Chapter 23

When he finally found her, she was in the river swimming. Werewolves are barely found inside water except on very occasionally cases because at this point, they are vulnerable as their powers is at the lowest. It was impossible to activate their sense organs that period, in fact, they had to wait till the water got dried from their body before they could recover their strength and ability to transform.

" Are you okay?" Zoe asked worried about her vulnerability at that moment.

" I'll be out soon, I really wanted to calm my nerves." She explained before diving deeper into the water. Zoe sat at a stone nearby giving her privacy while he aired his mind.

" Zaria" he called to be sure she could hear him from the point he was sitting.

" Yes cuttie." She responded still stroking her legs in the water. He didnt like it when she called him that, that only made him feel like a child and he wasn't. Someone who left his comfort in search of the Alpha was no longer a kid. All that was left was him to clock twelve- fourteen years, then he would start expecting the full manifestation of his werewolf part. At that moment it was time for him to transfer, would be the most happiest moment of his life or the end of him. It's been rumored that some werewolves die during the first time of their transformation, although it is known to be very painful, it was is amazing experience. 

Zoe could hear the rustling of trees which indicated that something was in the wood. At first he ward it off with the excuse that I was a bird or some animal and continued his complains.

" I'm beginning to dislike Anna, how could she easy such hurtful words just to see you react." He expressed angrily.

" We shouldn't talk about people that way young man." Zaria scolded.

" I know that but it seems you are the only one that see beyond her pretty face and all nice face and that's why I am saying all this.

" Understood. Although one of the reasons I don't like her is because she is mysterious. Everyday, she unveils new things about herself and it makes me uncomfortable to see her deliberate efforts to get closer to Raphael" she replied thoughtfully.

Hearing them sound of the rustling one more time, he thought it wise to ask Zaria to proceed out of the water. " Zaria, you need to come out no. I don't feel good about this and and I don't think it's wise to leave the rest of the group alone.

" You know for someone so young, you sure do talk with maturity." She praised him before stepping out of the water. 

Shortly after she came out of the water, some men jumped on her from behind thereby making her fall. The rest immediately placed a silver collar on her neck and dragged her away. Zoe who heard some noise but refused turning his back was surprised when he called out her name severally and she didn't respond. 

" Is everything alright?" He called out to Zoe but got a deafening silence as answer.

He called her name severally before finally turning around to see that there was no one there apart from her clothes that were lying on the ground.

Running so fast, he got to where they were staying for the moment, and rushed to Raphael's side who was busy sharpening three swords.

" I can't find Zoe, looks like she has been kidnapped " he said hurriedly pulling Raphael sleeves.

" She is fine, Zoe. It's Zaria, she probably doesn't want to be found if it's the case of searching everywhere for her, all to no avail." He said without looking up at the worried young man.

" You don't get" he raised his voice this time calling the attention of Elsa who was working on her hearing skills. It was pretty loud to her ear that she thought she must be partially deaf at the moment. 

" She was inside the river." Zoe yelled louder. Raphael stopped what he was doing immediately and looked up at Zoe searching for answers to his questions he was yet to ask.

" Why would she remain inside water for long, what was she thinking entering into it in the first place." He yelled now on his feet.

" Elsa, Anna, Zoe, stay here. I'll be back." Raphael commanded before turning to leave in a hurry.

" I'm coming along." Zoe protested.

" O no, you aren't young man. S-t-a-y h-e-r-e!" He said emphatically before leaping off in a hurry. Zoe didn't miss the smirk that appeared on Anna's face and his guys told me she had a hand in it.

Everyone was lost in his own thoughts. Elsa was thinking about what happened earlier, she was shocked at her bold she was. Her words emitted such power that she didn't miss how the almighty Raphael and Zaria quaked at that moment. It was like the whole earth bowed before her at that moment. Wrapping her arms around herself, she got a little scared of herself. 'What then would happen when her full power come into view?' she wondered. Anna who was rejoicing in her heart over the success of Zaria's kidnap, paused to see a shaken Elsa.

" Hey" she stood up to sit beside Elsa.

" Hey" Elsa replied.

" What's going on with you?" Anna asked.

" I'm fine."

" O you don't look fine, girl. And you were awesome back there, it's like I didn't know you. What's up with you? You looked terrifying, I even got scared at some point. Thanks for saving me dhoor! " Anna said softly with a bit of excitement in her voice.

" Y-e-a-h" was Elsa's only reply not sure whether to discuss anything with her.

" You can talk to me" Anna pressed further.

" It's like I didn't k ow who I was that moment, there is so much inside of me that I am yet to discover. It scares me and I wish someone would help me out." She poured out to Anna all that once.

" I think I get you. Although I don't know the full story, I want you to believe in yourself. You might be little to the world but you know the stuff you are made up of. Do you want to tell exactly what you think you are?" She asked hoping to get more information from her.

" Elsa, we should prepare things in case Zaria returns hurt." Zoe suddenly interrupted trying to stop the conversation before Elsa spilled too much.

" You are right, let's do that." Elsa said standing up immediately realising that she almost did give too much information out.

" I wonder why Raphael is taking too long, what if he didn't find Zaria?" She asked feigning worried.

" He will find her" Zoe almost yelled getting angry at how good she was acting.

" Don't be rude, Zoe." Elsa scolded. Zoe scoffed, he would have apologized if it was someone else but he wouldn't to Anna.

*****

Searching the forest thoroughly, he called our Zaria's name all to no avail. He tried tracing her her scent but it looked like her tracks were properly covered. He checked close to the river for a sign or something but nothing. He sat on the rock frustrated, he just wished something could lead him to where she was.

Tired and getting worried that he had left the others for two long, he decided to return. Walking carefully from the river, he found a piece of torn cloth. He bent down immediately to pick it up sniffing it over and over again. This was a clue! Shifting into a wolf, he traced the scent to a camp of men. Bandits! He recognized from afar. It was best he took actions now before Zaria was sold or even killed.

He didn't take a second thought before he jumped in their midst surprising them all. He shifted back into a human though his claws and fangs were still in view. His eyes shot blood asking; " Where is Zaria?" 

" Well, well , well, what do we have here? A werewolf!" The leader of the bandit said with a smile.

" Where is Zaria?" He asked again.

" Well, we are bandit and every form of information you need, must be paid for." The bandit replied not scared of his looks nor his threats.

" Do we have a deal or not?" The bandit asked sipping from his keg of wine.

" How much do you want?" Raphael asked now calming down. Violence wasn't the way forward in this matter, he had to reason like them so as to get what he wants.

" My brothers..." He suddenly said smiling.

" Common, fetch me a glass." He said excitedly hitting one of the men playfully.

The bandits loved to have fun as they were always busy trying to catch one person or the other.

 Sitting round the fire, they chatted, and drank more wine.

" We sold her to a man. I don't know the details but he has your body build, quite good looking too. " The man said suddenly after much merrymaking.