Unusual Animal behavior 

Chapter 38: Unusual Animal behavior 

Emeka's face remained a stone mask, betraying nothing of the storm that raged within. His eyes, however, flickered with a momentary darkness as memories surged unbidden. He clenched his jaw, swallowing the bitterness that threatened to spill forth.

The officer's demeanor had shifted, almost imperceptibly. Where there had been a hint of warmth, now there was a coolness that hadn't existed before. He stood a little straighter, his gaze sweeping over the group before settling on Emeka. "Is there something we should know?" he asked, eyebrow slightly raised.

Emeka allowed himself a small, tight-lipped smile. "Oh, I'm sure these fine folks have quite a tale to tell," he said, his words dripping with false sweetness. "Isn't that right?"

As the others exchanged uneasy glances, Bayo's mind raced. Time was slipping away, each second precious in his quest to fulfill his mission now that he had regained his Orisha powers. He needed to get back to the library, to devour those tomes that held the key to his future at Harvard. The weight of the ultimatum pressed down on him, a constant, suffocating presence.

"It's funny," Emeka continued, his tone deceptively light, "how some people seem to have all the luck. All the... divine favor, you might say." His gaze lingered on Bayo for a moment before sweeping across the group.

Bayo's jaw clenched, acutely aware of the power that lay just beyond his grasp. If only he could access it now, speed through this confrontation as easily as he longed to speed through those mathematical texts.

The officer's eyes narrowed slightly. "Divine favor?" he repeated, a note of skepticism creeping into his voice.

Before anyone could respond, a sudden gust of wind rustled through the trees, carrying with it an eerie silence. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, the forest erupted into chaos. Birds took flight in a flurry of wings, their cries piercing the air. Deer bounded past, eyes wild with fear. Smaller creatures scurried underfoot, nearly tripping the stunned Bayo and his group.

Bayo's heart raced, recognizing the supernatural intervention for what it was – a chance, precious and fleeting, to escape this delay. His eyes met Adeola's, and he saw the same realization mirrored there.

The guard post creaked and groaned under the onslaught, papers swirling in the air like leaves. The officer stumbled back, his hand instinctively reaching for his radio. But before he could call for backup, a peculiar sight caught his eye.

A fox, its fur bristling, nudged at Bayo's leg, urging him away from the chaos. A doe, antlers lowered protectively, herded Amina and Farid towards a dense thicket. Even a normally shy raccoon tugged at Adeola's sleeve with surprising gentleness.

Amina's eyes widened, a mixture of fear and wonder on her face. "Bayo," she whispered urgently, "what's happening?"

Farid, his earlier resentment momentarily forgotten, grabbed Amina's hand. "We need to move," he hissed, eyes darting between the animals and the confused officers.

As quickly as it began, the wind died down, replaced by a sudden deluge. Emeka, caught off guard, found himself pressed against a tree trunk, the rain obscuring his vision. When it cleared, he blinked in confusion, realizing he was alone.

The officer, drenched and bewildered, reached for the phone just as it rang. His face paled as he listened, his posture stiffening. "Understood," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the lingering animal cries.

As he hung up, his brow furrowed. He glanced towards the forest, then back at the wreckage of his post. "University?" he murmured to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.

The rumble of approaching vehicles broke through the forest's renewed quiet. As they neared, the animals' behavior shifted once more. They formed a living wall around Bayo and his friends, their eyes unnervingly focused.

Bayo's mind whirled, torn between gratitude for this unexpected assistance and anxiety about the time he was losing. Every moment here was a moment not spent in the library, not working towards saving his place at Harvard, not securing his future in America.

The convoy ground to a halt. The wildlife management team emerged cautiously, led by a grizzled man with a white beard. He took a step forward, then froze as a wolf growled softly, its ears flat against its head.

"Well," the man said, his voice a mix of awe and confusion, "this is certainly... unusual."

Officer Mike stepped into the clearing, his boots crunching softly on fallen leaves. He blinked, rubbing his eyes as if to clear his vision. The guard's vehicle rolled to a stop nearby, its engine cutting off with a soft sputter.

