Into The Jungle!

People noticed us but didn't bother to talk. Neither did us. We were here for a mission and didn't have any time to waste.

We explored the area. Houses were barely present including shops and other buildings. I doubted if it really was a town. It was the smallest town I had ever been in. We kept exploring for about half an hour till we finished and reached where we had started.

Rock Flames wasn't around so we had to take charge. Oliver went to a person and asked where we could find the Saggron Jungle. The man hesitated before replying, "It is right ahead of the town. Go straight, away from the main street and you will reach your destination." Then his voice became creepier. "But I recommend you not to go there. There is some sort of monster in there which we have not checked out. Since childhood, I have been in this town and have been warned not to go into that cursed land. The roars of the monster have increased since last week."

The man was about to cry with the story. Whatever he said, I knew he wasn't joking. Raptor presence could be sensed from here the most. It had a negative vibe. The town too, did not flourish due to fear. We comforted the man and talked to him for a while till he became fine and went off.

We walked straight, avoiding any turns that were provided during the time. As we passed the streets, lesser people and houses could be seen. After a good ten minutes' walk, we landed up with no one around other than the jungle in front of us. Even before entering, such negative thoughts came to my mind and I wanted to run away. The jungle looked as if it wanted to say, come and die, you know you have to. Whahahaha! If the trees could talk, the jungle would have surely been ranked as the cruelest one.

We entered the jungle directly, not noticing any safe way forward. We had to go through the trees and creepy noises of insects. Though it was morning, I felt scared enough to scream. I couldn't imagine the night…

As we moved forward, we chatted, distracting ourselves from fear. "So… what's up?" Oliver said which seemed to be a stupid way to start the conversation. "Lily, I would like to hear about your family." I said. I didn't want to be slapped on the face alone so I urged the others to join in. I glared at them and they nodded in agreement, acting eager to know.

Lily sighed and said, "Master Polwern raised me. I have never known about my family. I have always thought Master as my family. Then there is Variaries clan. And now… you guys." She hesitated in the last part which included us, probably trying not to sound as rude as she was, controlling her attitude.

That really touched Oliver's heart. He was also an orphan though his story was a bit different. But he could relate. He too, shared his backstory with us which I was shocked about. He was finally feeling one of us and thought he had a real family after all, us.

Just as we were getting emotional and more family-like, the ground started shaking. Xavier said, "Yup. That's surely Raptor. Let's go."