The arrow sliced through the air with a sharp
whoosh. But instead of striking its target, it whistled past a grazing deer and
buried itself deep into the trunk of a nearby tree.
Thunk!
Startled, the deer froze for a split second.
Its ears twitched nervously as it stared toward the bushes where the arrow had
come from. Then, sensing danger, it bolted away into the forest.
"You missed!" Loki burst out laughing from
behind the bushes.
Kili stepped forward calmly, lowering his bow
as if nothing unusual had happened.
"On purpose," he replied confidently.
He walked toward the tree and pulled the
arrow free.
"My arrows deserve a worthy target," he said proudly. "I won't waste them on a deer." He examined the arrow carefully before sliding it back into his quiver. "But a lion…"
he added with a grin. "Now that would be a worthy hunt." Loki rolled his eyes.
"And where exactly do you suppose you'll find a lion around here?" he asked while packing their hunting gear.
He glanced up at the sky, noticing how the
light was beginning to dim.
"It's almost time for the Festival," he said.
"We should head back to the village."
But before they could leave—
"Face it, guys… we are lost."
The unfamiliar voice echoed faintly through
the trees.
Both boys froze. Kili slowly turned toward Loki.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered.
Another voice spoke nearby.
"We can't be lost! We followed Martha's instructions exactly."
Loki's eyes widened.
"Tribe people!" he whispered urgently.
"Quick—hide!"
Without wasting another second, the two boys scrambled up
the nearest tree. They wedged themselves between the branches where they could
see everything below while remaining hidden from view. Moments later, five strangers emerged from
the forest.
As fate would have it— They stopped directly beneath the very tree
Loki and Kili were hiding in.
Nolee collapsed onto the grass with an
exhausted groan.
"This is hopeless," she complained.
Above them, Kili stared down in astonishment.
"Would you look at that, Loki?" he whispered.
His eyes lingered on two figures in
particular—Roxanne and Nolee.
"I've never seen a young woman with white
hair before," he murmured quietly. "I thought only old people had white hair."
He tilted his head, studying her curiously.
"Still… she's beautiful."
"Quit gawking, Kili," Loki whispered back
sharply. "We don't even know who these people are."
He glanced at their clothing suspiciously.
"And look at their outfits. I've never seen anything like it before." Below them, Wulf
stretched his arms tiredly.
"Wish we had a compass so we could know our bearing," he groaned.
Kili watched them for another moment.
"They don't look dangerous," he said finally. Then he grinned mischievously.
"Let's meet them." Before Loki could stop him— Kili had already climbed down from the tree.
"Kili—wait!" Loki hissed.
Too late. Kili landed on the ground and cleared his throat.
"Ahem!"
The strangers spun around in surprise.
" Finally!" Hunter exclaimed immediately. "We get to meet somebody." He stepped forward casually.
"Hey, you. Any idea how we can get to Orion's?"
"Hunter!" Roxanne scolded sharply.
Kili folded his arms. "That's not very nice," he said.
From above, Loki scoffed loudly.
"How rude!"
Roxanne quickly stepped forward.
"I apologize," she said politely. "My name is
Roxanne, and these are my friends—Kai, Nolee, Wulf and…"
"Hunter!" Kili finished with a knowing smile. "Yeah," Wulf muttered sarcastically."Hunter." Kili bowed slightly.
"Pleased to meet you all. My name is Kili,
and welcome to Montunoi—the Land of Paradise."
Kai exchanged a glance with Nolee.
"I see," Kai muttered thoughtfully.
Nolee giggled quietly.
Kili brightened. "Would you like a tour of our beautiful village?" he offered. Though he addressed everyone, his eyes lingered on
Roxanne. Roxanne smiled.
"That would be lovely.
Thank you, Kili." She turned to her friends.
"What do you say, guys?"
"Let's go!" Wulf agreed immediately.
"As long as we get to meet more people, I'm
fine with it," Nolee added.
"Me too," Kai said. But Hunter frowned.
He grabbed Roxanne's arm and pulled her
aside.
"Excuse me," he said to Kili.
Then he lowered his voice.
"Hello? We're on a mission," he whispered
impatiently. "We can't just start frolicking around."
He gestured toward the forest.
