Veiled Jungler

The Centaurus gaited before the burning hot fire. He stamped the poleaxe into the dirt and grasped the boy's body, throwing him on the ground.

The body splashed in the puddle.

"Scanara Tribe, with this boy jogging around our forest, we are to cremate him to extract any evidence regarding our treason. Our fatherland may cease to live if the god of wind is *not* put down to rest. With our might, we have earned enough respect from the villagers and are ready to overrun Ivione's domain. We may not have the power to confront the god of wind ourselves, but with Holy Light's rule, we have the advantage. Regardless, let the cremation commence."

The Scanara people readied themselves to pick up the boy's body and cremate him, but his eyes flashed and opened. In a handstand pose, he kicked upward, spun his legs, and released purple lightning that zipped through their bodies and rendered them motionless.

Behind him, the boy kicked, slamming his sole into one of the person's faces and flinging the mask to one side. The Centaurus commanded an attack, but the boy vanished and quivered between them, electrocuting them on the spot while skating on the muck.

"I don't remember allowing you to burn me to death, but I'm appreciative. If it wasn't for you, I'd never find my way back to the village." The boy sneered and couldn't realize that the Centaurus intended to deliver a sneak attack.

The boy couldn't act on time and would soon be ripped to death by the Centaurus' poleaxe. In shock, he tried his best to back away, but the mud drove his feet to slip and hurl him off balance.

He tumbled onto his rear, catching the Centaurus' red eyes glaring at him, preparing to slash him alive, "Whoa! Let's talk about this!" the boy prayed, but his death was inevitable.

Or so he thought.

Fortunately, orange flames burst forth behind the bushes, crisping the leaves. Timothy sped toward the Centaurus, driving his searing foot into the point of the hip, singeing a sole print into his fur and skin. The Centaurus was bashed off-balance and sent flying into the tree trunk.

Timothy veered his body forward, balling on the ground and stopping by extending his leg and splattering the mud onto the Centaurus' brown fur.

He straightened and exchanged eyes, "You were the last person I expected to see here, Elliott." Elliott blinked in confusion and became unimpressed, "And you still haven't finished appearing at the excellent time." Timothy helped him stand as they sprinted into the forest, leaving footprints rearward in the mud.

"Notonius!" someone hollered, rushing toward the Centaurus. One of the Scanara Tribe people observed Notonius stand on his feet, utilizing his poleaxe as support. "Find them..." he demanded, gazing into the woodland with intimidation, "They are in our territory. Do not let them escape."

Rushing through the rainforest, Timothy and Elliott vaulted over multiple obstacles, at the same time conversing. "What the heck are you doing all the way up here, Elliott?" Timothy questioned, looking into Elliott's face with bewilderment, "I thought you heard about it, Tim."

Elliott's brief summarization didn't help Timothy understand what he meant. He became amazed, "Heard what? The only reason I came here was to see what's going on in Sanctum Islands myself."

Elliott blinked, learning that Timothy needed the attributes only *he* knew. "You really didn't see the report?" Timothy merely shook his head in refusal, "It's about Codey. He bound up with the Marines. They suspended his bounty and deemed him a Sea Noble."

In an instant, Timothy hauled back his feet and skated on the dirt. He halted behind Elliott and darted at him with enlarged eyes, "You're kidding, Elliott, right? I profess, this better not be some kind of a stupid prank."

Elliott set his palm on his chest, turning serious, "I wouldn't lie to you, Tim. I was startled to learn that too. I couldn't believe my eyes or ears. I'm telling the truth," upon Elliott's verification, Timothy nearly spat on the damp floor, "I don't get it! What the hell does he intend to do with the world government?" Timothy lost himself in reflection, "is it because of that quarrel we had before infesting la Cadena de Narón?"

But his consideration quickly came to a halt. Timothy and Elliott heard voices behind them, not too far away. "It's those masked guys. Damn it, we shouldn't fend them off and waste time. We have to find somewhere to hide." Timothy stated while Elliott agreed immediately, "I got it, yeah, but where? These people are all around the forest. I tried escaping them, but wherever I ventured to, those people didn't let up. We're bound to cross them at some point."

Timothy and Elliott temporarily used one of the scrubs to hide from the people, but they could tell that the people would locate them eventually.

The people soon encircled them, fortunately not discovering them, "If we dwell here any longer, we'll get found." Elliott noted, but Timothy retaliated with an earnest comeback, "And if we move, they'll spot us. Think, you bonehead." They struggled to find an opening to escape the Scanara Tribe, but not long until they heard a voice whispering, "Over here..."

They latched their eyes onto a tree branch, witnessing a person standing on top, dressed in green cover. The individual dropped from the tree limb and hinted at them to follow. They couldn't see the person's face, but they followed anyway.

That drew the Scanara Tribe's attention, and one of them pointed in their direction, "There they are! They're on the run! Capture them!"

The Scanara Tribe sprinted after them, screaming while swinging their lances, spears, and other weaponry.

Running behind the nameless individual, they rushed through the forest path, "Um, who are you? You don't look like those Scanara people." Timothy wondered as he hopped over a fallen tree, "We'll chat later. Concentrate on trying to keep those clowns off our rears."

Timothy and Elliott exchanged eyes once more. They shrugged their shoulders and decided to listen to their peculiar guide. "Behind here..." The person took a sharp turn, rushing down the hill and followed by the two boys. "In here..." They entered the hollowed tree and slid their backs against the wood.

Hidden in the tree, the men and women from Scanara Tribe zipped beyond them, failing to see their whereabouts. They could hear their complaints, "Where'd they go?!"

They successfully escaped them, and once the area was clear of any enemies, Timothy and Elliott looked at the individual who guided them. "Thanks a lot, but seriously, we'd appreciate an introduction." Timothy stated, yet the cloaked individual turned away and walked forward, "Follow me... I'll bring you to a village."

To be continued...