Several days passed. Alabi had ventured into the sacred grove with a small group of young men, including Daramola, Oriola, and Akinkunmi, all of whom were eager to prove their courage. The village waited with bated breath, but when two days passed without any word from the group, panic began to set in.
Rolake brought food to Farounbi's hut, hoping for any insight the oracle might have. "What is happening, baba? Where are they?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Farounbi looked at her with eyes that seemed to carry the weight of ages. "The forest does not easily give up its secrets. They are somewhere between this world and the next. But there is still hope."
It was that glimmer of hope that kept the village from spiraling into complete chaos. Funke, Alabi's wife, refused to leave her home, praying day and night for her husband's safe return. The others who had ventured with Alabi had families too, and soon the council convened again.
"We must form another search party," Osabunmi suggested. But Ogunshola could see the reluctance in everyone's eyes. Fear of the unknown was far more dangerous than any wild animal.
As days stretched into a week, the village seemed to stand still, cloaked in a tense silence. One evening, a stranger arrived—a young woman with a striking presence and eyes that seemed to gleam with secrets. Her name was Desola, and she claimed to be from a neighboring village. She had heard of the missing men and had come to offer her help.
Farounbi immediately took an interest in her. "You are not from here, yet you know our ways," he remarked.
Desola nodded, her gaze never wavering. "I have studied the old paths. I know the spirits of the forest. If you wish to find your men, I will guide you. But I must warn you—what you seek may be more than you can handle."
Akinlaja, one of the most respected elders, was skeptical. "Why should we trust you?"
Desola simply smiled. "You have no choice. The spirits are restless. If you do not act soon, they will not only keep your men, but they will come for the rest of the village."
Against the better judgment of some, a new search party was formed. This time, Ogunshola joined, along with Ajani, a brave warrior, and Kolade, the village blacksmith. Desola led the way.