"What do we need a tour for? Just ask how we can get to Orion's so we can—"
"Hunter," Roxanne
interrupted firmly. "Don't be difficult." Hunter suddenly realized he was still holding her
arm.
He quickly released it.
"I'm… sorry," he muttered.
If there was one person
he never wanted to offend— It was Roxanne.
She turned back toward Kili with a friendly
smile.
"Lead the way."
"Hold on!" a voice called suddenly.
Loki jumped down from the tree and landed
beside them.
"Come on, Loki," Kili said cheerfully. "Let's
show our guests around."
Loki forced a nervous smile and waved
awkwardly at the strangers before jogging beside Kili.
"I can't stand these people," he whispered
quietly.
"Being around them makes
me feel… naked." Kili chuckled.
Behind them, the others followed.
"You all arrived at the perfect time," Kili
explained proudly. "Tonight is our greatest celebration—the Festival of
Lights. There'll be feasting, dancing, and
celebrations throughout the village."
"Dancing?" Nolee
squealed with excitement. "I love dancing!" Hunter sighed
impatiently. "How far is this village?" he asked. Kili smiled.
"Not far at all." He pointed ahead.
"As a matter of fact… we're already here."
The trees opened up, revealing rows of tents
and huts scattered across a lively clearing. Villagers bustled everywhere, preparing for the festival. As the strangers walked through the village, curious eyes followed them. People whispered among themselves. Most of the young women stared openly at Hunter, clearly fascinated by the handsome
stranger. But Hunter ignored them all. His face remained cold and unreadable.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a familiar tent. Kili called out.
"Mateo!"
A moment later, Mateo stepped outside.
Introductions were quickly made, and Mateo nodded politely. Roxanne smiled
warmly and extended her hand for a handshake. But Mateo barely noticed. His
eyes had locked onto something else.
The Ring of Orion.
His expression changed instantly.
"Where did you get that?" he demanded
suddenly.
He grabbed Roxanne's hand to look closer.
But Hunter reacted immediately.
"Don't touch her!"
The tension rose sharply.
"MATEO!"
A voice suddenly called from inside the tent.
Grandma Millicent stepped outside slowly. Her wise eyes studied the strangers
carefully.
"Let our guests come in," she said calmly. "I believe they have quite an explanation for us." One by one, they stepped inside the tent. Mateo turned quickly to Kili.
"Kili!"
"Hm?"
"Fetch Maya… quickly." His voice was
urgent.
Because if what he suspected was true— Then everything in Montunoi was about to change.
***********************************************
"…and that's how we found ourselves here,"
Kai concluded.
The small tent had grown quiet after his
explanation. Everyone sat on the ground in a circle, legs crossed, listening
carefully as the last pieces of the strange story settled into place. For a moment, no one spoke. Maya was the first to break the silence.
"Quite an adventure
you all must have had," she said thoughtfully before glancing toward Mateo.
"Don't you think so, Mateo?" Mateo nodded slowly.
"Yes, I agree."
His eyes drifted briefly toward the Ring of
Orion resting on Roxanne's hand.
"I'm glad you were able to
make it here," he continued. "Now that the ring has returned, all we need to do
is place it back where it belongs." He looked around the group.
"And once that happens,
everything should return to normal." Hunter leaned back slightly.
"Then we can finally go home," he muttered
under his breath.
Wulf glanced at him but said nothing.
Before anyone could continue the discussion—
Maya!"
A voice called from outside the tent.
"The festival is about to
begin! We need to get dressed!" Maya quickly stood up.
"I'm coming!"
She turned toward the visitors with a polite
smile.
"Excuse me," she said before stepping
outside.
As the tent flap closed behind her, Kili
stood up and offered Roxanne a hand to help her to her feet.
"You're all staying for the festival, right?"
he asked cheerfully.
Hunter watched the scene closely.
Jealousy flickered in his eyes.
I should be the one helping her, he thought
bitterly. Not you, jerk.
Roxanne looked uncertain.
"But… what about the ring?" she asked.
Mateo waved a hand reassuringly.
"Don't worry about it," he said calmly.
"We'll return the ring
to Orion's tomorrow morning." He gave them a confident smile.
