"Who killed the apes?" Efe asked, her gaze sweeping around in confusion. All fingers pointed to Miracle and Akpobor, and Efe's eyes widened in shock. "How did they manage to kill the apes?" she wondered, her mind racing. She hadn't noticed any intense battle commotion while fighting, and the surroundings showed minimal damage.
Miracle spoke up, "It was pure luck that I killed that ape. If not for Akpobor, I'd still be dodging their attacks." Efe's gaze turned to Akpobor, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. "How are you so strong, Akpobor? You have minimal experience in martial arts, yet you defeated one ape and helped kill the other."
Akpobor's brow furrowed, mirroring Efe's confusion. "Honestly, I don't know what happened. The apes suddenly seemed slow or weak, and I could see exactly where to strike. After just two punches and a kick, I defeated one." He gazed at his fists in awe, still trying to comprehend his new strength.
As the discussion continued Okoro dusting off his clothes, suggested, "Let's leave the matter behind for now, when we get to the tribe there'll be enough time to talk about it, for now, let's focus on going back to the tribe"
All the children came back from where they were hiding and assembled as they continued their journey.
On their way, most of the children gathered around Akpobor trying to get closer to him, before they were all jealous so they kept their distance from him, they thought coming to the hunt and winning will show who the true geniuses were.
How did you get that strong?….
What happened to you?…..
Could you teach me when we get back to the tribe?…..
Can you follow us in our hunting group next time?….
Questions came from all directions as they surrounded him, Akpobor replies were getting shorter and shorter as he himself was getting tired of answering their question.
One girl even asked him if he was free later so they could go to the market together, which he quickly rejected. Right now wasn't the time for him, his heart of chaos, the blue pearl his parents gave him, and the invaders from other places.
After a while they finally let him have his peace.
He let out a long breath as he started thinking to himself, " it seems that I've become stronger through the essence of the emerald heart, it increased my strength and durability by manifolds, but one thing I don't understand is my quick reaction and how I could see where to hit the ape that would make me defeat the it quickly."
He stared blankly as thoughts filled his mind while he walked through the forest, he put the thoughts at the back of his mind and kept his guard up for he could find the answers to his thought later.
The children who were injured were being carried behind, some asleep, some awake. They passed by some areas they remembered as they entered the forest, they were already close to the tribe. Some of them were happy while some where not, most especially those who lost parts of thier limbs.
They wouldn't be able to become hunters or warriors again unless a miracle happened and they were able to become stronger with just one hand, while those who lost part of their legs had no hope left, they wouldn't even be able to walk properly not to speak of hunting.
There are other occupations they could do instead, like producing clothes, making weapons or selling items, they would have to start learning as they got back to the tribe.
After some hours of trekking they finally reached the tribe.
The smell of the village all calmed their tensed-up nerves, the huts in the surroundings, the large open spaces around, children playing outside, and some parents cooking outside all calmed their hearts.
As they were walking through the main road to the tribe, they saw the elders all standing outside waiting for them.
"Migwo" they all kneeled as they greeted in unison.
"Vrendo" the elders replied back.
As the elders looked around some were with smiles, while the others just stayed plain, except one elder, he looked like he had seen a ghost, his eyes becoming red as if blood were flowing into them.
"Where is Egbo?" he asked in a calm voice but his face was otherwise.
"He died" Okoro responded quickly not wanting to make the elder more angry.
"How?" The elder asked his voice creaking.
"He was killed by a bear" he responded keeping his pace.
"How did you know he was killed by a bear, and where is the corpse of the bear?"
"He was hunting with a group when they were attacked by the bear and he lost his life in the process, and as for the corpse of the bear it isn't complete but some part of it are here with us," Okoro replied as he noticed the elder was getting more frustrated.
"So where are the body parts?" his voice was heard loudly in the surroundings, the children who were playing all stopped and looked at the place where the voice came from and ran back inside.
Okoro quickly collected the parts from Ovieand gave it to the elder as he gave them a stern look.
"Calm down Oke" some of the elders around came and started consoling him.
We all know its bad, he was one of the four strongest genius of the tribe and he was your son, but we all prepared out hearts to lose anyone once they start the hunt.
If you look, can't you see some of them here are badly injured, some lost limbs and some with large scars. Look at Fejiro, look at the wounds on his body he's lucky to be alive, would you want your son to be crippled if he was still alive.
So just calm down, not only Egbo died, but two others died and it wasn't even known how they died or where their bodies are, at least some parts of the bear were brought to you, they had taken revenge in your place, and don't worry his body will be brought to you after all of this for proper burial.
"I have something to report" Okoro said as he saw the situation had calmed down.