TRIBAL SABUNG
Chapters. 5 - Forest and Pig Bag. 2 - 2

Before the sun really rises, the Sky group has gone first. The next location is about 1 KM from their current point. Not too far away, but seeing the weather looks cloudy makes them choose to leave early. Basuki led the group, heading south. When they were halfway through, the new sun was completely visible with dew and raindrops. Unfortunately, the rain did not stop for a while but settled and increasingly heavy.

“Enter into the cave!” Tio exclaimed as he pointed at the stone wall that had a hole large enough for them to shelter.

“Sial, but just a little more!” Nyoman grumbled while scrambling her wet hair.

“I-it's a-there ha-handel,” Sky swiftly give his friends the little towel he brought. “a-I'll bu-make a-fire u-unggun!”

“No need, we must as soon as possible catch up with the others,” Nyoman snorted softly.

“Oi, malnourished boy!” Basuki called out and then turned his head towards the outside of the cave. “Rain does not intend to subside in the near future. So, Sky make campfire.”

“Ba-good, Ka!”

“Damn it!”

Tio took down the backpack, started to take out some canned food and also a tool for cooking. This fat-haired teenager chose to make breakfast while waiting for the rain to subside. After Sky managed to make a fire, Tio was busy preparing food while observing Nyoman and Basuki who could not cook..

“You must learn to cook, that's basic survival skill!”

Nyoman shrugged her shoulders, still busy drying her hair while watching the nimble hands of Heaven who was peeling the skin of thin potatoes.

“There are you guys who can, why should I?” that's answer.

“Cooking equipment is too fragile, I don't know how many items are damaged once I hold.” Basuki scratched his non-itchy nape. “My hand is too magical, you know that, Tio.”

“You are truly unhelpful,” Tio sighed softly. “How will you guys fate later when out of the parlor?”

“Of course be a success!” Nyoman puffed out her chest, pointing at herself confidently.

“I'm a future Inter-Tribal World Cup winner! I don't have to learn to cook! after all, I just call a five-star chef to make my meal!”

Basuki broke down, he patted Nyoman on the back with his superpowers. The skinny boy almost fell.

“Great dream, man! but before that, you must successfully awaken the Blood Tribe within your body! or you forever remain a ‘human ordinary’.”

Nyoman coughed softly, she almost wanted to punch Basuki in the face. “Of course I know that! the requirement to become a challenger in the World Tribal Cup is to awaken the special power that each tribe has.”

The sky, waiting for the boiling water, listened carefully to Nyoman's words. In the orphanage, there was no one who understood the World Tribal Cup more than the skinny boy in front of him.

“You all though stupid, must have heard ‘Bahtera Noah’, right?” Nyoman started off with another nod.

“Yodha Jayantaka from Java Tribe, Bintang Hutabarat from Batak Tribe, Aria Lubis from Dayak Tribe, Linda Wong from Palembang Tribe, and Nawi Gontha from Minahasa Tribe. The five of them are the founders of the ‘Bahtera Noah’ project as well as the heroes who managed to unite the Indonesian archipelago in the Tournament that we call the World Tribe Cup.”

“The job of Noah's Ark is to gather talented people from various tribes. Train them to be the strongest and then continue the mission vision of the founders to teach other children so that the strength and identity of each tribe remain without worrying eroded by the changing times.”

Nyoman received a bowl of warm soup from the Sky. Their breakfast was ready when the boy was busy explaining.

“And as far as I know, Noah's Ark only accepts those who managed to raise up the Blood Tribe. Usually they prefer the children of Top Three Academy graduates to become their students.”

“So Noah's Ark can be likened to a large and elite University that only selected people can enter from the selected.” Basuki chimed in.

Nyoman snapped her finger, “True! If we manage to get into Noah's Ark, then we definitely don't have to worry about the future. The World Tribal Cup is not just a dream!”

“Wah..., I pulled back my words just now, malnourished boy!” Basuki grinned widely, “I'm amazed by you. It turns out that the dream you want to achieve is very high. I hope our hunting experience now, is enough to make you able to awaken the Blood Tribe within you.”

“Heh! I don't need your confession, brother! I am Nyoman, I will prove myself and determine my future!”

“Omong-by the way about hunting,” Tio suddenly slumped. “Are you not aware, if lately cases of pigs attacking the village often occur?”

