Migo let me go and notices that he also dropped his club. We both have no weapon and the crab seems angry. I look at the Hirayans and the leaders in the distance. Bagwis and Laya are standing, both are tense. Migo, Aian, and I are under their workgroup, so they might have felt the need to save us.

"So, what now?" Migo asks.

If only we have a bow. Unfortunately, Laya only has enough time to teach Renz how to use it.

"Maybe I should retrieve my war hammer?"

"War hammer? You mean the club?" I ask.

"Told you it's a war hammer. You're the only one insisting that it's a club. Name it with more class, you know."

"Actually, yes, do retrieve that," I agree. "Migo, what do you know of crabs in our time?" I ask, changing the topic.

"Nothing," he grins. "I just like to eat them."

"Need help?" I hear someone shout from the kuta. It's Isagani.

I look back at the crab. It seems to be stunned. Does my sword on its underside actually deal some damage?

"Migo, let's continue. I guess, you just need to pound it continuously with your war hammer."

"Got it!" he says.

Like Migo, I get closer. It seems like the crab is unaware of me. Migo starts to circle it, then he suddenly hits its right pincer. I get even closer. I need to get my sword, too. I close on it. It looks like it's in pain. Do crabs actually feel pain? Is it dying?

Suddenly, its left pincer moves towards me, but then it stops. Migo blocks it with his club. Only his arms get caught on it. He screams. And I feel the pain again. I know that we always have a connection, but not to this level.

"Migo!"

He drops his hammer, and it's getting more painful. I need to move. The crab seems to place all its attention on him. If only I can reach my sword from the crab's underside, this pain will stop. I get even closer, then I hesitate. But when I hear Migo's screams again, I take a deep breath and go under the crab and grope for my sword. I am almost hugging it. Thankfully, its other pincer is broken by Migo.

I hear laughter from the Hirayan crowd. They seem to find our predicament funny. Truth be told, this is not a hunter's way of crabbing, if there is such a term, but we have no choice. When finally, my hand finds the sword, I grab it and pull it out. There is a tremor in the crab but I ignored it. I climb on top of it. I need to find the area that Migo repeatedly pounded when I was the prey.

"Lower-mid," Migo coughs.

I find it, a small crack, but a crack is more than enough. I plunge the sword into it. Another tremor, but I stay put on the back of the crab. Then, I step on the sword handle, making sure that the weapon will dive deep into the crab's back. The crab moves and I fell from its back, butt-first. It lets go of Migo, and in a sideway manner, it scrambles away. However, it's not even a few meters away from us when its walking legs crumble, and there it lays unmoving.

I approach Migo and check both his arms. It's bleeding. Certainly, he cannot hold his hammer for a while.

"Is it done?" he groans.

"Thankfully, it only caught your arm."

"Only my arm? Can't you see they're useless now?" he grumbles.

"We need--"

"I can't hug the two of you, can I?" It's Aian, who comes down from the kuta. Probably the instant he regains consciousness.

"Spare me, please," Migo answers.

Aian is close to tears but instead of showing it to us, he kneels before us and covers his face. "Oh God, thank you." His voice is trembling.

I feel sorry for him. It's not our plan to take care of a monster crab. It should only be the argentavis. I come closer to him.

"Aian, I--"

"Shut up!" Swiftly, he wipes his tears and points at my face. "You reckless woman! How could you do that? That was not in our plan at all!"

"But it--"

"It fucking doesn't matter! We made plans! We stick to it! Are you planning to kill me!?"

"Well... Laya hit you that bad?" I ask at his sudden outburst. Aian is always calm, judging, but now he is losing it.

"You f--"

Before he can call me names, I run up to him and hug him. We are of the same height, so he does not look imposing on me.

"Thank you," I whisper, and then, to tease him, I ruffle his hair and add, "Calm down now, my child. Your mom's well and alive."

"Shut--" he stops himself, takes an enormous sigh, and pulls away from my hug. "You guys still have two tasks. You can't always do this."

"This is one time, I promise."

Then I hear a commotion behind me and see that Hirayans start to carry both the crab and the argentavis inside the island.

"Wait," I look at Isagani and the Rajah. They are preparing to leave. I run to them. A meter away from the Rajah, Bagwis stops me.

"Sir! Sire! Rajah." I don't know how to call him. Nevertheless, I get his attention and he looks at me. There are no more jitters. I am in that much predicament to feel nervous under his eyes. Besides, I can't read him. Earlier, at least, when he said yes to the bet, there was a smile. This time, his face is blank.

"The favor," I start.

The Rajah looks me over and then stops at my face. "I'll think it over," he says.

What does that mean? Is he planning to go back on his words? I placed my life and Migo's in danger just to gain access to that Collections of his!

"Rajah, sir, please."

However, the Rajah ignores me and I feel insignificant. That should not be, he promised! Angry, I am about to storm at him when Laya blocks my way.

"Jade, calm down."

I look over his shoulder at the Rajah and catch him looking at me. He shifts his attention and whispers something to Bagwis.

"I will talk to him. I promise. Right now, just let it pass."

I turn my attention to Laya. He's pleading as if it's problematic if I push it.

"Please?" Laya repeats.

I take a deep sigh and say, "Fine. I will let it go, for now," I feel too tired as if all the rush from earlier just came over me. "Thank you, Laya."

I sit on the chair and look over the area. Aian is helping Migo together with the Babaylans. Like Rajah Sinagtala, all the Hirayans are leaving the shoreline. Then I glance at both Renz and Cielo, and I immediately regret it. He's caressing her cheeks, comforting her with words and touches. Cielo looks troubled, and she's clutching on Renz's shirt. I frown. Look at that. I am the one who risked my life, and he's comforting the girl whose only contribution is to watch?

Oh yeah, aside from groaning and moaning and all kinds of ear-splitting sounds while she watches us sacrifice our lives. Shit, this life is unfair.

"Newcomer Jade."

I jerk at the voice. I shift my attention and look up at Bagwis. Damn, he's tall, so I also stand up. However, I only reach his shoulder. I'm sure I'm tall by Filipino women's standards, but this guy makes me feel like a dwarf. Insignificant and a dwarf. How's that after endangering your life?

"As per Rajah Sinagtala, he will call for you soon to hear about your favor."

"When?"

"Soon," Bagwis replies and turns to leave. When he returns to the Rajah's side, I slump back to the chair.

"Child, are you hurting somewhere?" an old Babaylan asks.

I look up at the old woman and shake my head.

She reaches up to my face and whispers, "Yes, you are." Then she gestures for the other Babaylan to carry me and I am already too exhausted to protest.