Chapter 77 : Raven Forest

The vast, dark Raven Forest appeared unwelcoming, with thick dark clouds obscuring everything. The forest appeared to be untouched for millions of years. The tall, massive trees were terrifying to look at. And there was no way they could proceed in the midst of it. As a result, the guide advised waiting for the last group. "It's essential to be in the company of other men."
"Are you scared of anything?" Bartolomeo turned to Ajella. She didn't like the tone in which Bartolomeo spoke. And she kept her distance from him, which was ironic given why she had hired him in the first place. Bartolomeo, on the other hand, respected Rakiza and was always close to her. On their way to the forest's edge, he also gathered fruits. "We might need these fruits; nobody knows what lies within that vast forest; as the story goes, no one has emerged from the forest." He handed Rakiza an apple. "We need a full stomach before going inside.”
Rakiza was grateful for Bartolomeo's kindness, and he is a man who prioritizes safety. He set up a small tent for Rakiza. "No thanks." Rakiza declined, saying, "I'm fine sitting while napping." Bartolomeo nodded and smiled. He was not the type of person to argue. He spread a cloth on the ground and lay silently. Ajella climbed the tallest trees along the boundary to scout, hoping to catch a glimpse of Theo and company. As always, Ajella was distant and silent.
Rakiza sat at the oldest tree's protruding roots, looking around. Rakiza stood up after a few minutes and wandered around the forest's edge. She sensed something in the forest. But it was too dark and dense to see what lay behind those massive old trees. The scent of the forest was so soothing to her lungs that she felt alive as she closed her eyes and inhaled and exhaled the fresh breeze of the forest. She looked up from the tree where Ajella was climbing and searched for a tree to climb herself.
"You can climb that tree on your left," Bartolomeo suggested, and she began climbing from one branch to another, going up. She made it to the top of the tree without breaking a sweat, and from where she stopped, she could see the small line of the path from which they had come. Rio village was so small in her eyes, and she later noticed something moving from afar. Her heart was pounding with excitement. She could feel Theo and his entourage approaching.
"Did you see them, Ajella?" Rakiza inquired of Ajella but received no response. She attempted to strike up a small conversation with her, but she received no response. But then a strong wind blew through the trees, almost yanking Rakiza off the tree branch she was clinging to.
"Watch out!" Bartolomeo exclaimed. "You better come down here, Rakiza," he said, his concern for Rakiza genuine. Rakiza climbed down as quickly as she could and jumped at the offer of Bartolomeo's hands.
"Thank you," Angela exclaimed as the strong wind blew. She then turned to Ajella, up the tree. "You'd better come down, Ajella!"
But Ajella seemed preoccupied with what she saw; she was now facing the vast forest, and Rakiza could tell from Ajella's expression that she was terrified of what she had seen, so she climbed down right away. Her breath was racing as she said, "There's something inside the forest!" She ran quickly to the other side of the forest and climbed up another tree as the wind blew again and Ajella shouted, "Something is coming in our direction from the forest!" They're making their way here on the ground! Take a tree, both of you! "
"That tree is much stronger and leafier, Rakiza!" exclaimed Bartolomeo. They both climbed the same tree. Rakiza then led Bartolomeo up. She outruns the elderly gentleman. But she could see the old man's vigorous movements, which belonged to a thirty-year-old man.
They came to a halt on the same tree branch, looking at what Ajella was seeing. And they were both taken aback by the tree's leaves moving as if slammed by a strong wind. "What's going on?" Rakiza inquired of Bartolomeo, but the old man's eyes widened, and he said, "Something is living in the forest that is unwelcoming." He frowned with a hard face and said, "This is why no one was returning." He then looked at Rakiza.
"Do you still want to go into that forest?"
"Yes," Rakiza replied flatly. "I must discover what lies within the forest."
"Why?" Bartolomeo inquired.
"I could feel it," Rakiza said simply. "Something in the forest is waiting for me," Rakiza noticed as she turned to face Bartolomeo, who was staring silently into the forest. She did not interfere with his solemnity. She had had an uneasy feeling about the old man since the day they met. His silence appeared to be a message to her.
"They have arrived!" Ajella yelled from the other tree's top.
"It was so close!" exclaimed Ajella.
Rakiza and Bartolomeo returned their attention to the vast forest, where they could see the trees' movements approaching them. And she was afraid to see what was behind those tree movements, but she was willing to find out whatever it took. Something caused the tree movements; it couldn't have been the wind alone; there was something else solid that was about to come out of the forest, and Rakiza braced herself in case it caused them to fight. The movement then came to a sudden halt at the last line of trees from the wide-open field, where they remained.
"It stopped," Rakiza said quietly.
"Yeah," Bartolomeo said as he moved to another branch for a better view. "It appears that they are guarding the forest."
"However, who or what are they?" Rakiza could feel the cool breeze caressing her nape. Theo believed that the forest was the safest place to hide Nikolas, but what they saw raised some concerns. They just stared at the trees where the movements had stopped and waited for something to happen.
"It's so quiet," Rakiza said quietly. The forest was still and motionless. Something in the forest appeared to be afraid to come out and simply waited for them to go in.
"Over here!" exclaimed Ajella. She was directing Theo's approaching group.
At their slow pace, Theo was ahead of the group, and behind him was a group of men carrying a black casket. Rakiza, Ajella, and Bartolomeo descended the trees to meet the rest of the group. Chin who was at the tail of the marching group, was happy to see Rakiza. The group was relieved to be reunited, and Bartolomeo set up the tent for Nikolas Augustus. Nikolas's face was as white as paper as his casket was opened. "He's dying," Theo said quietly to Rakiza.
Rakiza requested that Theo and the rest of the group leave her alone with Nikolas. Theo gave Rakiza a long look before leaving with Ajella. As they left, Ajella was relaying information to Theo. Chin left after a tired hug with Rakiza. Rakiza held Nikolas's hand and whispered. "Please, Nikolas, do not die."
Nikolas appeared to be fast asleep. Rakiza was well aware that the wolfsbane poison had severely harmed his flesh and blood. And the only thing that could save him was to be in the hermit's cave, where the story began with Dali and Zella's history. But seeing Nikolas's situation and façade in his open casket broke Rakiza's heart. He might not be able to reach the hermit's cave. His pulse was irregular, implying that he could die at any time. Fortunately, the sun was hidden behind the dark clouds, preventing its heat from roasting Nikolas. But Rakiza was steadfast in her belief that Nikolas would find a cure somewhere in the hostile forest.
"Please, Nikolas, stay alive for a few hours; we're nearly there; Zella's story is our only hope; we must meet the hermit."
In response to Rakiza, Nikolas's eyeball inside his closed eyes moved. Rakiza became concerned as Nikolas trembled in pain and the veins in his arms protruded and darkened. Nikolas' skin began to deteriorate. The poison had taken a toll on him. Rakiza knew she had to get him into the forest. "We're going into the forest, Nikolas," she said quietly as she closed the casket and ran outside the tent to find Theo.
"We have to go into the forest, Theo," Rakiza said, her voice shaking with fear. "Right now!"
"We can't." Theo felt sorry for Rakiza and said, "There's a storm coming, Rakiza," and it's too dangerous to move in with the information Ajella had given us. In the forest, something is waiting for us. And it's not pleasant. "
"If you're afraid of whatever's hiding behind those trees, stay here," Rakiza declared.
Theo was astounded and said, "You wanted to die with him?"
"He must live, Theo, because Nikolas is the only vampire who knows who I am!" she screamed. "And I'm taking Nikolas into that forest with or without you!"