"After all, you said Oropher is still far
away in your world. That means we still have plenty of time."
Hunter frowned immediately.
"But what's wrong with doing it now?" he
asked sharply.
Mateo shook his head.
"We have the Festival tonight," he replied.
His tone was firm but friendly.
"It only happens once a
year. Kili, Loki and I wouldn't want to miss it." He glanced at Roxanne and the others.
" But I promise
you—we'll take the ring to Orion's first thing in the morning." Hunter crossed
his arms.
"I still say no."
Wulf jumped up excitedly.
"Well I say yes!"
"Me too!" Nolee added eagerly.
"Me three!" Kai said with a grin.
Kili clapped his hands together.
"Well, that's four against two," he declared
triumphantly.
"That's a win!"
Before anyone could argue further, he grabbed Roxanne's hand and began leading the group outside.
"Come on! Let's go!"
Nolee, Wulf, and Kai happily followed.
Within seconds, the tent was nearly empty.
Only Hunter and Grandma Millicent remained behind. The old woman studied him carefully for a moment before slowly standing up.
"You have good intentions," she said gently.
Hunter looked up.
"But your manner of approaching things is…
wrong."
She gave him a small knowing smile before
walking toward the exit.
"Try convincing people in a better way."
Then she left. The tent fell silent. Hunter
sighed heavily and buried his face in his hands.
**********************************************
Far above Montunoi's darkening sky— A
swirling black portal suddenly tore open. Dark clouds spilled out from it like
smoke pouring from a crack in the heavens. The swirling mist slowly descended
onto a lonely hill overlooking the village. When the mist cleared- Oropher
stood there. Claws perched proudly on his right shoulder, its eyes glowing
wickedly in the fading light. Oropher looked around slowly.
The forest.
The hills.
The land he had once known.
"Well… well… well," he murmured with a
sinister smile.
"Isn't it good to be home again, Claws?"
From the hilltop, he could see the glow of a
massive bonfire in the distance. Laughter and music drifted faintly through the
evening air. The villagers of Montunoi were celebrating.
Unaware.
Unprepared.
Oropher chuckled darkly.
"Oh… how perfect."
His body dissolved into a cloud of black
mist.
And within seconds— The darkness drifted silently toward the village.
Toward the festival.
Toward the people who had no idea that their worst nightmare had just arrived.
Back at the village square, the celebration
had begun. The great bonfire burned brightly at the center of the clearing, its
flames dancing high into the night sky. Sparks floated upward like tiny stars
while the villagers gathered around, clapping and cheering.
Excitement filled the air.
As Maya and the other girls stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted in applause.
"Go, girl!" Mateo shouted from the front of
the crowd.
Maya heard him and blushed slightly before
focusing on the performance. A flutist lifted his instrument and began playing a smooth, melodious tune that floated gracefully through the night air.
Moments later, the deep rhythm of drums
joined in.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The girls moved into formation, forming a
wide circle around Maya.
Then the dance began. Their feet struck the
ground in perfect rhythm while their hips swayed gracefully with the music.
Their colorful skirts twirled around them as they moved with energy and joy.
Soon, the music became too infectious to ignore. Several villagers jumped into
the dance, laughing and spinning in their own style. Not long after— Loki
joined in enthusiastically.
Then Wulf.
Then Nolee and Kai.
The celebration grew louder and livelier. But
not everyone joined the dance. Roxanne stood near the edge of the crowd,
smiling softly as she watched the joyful scene unfold. She tapped her feet
lightly against the grass, enjoying the rhythm without stepping forward. Then
someone approached her.
"Care to dance?" Kili asked, extending his
hand toward her.
Roxanne laughed nervously and shook her head.
"No, no thank you. I
don't dance." Kili raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
He smiled.
"Then I can teach you."
"You're very kind, Kili," she replied
politely, "but that won't be necessary."
Kili pretended to think for a moment.
"Alright," he said.
"Then let me show you around instead."
Before she could protest, he gently helped
her to her feet.
"What about the festival?" she asked,
glancing back toward the dancing crowd.
Kili waved his hand dismissively.
"Relax. The dancing will go on for at least
two hours."
He started guiding her down a quiet path away
from the village lights.
