Chapter 4

Loye set out from the village, leaving behind his family and the only home he had ever known. He walked for hours, passing through fields of tall grass and groves of trees, until he reached the edge of the Kiji forest. The forest loomed before him, dark and foreboding, and he hesitated for a moment before taking his first step into its depths.

The Kiji forest was unlike any other forest Loye had ever seen. The trees were tall and slender, with leaves that shimmered in the sunlight. The ground was soft and spongy, covered in a thick layer of moss that seemed to glow in the dim light. Birds sang in the trees, their melodies echoing through the forest. But despite its beauty, Loye knew that the Kiji forest was a dangerous place.

The clan, whose name was Oran, was a proud and ancient people who had lived in the region for generations. They were skilled hunters and gatherers, able to survive in the harsh wilderness through their knowledge of the land and their resourcefulness. They had settled in the region because of its abundance of game and natural resources, but they had always regarded the forest of Kiji with a mixture of fear and respect. The Oran clan rarely ventured into the Kiji forest. It was said that the forest was home to dangerous creatures, both real and imagined, and that those who entered its depths rarely returned.

Loye's people had their own name for the forest - Ki'jor - which meant "the forbidden place" in their language. It was a place of mystery and fear, a place where the spirits were said to dwell. And yet, Loye felt drawn to the forest, as if there was something there that he needed to find.

As Loye walked deeper into the forest, he marveled at its beauty and its eerie silence. The trees were so tall that they seemed to touch the sky, and the underbrush was so dense that he could barely see beyond a few feet. He heard the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves, but he also sensed an underlying tension, as if the forest was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Loye walked for hours, following a narrow trail that wound through the trees. He had brought enough supplies to last for a few days, but he knew that he would have to hunt and gather for his food if he wanted to survive. He had sharpened his hunting knife and had practiced his archery skills, but he knew that he would need more than that to survive in the forest of Kiji.

As he walked, he thought about his mother fear and his father's expectation, wondering what they were doing and whether they were worried about him. He thought about the forest and its secrets, wondering what lay hidden beneath its canopy.

As the sun began to set, Loye found a small clearing where he could make camp for the night. He built a small fire and cooked some of the food he had brought with him, savoring its taste and the warmth of the fire. He felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that he had made it this far and that he was on his way to fulfilling his destiny.

But he also felt a sense of unease, as if he was being watched by unseen eyes. He looked around, but he saw nothing except for the darkness of the forest. He knew that he had to be careful, that he was in a dangerous place and that he couldn't let his guard down.

As he settled down to sleep, he thought about what lay ahead and whether he was ready for it. He thought about the Old Hunter and the path that he was supposed to follow. And he thought about the forest of Kiji and the secrets that it held.

But no matter what lay ahead, Loye knew that he was determined to see it through. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, ready for whatever the forest had in store for him.