chair was too small, even for a Nayu. Then he sat down cross-legged beside the rocking chair. Now it looks taller than his body. Randu continued to observe; implied an odd aura, a mystical scent, a scream of the past, a silent witness. So, he began to wonder. Who uses it and for what? Not a child in this place? Why is still saved—the condition is already very concerning—even though it may have been a favorite object of Nyu in childhood?

Randu leaned his body on the armrest of the chair. His eyes glared, thinking of all the peculiarities in this place. There is something else, which sooner or later will surely burst forth, revealing its form. But he doesn't know exactly. I don't know what it is.

Ms. Srining returned to the terrace, carrying a cup of sweet warm tea that still evaporates the smoke, and a plate of fried bananas. "Eat this first, Randu."

Randu stole Bu Srining's face deeply. Why didn't Nayu just bring it...? Disappointed complaints.

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Glossaries

rabas: water that falls from the leaves after rain.

saka: house pole; series pole, mother house pole; something that becomes enforcer.