The chief and Smith lay low for the night, neither able to get any sleep. They stayed up all night, watching the sun rise, and then set out to hunt for food. Afterward, they took turns bathing in the river, one keeping watch while the other washed up. As they sat in silence, their weapons within reach, Smith broke the silence. 'Chief, what's the plan now?'"
Chief, what do we do?" Smith asked again. The chief's expression was resolute. "I don't know," he replied, "but there's one thing I'm certain of - we're not giving up on the lost city. I'll find it, and I'll bring my daughter home. I'm not giving up, okay?"
"After minutes of awkward silence, the chief spoke up, 'In my father's book, he wrote that no outsiders can ever find the lost city. So, our best bet is to find an insider who can take us there or follow one who will lead us to it.' Smith's eyes widened as he recalled a past encounter. 'That's like what happened when I came here with Stella. A man followed us for days, and although I couldn't follow him to the lost city, he did take Stella there.' The chief's eyes locked onto Smith's, eager for a plan. 'So, what's the plan now?'"
"Determined to find Stella, Smith pulled out the map he had drawn during their previous adventure. 'Last time we came here, I marked the spot where I first saw Stella. My instinct tells me we'll find something there.' The chief nodded in agreement, and together they set out towards the other side of the jungle, following the map through the dense foliage. The air grew thicker, and the sounds of the jungle grew louder as they ventured deeper into the unknown."
Exhaustion had finally caught up with Smith, and he collapsed onto the grass, his water bottle empty and his stomach growling. "We need to stop and rest," he pleaded with the chief, who had been pushing them relentlessly for days. "We can't keep going without food and water."
The chief's gaze never wavered, but after a moment, he nodded curtly. "We'll camp here for the night. But we leave at noon, sharp."
Smith sighed in relief and began to rummage through his backpack for food, while the chief started a fire and hung meat to roast. As the sun set, casting a warm glow over the clearing, they ate in silence, the only sound being the crackling of the flames.
As they rested, Smith couldn't help but wonder what drove the chief to push himself so hard. What secrets was he hiding? What lay ahead in their journey? The chief's eyes seemed to hold a deep intensity, a sense of purpose that Smith couldn't quite understand.
As night fell, the chief's mind raced with thoughts, making sleep elusive. Suddenly, the eerie sound echoed through the darkness again. The chief swiftly extinguished the fire and roused Smith, his voice low and urgent. "Follow them," he whispered.
Smith's eyes snapped open, and he instinctively reached out to restrain the chief. "It's dangerous," he warned.
The chief's gaze was resolute. "We'll keep our distance," he assured Smith, already moving stealthily into the darkness.
They tracked the strange noise, their footsteps quiet on the forest floor. The sound grew fainter, and they slowed their pace, careful not to be detected. Unbeknownst to them, however, someone was closing in from behind, silent as a ghost
As they rounded a bend, the path suddenly terminated in a dense thicket. The chief and Smith halted, observing from a safe distance. They waited with bated breath, wondering what would unfold.
Without warning, a gentle tap on their backs made them both jump. Spinning around, they expected to face a menacing figure, but instead, they were met with an eerie nothingness. The darkness seemed to swallow everything, leaving only a void.
Their hearts racing, their vision began to blur, and their legs gave way. They crumpled to the ground, unconscious, surrounded by the oppressive silence of the jungle.
On the other side in the lost city , Stella tossed and turned, trapped in a terrifying nightmare. Her parents appeared, their faces etched with worry, warning her of an impending danger. The dream shifted, and she saw the chief, his lifeless body lying on the ground. Stella's scream echoed through the room as she jolted awake, her heart racing.
Clever, who had been watching over her, rushed to her side. "Were you having a nightmare?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
Stella nodded, still shaken. "Yes...I need to see my father," she pleaded, her voice trembling.
Clever's expression turned skeptical. "How's that possible?" he asked, but before Stella could respond, a guard burst in, urgency in his voice. "Clever, the king summons you."
Clever's eyes locked onto Stella's. "I'll be back. Wait for me, and don't do anything reckless," he warned, before hastening out of the room, leaving Stella alone with her fears.!
Clever bowed deeply as the king spoke, his voice low and commanding. "I want you to infiltrate the jungle outside the city, undercover. Uncover the ritual's details and report back to me. I want to know if there's any treachery afoot, any plots against me."
Clever nodded, his eyes locked on the king's. "Yes, Your Highness. I'll leave at once and return with any information I uncover."
The king's smile was benevolent, but his eyes gleamed with a hint of steel. "Your loyalty will be richly rewarded, Clever. I have something special in mind for you. You'll receive your reward in due time."
Clever's smile was gracious, but his mind raced with the weight of the task ahead. "Thank you, Your Highness. I'll take my leave now."
With a final bow, he backed out of the throne room, his heart pounding with anticipation and a hint of fear. The jungle loomed before him, full of secrets and dangers.
Clever's worried expression returned as he rejoined Stella, who still looked terrified. "What happened?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What did the king say?"
Clever hesitated, his eyes clouding over. "He wants me to infiltrate the jungle, to gather intel on the ritual and report back to him."
Stella's fear gave way to confusion. "That's great, isn't it? We can finally make plans!"
Clever's gaze dropped, his voice laced with despair. "I never thought of it like that...We can use this chance to gather allies outside the palace, together."
Stella's eyes widened, hope igniting within her. "We can do it! We can build a stronger force, one that can challenge the king's rule!"
Clever's face lifted, a small smile creeping onto his lips. "Together, we can make it happen.
"They both left the palace on their quest"