CHAPTER TWELVE

The forest encounter

As Zoa and Nina continued their journey through the forest, Nina's cheerful chatter filled Zoa’s ears, Zoa wasn't even listening to her words. He was more interested in thinking about what the chief was up to.

She pointed out the various plants and animals they met along the way, her morale infectious despite the coming feeling of danger that hung in around.

However, Zoa's trained instincts were on high alert, his senses deepened as he scanned their surroundings for any signs of danger. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen, a sense of nervousness that gnawed at his gut.

As Nina prattled on, oblivious to Zoa's growing attitude, he struggled to maintain his calm. He knew Chief Cody all too well, and he understood the lengths to which he would go to achieve his goals. Chief Cody was relentless, and Zoa knew that he couldn't afford to let his guard down for even a moment.

With a heavy heart, Zoa realized that he couldn't remain silent any longer. He had to take action to protect Nina, no matter the cost.

Meanwhile, Nina couldn't help but notice the sudden change in Zoa's demeanour. His once cheerful expression had turned cold, his eyes darting around with a sense of urgency that unsettled her.

"Zoa, is everything okay?" Nina asked, her voice laced with concern. "You seem... different."

Zoa forced a tight smile, his mind racing with thoughts of how to keep Nina safe without causing her unnecessary worry. "I'm fine, Nina," he replied, his tone strained. "Just... a little preoccupied, that's all."

But despite his attempts to reassure her, Nina couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't understand why Zoa had suddenly withdrawn from her, his once warm demeanor replaced with a cold, distant attitude.

Desperate to break through the barrier that had sprung up between them, Nina tried to engage Zoa in conversation, teasing him playfully in an attempt to lighten the mood. But her efforts were met with only silence and averted gazes, leaving her feeling more alone than ever.

As they walked on in tense silence, the weight of their unspoken emotions hung heavy in the air, casting a pall over their once joyful journey. With each passing moment, Zoa's sense of urgency grew stronger, making Nina more scared and feeling unsafe

But as they ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, Zoa knew that They couldn't invade what was coming, he had to get prepared. Chief Cody's relentless pursuit would not be deterred so easily, and Zoa understood that their survival depended on his ability to outsmart or fight whatever was coming.

*****************

Another part of the dense forest…..

Ingo, Chief Cody's hired assassin, traversed through the dense forest with single-minded determination. He knew that time was of the essence, and he couldn't afford to waste a moment in his search for Zoa and Nina.

As he tackled deeper into the heart of the forest, Ingo's sharp eyes scanned his surroundings, his senses attuned to any signs of movement or sounds. He knew that Zoa was a skilled tracker, and he needed to stay vigilant and careful if he had any hope of catching up to him.

Ingo approached various creatures that occupied the forest, offering them gifts in exchange for information on the whereabouts of Zoa and Nina.

“Hello, please I seek the knowledge of a lady with pregnancy and maybe with a man? He is 6’5ft fall and black in completion. Please do you by any means know how to find them?” Ingo inquired. He knew that the creatures held valuable knowledge of the forest's secrets, and he was willing to pay any price to obtain the information he needed, chief had warned him.

But the old-looking woman just looked at him and ignored him. And walked away, despite offering her a gift.

Ingo's frustration mounted as he faced resistance from the creatures of the forest. He offered more gifts to the other creatures he saw, hoping that they would be more willing to share information. But to his dismay, they too took the gifts and ran away, refusing to answer his questions.

Desperate for any lead, Ingo approached a third creature, his hopes dwindling with each passing moment. He presented the creature with a gift, his hands trembling with anticipation as he awaited a response.

The creature accepted the gift, but shook its head sadly. "I'm sorry, wolf," it said, its voice filled with sorrow. "I do not know of the individuals you seek. They may have passed through here, but I cannot help you find them."

Ingo's heart sank at the creature's words, his hopes dashed once again. He knew that time was running out, and he couldn't afford to waste any more precious moments in his search for Zoa and Nina. With a heavy sigh, he thanked the creature for its time and continued on his journey, his determination unyielding despite the lapses he faced.

As he disappeared into the depths of the forest, Ingo's thoughts were consumed by thoughts of Chief Cody's wrath. “I can't fail,” he reassured himself.

With each meeting, Ingo's frustration grew, his patience wearing thin as he encountered one dead end after another. The creatures were hesitant to disclose any information, and this had frustrated him so much.

But Ingo refused to be deterred. He knew that Chief Cody's orders were clear – he needed to find Zoa and Nina, no matter the cost. Failure was not an option, and Ingo was determined to carry out his mission with ruthless efficiency.

As he continued his relentless pursuit, Ingo couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him. He knew that Zoa was a formidable opponent, and he couldn't afford to underestimate him. But with Chief Cody's words and wrath hanging over him like a dark cloud, Ingo knew that he had no choice but to press on, no matter the obstacles that lay in his path.

Yitta….

Meanwhile, back at the Yitta clan, Chief Cody paced back and forth in his study, his frustration boiling over as he awaited news of Ingo's feedback. He knew that time was running out, and he couldn't afford any more delays in his quest to find Zoa and Nina.

Williams, Chief Cody's loyal confidant, watched on with a mixture of frustration and Worry. He knew that Chief Cody's temper was volatile at the best of times, and he feared the consequences if Ingo failed to deliver the results they desperately needed.

"Chief, perhaps we should consider other options," Williams suggested cautiously, his voice tinged with worry. "Sending Ingo after them may not be the best course of action."

But Chief Cody would hear none of it. His mind was consumed with thoughts of malice, his determination relentless as he plotted his next move.

"No, Williams," Chief Cody replied tersely, his jaw clenched with determination. "Ingo will find them, no matter what it takes. And when he does, they will pay dearly for their betrayal."