"We'll be back before anyone notices."
"But Mateo said—"
"Shhh."
Kili placed a finger lightly against her
lips. The sudden closeness caught Roxanne off guard. She looked up at him. Their eyes met. For a brief moment, neither of them moved. The gentle night breeze rustled through the trees, breaking the silence between them. Kili cleared his throat awkwardly.
" Shall we?"
Roxanne nodded quietly. As he took her hand and led her forward, a strange feeling stirred inside her. No one had ever
looked at her like that before. With such intensity. And somehow… it made her
heart beat faster. They walked through the forest in comfortable silence until
the path opened into a hidden clearing. Tall bamboo trees curved inward from
both sides, their long branches intertwining above to form a natural archway
that blocked out most of the night sky.
"Here we are," Kili said proudly.
"Gladys Cove."
Roxanne looked around in wonder. "Whoa…"
She hugged her arms
slightly. "This place is… kind of spooky." Kili laughed.
"It's not spooky at all." He gestured toward the cave entrance ahead.
"Wait until you see the inside. It's even more beautiful." Roxanne hesitated.
"Wait… we're going
inside?" She took a cautious step back.
Kili looked amused.
"Why not?"
"Well… like I said," she
replied nervously, "it looks spooky." Kili chuckled.
"I thought you said you were Mafia." "Hey! That's not fair!" she pouted.
"I'm just teasing you," he said warmly.
Then he gently took her hand again.
"Come on. Nothing can happen to you while I'm here."
And surprisingly—
He was right. The moment they stepped inside the cove, Roxanne's fear melted into amazement. Exotic flowers bloomed along
the cave walls in vibrant colors. Small crystals embedded in the rocks
reflected faint glimmers of light, making the entire place sparkle softly. Fireflies
drifted through the air like tiny floating lanterns, giving the cove an almost
magical glow.
"Wow…" Roxanne whispered.
She bent down and picked one of the flowers.
"Hey Kili, what do you call these?"
"Oh," he said casually.
"Those are daffodils." He looked at her.
"Do you like them?"
"Yeah," she said softly.
"They're beautiful." "Just like you," Kili said quietly.
Roxanne froze for a moment before looking up at him. Her cheeks turned pink. "Thanks… for the compliment." Kili smiled.
"Do you have to thank me for everything?"
He gently took the flower from her hand and
placed it carefully in her hair.
"I haven't even done anything yet."
For a moment, his fingers brushed against her hair. He loved how soft it felt. Then he suddenly brightened. "Oh! There's a waterfall just ahead." He pointed deeper into
the cove.
"Want to see it?"
"Sure," Roxanne said eagerly.
They walked toward the sound of rushing water until they reached the exit of the cove.
And there—
A breathtaking waterfall poured down from a
mountain nearly forty feet high, crashing into a clear pool below.
"Kili… this is amazing!" Roxanne said in awe.
The cool mist from the waterfall drifted
across her face as she admired the view. Seeing her excitement made Kili smile
proudly. That had been his goal all along.
To impress her.
Then suddenly— An idea struck
him.
"Hey Roxanne!"
He grinned mischievously.
"Let's climb the mountain and jump down the waterfall." Her eyes widened.
She stared up at the tall cliff.
"Uh… that does sound fun," she admitted
slowly. "But how are we supposed to get to the top?"
Kili shrugged casually.
"I can climb it." Then he added confidently,
"With you on my back." Roxanne
blinked.
"What? Me on your back?"
She shook her head quickly.
"I could never!"
"How do you know if you haven't tried?" he
teased.
He crouched down in front of her. "Hop on."
Roxanne hesitated for a moment before slowly climbing onto his back.
"Okay… if you say so."
Her arms wrapped gently around his neck as
she balanced herself. Kili stood up carefully, adjusting his grip as her legs wrapped around his waist.
"You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said.
She looked down at the ground below them.
"Wow… you're so tall."
She laughed nervously. "I feel like I'm
flying." Kili chuckled.
"Hold on tight, beauty."
He looked up at the rocky mountain face.
"The journey is just about to begin."
Then he started climbing. And Roxanne held
onto him tightly. Unaware that far away— The night of celebration was slowly
turning into something far more dangerous.