Chapter 715 - Onwards Cebu, The Travel Along the Coast Towards the South (1/2)

Day 153 - 7:41 AM - Farm House, Coconut Plantation, Labigan, Municipality of Cawayan, Province of Masbate

Another night had passed. This time, in an unfamiliar land.

Fortunately, the rest of the night was peaceful. Without anything to take them away from their sleep, it was easier to prepare for departure after waking up the following day.

By the coast, Chaflar and Trua stood side by side. It was quite an intimidating sight. It was even if the two magnificent beasts had their bodies lowered, letting the whole group ride unto their back.

”Everyone ready?”

Mark asked as he sat onto Chaflar's back.

”Were good, Boss!”

Berrak replied on the back of Trua.

Behind Berrak were Geronimo and Padua. It seemed that they were still a bit nervous about riding on the back of a giant bird. But compared to yesterday, they looked way better.

On the other hand, Mark's group was ready to go. All of them, with Emika as an exception, were used to riding on Chaflar's back. Well, Emika was more eager to ride than being nervous. There was no problem with her either.

And thus, under the morning sun, the two gigantic beasts flew from the southwest shore of Masbate. Of course, some of the survivors living in the plains nearby witnessed the departure of the two beasts. Those people could only sigh in relief, thinking that the potential danger had left their island.

Leaving the island province of Masbate, they only needed another half the distance of their journey from Catanduanes. If things go smoothly, they might reach their destination a little bit past noon.

The most peaceful part of the journey was during the time they were flying across the sea. It was also the best time for the group to talk about what they were going to do first when they arrived at their destination.

Mark's group began to talk about the situation while Berrak and the two soldiers on the back of the Thunderbird listened through the radio. Mark then took out his tablet that had the offline map saved.

Turning on the tablet and putting the map on display, Mark manually searched the map. There was no internet service available, after all. All had Mark was the map data along with the places already displayed on the map.

”Kawasan Falls... Found it.” Mark said as he turned to Pefile. ”Where exactly is the place your tribe is living at?”

Pefile looked at the screen of the tablet. Even if he was a Tamawo, he understood how to use these things. Not only he lived near humans for years, but he was also influenced heavily by Mark's group.

Searching in the satellite image of the map, Pefile easily identified the area.

”It should be here.”

Pefile pointed at the thick forest southeast of Kawasan Falls.

Kawasan Falls was one of the places where the myths about Tamawos centered. Not only one story but many unfolded at this location.

The Tamawos were known to abduct people around this area. It was mysterious abductions that people never managed to unfold aside from tracing back to the myths of the place.

It was said that Tamawos of Kawasan Falls choose their victims by beauty or those that polluted the waters of Kawasan Falls and the rivers around it. It supported the myths of Tamawos abducting women to be their wives and give birth to their children. As for the undisciplined people that dirtied the waters of the place, they were unlucky. The myths said that they were meant to be sacrificed. It was for their sin of polluting the sacred grounds of the Tamawo.

Regrettably, the beautiful waterfalls already became a tourist attraction. Not only it defiled the Tamawo's sacred grounds, but it also lessened their activities in the area.

It was unfortunate to the Tamawos as humans encroached on their territory. However, with the current world being ruled by humans, the Tamawos could only swallow this setback. It was better to endure than let their tribe become extinct because they gained the ire of humans to an irredeemable degree.

Looking at the area where Pefile pointed, Mark nodded. It was an area thick with forests and had a wide river flowing through its center. The very same river was connected to the Kawasan Falls. The surrounding area seemed to have high cliffs, which could serve as a natural defense against threats.

And considering that the Tamawos were spirits of nature, it was likely that they used the trees by river and cliffs as their dwellings.

”The Tamawo's there had their own sanctuary, right?”

Berrak's voice came from the radio. It seemed that he really knew something about the Tamawo's there.

”Have you been there?”

Mark asked.

”I encountered some of them a few years ago around that area,” Berrak replied. ”They are pretty hostile. I don't really recommend establishing contact with them. I don't think that any peaceful communication is possible with those guys.”

Berrak's words made Mark look at Pefile. The latter could only shrug.

”Don't look at me like that. I may be from that place, but I'm different.”

”It seems that you already forgot that you're pretty hostile to me when we met for the first time.”

Mark retorted.

Pefile could not make any comeback to Mark. At that time, he only showed a threatening attitude to Mark because he seemed dangerous and was enticing his son. Pefile wanted to say that, but it would put him in a tight spot.

Unable to answer, Pefile turned to Mark, only to make his eyebrows twitch in annoyance.

It seemed that it was Mark's goal to make Pefile slip. Mark could only click his tongue as it failed.