CHAPTER 10: THE ADVENTURE

THE ADVENTURE

The next morning, Rosewood College buzzed with a different kind of energy. It wasn't the usual chatter of classes and social events; instead, hushed whispers and anxious glances filled the air.Overnight, a primal sound had shattered the tranquility of the campus—a bone-chilling howl that echoed through the dormitories and reverberated through the forest.

As Raj, Meera, and Anya made their way towards their first class, they passed clusters of students huddled together, their faces pale and their voices laced with fear."Did you hear it?" one girl whispered to her friend. "It sounded like a monster.""It came from the forest," another replied, her eyes wide with terror. "Some say it was a werewolf."

Raj exchanged a look with Meera and Anya. The events of the previous night had left a mark on him, a sense of unease that he couldn't shake off. The howl, he was certain, was the voice of a werewolf; the mysterious forest had captured his imagination."Did you guys hear that last night?" Raj leaned in conspiratorially, his eyes narrowed.

Anya, who had been busy perfecting her winged eyeliner, looked up, intrigued. "Wait, what happened?""There was this... this sound," Raj struggled to find the right words, "like a howl, but deeper, wilder, like... like a werewolf. It came from the forest."Anya, feigning disinterest, rolled her eyes. "It was probably just a stray dog," she scoffed. "Don't get carried away with your werewolf theories. You're all letting your imaginations run wild."

Meera, unsure of what to say, said, "I was doing my research when I heard the howl. It was really loud, like it was coming from just outside the window. I was shocked and went running to the window to check what was happening. I saw a big fleeting shadow darting into the trees. I tried my best to see what it was but couldn't see anything."

Raj, his curiosity piqued, decided to share his recent discovery. "Have you guys heard about the lost tribe of Aarey?" he asked, his voice low.Both Meera and Anya shook their heads, their interest piqued.

Raj recounted the story he had stumbled upon online. "I did some research last night... There's a legend about a lost tribe in Aarey Forest. They vanished mysteriously, and some say their secrets are hidden in ancient scrolls." His voice grew more animated as he described the tribe's connection to the forest, their mysterious disappearance, and the possibility that their scrolls might still be hidden somewhere in the depths of the forest.

Anya's eyes sparkled with excitement. "This is fascinating," she exclaimed. "Imagine finding those scrolls! It would be like uncovering a hidden chapter of history." Then her voice almost turned to a taunt as she scoffed, "Ancient scrolls, my foot! This sounds like something out of a movie!"

Meera, though intrigued, remained skeptical. "It's just a legend, Raj," she reminded her friend. "There's no proof that any of it is true."Raj, however, was undeterred. "But what if it is true?" he countered. "What if those scrolls are out there, waiting to be found? It would be the discovery of a lifetime."With this, they entered the classroom.

Here, too, everyone was busy talking about the previous night's chilling howl. Hearing all this, Anya rolled her eyes once more, sighed, and shrugged her shoulders. As Raj, Meera, and Anya settled into their seats for their first class, the whispers continued around them."I have to do this," Raj declared, his eyes shining with determination. "Imagine the secrets we could discover if we actually found something!"

"But what about the howl?" Meera questioned, trying to scare Raj. "What if there really is something dangerous out there?""I'll be careful. Besides, wouldn't it be more exciting if there was a little bit of danger involved?" Raj replied, caressing his hair.

Anya giggled. "Raj, you're such an idiot daredevil. The thought of finding those scrolls is pretty stupid, but the sound of a forest adventure is pretty amazing." She playfully looked at Meera and said, "Come on, Meera. Let's go. Think of it as some adventure in the forest, and we can't let this idiot go alone; he'll be in danger even if there is nothing in the forest," and she giggled again.

Meera sighed, but she couldn't deny the infectious enthusiasm of her friends. "Alright, alright," she relented. "But if we get lost or eaten by a wild animal, I'm holding you both responsible." "Deal!" Raj exclaimed, his grin widening.

"And now let's not get ahead of ourselves." She lowered her voice even further. "And definitely not during class time. Professor Desai is already giving me the stink eye."

Professor Desai, pointing towards Meera, said, "Stand up, Meera. Why are you busy talking and not focusing on the lecture?"Meera stood up, and with hesitation, she said, "Sir, we were talking about last night's incident."

