Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Arius and me decided to investigate a little before calling the attention of others here to see for themselves what had happened and ways for it to be corrected it if ever was going to be.

Everything felt wrong and we saw more signs of struggles like the animals were struggling before they were taken alive. Everything was not only wrong but meant serious bad times too.

This forest provided a quarter of total meat proportion for the whole of Northshore.

“I am so sorry.” Arius apologized, his words broke my concentration at a pair of tracks to look at him.

“What are you sorry for?” I asked confused at his words.

“I had planned on making you have a fun hunting event not one that turned into an investigating session.” Arius said and looked down I smiled as I walked to him.

“It was not your fault, you didn’t steal these animals, in fact you did no wrong at all. But you have to correct this wrong. Just like I do because we are the leaders. At least we are together in trying to solve this mystery.” I pointed out.

Arius smiled a little. “There is that silver lining at least and I am happy that we are together and it might not have been what I promised but I do hope you still like it.”

“I would have liked this a lot better in there were clues. There is no sense of direction at all. It was like something came and captured every animal here, not only capture but did it with ease which means it was bigger than any animals here and I just saw the prints of an elephant.” I voiced as I straightened and looked around me as if taking a further look was going to help me in my search for what was missing but it also didn’t.

“Do you think it was something otherworldly like the thing you saw in that forest close to Magelyn?” Arius asked.

I didn’t have an answer to his question, he was the one who had lived here all his life, I didn’t know if demons existed like that and from the way I felt off here, I could only deduce one thing. It was not going to be easy or simple as sending whatever this thing is back where it comes from. I would have to kill it.

“I don’t know Arius. I am lost here.” I replied him truthfully and he hugged me.

“Time for us to go and inform others of this disaster.” Arius replied.

“Two hours later, we were back with the remaining council and so warriors, all which occupied parts of the forest that was distant from me, all because they were scared of Adela whose only offense was to yawn after I had promised the people who came with us that Adela was just coming along for her stretch of her muscles.

“This is all your fault you know.” I tell Adela who blinked at me lazily and looked like she would rather curl up and sleep than to help me search for clues about what went on here.

“If you were not so lazy and displaying that laziness by stretching and yawning all the time, I could be among them and listening to their various conspiracies about what went on here.” I added and as if to prove me right, Adela yawned and then stretched and after those two, she did something extra, she lay down and rested her head n her front paws.

I frowned at her. “I cannot take you anywhere it seems.”

Arius came close to me and put an arm on my waist as he looked at Adela too although his own was different.

He looked at her like he was worried she would sprang up from her resting state at once and then try to bite his head.

“Don’t bother with feeling scared of her. She is nothing but a big lazy cat.” My frown increased and as if to prove my words once more, she rolled to her back with her legs sticking in the air as she yawned at me.

“I would take your word on it but that would not mean that I will lose the fear I feel for her. In case you haven’t noticed, only you have a pet which you can scold and the pet is not a normal one. Legend has it that this animal is a pet for Gods and cannot be killed. Tell me my dear wife how you came across her again?” Arius asked but I was not paying him attention. My focus was on the location where Adela head was looking, she was in resting mode and yet she pointed her head to a direction that was not comfortable for her like she was trying to tell me something.

“Story for another day, Adela might have seen something.” I answered absentmindedly as I moved towards that direction.

“How?” Arius asked as he followed me confused. “All she did was to lie down and sun herself.”

Adela hissed in warning as Arius drew closer to me.

“Adela can understand words.” I tell him as I saw a small hole covered with grasses. I opened it only for me to draw back in shock.

“What is it?” Arius asked and when he saw it, he went pale.

“Do you know what it means?” I asked him.

“No.” He answered. “But I know what it spells out. It means that whoever did this, invoked something which he couldn’t have. Ritual circles are very important in Northshore and this one although is a small one, needed the sacrifice of a forest filled with animals. I can only imagine what is being set to run amok in our world.” Arius explained worriedly as he raised his hand to signal others to approach.

“We found something.” He added and when nobody came forward still, he raised his head to look at what was holding them up only to see that they were eying Adela who was sleeping.

“Oh heavens. She will not harm you if you don’t annoy her, forget about her and just come.” I snapped at them and my words made them rushed forward.

Each that saw the circle paled and kept a grave expression on his face.

“There is something more going on isn’t there?” I asked.

It was Gogan who replied, his words did nothing to sooth my worries.

“My queen, it is a very bad Omen and with the strange things popping up.” He used his head to gesture at Adela. “This can only mean one thing.”

“What is that?” I asked.

“The beginning of the end for Northshore.” Came the grim reply.