The Way Back Home's

Outsides

Shortly after, they found the exit. Both stopped a few meters from the mouth of the cave. From his current position, the roar of wind mixed with heavy snowfall was very pronounced. Their eyes could not see far ahead. Just saw a gray snowflake on a pitch-black background. Contrast with the conditions they are currently standing in. At least there's still a bright yellow light from the torch. Even if they were warm, their flames were helpless against the storm's cold. Those flames had to fight as hard as possible to stay lit. Unfortunately, the torch at the mouth of the cave had to give up losing. They can't light up anymore because of a heavy snowstorm.

Farrell could only sigh slowly. A white breath poked from his lips. Conditions like this definitely do not allow for night flights. The anxiety gnawed faster each time he circulated a glance.

“I'm sure the storm will not last long,” said Christo. He pulled himself aside, leaned against the wall, then sat down near one of the torches.

“How do you know?”

“I've been here a long time. Believe this. I know.”

Farrell was still flinching in his place. His gaze was directed straight at the mouth of the cave. His mind wandered to various places. He wondered what Denise would do to Milo and Libby after she was gone. He also wanted to know how uncle's reaction was. His heart was hard to believe that uncle was different from his original shadow. Is it true that uncle is on Denise's side? Did you really have a bad plan for them? What if it was Christo who turned the facts around? Farrell glanced at Christo. If Christo really made up the story, would he be willing to protect her to this extent? Christo is wounded receiving Denise's attack aimed at him.

“Hei..” Christo stared back at him. “I think we can get out now.”

Farrell doesn't realize how long he's been there. He didn't realize the snow was starting to die down. The gray speck descended slowly in front of the black scene. The wind sounded faint. Even though the air was still shivering, but no cold gusts entered the cave anymore.

Christo leads the way forward. Gizmo, who had been nearby, flew first to the mouth of the cave. Farrell began to step up. In the next instant, Farrell felt his hair standing on end from hearing a strange shriek. It was like the sound of an owl screeching.

“Gizmo!” christo shouted while running out.

Wrong choice. Having yet to reach the end of the cave, Gizmo flew back in a panic. His fluttering was irregular and his direction was slurred. He almost hit Christo. Gizmo flew behind Farrell. As anxiety began to creep in, the two heard another voice. Wolf howling.

Farrell gasped before he could say anything. A few meters in front of Christo, right at the mouth of the cave, he was standing there. The big wolf is gray and the tip of the tail is red.

“Calm down,” said Christo half-whispering as he stared fixedly at the wolf. The wolf snarled at him. Christo's hand trembled, but he took a deep breath to calm himself down. “Farrell, get to the cave wall and keep walking. Later I will give you a cue... to run.”.

Farrell can't think right now, so he's following Christo's orders. Luckily for them, the wolf was not right in the middle of the cave mouth.  The wolf continued to growl at Christo. But before long, until finally this animal chose to jump on its prey.

“Now!” exclaim Christo. “Running!” Christo departed, dodged the wolf, and ran.

Farrell ran out as fast as he could without direction. The snow slowed his pace. His feet repeatedly sank and not just once did he nearly fall. Suddenly, he stopped his steps. Farrell saw another wolf in front. Two wolves. Gizmo alighted on a tree branch near Farrell and just observed. Christo stopped behind him and immediately turned his back to look after each other. His hand held a torch from the cave. Christo took the time to take it while running. Farrell saw one more wolf joining from the left side.

“We're surrounded. Any ideas?” ask Christo.

“How long do you need to cast a spell?” farrell Whisper.

“Just a few seconds.”

“This wolf loves blood, right? Take off the handkerchief and give it to me,” Farrell said as he lowered his head slowly without letting go of the wolf's gaze. His hand grabbed the piece of tree branch lying on the ground.

“Stretching time. Now you follow my commandments. Run to Gizmo and make it multiply in size. Make him a giant!”

“Tapi—”

“Now!”

Christo did not protest. As soon as Farrell shouted, Christo swung his torch and ran through the gap between the wolves to approach Gizmo. “Gizmo, come!” He chose one rather empty area for Gizmo to fly to him.

Meanwhile, Farrell throws a bloody handkerchief. One wolf was fooled and left him. Three wolves approached him. Farrell's waiting. As soon as a wolf jumped at him, he hit the wolf's body with a stick. Then, again. Unfortunately, the last wolf bit its stick and broke it in half. Farrell had to run away from them. He knew he had made a mistake when he ran through a tree on the left side. Land's dropping. Farrell also slipped. Fortunately, the derivative was shallow. However, just as he was about to stand up, his eyes saw one wolf was jumping at him.

BLAARS!

Farrell. A fireball hits the opponent. The wolf makes an emergency landing in the snow. However, the fire did not go out immediately. He cried out in pain in a roar. The other wolf chose to retreat after seeing his friend sprawled.

Then Farrell found something else. He was under a big shadow, very big. He's looking up. Gizmo was beside him. His body is now many times the size of the original. Without wings, it is twice as large as a helicopter. Some nearby trees were damaged by it. Gizmo could now intimidate the wolves with just her size.

“Hey, need a ride?” Christo appears from behind Gizmo. He was carrying a thick and large slap rope. While throwing a smile at Farrell, he tied the rope to the owl's feet.

Farrell wakes up while cleaning snow off his shirt. “Wait! Did the fireball come from you?”

Christo did not turn his head, still busy making the knot. “Quickly once.”

“Kupik— Tadi— You said you couldn't magic, ‘kan?”

“Indeed. I suck at that.” Christo smiled wryly now. Do you think I cast a fireball spell?”

“Either why, now I even regret asking.”

Christo gives Farrell the end of the rope, where the other end is tied to Gizmo's left leg. “That's it on your body, then hold onto her leg.”

Farrell turned his gaze upwards. Gizmo looked back at him. “I know that owls are meat eaters. What is vegetarian Gizmo?”

Christo grunts amusedly. “Don't worry, he won't eat you unless you hurt his heart. He's sensitive. Did I tell you that Gizmo is a female?”

“Either why, now I regret giving this idea.”