“Du-formerly they ja-rarely attack de-village.” The sky this time was in conversation. “Se-a-year du-twice, ta-but ti-three times in e-six bu-the last month i-this is they attack de-village.”

“True, this is the second time for me and Tio to go hunting. Then then you two come to replace Radit and Endang who two months ago was adopted.”

Basuki muttered softly, then he chuckled to himself. “Ah, sorry. Suddenly a crazy thought passed through my head.”

“Nothing, not important. Instead, we should pack up and go back on our way. Rain has subsided.”

The four of them immediately cleaned up the remnants of food, places to eat, and put out the campfire. Basuki again leads the group, his ability to determine directions, and his vigilance in the environment make his friends feel safe following.

Tio was in the very back row, using his eagle eyes to watch around. He told Basuki if there were any strange things, including the one who had just found a cave to shelter.

Not until an hour, finally the four of them arrived at the next hunting ground. But it was not the feeling of passion nor thrilling that awaited them. Except for the chaos accompanied by panic, fear, and anxiety. The place was filled with village youths who were seriously injured. Some had heavy bleeding in the head and right abdomen.

“A-what happened?!” Basuki immediately turned his head, looking for a person who could be questioned. “Sorry exactly what happened?” ask one of the people who is carrying medicine.

The black-haired man was sweating, he instead pushed Basuki to get out of his way. “Are you blind? this is due to the attack from the Forest King!”

“Ra-King Hu-hutan?” The sky murmured in horror.

The blue bead trembled, the scene in front completely shuffling its entrails. They were healthy, strong, and reliable village youths. Sky even knew some of them were renowned martial artists. Not to mention, the village had already collected good weapons for the sake of smooth hunting. So how could the damage inflicted from a boar be this severe?

“Do not...,” Mumbles Tio heard by Sky. The boy gulped nervously, waiting for Tio to finish his speech.

“They mutated again?”

Oh this is bad, so bad. The news they received was a mutated wild boar and it meant that the animal became the new king of the forest. If so then no matter, there is indeed a period where the food chain changes every once in a while. But if the Forest King mutates, then the animal is already in the category of a monster.

“Basuki, Tio, Nyoman and Sky!”

The four of them turned to look at a middle-aged man who was calling in the distance. A person with tangled brown hair, a firm jaw, and a stocky body. He was the son of the village chief, Bang Juki.

“Luckily you guys are fine!” yelling Juki while hugging them one by one except Nyoman who dodged.

“What is the King of the Mutated Forest?” Tio immediately asked.

Bang Juki ruffled his waist and sighed heavily, then nodded. The four orphanage children nodded slowly.

“About ten people were seriously injured, five others were lightly injured. The problem was that those who were seriously injured were the ones on the front lines and had strong destructive power. We lack people and help from the new village for two more days.”

“Why is it so long?”

Juki again sighed hearing Tio's question. “Flooding this morning made the road access to the forest closed due to landslide. Before helping us, they must first open the path.”

“Just because of the rain? that alone is not a storm or heavy rain, how can it be?” basuki's face looks pale.

While Juki smiled wryly, “That's how nature is, no one knows.”

“Then what will we do now?” Tio asked with an anxious look.

“What else?  of course we go forward!” this time Nyoman opened her voice. “We only need to hunt down the Forest King!”

“You blind or what? Don't see, those bigger and stronger than you are defeated, what else are we?!”

“You're scared, Brother Basuki?” Nyoman interrupted with a mocking look.

“No, I'm self-conscious!” Basuki rubbed his face rough, “I know you're brave, but that doesn't mean jumping into a tiger cage!”

“Ki-we need stra-stra-tegi!” All eyes turned their heads towards the sky, not expecting the blue-eyed boy to side with Nyoman.

Staring at everyone made Sky nervous and immediately lowered his head. “Ko-condition ki-we are like ma-entrance to ka-kandang ha-harimau. Ja-so le-more good ki-we think ba-how ca-me-me-beating King Hu-hutan.”

Some time of silence struck, before finally Tio made a sound. He decided to fight, just like the heavens had said. They were currently trapped in the hive of the boar, with the access of the road closed, they could not retreat. And waiting for help will be too late for those who are seriously injured.

“If you have decided, come with me to the tent!” juki said to the four children with burning eyes in front of him.

Continues….