Santri Famiglia's

Out of the Forest

They went down a pretty steep slope. A path that only one person can walk. Actually, it could have been two people lined up, but getting too close to the periphery would have been dangerous. So, Tendei had them march one-on-one in the order of Abrizar, Sanubari, then Fukai behind him.

On their right side were steep rock cliffs. On the left side of the abyss. Giant roots piled up, swerving in front of them.

"Tendey!" call Fukai.

He had been holding back his curiosity since then, just like Sanubari. The plump roots were widened wider than the trunk, the equivalent of the area of a mall or even more.

"Hem."

One brief voice from Tendei was quite loud. He continued walking quickly without looking.

"Is there a way across from the tree?"

"No-no," Tendei shook his head, "there, there is a nest of ferocious beasts. Not a road that can be passed by car, especially on foot. We'll take a little detour to avoid that area."

"Then, how did the car come out from across the tree?"

Fukai is chasing answers. He thinks it's weird. If there is an easy way that can be taken, why do they seem to want to keep it a secret?

"Surely it's different. Clearly, they did not pass across the root. Well, it's none of your business. Don't think too much! There are things that you should not know" replied Tendei.

Fukai could not force. She's quiet. Abrizar did not say much. He could already guess what Fanon and the others were trying to hide.

Turn Sanubari who asked, "But, how can cars and trontons get there if there is no road? Did those people find any super-sophisticated teleportation tools?"

"Teleportation what do you mean? Ah, nevermind! Don't talk about it anymore! You guys, how did you get lost this deep?"

Tendei ran, jumping over the transverse roots. Abrizar sped up a step, fingering the surface with a stick. Sanubari and Fukai followed their tempo.

"We're not lost. We were deliberately looking for Mr. Kora" Sanubari replied.

"What is your relationship with Fanon? You guys are crazy enough to explore this forest without knowing anything. It could be that you guys are already lying in the wilderness, being the food of the beasts."

Tendei lowered his head, then crawled. In front of them, twisted roots overlapped, forming a tunnel. The stack is quite tall and thick. Giant tree on the right. While on the left—from the direction they came lay a stone as high as five meters. There was no road other than the root tunnel or to return to the road they passed.

From behind, Fukai exclaimed, "Crawl, Bri!"

Abrizar shortened the stick. He followed the voice of Tendei who had entered first.

"We had nothing to do, and yeah, I almost died on that side of the woods. They keep chasing us. I feel like a fugitive being chased by cops."

Sanubari continued to speak. The tunnel was quite dry. He thought it would be a little damp because it was under a tree. In addition to spider webs that sometimes make amused faces and uneven surfaces, there are no obstacles they encounter.

"This place is so dark. Actually, how long is this place?" ask Sanubari. He did not stay in that place for long.

"I don't know for sure. But, I guess, it's no more than ten meters and there's only one lane. We arrived," said Tendei.

One by one they went up. As it turned out, there was a stone cave that covered the exit so that no light entered the tunnel. The way out of the tunnel was like a house. So, they can only see the light when it has come to the surface.

The vegetation of the place is more varied. When they came out of the cave, they saw a lot of big trees.

"It's the coolest place around here and definitely the safest. There are only great apes inhabiting this place. They usually attack strangers, but I'm friends with them. So, we can take a leisurely walk," explained Tendei.

They continue their journey. The canopy of the leaves made the place look dim. The ground they stepped on felt loose, as if unable to support the load and could collapse at any time.

"Is this road really safe? What if it suddenly collapses?"

Sanubari looked down with a feeling of trepidation. He did not even dare to step on one place for too long. The leaves cover the surface. Everything looks natural. There was no trace of opening the road at all.

My ancestors said, this place was not like this. The geographical conditions changed after the big earthquake. The position of the island shifted, forests expanded, steep ravines were formed in several parts. On the other side of this area there is a jurrang, opposite it there is a beautiful waterfall," Tendei told without being asked.

Two hours they walked without rest. Eventually, they reached the open ground. The savanna stretched five hundred meters ahead.

"We'll rest!" pinta Fukai considers the condition of Sanubari.

They sat under an acacia tree, eating the remaining bread supplies the day before. Tendei went back into the forest, clamoring indistinctly, then came with a small ape.

The monkey climbed a coconut tree, dropped four young coconuts, then entered the forest again. Tendei smiled, bringing the young coconuts near them.

"It's delicious and refreshing to enjoy after a long walk."

Tendei took out a machete which he never used to cut meat. He made a hole in the coconut, then distributed it.

"Practicians also have animal companions, huh?" celtap Sanubari.

"That's how it is" Tendei replied after drinking coconut water.

Sanubari drank Coconut water. His nose until the water. His clothes are wet. He coughed and his nose was a little pussy.

"Don't rush!" Fukai gives Sanubari a tissue.

"It's also hard to drink straight from the deck, huh?" Sanubari wiped his mouth.

"You're the one who's not careful" ledek Abrizar.

He turned over his darkness that had not dripped water. Sanubari. He quickly picked up the coconut again and drank little by little while Tendei split the coconut.

After eating the young coconuts, they walked again. Tendei escorted the Sanubari troupe to the pier. The forest road they passed through penetrated the coast. There is no public transportation other than speedboats and other boats.

"From here, you can rent a crossing service to go to a more crowded place. But, I will be happy to guide you if you want to walk. How's it?" ask Tendei.

"How far is that?" ask Fukai.

"A quarter or maybe half a day" Tendei replied.

The sky looked overcast and water started to drip. Tendei felt a small drop on his face.

"Rain is coming down soon. I suggest you find lodging. You can ask the people around. If you decide to walk, let's meet here again! I'll be here tomorrow morning and wait until noon. By the way, if you don't see me, I assume you don't need my help anymore. Bye bye!"

Tendei disappeared into the depths of the forest. The three friends also rushed to a nearby building. After asking, they got information about the house that received guests to stay.

Two men watched Sanubari's company move away. They talked.

"Aren't you wrong to lead them to that house?"

"Even if there's not much to pick from, they're still pretty good looking. She must have loved it and we could have harvested more than we thought."

"You don't pity those stray tourists?"

"I'll pawn that pity for a surer guarantee of life. How are you?"

"Nothing is better than something certain. My pity is so expensive."

They both laughed, then went back in. The rain is getting heavier. The atmosphere is very quiet. There were no passersby, almost like an uninhabited island.