The forest was no longer a haven but a fleeting sanctuary. Days turned into weeks as Agbaje, Akintola, and Ajumobi moved farther from their home, their senses constantly alert to the distant hum of soldiers combing the woods. Though united by blood and their shared grief, the triplets each carried their transformation differently, their newfound powers weaving a fragile thread between their humanity and the beasts within.
As they ventured deeper into unfamiliar terrain, they made a silent pact: they would stay together, no matter what. But life, as they would soon learn, had other plans.
A NEW LAND
Their journey took them far from the ruins of Ajiyo and Lafenwa, into territories they had only heard of in passing—places like Obantoko, Adatan, and Odo Eran. Each town was different, alive with its own energy.
In Obantoko, they found bustling markets where merchants sold colorful fabrics and fragrant spices. The town was vibrant, its streets packed with laughter and chatter. Yet, despite the life around them, the triplets felt like outsiders, their secret a heavy weight that kept them from blending in.
In Adatan, the air was quieter. The town sat nestled in rolling hills, its people moving at a slower pace. Here, the triplets began to experience something they had been denied for so long—a semblance of peace. They stayed in an abandoned structure on the outskirts, careful not to draw attention to themselves. It was here that they began to understand their powers more fully.
Agbaje, ever the protector, focused on mastering his strength. He often wandered into the woods, testing how far he could push his abilities. Ajumobi, fiery and impatient, experimented recklessly, eager to see what limits—if any—his crimson form had. Akintola, the quietest, spent hours in silent meditation, learning to control the sharp instincts that often threatened to consume him.
But peace, like everything else in their lives, was fleeting.
SIGNS OF TROUBLE
Word of three mysterious boys began to spread. Whispers reached Major Jide's spies, carried by traders and travelers who unknowingly described the triplets' distinct appearances. It wasn't long before armed patrols began appearing in the region. The boys knew they couldn't stay in one place for long.
Their journey brought them to Odo Eran, a town surrounded by dense forest and crisscrossed by streams. It was here that their bond, already tested by grief and survival, began to show cracks.
THEIR DIFFERENT PATHS
One evening, as they sat around a small fire hidden deep in the woods, the boys began to argue.
"We can't keep running forever," Agbaje said, his deep voice steady but heavy with frustration. "We need to find a way to stop Jide once and for all."
"And then what?" Ajumobi shot back, his red eyes glinting in the firelight. "We can't just walk into his camp and expect to win. Do you think these powers make us invincible?"
Akintola, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Maybe Ajumobi's right. Fighting him head-on could make things worse—for us and for anyone caught in the crossfire."
Agbaje's jaw tightened. "So what do we do? Keep hiding? Keep running until we're old and forgotten?"
The tension was palpable. Each brother carried a different vision of their future, and for the first time, they couldn't see eye to eye.
THE FINAL STRAW
Their breaking point came one night when they stumbled upon a group of soldiers terrorizing a small village near Odo Eran. Agbaje, driven by his protective instincts, wanted to intervene immediately. Ajumobi, fueled by anger, was ready to unleash his power without hesitation. But Akintola hesitated, his cautious nature urging them to wait and think of a plan.
In the chaos that followed, they managed to drive the soldiers away, but not without consequences. Their presence was revealed, and the villagers, though grateful, were terrified of the monstrous forms they had seen. The triplets fled before they could be betrayed, but the event left deep scars.
"We're too different," Akintola said that night, his voice quiet but resolute. "If we stay together, we'll only endanger each other—and anyone around us."
Agbaje and Ajumobi stared at him, their expressions a mixture of shock and pain.
"You're saying we should split up?" Ajumobi asked, his voice rising.
"I'm saying it's the only way we survive," Akintola replied.
Agbaje, torn between his desire to protect his brothers and the harsh truth of their situation, finally nodded. "He's right. If we go our separate ways, Jide's men will have a harder time tracking us. And maybe… maybe we can each find our purpose."
The decision was made, but it didn't make their parting any easier. They spent one final night together, reminiscing about their childhood and the life they had lost. As dawn broke, they went their separate ways.
NEW BEGINNINGS
Agbaje traveled east, his towering frame a shadow among the dense trees. He sought refuge in the wilderness, honing his strength and vowing to return one day to face Jide. His heart ached with the weight of his promise to protect his brothers, even from afar.
Ajumobi headed south, his fiery nature driving him to seek answers. He wanted to understand the source of their powers, to find others who might share their fate. His journey was fraught with challenges, but he embraced each one, his anger tempered by a growing sense of purpose.
Akintola, ever the quiet observer, moved west toward a small fishing village. He sought solitude, hoping to master his instincts and find peace within himself. Though he missed his brothers deeply, he believed their separation was necessary.
A FUTURE UNKNOWN
Years passed, and the triplets became legends in the regions they touched. Agbaje was whispered about as a guardian of the forests, protecting those who ventured too far from harm. Ajumobi's fiery determination inspired tales of a crimson figure who appeared in times of need. And Akintola's quiet strength was remembered in stories of a white wolf who guided lost travelers to safety.
Yet their paths, though separate, were bound by an unbreakable thread. Each carried the memory of their family, their home, and the bond they once shared. And though they had parted ways, they knew deep down that their story was far from over.
Somewhere in the shadows, they waited—for the day they would reunite and face their destiny.