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Chapter 6: Wander in the forest (part 1)

Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda woke up at early morning. They had light breakfast with some bread and water before they arranged everything to go. The canvas was taken out from their tent frame, rolled then was tied up with a bag. The other things were put into their bags or their space rings. Later, they made their way to go, leaving at the place a tent frame and a pile of ashes beside a lying trunk. Short time later, they all appeared by the forest’s edge at a place in the west far away their tent then hurriedly walking inside the wood. Heracles went ahead leading Amelinda and Gwen to come to the orange trees. They stopped at the place for a little time, picked new ripe oranges then strode off. They followed the small path Heracles and Gwen had walked on before and quickly arrived to the stream. Gwen stopped at the shore to fill full his water-skin then made his way chase after Heracles and Amelinda who had waded pass to the other shore. It wasted Heracles and Gwen a while to find out the walkway in the side lawn because it was hidden after bushes and shrubs.
“What do we do now?” said Gwen hesitatingly, standing in front of the bushes obscuring the walkway.
“Go.” replied Heracles shortly. 
Then he hurriedly broke in the bushes. Gwen and then Amelinda went behind him. They followed the walkway and quickly got to the lawn. Didn’t stopped there, they passed it going in the way which they believed leading to the other side of the forest. The scenery changed much as they went deep. Instead of bushes and shrubs which stood together, there were old trees which stood apart from the others let Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda have space to walk. However, the space upon their heads almost was covered by branches and leaves that they were very difficult to see the sun. Of course, sunlight still could go through leaves to light up the way below and helped them see everything clearly. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda had gone for long time. They didn’t know what time it is because of not seeing the sun they had no clue to predict time. What they had was only their feeling, hunger and tiredness.
“Heracles! Wait! Wait!” said Amelinda breathlessly. She was left behind Heracles and Gwen. “I think we should stop a little. I feel hungry and tired.” 
Heracles stopped. He and Gwen immediately turned back, looked at her tired look, trying to catch up them.  
“Okay,” Heracles spoke up, “we will take a rest here.” Then he made his back to Amelinda. “You are still okay.” said Heracles worriedly, looking on the pale face of Amelinda. 
“I’m fine.” she replied. 
“Are you sure? I look you so pale.” said Gwen impatiently. 
“It’s still okay. Only because you both go too fast I can not catch up.” said Amelinda.
“I’m sorry. I didn't notice that.” said Heracles, “We will stopped here and take a rest.”
Heracles and Gwen helped Amelinda get rid of bag on her back. They helped to take it then they all walked toward an ancient tree standing by the way. They sat down around the ancient tree’s root. All of them really didn’t want to waste time cooking so bread and milk were things they chose. They brought enough bread and milk for few days.  
“I think we don’t have much time now. We should find a place to camp before sunset. It will turn dark much sooner as we stayed in forest.” said Amelinda worriedly.
“It’s still early to do it Amelinda.” sitting by her Heracles said.
“No, it is not. We are staying in forest. Remember it.” squealed Amelinda.
“Of course, we know it Amelinda. We will camp whenever we find a suitable place. It will not take much time from us to make a tent. I and Heracles can do it in short time. We can.” Said Gwen proudly, bared his teeth grinning.
“Yes, I see. I don't doubt your words a little. However, we should be careful. This forest gave me a strange feeling.” said Amelinda.
“Strange feeling! What do you meant?” said Heracles curiously. He turned to Amelinda at one.
“Yes – what do you want to say?” added Gwen quickly.
“Oh, I really can’t explain you now. It’s just my feeling and I can’t prove it at this moment but we must be careful in here.” said Amelinda with a bit of worry.
“I think that you thought too much. All is normal around here. I don’t see anything strange. It’s only a normal forest.” said Gwen quickly.
“You may be right but--” she stopped, not to talk more. On other hand, Heracles still waiting for Amelinda to say but she chose to stop so he also didn’t ask her more. They hurriedly finished their meal and rested right at their places. 
It’s had been afternoon when they stood up to continued their journey. The more they walked deeply, the more the leaves upon their head turned thick. Though there still had lights breaking out the foliage to light up the place below but they were very weak. It made the forest turn much dim and have a bit mystery. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda still tried to walk ahead, never stopped their steps. Later, it turned much darker and darker Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda took out their scepters, hold them in their hands and used them as like the lamps. They walked in the dim lights of the scepters in long time before they reached on an open area and saw again the sunlight though it’s late afternoon and the sunlight had turned very weak. There was a small lawn under their feet. They decided to camp. A frame of tent quickly was made after that. It’s not large and firm as like the frame they had made at the forest’s edge but to be enough for them to stay one night. Though they ahd much experience and do it very fast, the tent still took them much time. It’s dark when the tent was completed. Then pile of firewood was stacked by the tent and was burnt. It was high and large pile they wanted the fire to live entire the night, helped them heat the air around and prevent beasts living in the forest not to come near their tent as they slept. As like the lunch, they stayed around the fire eating pieces of bread and drinking milk. As soon as they finished eating, they made their way to go in the tent and quickly fell in sleep because of tiredness. The night inside forest was not as quiet as at the edge; many animals wandered around the place in night. They walked and ran in darkness making crack sounds whenever they stepped on dry leaves and branches on ground. Some small animals felt curious when they saw the fire so the emerged out from the darkness, walking toward the fire to see but they didn’t dare to come near, just staying few steps away from the fire. They kept staying around the flickering fire for minutes then made their leave turning back the darkness and then vanished. Bigger animals were also attracted by the fire but they were enough clever to not show themselves in light they kept staying in forest looking toward the fire and the tent by glowing eyes. If Heracles, Gwen or Amelinda could see them, they might be frightened but they couldn’t because they had fallen in deep sleep. Fortunately, the animals didn’t stay at there for long time they in silence left as like the way they came. It turned noisiest at midnight there were noises of footsteps, noises of broken branches and noises spreading out as animals groped dry leaves on ground to find food.  The noise turned less and less then disappeared completely in morning all animals vanished as the first light peered.


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