Salvagars

4. Silent Forest

Arlon and Marvin immediately rushed towards the mysterious forest. They left the zoo very heavily. However, the offer of compensation from Mr. Darlen is very dear if it should be rejected.

They walked down a shortcut that residents believed would lead them to the Salvagar forest more quickly. The trail is very difficult to pass, ranging from irregular rocky roads to moist soil, which is sometimes decorated by the footprints of various animals. Therefore no one dared to pass, even just to find firewood.

Without feeling it, they had walked for quite a while. Marvin, with his face reddish, invites Arlon to stop for a moment.

"We're not going the wrong way, are we?" asked Marvin, looking around. Now they were surrounded by a thick grove of large trees, making the surroundings even darker. Nor does he know where.

"It should be true" replied Arlon while still monitoring the silver compass in his right hand. The compass was a gift from his father on his 10th birthday.

"Are you far away?" asked Marvin. It seems obvious that he is exhausted. He took a bottle of water from his bag and began to gulp down little by little.

"Prophe Vin. If according to calculations, later before dark we will arrive at the Cambora river" said Arlon while pointing at the map he took out of the front pocket of his favorite backpack. "We'll rest there first."

"Okay, the cave wants a short break yes, it has long been no sport so this way" said Marvin while adjusting his breath to stay stable. He lay under one of the big trees there.

Arlon who was still excited, started to observe around and make sure that they did not go the wrong way. He also opened the map he brought from home, seeing a route that was still long enough to pass. While being engrossed in measuring the time to get to the destination, he suddenly heard the sound of fast-moving leaves.

Arlon looked directly at the source of the sound that was far behind him. However, he found nothing. Only he and Marvin looked asleep.

He thought maybe it was just the sound of leaves blowing in the wind. He ignored it and refocused on compasses and maps. Shortly after, the voice sounded again. But now closer.

Quickly, he looked back. But the result remains the same, nil. He calmly opened his backpack and took out a sharp sharpened knife. He hid the knife in his pocket.

The feeling is starting to feel bad. As if someone was paying attention but not found at all. What he had in mind at the time was a wild animal. He is ready with all possibilities.

Arlon ventured to the source of the voice earlier. However he did not find the slightest trace, not even that voice was heard anymore. Arlon thought it might be true that all he had heard was the sound of the wind. He went back to where he had put his backpack.

He began to insert the map back into his backpack and compass into his pants pocket. Arlon felt hungry and took out a packet of snacks he was carrying. He also began to bite the wheat crackers greedily. The journey that lasted approximately 3 hours was quite draining energy, coupled with the terrain that could not be guessed.

Soon, the sound of the leaves swiping was heard again, now not just once, but 3x in a row. That made Arlon convinced that it was not just the sound of the wind. He looked directly at the source of the sound and this time he finally saw something.

From behind the big trees, he saw something dangling from the leaves. He guessed that between the tail of an animal or a snake, it was still too vague to determine what the creature was.

Usually Arlon will confidently approach animals of any kind, even crocodiles, snakes or lions even if he is not afraid. He knows the best way to catch these animals. I don't know why this time it feels different. He never felt this hesitant to move forward.

After a few minutes of gathering guts to walk toward the source of the sound, he finally began to step even though he was still hesitant. He walked so slowly and carefully that there was no trace of his steps in the leaves. The closer he got, the more convinced it was an animal tail, but still did not know what animal he would face. And even stranger, the tail is light blue. After all, only this time onArlon saw the tail of the animal all along.

The tail moved more slowly and began to move up like it was trying to hide. Arlon sped up to the big tree while taking out the knife he had placed in his pants pocket.

The more he approached the tree, the faster the tail of the animal crept up. It seems that the creature already knew he was going to be captured. And sure enough, when Arlon almost reached it, the strange tail immediately disappeared into the tree that looked very dark. Arlon couldn't see what was on top of the tree.

Arlon felt something was wrong. He immediately rushed back to the place where his backpack was and immediately headed to Marvin who seemed to be still sound asleep. The sharp knife is still in his right hand, ready when absolutely necessary.

After the backpack was properly installed, he immediately ran towards Marvin. He immediately shook Marvin's body, but either because he was so tired, Marvin did not wake up too.

"The vin! Vin!", said Arlon. Now his hand is in Marvin's brown shirt. Slowly Marvin began to wake up.

"Why?", he asked half-consciously. He saw Arlon's face stiffening.

"Come on! It's time we go!", said Arlon as he looked around. Now he was more convinced that there were not only them.

"OK".", said Marvin who tried to hold the balance when he was about to wake up. He knew that something was wrong was happening. He immediately put on his backpack and tied his loose shoelaces. "What the hell is it?", he continued.

"Later a cave story! Now we get out of here first" replied Arlon as she stared at the digital watch in her left hand. He pulled out a compass and was ready to continue on. Just walking a few steps, Marvin suddenly pulled his hand with a powerful bang.

"Why the hell?", asked Arlon as he turned to Marvin and found his best friend was silent with his mouth slightly gaping. His eyes were glaring and his face was a bit pale. Arlon slowly faced forward and sure enough, he saw something mysterious was very close in front of him. Something that makes a brave man's guts become a whistle for a moment.