Chapter Nine – Law of forest.
Two men shrieked as they saw a snake slid by. It was the third wildlife creature they were seeing that passed them without attacking.
The forest and its river were called forbidden for a reason but Sylvester had still paid them to go into the forest to search for his nieces.
They were so blinded by the huge amount he gave that they broke their own law of trespassing the forbidden forest.
A squirrel ran through their legs while chasing after a nut and one of the men screamed his lungs out. The other looked horrified.
“Why do these animals not act like animals? Snakes are supposed to attack. Squirrels would avoid humans as much as possible. What’s wrong with these forest animals?” they wondered to themselves.
Well, the animals at that forest had an Alpha. An Alpha they believed wouldn’t let anyone hurt them.
They were also bonded by a law not to hurt anyone from the village as well. It was the new law of the forest.
“How can those girls be in this forest?” one of the men sighed tiredly.
He knew that the trio were always looking for trouble, but this was looking for death. Anything could happen at such a dark place.
“And you know how Sylvester is, what if he did something to them for them to run away?” the other added.
They looked at themselves. It wasn’t looking like a good idea bringing the poor girls back to their ruthless Uncle.
But the money he had offered, blinded them again. They held up their fire torches higher for better visibility. If they had to burn down the trees then they would.
No matter what had happened between the girls and their Uncle, they didn’t have to hide in the forest. Or worse could happen.
Evelyn was surprised that she could have one comfortable night at a forest, with no creatures creeping on her.
She opened her eyes rather to ray of sunlight. She shouldn’t have slept directly below the hole. But the rays gave her strength.
She ran outside to feel the morning breeze but was startled to see Scott outside the cave.
He had his chest opened and strange marking were on his spine. He turned and Evelyn quickly hid behind a tree.
He dipped something into the stream that separated his cave from theirs. The object looked like a calabash and had a small letter inside.
He played with the water for a while before his dog came out and cuddled him.
“I bet he thinks this place is his home that’s why he could stay without clothes” Evelyn grumbled.
She peeked at Scott and found he wasn’t there. She found him later on walking into his cave.
She scrutinized the letter in the calabash, it had blood stains. It made her blood run cold.
Scott acted too innocent to be bloody. But she couldn’t forget how he had controlled the Killer Wolves to let them go earlier.
Or how he had allowed his pet dog chase after Margaret and only appeared to save it from death.
No matter what, he was wild and no matter how sweet or harmless he seemed, they didn’t know him. Anything could happen.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
“Morning” Evelyn shared the fruits she plucked between her younger sisters. Lydia was still looking sleepy but Margaret just looked dull.
“I can’t believe you guys left me on the bed of a stranger” Lydia mumbled. Evelyn smiled. It wasn’t voted on and had just happened.
It was better it was her than Margaret. Margaret always had problems with her hormones.
“You speak like it was an actually bed” Evelyn said digging her teeth into the fruit. It tasted juicy she didn’t know what fruit it was and only plucked it because Scott said it was edible.
It looked like a cross hatch between mangoes and pears anyway. She’d have definitely loved to have them planted on their farm.
“What do you mean if it was actually a bed? That king sized softie isn’t a bed?” Lydia frowned.
Margaret stopped her teeth from digging into her teeth, “You mean there’s an actual bed, king-sized inside his cave?”. Lydia nodded.
Evelyn stood up abruptly.
“Wait, how could he have a king sized bed yet let us sleep in rocks. I feel better than I thought I’d feel after sleeping on a rock but it wasn’t fair still” Margaret raged standing up as well.
“That’s not even my point! How did he get a king-sized bed. Where’d he get it from? This man better not be a forest thief and we’re now accomplices” Evelyn narrowed her eyes at Scott as he walked innocently to them.
“Enjoyed the fruit?” he sounded sad.
Margaret temper died on seeing him sad, “Yeah, thanks. Is something wrong?”.
Evelyn glared at her. Should that be the first question she should ask. Who cared if something was wrong with him?
“I don’t want to sound emotionless but you guys might have to face your uncle yourselves” he announced after heaving a sigh.
The girls looked confused. Lydia rolled her eyes. She was low-key glad that she didn’t have to stay there anymore. She was just waiting for her sisters to decide.
Or better still, he chase them out.
Margaret and Evelyn asked for an explanation and Scott sadly explained that a whole team of hunters were currently searching for them.
And as they are hunters, they used the opportunity to kill forest animals.
He further explained that the animals are defenseless as they had to obey the law of the forest, the Alpha’s law. That no animal should harm a villager.
But if things get out of hands, the animals would revolt. Might attack even the village and it’d be hard for the Alpha to stop their vengeance.
“The only thing left to do is, go back. Humans and forest dwellers don’t mix. Save the forest and the village. I’m sad to let you guys go though” Scott said.
Evelyn shook her head as she thought of her next course of action. Run away from the forest or fight back the hunters.
She refused going back home to be one of her options.
“Let us go back. Uncle might actually be worried. Let’s stop this madness for once” Lydia spoke up.
Margaret exhaled but stayed quiet. She looked at Evelyn for a decision.
“Fine, let’s go” the oldest sister said dejectedly.
Scott eyes glistened as a tear tempted falling off but he shoved his face away from the girls.