Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 30
Sekali dreamed he was strolling through knee-deep grasses, Mabuhi at his side. They traveled in silence for hours until they came upon a forest. He looked at it in sudden wonder, knowing he had been here before, yet couldn’t remember when. Wolves began to exit the forest, raising their heads to the darkened canopy of night, straining their individual choruses to the moon. As his hand strayed to the hilt of his blade, Sekali noticed Mabuhi was unconcerned at the wolves’ approach.
Soon they appeared in great numbers about them, yet did not advance closer than he could throw a rock. He looked over at her as she looked up at him. She pointed to a large black wolf, proud and majestic, with almost an arrogance in its demeanor. It paced back and forth, sniffing the ground about it. It suddenly broke from the others and strode forward toward them, as if braving the unthinkable for a wolf.
Sekali's blood began to boil in his veins as it approached. On the other hand, Mabuhi stood fearless and serene. He watched her glittering eyes darting here and there, taking in each wolf.
Suddenly, she laughed aloud and leapt forward toward the large wolf throwing her arms around his neck. His tail began to wag furiously as he licked her face and neck as if it were a pup that hadn't seen its master all day. They knew each other! Sekali’s hand dropped from the sword's hilt as Mabuhi turned and threw him a smile that brightened his soul. She beckoned to him.
“Come, Sekali, meet one of the dearest friends in all my world.”
Sekali hesitated for a moment. She beckoned to him again as she whispered something to the wolf. He approached and knelt beside her, before the wolf, and froze. The wolf sniffed him and then began nuzzling Mabuhi once again.
“He has accepted you at my request. You are now Druid Ally, Sekali, and my personal guest here in my homeland."