Chapter 4 Furry Friends And The Path To Humanity
Some where in a forest, Zeb was awakened by the loud and disturbing sounds of birds chirping, tweeting, and whistling, along with the howls, screams, and chirps of Monkeys.
He slowly opened his eyes only to see another pair of eyes staring at him. He flinched in fear. 'Hey, watch out! You might fall down if you flinch again,' a voice said.
As Zeb's senses were trying to process where the voice was coming from, he realized he was hanging on a tree.
'What the hell am I doing here?' he screamed in panic.
'Keep your voice low, bro. That's too loud,' the voice said again.
'Wait! What? Holy moly! What's going on? How the hell did I get here with a monkey talking to me?' he screamed again in fear.
He managed to look down and saw that the distance from the ground wasn't too high.
'I should be asking you that question. How did you even climb up here? What are you doing in this forest in the first place? Are you a hunter?' the monkey asked.
Zeb didn't know whether to laugh or cry. How could a monkey be talking? He questioned himself. 'Hey Monk, are you the one talking or is someone behind you?' Zeb asked.
'What kind of silly question is that?' the monkey replied, giving him a light knock.
'Ouch! What the f**k ? Did you just knock me?' Zeb was dumfounded. A talking monkey just knocked him! 'Hahaha, am I going mad? No wait, I'm hallucinating,' Zeb thought unable to believe his eyes.
Just then, someone shouted his name.
'Zeb, I'm over here, down here!, Looking down, he saw it was Sagewood. 'Thank goodness ' Zeb said.
'But wait! How do I come down? I haven't climbed a tree before, Zeb said, holding on for his dear life.
'Just jump down, dude! It's not like this tree is even that high, or do you need help getting pushed down? The monkey asked.
"Don't you dare", Zeb Shouted at the monkey almost immediately.
'Hey! I was just kidding, besides you look like someone who could die, if you mistakenly fall down from here. The monkey said, and jumped down to avoid further banter.
Zeb who wanted to retaliate by talking back kept quite.
'Elderly Sagewood I need your help, please how do I come down from this damn tree?,
'Hold on, am coming to get you. Sagewood replied.
In the blink of an eye, Sagewood vanished from the ground and reappeared on the tree, grabbing Zeb before instantly returning to the ground.
Wow hoo! That was cool,when are you going to teach me magic, Zeb asked, as soon as they landed.
"Next Year" Sagewood replied jokingly.
"What? Don't tell me we're going to stay here till next year, oh no! we're still in February. Zeb asked in frustration.
"Maybe, depends on how fast you are in learning magic" Sagewood replied with a smile.
'Yes! Great, so you will teach me magic, I can't wait'. Zeb said jumping up and down in excitement.
'Hahaha! Sagewood laughed noticing something was off with Zeb's look.
"Why are you laughing and looking at me like that", Zeb asked unable to tell what's funny.
"Your, Your!, Sagewood continued laughing and pointing at him.
Zeb unable to tell why Sagewood was laughing, subconsciously joined him in laughing.
As the laughter subsided, the two men kept quite, thinking of a way to make it out of the forest, while walking in no exact direction.
'What are those? Are those dogs? Zeb asked breaking the silence while pointing at the two animals that were approaching them.
'Did he just call us dogs?' The two approaching animals asked and looked at each other simultaneously.
'They can't be dogs, why do they have that scaring look, Zeb asked in fear, and turned to Sagewood only to discover he was no longer there with him.
"Sagewood! Elderly Sagewood!, Zeb corrected. where are you? please do not forsake me here in this weird forest, Zeb cried out.
Am over here, Up here Sagewood replied.
Looking up, He saw Sagewood sitting on a tree branch swinging his legs.
What? When did you get up there? Zeb asked in bewilderment.
Thinking of what next to do, he rushed to a nearby tree, with the hope of getting away from the approaching animals. Hopefully he can climb this one somehow, he thought to himself.
"Hey! Dude! You should be thinking about running away not climbing", one of the animals said to Zeb.
"How are they so fast, When did they reach here, Wait did they just talked now?" Zeb asked himself unable to believe his eyes.
Seeing he couldn't climb, he grabbed a nearby wood. 'Go back to where ever you are coming from, if you step an inch closer I will hit you with this stick'. Zeb said to the animals who were now standing before him, while moving back in fear.
'He's one of us' the two animals whispered to themselves.
"I heard you guys just now, What do you mean am of you, I'm a human being and you are animals. When did humans and animals started to look alike?". Zeb asked, still holding his stick.
"Animals have names, dude. We are wolves, can't you see?
"I saw that of course, how does that make me one of you? Zeb asked, still trying to understand what the animals were talking about.
"Aren't you tired of holding that stick? And besides, we don't mean any harm, we were just passing". One of the wolves replied.
"And what's with your clothe, Are you a hunter?" The other wolf asked.
Zeb, not going to let the wolves make jest of him, looked at his cloth, ready to ask "what do you mean by am I a hunter" only to discover he was actually dressed as a hunter.
Sagewood, Who has been watching the funny scene from the tree, reappeared beside Zeb.
"So this was the reason behind Sagewood's weird laughter earlier, including the monkey who asked if I was a hunter". Zeb thought to himself.
"This wasn't the same clothes I was wearing before I got here. How come your clothes are nice and mine are not?" Zeb asked Sagewood In embarrassment.
"My clothes were exactly the same as yours, but I changed them with my magic". Sagewood replied and touched Zeb's clothes. I just changed your clothes, he said in between laughter.
Seeing what has happened the two wolves burst into laughter.
"What is this? The hunters clothes are far better than this one, I look like a clown now". Zeb cried out in frustration.
"Here you go," Sagewood said, indicating he had changed Zeb's attire.
"Oh no! What is this? A roadside mechanic? I'm done! I would gladly accept the hunter's attire; please just give me back the hunter's clothes," Zeb said in exasperation.
"Alright, here you go" Sagewood replied, satisfied with Zeb's new look.
"A farmer? Well, a farmer's attire is more better than the rest of the attires your magic changed. Zeb said, not ready for another drama.
"Exactly, to avoid unnecessary suspicion or attention, dressing as a farmer is not bad, we have to find our way out from this forest first". Sagewood replied.
"Thank goodness, I already thought we transmigrated into the world of animals. Zeb said in a relive.
"I will help you guys out, this way". one of the wolves said. And the two men followed the wolves.
After what seemed like an endless journey, they finally arrived at a Marching ground road, and caught a glimpse of a small hut.
"Alright, there you go. From here, I'm sure you will be able to meet human beings Walking along this road," the wolves said before leaving the two men.