"Incident? What incident?" asked the professor, narrowing his eyes.With surprise and hesitation, Meera replied, "Sir, that loud howl, which shook the campus. Didn't you hear it?"

Professor Desai smiled and said, "It was some wild animal, might be a wolf. It's a forest area all around, after all.""It was a werewolf, sir, and we are going to see it," said Anya, tauntingly looking at Raj and smiling.

"What, a werewolf?" Professor Desai laughed and said, "You guys believe in werewolves? Well, there are no werewolves there, but dangerous wild animals. So nobody is going nowhere, okay? And focus on your studies," he emphasized.

Meera and Anya focused on their studies, while Raj kept thinking of the forest, the mystery of the lost tribe, and the eerie howl from the night before for the remainder of the morning.

During their lunch break, Raj huddled them together in a secluded corner of the college premises, his conversation a mix of hushed whispers and excited exclamations.

"Okay, so we're really doing this?" Meera asked, her voice a mix of apprehension and anticipation."

Absolutely," Raj said, studying the map of Aarey Forest on his phone. "I've figured out a possible route. It's a bit of a trek, but it should take us to the area where the tribe was last seen."

"Sounds like a plan," Anya said, her voice filled with excitement. "What time should we meet?"

Raj glanced at his watch. "How about 5 PM? That should give us enough daylight to explore before it gets too dark."

Meera nodded in agreement. "Just make sure you bring extra flashlights. I don't want to be stumbling around in the dark."

"Don't worry, I've got it covered," Raj assured her. "I'm not going into that forest unprepared."

The trio finished their lunch. As they parted ways, the weight of the unknown hung heavy in the air, but so did the thrill of possibilities and dangers.

The setting sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawns of Rosewood College as Raj, Meera, and Anya met at the designated spot near the forest's edge. Each carried a backpack filled with essentials: flashlights, water bottles, a compass, a first aid kit, and snacks to fuel their adventure.

Anya, dressed in sturdy hiking boots and cargo pants, bounced on her heels with barely contained excitement. "I can't believe we're actually doing this!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "This is going to be so much fun!"

Meera, clad in a more practical outfit of jeans and a t-shirt, adjusted her glasses and double-checked the contents of her bag. "Let's just hope we don't get lost," she muttered, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Raj, who had taken the lead in planning the expedition, held up a worn map of Aarey Forest. "Don't worry, Meera," he assured her. "I've charted a course that should lead us to the area where the lost tribe was last seen."

He traced a finger along a winding trail marked in red ink. "It's not too far, but the terrain can be tricky. We'll have to stick together and be careful."The trio exchanged a determined look, their shared excitement overshadowing any lingering doubts.

With Raj leading the way, they entered the forest, the canopy of leaves closing in above them, casting the path in an eerie twilight.The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, the sounds of the city fading into the background as they ventured deeper into the forest's embrace.

The only sounds now were the chirping of crickets, the occasional rustle of leaves, and the rhythmic crunch of their footsteps on the forest floor.As they walked, Raj shared tidbits of information he had gleaned from his online research.

"The lost tribe was known for their knowledge of medicinal plants," he said. "They used the forest as their pharmacy, brewing potions and remedies for all sorts of ailments."

Anya's eyes widened in a funny way as she looked at Meera and winked. "Maybe we'll find some magical herbs that can grant us superpowers!" she taunted Raj.

Meera chuckled. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Raj," she said. "Right now, our focus should be on staying alert and not getting lost or eaten."

The path grew steeper, winding through dense undergrowth and over moss-covered rocks. The sun, now dipping below the horizon, cast long shadows that danced and flickered in the fading light.

A sense of anticipation mingled with apprehension hung in the air as the trio ventured deeper into the unknown.

Suddenly, Raj stopped short, his hand raised in warning. "Did you hear that?" he whispered, his eyes scanning the surrounding trees.Anya and Meera froze, their ears straining to catch the sound.

A moment later, a faint rustling of leaves reached them, followed by the sound of snapping twigs."What was that?" Anya whispered, her voice trembling slightly."

I don't know," Raj replied, his grip tightening on the flashlight. "But we need to be careful. We're not alone in this forest."The trio exchanged a nervous glance, their hearts pounding in their chests.

The thrill of adventure had given way to a chilling realization: they were intruders in a realm far older and wilder than their own.