When Rosa told me I am free to watch the newcomers' challenges for the hunter's workgroup, I didn't hesitate. I run all the way to the kuta and the shore. They have set the hunting ground on the opposite side of the island, where we found ourselves a week ago.

The sandigs guarding the kuta let me through to where the makeshift chairs and wooden stools are prepared for all the spectators. There's a lot this time. At the center are the Rajah, Isagani, Bagwis, and his aides, except Laya. Hirayans, who came to watch the hunter's first challenge, surround them.

I look around the area. The shore is rocky and examining the rough texture; it seems hard to move around with or without wearing a bakya. Also, the ground is uneven. Huge rocks are protruding here and there. There are even parts where they will need to jump just to move from one place to another. Just looking at the area makes me nervous. How would Renz run around the area as bait? And where are they? Not one from Migo, Aian, Renz, and Jade is in the area. The spectators are getting impatient.

Suddenly, a commotion happens. From the entrance to Hiraya, both Migo and Jade roll a wooden cage over. A gigantic bird is inside of it. The argentavis. It's still alive, but it's wounded and can't move its body inside the small cage.

They push at it until it's in front of the spectators. Renz is also helping, since the ground is uneven, the strength of only Migo and Jade is not enough to move it along the rocky shore.

Once it's three meters away from the Rajah, Jade moves forward while both Renz and Migo ensure that the argentavis is properly secured.

"Here's the Argentavis that you asked of us," Jade starts as she looks over Bagwis.

Bagwis does not respond. Instead, it is Isagani who speaks, "What kind of hunting is that? We didn't even see it."

"As per instructions from Bagwis, we used Renz," she swallows, "as bait. Once it's inside this wooden trap, Renz left it by escaping through the other end, and then it's just a matter of trapping it. However, it was thrashing around so we wounded it to make it more docile."

"You should have invited us to watch that."

"Then we wouldn't be able to tempt the bird into the cage. See, even without the hunting, you guys are already creating significant noise. If that is so, this would be an impossible task." Jade pauses and fakes a surprise. "Or is that what you were aiming for?"

Isagani raises his brows but does not retaliate. Instead, he looks over to Rajah Sinagtala, which is weird because he should seek approval from Bagwis first. The tests are supposed to be judged by the Leaders first.

Rajah Sinagtala says, "There is no witness though."

"Ain't the argentavis already a proof? Unless there's a lot of argentavis here and some are very easy to catch," Migo responds.

"The law here says that at least one workgroup leader should be present," Rajah Sinagtala insists.

"I am the witness." It's Laya with Aian. Laya is holding the sword that Jade used to slay the Bakasi before. He throws it at Jade, who unsuccessfully catches it and drops it in between the rocks. "I watch them trap the argentavis at the inner island starting daybreak."

I look back at the three, the bags under their eyes say it all. They started the capture even before daybreak.

"You allowed them?" Isagani asks.

"Their concerns are very logical. The bird won't come here as noisy as you people are," he answers and sits close to the Rajah, to his rightful place. Aian, on the other hand, joins the other spectators. He also looks tired as the rest.

"The bird is still alive," Rajah Sinagtala interrupts.

"Yes," Jade says with trembling in her voice. She readies the sword, takes a deep breath, and plunges it into the argentavis's chest.

The Argentavis's cries in a shrill tone. I cover my ears like the rest of us. It is painful to hear. Jade stands frozen at the cries. Migo takes the sword from Jade and is the one who strikes the argentavis again, but more like he pierces the bird multiple times in its face until its cries died down.

And when it stops, everyone goes silent like something awful had passed. Renz is still standing beside the cage, and like both Migo and Jade, he's drenched with the argentavis' blood. Similar to Jade, he's petrified. He can't take his eyes off the supposed predator that is now being mutilated in front of them.

"That serves you right!" Migo says, who is the most blood-drenched of them all.

It is Jade who moves first. She reaches for Migo, touches his bloodied hands, and closes his into her palms. "Migo, calm down," she mouths into a whisper.

Migo looks at her, and the crazy look vanishes. He relinquishes the sword to her and sits on the rock as if he's already too exhausted to even stand up.

Jade faces them again, wipes the blood off her face, and says, "It's done now, Bagwis." This time there are no jitters, no nervous movement. It's like Migo's outburst had calmed her down. Then she looks at Rajah Sinagtala and bows.

Bagwis stands up and in a deep voice, he says, "The first challenge is now cleared by newcomers Jade, Migo, and Renz."

No clapping happens. Instead, the spectators leave. Now, it will be time for my first challenge.

"That's lame."

"At least, we saw something crazy at the end."

I look back at the voices and recognize some hunters. Suddenly, someone hugs me. I didn't make any move to move away. It feels familiar. It's Renz, so I hug him back and settle my head on his chest. I don't care about the blood, as long as he is safe. The blood can be washed away easily.

Suddenly, there's a rapping noise coming from the shore. I heard gasps and moans. Or is it excitement? Despite the comfort that Renz offers, I move away from him and look at the source of the noise. I exclaim, or rather, I feel like I temporarily lost the ability to breathe. My hold tightens on his arms and like me, he's also frozen—the second time for him today.

Behind Jade—who is looking murderously at me—and Migo is a huge crab. Its shelled body is five meters long. It's claws and pincers twice that. I look at Aian. He's already moving towards the two. However, Laya stops him, or rather, Laya hits him and he falls over, unconscious. Bagwis, on the other hand, unsheathes his sword and is walking towards Jade and Migo.

"Stop!" Jade screams that made Bagwis stop. She glances at the huge crab that is slowly coming towards them and turns to Rajah Sinagtala. "Let us defeat it."

Isagani snorts, and Renz turns to return to her. I stop him.

"That's not a monster to be hunted by the new hunters. And we will not allow you to make that your second challenge," Isagani says.

"Let me defeat it, and if I did, I need a small favor," Jade continues. Some spectators stop and listen in.

"No, the argentavis is enough for our feast. Bag--"

"Alright." Rajah Sinagtala interjects. "You two, against that," he says, pointing at the huge crab.

"Sinag--" Rajah Sinagtala raises his hand to stop Isagani's complaints.

"As long as the favor is within my power, I'll grant it."