Tigers❤️

The Woods    

As I opened my eyes, I instantly knew that something was wrong. I leaped out of bed and rushed out the door.
I peeked round Jelani’s bedroom door and a stone of dread dropped in my stomach. Jelani’s bed was empty.

No, no, no! I slumped to the ground in frustration, tired from all the hours of searching.
I had looked in every possible place for my brother and all my hopes were crushed. The only place I hadn’t looked was
the forbidding dark forest that loomed over my cottage. Mustering up my courage I willed my feet to walk to the edge of the forest.

I stood at the edge of the forest, my eyes darting around, looking for danger.

“JELANI!!!!!!” I shouted. In the distance I heard the chilling cry of a wolf. But apart from that, there was no answer.

After debating with myself for a minute, I decided to explore the woods for my brother. I walked back down the path to my house,
and turned it upside down looking for things that might be of use in the woods.

After I had stocked up on gear. I walked back down the path. My heart was hammering. Palms sweaty.

Am I making the right decision? Jelani might not be in the woods. He could be down in the village, but surely he is not that stupid?
He knows not to go down there. What if he is in the woods. I have to at least check. So I did.

Crossing the border into the woods was like stepping into a new world. Bark and leaves lay rotting on the stone cold ground.
Tall intimidating trees stretched up into the sky, leaves blocking out the sun. And a heavy mist seemed to permanently layer the air.

I trudged through the mist, straining to see ahead. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something move and I whipped around.
With a yelp I crashed to the floor. I scrambled away trying to see who my attacker was. But all I saw was a root sticking innocently
out of the ground.
 Heart hammering, I rose in fury at this small thing that had caused me so much fear.

“Argh! This is hopeless!” I shouted into the open. Smashing the root with my fists. But all that did was make my hands hurt.
My anger melted into panic. If I can’t even last a few paces into the woods, how am I going to lasts days, even weeks?

I need to pull myself together. If Jelani is in danger, I need to get to him as fast as I can. I can do this. With new determination
blossoming inside of me, I picked myself up and continued on my way into the woods.

To be continued……