Kim Shee's team was heading towards the waterfall.
The sun was blazing hot and the radiations were vigorous.
" It's too hot. Kim gives me some water. I am feeling very dehydrated.", claimed Fen
" Here. just drink a little bit because this place is barren. We cannot find water over here if it ends", said Kim handing the water bottle to Fen.
Fen grabbed the water bottle, she opened the cap. There were roots of trees spread over the ground making a maze. Fen was walking while drinking water when her foot was stuck in the gigantic root and she fell to the ground. The water bottle also fell from her hand and the water flowed outside and then on the ground. The water eventually evaporates because of the high temperature.
" Wow! Well done!", claimed Ms.D
" That was only we had to drink", said Kim.
Kim and Ms.D started to walk again. Fen pulled her up and began her journey with others as well.
The forest on that side had become barren. The beauty that they had seen the first time when they came to the waterfall was not the same as before.
After five minutes of walking, they ventured through half of the way.
" Kim do you have something to eat?", asked Ms.D. Her stomach was growling.
" I have only one mango and a grapefruit left ", replied Kim.
" Where are the rest?", said Fen
" The rest are all dried up because of the change of atmosphere", said Kim.
Kim took out the mango from the basket she was carrying and a big bird-like creature landed in front of them. The creature had eagle wings, a lion body, and a sharp yellow beak.
" An Eagle", said Fen.
" That's a Griffen", gasped Kim.
" I think he is not in a good mood", said Ms.D.
The Griffen was staring at Kim because she had the food basket. Ms.D soon realizes what the creature wanted.
" Kim throw the basket immediately.", said Ms.D in a low voice
Kim was frozen not knowing what to do. She thought what will the old man say if she threw the basket? She won't surrender. Kim was constantly thinking that suddenly Griffen jumped and lifted Kim up from the ground by grabbing her from her shoulder and carrying her.
" Kim!", shouted Ms. D.
Kim tried to escape but could not because Griffen's grip was much stronger. The Griffen's claws hurt and Kim started to bleed from her right shoulder and eventually fainted.
The second team was of the old man. They had reached the tree house they all had left due to the earthquake and the furious storm. The condition of the tree house was very poor. The house had been badly damaged by the storm.
The roof of the house blew up with the furious wind. The wooden furniture was also dispersed here and there. One of the walls of the house had a big hole in it as if something big hit the wall with great speed. It can be a boulder.
" The house is not in a good condition sir, it is broken and we cannot fix it.", said Jessy.
" We can but it will take a lot of time", said the old man.
" We don't have much time. We have to save the forest", said Lee.
" Yes my child you are right", replied the old man.
" What are we going to do now?", asked Nora.
" We have to gather some important and useful goods from here and carry them to the cave." answered the old man. " Lee and Jessy you both gather the material while Nora and I will inspect the surrounding", told the old man.
Lee and Jessy nodded and started to collect useful things from the wrecked tree house while the old man and Nora went to inspect the surrounding.
The old man looked here and there.
" It seems interesting. The leaves are pointing towards the northern direction where the great mountain is located.", said the old man to himself.
" Well I think that we can find answers to our question by the mountain only.", said Nora.
" All the leaves are changing their colors but the season is not changing yet. It is quite strange.", claimed the old man.
Lee called Nora and the old man.
" I think that I have found something", said Lee while holding a jacket in her hand.
" This was the same leather jacket I found on the grape tree when I started to collect food with Kim Shee.", told Nora.
" Sir is it yours?", asked Lee from the old man.
" No, that is not mine", replied the old man.
" That means there are other humans stuck on this island", said Nora.
" I am living in this place for many years but did not spot anyone over here. But it can be possible that other people live on the other side of the mountain", told the old man.
" They can be the villagers", said Lee in excitement.
Jessy also joined the conversation.
" If they are the villagers then they must know about the powers and other things happening in the forest.", gasped Nora.
" They can answer our questions", said Lee.
" But first we have to travel across the mountain to get to their village", said the old man." and it can be dangerous as well".
" We are the players of dangerous games sir", said Jessy in confidence. " We can do it".
" Yes, we can. Have you grabbed all important things?", asked the old man.
" Yes sir!", answered Lee and Jessy at the same time.
" We should head towards the cave before nighttime. The second team will be there as well",
Said the old man and they all headed towards the cave where Mi-chan and Chloe were waiting for them.
Ms.D and Fen were also walking back to the cave ashamed that they lost Kim.
" What are we going to tell others, that where is Kim", asked Fen.
" I don't know what to say. They all will scold us. Because of our mistake, Kim is not with us now. I am ashamed and can't talk to them by seeing them in their eyes." cried Ms.D. " I should not have handed the basket to Kim knowing that predators can chase her"., continued Ms.D.
" That not's our fault. That was just a tragic, a coincidence," said Fen.
" But what we did to save her?", said Ms.D.
There was silence all over the forest. No nature roars and no wind.
" Nothing!", replied Ms.D ashamed and lowering her eyes.
Fen was also feeling sorry.
They both reached the entrance of the cave where the old man and others were waiting for them.
Ms. D entered the cave along with Fen. They both were silent.
" What happened to you? Where is Kim? She was with both of you", asked Nora while looking at the entrance of the cave and then at Ms.D's face which was wet with tears.
" We lost her!", cried Ms.D in distress.
The old man's heart clutched.
" Where is Kim?", asked the old man putting a hand on his heart.
" A Griffen took her and we cannot do anything", answered Fen.
There was complete silence in the cave and they were very sorry because they lost a leader.