Chapter 16: The Safer Route (1)
Yoa didn't go very far and any animals within their perimeter scattered. Only some colourful birds dared to remain, watching them from high above like the pair were live entertainment. Nova swore she could hear them speaking but that was impossible. Right?
Nova gazed up at them, arms still looped around Yoa's neck, taking in everything from this height. They must be parrots and were repeating words said by others before—she rationalised. There was only so much she could handle right now. Men transforming into beasts, a lake that looks like a galaxy, giant eagles, but talking animals... That's too far.
Yoa set her down after a few paces. "Come here." He knelt and started drawing into the ground with a stick. Nova furrowed her brow at the doodle.
"We'll head West. It is a longer route but safer during the day. We'll try to avoid these tribes." He drew circles and carved a line of what Nova presumed was a route.
"What's that?" Nova asked, pointing at three wider lines curving out.
"River Soluma. She splits into three, and that part ends in a waterfall. We will need to sneak around the waterfall. Once we pass here," he pointed at the second tribe further away. "We can sneak past everyone going through sacred land, Moon Lake and to the beach your resort is meant to be."
"This sounds more tiring than going past Oncari land and-"
"You want to be eaten?" Yoa arched a brow at her, those red-rimmed golden eyes sharpening on her.
Nova shook her head swiftly. "Absolutely not."