The Beasts within

Episode4

The Arrival

The next day, The first light of dawn filtered softly through the window, casting a warm glow over the room as he opened his eyes. A rush of hope filled his chest the moment he remembered what today held, his long anticipated visit to the Tribal head chief in search of his daughter.

As he stepped outside, he took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp morning air. The sun was rising higher, casting a bright path forward, and he felt as if it was guiding him. Today, he felt certain, would be a day of promise, a day to find out if his daughter is still alive.

Immediately he got the council, Oti sighted the Tribal head Chief coming out from his house, he greeted the Tribal head chief and reminded him of his promise, the tribal head chief said “Indeed I remember, I have already sent for the hunters to gather in front of the village where they will take off to search for your daughter in the forest.” Swiftly, both of them went to the town square to see the hunters.

When they saw the hunters, the tribal head chief was pleased with the responses of the hunters as they were fully prepared to search for Bokor and Flora. He spoke to them with words of encouragement and warned them not to enter Nightveil Wood but to stop at the boundary, he blessed and prayed for the gods to go before them.

As they were about to step into the forest they noticed a movement coming towards them, they all brought out their spears and old guns, and watched very closely, they heard footsteps and bushes being torn apart. They waited to see what it could be only to find out that it was Flora and Bokor.

The celebration was massive as the hunters started shooting their guns in the air. Joyful noise was heard by the villagers which made them come out and join the celebration of the arrival of Bokor and Flora.

Oti cried at first immediately he set his eyes on his daughter, he was thankful to the gods for answering his prayers. Flora filled with emotions, ran and hugged her father tightly as she cried on his shoulders.

It was indeed a joyful display as the villagers chanted the name of Flora as a heroine that has come to save them, while going to the tribal head chief council, with the joyful noise, Flora can still hear herself think, as she ponded on what to tell the council and villagers. “What will I say to them at this point? What will I tell them is the solution? Will they believe me if I told them I slept with a werewolf? How will I be accepted by the villagers?” She told herself, her mind beats faster as she walks closer to the tribal head chief Council.

Oti, still in the mood of jubilating noticed that his daughter was not too happy as well but he was caught up in the moment, seeing his daughter alone gave him the joy that no man has felt in Crimson Ridge, his eyes were filled of tears of joy and he looked at her proudly and joyfully.

Reaching at the tribal head Chief council, they quickly carried Flora and Bokor to a reserved space and prepared them some delicious delicacies, as the tribal head chief has ordered for a bouquet to be prepared,

Joyfully, the tribal head chief said “You are welcome, indeed we have never stopped believing in the both of you, thank the gods that you are back” he said as his voice is getting low and serious at this point “Please where is the solution you went in search for? Hope you succeeded?” He asked.

Oti quickly breached in, “Our chief if I May suggest, can we call them here tomorrow morning to tell us about the journey and their quest? as we all can see for ourselves that they are very tired and weak from their journey, I believe after they must have rested for a night then they can properly give us the solution without mistakes, this is my humble suggestion” He said as he looked at everyone with joyous eyes.

Oti being one of the smartest and wisest among the leaders, always has ways of buying them to his side through his words of wisdom, he was made the orator and spokesman for the leaders.

They all saw it as a good idea, then the tribal head chief said to the council, “Ok we will let them be, as they need a lot of rest from their journey, For you Bokor, I will arrange a suite for you to rest and communicate to the gods, after tomorrow you can leave to your place” he concluded.

The villagers and the leaders ate and drank joyfully as everyone was in their happy mood, they met Oti and hugged him which made him to be proud of his daughter the more, the village girls went close to Flora and was happy to see her, she was happy to see them too and promised to tell them about her adventurous journey.

After much celebration, everyone headed home, Oti took his daughter by her arms and walked straight to the house, reaching the house, he allowed her to go bathe and freshen up, he sat outside waiting patiently for her, after a while he called her outside.

“Flora! Flora!!” He called her softly, she came outside looking a bit sad, he said “I have been with you ever since you were a child, I know when you are not happy and Ok, so as a father to a daughter what is wrong my dear? Please tell me everything I am all you got and I won’t abandon you for any reason” he said holding her hand.

She took in a deep breath, and looked at him and said “Father, this is something I find very difficult to say, but I must say it to you first before I say it to the Leaders and villagers, forgive me if this will bring shame to us, but I saw no other way out.” As she said this, Oti's heart beat faster as he wondered what could be the problem.

“Father, in Nightveil Wood I was deflowered” she said bowing her head to the ground. Oti raised her head and said “ by who my dear? By Bokor? I swear I won’t be happy with him if that’s all he wanted to do to you,”

He said angrily, she immediately said “ No not him, he has nothing to do with it, I was deflowered by a beast, a werewolf.” Oti removed his hand from her unknowingly.

Immediately, she went to the ground with her knees and cried bitterly, and said “that’s not even the worst part, the worst part is that I am Pregnant for a werewolf, I will deliver a werewolf baby. Father, how is this a solution to our problems? Wouldn’t it cause more havoc to us as a village?” She cried bitterly as he moved closer to her in tears.

He came to her and picked her up, consoled her and told her that the gods have a good reason for everything that happens as they are wiser than they can ever imagine.

“Tomorrow I will be with you, I don’t care what people will say after you have told them what happened, I am only happy that you are back and you still remain a blessing to me no matter what.” He said hugging her and taking her inside the house.

Sleep eluded his eyes that night as he started thinking and weeping secretly, in his thought “What will now become of my daughter? Who will marry her after hearing she was deflowered by a werewolf? What will the council say? What will become of the baby? How will I defend this tomorrow?” All these clouded his mind as he thought about it for hours, before he closed his eyes in the morning to get some rest.