Bayo and his friends huddled together, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. Adeola leaned close, her voice barely a whisper. "Bayo, we must use this distraction. Your time is running out."

Emeka stood alone, not under the animals' protection, his eyes darting between the creatures and the newcomers. His face was a mask of frustration and disbelief.

In the treeline, a figure in camouflage shifted slightly, leaves rustling. His eyes narrowed as he watched the animals, their behavior unlike anything he'd seen before. "Remarkable," he whispered, remembering the veiled lady's cryptic words about Bayo.

High above, unseen by mortal eyes, Aroni reclined on an impossibly large leaf. His fingers traced patterns in the air, manipulating unseen forces. A faint smile played at the corners of his mouth as he observed the scene below, satisfied with the unfolding chaos that would speed Bayo on his way.

The guard's car door opened with a creak, and another guard emerged. Officer Mike's hand instinctively moved to his belt as he called out, "Jose, what's the situation here?"

Jose, the guard, shook his head, bewilderment etched on his face. "Mike, I... I've never seen anything like this," he replied, gesturing to the protective circle of animals.

The wildlife management team leader took a tentative step forward. A deer raised its head, antlers glinting in the dappled sunlight. The man froze, then slowly raised his hands in a placating gesture.

"Easy now," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. His eyes flicked to Bayo, curiosity evident in his gaze. "Young man, do you have any idea what's going on here?"

Bayo swallowed hard, looking from the animals to the man. "I... I'm not sure, sir," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. Inside, his mind raced, calculating how much time this delay was costing him, how many pages of those crucial tomes he could have devoured by now.

The air crackled with tension as humans and animals faced each other, neither side willing to make the first move. In the silence, the rustle of leaves and the soft breathing of the creatures seemed unnaturally loud, a reminder of the delicate balance that hung in the balance.

The officer cleared his throat, his fingers drumming an uneven rhythm against his belt. "Jose," he said, his voice a mixture of relief and lingering apprehension. "This is... quite a situation we've got here." His eyes darted between the animals and the group, betraying his unease.

Mike's face transformed, the lines of worry smoothing into something softer, almost reverential. It was a subtle shift, but Bayo caught it immediately. His eyes narrowed, gears turning behind his carefully neutral expression. He'd seen that look before - on faces confronted with powers beyond their understanding. A chill ran down his spine as he recalled the veiled lady's cryptic coin back at the train station. Was her unseen hand at play here too?

The air grew thick with unasked questions. Adeola's fingers twisted the hem of her shirt, her eyes darting between Bayo and the officers. Amina's brow furrowed, her gaze fixed on Bayo with a mixture of curiosity and newfound wariness. Farid shifted his weight from foot to foot, acutely aware of how bizarre this scene would appear to outsiders.

Officer Mike took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing a fraction as he attempted a smile. "Hello there," he said, his tone cautious but not unkind. "I... we should probably get you folks to the station. Sort this all out." He gestured vaguely, encompassing the animals, the forest, the whole surreal situation.

Bayo's heart sank. The station? That would mean hours of questions, of explanations he couldn't give. Hours he didn't have.

Emeka's face darkened, his mouth opening to protest. But before he could speak, Jose stepped forward, his voice smooth and practiced. "This gentleman is with them," he said, pointing at Emeka who stood alone while meeting Mike's eyes with a meaningful look. "He's been under university care. Medical stuff, you know. Herbal treatments and all that."

The words hung in the air, laden with unspoken implications. Bayo's jaw clenched, sensing the delicate dance of half-truths and careful omissions. He glanced at his companions, seeing his own uncertainty mirrored in their faces. Whatever came next, they were in it together - for better or worse.

Mike's eyes flickered briefly, a silent acknowledgment passing between him and Jose. He nodded almost imperceptibly, his posture relaxing slightly as he fell into step with the unspoken script.

"Right," Mike said, his voice adopting a more official tone. "We'll make sure to note that in the report. University-approved treatments, you said?" He pulled out a small notepad, jotting something down with exaggerated care.

Bayo knew he was fastly losing time, but what next? He couldn't tell what or how this series of drama would end. He didn't know whether they would help or make things worse. His fist clenched, eyes forward, ignited with anticipation