Chapter 4: Encounter in the forest

"What's she doing with Jacob?" A blonde-haired girl asked as she stepped out of the bus. The girl had dark blue eyes almost like blueberries and her name was Valencia Cassidy, the most famous girl in the whole school known for her beauty and fame. She's also fell in love with Jacob and always shows off every time as if they're together.

"She is Jacob's best friend remember? Always sticking up with Jacob!" One of her allies, Vanity replied. Vanity Fang, a blonde-haired girl. She is the best friend of Valencia and is a sports athlete who won three golden medals consecutively. "How dare you come in my way!! Jacob is mine only. Let's go, Vanity!!" She vented obsessively.

"Welcome to the Eastern forest reserve!" The guider greeted all of us. "So I will be taking you to visit some animals such as; deers, birds, and maybe if by chance we might be able to see Cougars." He informed the teenagers to lighten the mood. "Really!!" they said cheerfully. "Let our adventures begin!" Everyone was wild with joy.

It took us a fifty-five minutes walk until we finally saw a deer grazing near a huge tree. Everyone took out their phones and started taking pictures.

Suddenly a cracking sound was heard. The guider told everyone not to make any noise and to stay still. Even the deer heard it. He warned the teens that there might be other dangerous and wild animals in the woods and that they should be careful but I already knew what it was, thanks to Spark. She has a great sense of smell.

He ordered everyone to kneel down quietly while he investigated. After examining the area for some time, Mr. Martin and the guider said that it was a Bobcat and brought us to see the little feline. "It's so unusual to see Bobcats around here!! You were lucky kids!" The guider said in a surprised tone.

"It's beautiful! Isn't it Hannah?" Luna asked me. I know! she really loves animals. That day when we were doing our test before joining the group, she told me how hard it was for her to kill that hare and the wolf. Somehow she managed to do it though, I guess it was her eagle instinct.

"It's indeed beautiful- Oh no the potion!! What time is it?" I suddenly remembered. "Oh just in time only one minute left for the portion to wear off!" Luna told me. I was kinda panicking because of the crowd that was around us. Just after we drank the potion, the teacher told us to return as it was getting darker but we had to walk such long-distance, moreover, it was getting too late so the guider advised us to go near the tents that were not too far away. The students set up their things inside their tents. After that everyone gathered at the bonfire that was created by the guider.

It was so beautiful here but there was only one thing that I completely forgot about. My fear; the darkness. I am not Nyctophobic it's just my bird extinct; birds are afraid of darkness. Whenever I see the darkness it makes me shiver and scared that includes my sister too but she can control her fear in some way. "You don't need to be afraid of the dark, we have everyone here," Luna saw me and came to console me. I sniffled while I held Luna's arm, trembling with fear.

"Are you alright? Oh no, it's about your phobia, right? Luna let's bring her inside the tent." where did he come from? I don't really have time to argue with him though, so I'd better stay quiet. "Hannah let's go inside!" I nodded and grabbed Luna's arm while they walked me inside the tent.

"Calm down! You are sweating a lot," Jacob said, looking tense. I stayed in the tent trying to calm myself down. If I had my real parents maybe they could've helped me. Since I had my foster parents I had a lot of problems with them but now we're trying to sort things out little by little. I just didn't like them at first and this is what makes me dislike the fact of being burden.

"Jacob, can you go outside for a moment!" I watched as he agreed and went out. I then looked at Luna, she looked so worried. "Sis! how are you able to control your fear? When it comes to fear, not even this potion can help us you already know that!" I said with a shivering voice.

"Look! To be able to hold that fear, all you need to do is take a long deep breath or maybe you can think about something that makes you feel happy!" She said as she patted my head. "Stay here and don't panic! I'll bring some water for you," just before she stood up, I grabbed her hand. "I'm feeling a bit better now," She looked at me, her eyes looked reassured and then she rushed out.

I kept looking at the roof of the tent until a girl who was covered with a black hoodie entered the tent. "Hannah!! Luna, she went into the forest! I saw her going," At first she seemed suspicious to me but what if it's true. I was so angry by the fact she went inside the forest that I completely forgot about my illness. "What!! What is she doing in the forest? Thanks for telling me," Just after I thanked the girl, I sprinted out of the tent to find Luna. As I was walking past the girl, I tried to see her face but couldn't.

Luna's POV

"Luna! Weren't you with Hannah?" Jacob joined me while he was returning back to the tent. "I had to bring her some water so I left her for a while and I went to ask the guider for some," I explained to Jacob. "What happened? Is it about Hannah? Let me guess, Nyctophobia?" Luka barged in. "Yes!" I replied. As we were discussing about her situation, we walked towards her tent but when we arrived she was not there.

"Where did she go? I told her to wait here! Such a careless girl!" I frowned. We all rushed to find her. "Hey Jim!! Have you seen Hannah? She was inside the tent," Jacob asked a copper-haired boy. It was Jim Carson, one of my classmates. I don't usually speak to him, just when I have to ask him about notes. He is the nerd type in our class. "Oh yes!! She went in the woods, I guessed she was in a hurry so didn't ask her where she was going." the latter shrugged. "You saw a girl going alone in the forest and you let her-" Jacob was literally yelling at the poor guy but was soon stopped by Luka.

We couldn't go into the forest alone but if we had told the principal, he would prevent us from going and would tell the guider to go instead so we decided to go in the woods without no one noticing us. We could not find a single trace of her so we split up. "You two, go to the right! I'll go straight! If you find her call me!" Jacob said. We nodded and ran to the other side of the forest.

Hannah's POV

While my friends were searching for me, I was yelling like a crazy girl looking for my sister, not noticing that I ran straight on someone's trap. "Luna! Where are you?" I looked around me nothing but darkness, not even a sound. I started sweating and feeling dizzy. I started shaking and I was feeling suffocated. It did not take me long enough to collapse on the ground.

All I could hear was a distant voice calling my name. "Help" I whispered but I was too weak to even shout for help. I just knew that I already messed up and for now all I can do is wait for someone to come for me. Moreover, I was starting to transform but if someone finds me in my true form, that person is going to freak out. After giving in a lot of thought, I decided to pluck out the feathers that were growing on my arm. It was so painful but I had to endure it.

Out of nowhere, a bird came flying towards me and he had the potion in his beak "Who are you?" I asked hoping he could hear me. It was an eagle, a harpy eagle just like me. "At least tell me your name," I asked again. "Consider me as an angel for now!" It was all I heard before his voice faded and then everything went black.

Luna and Luka have been searching for me for about five minutes and all they could see was trees. Luna was getting weaker and weaker unable to control the fear inside of her. "Luna we've been searching for her!! Let's return, I know you have the same problem as your sister. Let me and Jacob look for her," Luka explained to Luna. "She is my sister Luka! I can't just abandon her like this! She is lost and she is sick..." Luna was too weak to even speak. It was finally off her limits. She lost control and was about to hit the ground when Luka grabbed her. "Luna!! Are you Ok? Let's take you back! I'm gonna search for her, don't worry!" Luka brought her back in her tent without no one noticing.

Jacob's POV

I was shouting and still searching for her but no one answered. I could feel like I was getting closer to her though. I walk a few steps ahead until I finally noticed someone lying unconscious on the ground. As I got closer I eventually distinguished who it was. Luckily I had the medicine that Luna gave me before they started looking for her.

"Who are you?" she said weakly. I looked at her neck and saw blood. So my doubt turned out to be true. She is an eagle and she is bleeding, has she been plucking her feathers? I guess she is about to faint, I must take her away from here. I was about to lift her but she grabbed my hand instead.

"At least tell me your name?" she asked again. Should I tell her? "Consider me as an angel for now!" Just as I said that she fainted. I guess I'll have to carry her but first I will call Luka to inform him about Hannah and to make sure Luna does not worry about her.

"Alright then, don't forget to tell her sister," I said.

"Yes, I'll tell her! Ok then see you at the campsite"

I frowned as I looked at her. She always puts herself in danger and always trying to be the strong girl. Now she is bleeding. Why was she even plucking her feathers? "Now then let's bring you back to the tent!" I knelt down, I then lifted her, held her tight to me and walk back at the campfire. As I reached there I saw Luka waiting for me.

"Where's Luna?" I asked as I was walking towards Hannah's tent. "She fainted while we were looking for her, so I brought her back." I brought Hannah inside her tent.

But I was surprised by the fact that no one noticed a girl going missing and then three teenagers going in the woods all alone searching for her. What a blind principal. I bent down putting her carefully on the sleeping pad. I stood up giving her a last glance and left her tent with Luka.