Wendigo (1)

As the morning sun gradually rose, it shone through the layers of leaves, bringing light into the forest. Patches of light appeared on the ground, dispelling much of the chill in the forest.

Bangier led Korandi to the riverbank and looked around. They could see many early-rising wild animals drinking water by the river. These animals were wary of each other while drinking, but compared to other animals, the area was remarkably harmonious.

After filling the small wooden tube he carried with him with water, Bangier felt somewhat bewildered. Although poor children mature early and the harsh living conditions had made Bangier and Korandi very precocious, they were still children who were not yet adults.

Their thinking wasn't particularly far-sighted; their escape into the forest was entirely driven by the circumstances. Their initial concern was how to obtain supplies and escape into the forest, not what they would do once inside.

Kor might have had some plans after venturing into the forest a few times, but now it's pointless. Now it's just him and his sister. The original plan was to get their father's bow and arrows, maybe enough to hunt some prey and sustain them in the forest.

But the only weapons, or weapon-like things, they currently possess are the thigh bones they previously removed from the cannibals. Sending them hunting is perhaps the same as sending them to deliver food.

Wild fruits might sustain them for a day or two, but after that, they would need new food and would have to face dangers from various animals. Living in the forest is extremely difficult, and one wrong step could cost them their lives.

"My sister and I just need a safe place, a place where we can survive." Bangier thought about his purpose, which was simple, but difficult in this era.

"We definitely can't go back to the village. We're too young to be of any use to the adults. If we go back, we'll most likely be caught and sold." Bangier pondered what to do next, "Perhaps we could try to cross the forest and reach a new village?"

Bangier had no idea what lay on the other side of the forest, nor did the villagers who had lived there for generations, because crossing the forest was practically suicidal. A few people had tried before, but none had ever returned.

"We have to make it work, even if we can't." After seeing the skeleton of that cannibalistic demon, Bangier understood that the forest was far more dangerous than they had imagined, and even if they successfully adapted to life in the forest, they could only stay there for about a year at most, because after a year, the black fog would once again shroud the forest.

"Korandi, shall I take you to the Candy House?" Bangier, determined to adapt to forest life, prepared to cross the forest to reach a safer place. He turned to his sister and said, "If we find the Candy House, we can live together carefree."

Crossing the forest seemed far-fetched, a road with no end in sight. Perhaps halfway there, or perhaps just shortly there, they would die because of a wild beast or a snake. But it was better for him to know this heavy future. Giving his sister the thought of a Candy House was much better than a journey through a forest with no end in sight.

"Yes, I'm going to eat lots of good candy then." Korandi nodded, her face full of sweet smiles, which made Bangier's desire to protect his sister at all costs even stronger.

"Going along the river is the safest way. As long as we are careful of the dangers in the river, there shouldn't be any danger," Bangier thought. But soon he realized he was wrong.

Across from them, a tiger, almost skin and bones from hunger, was eyeing them and their sister menacingly. Judging from the beast's condition, it had a wound on its left forelimb, the wound had even turned black, and flies and mosquitoes were swarming around it.

This is precisely why the tiger was so hungry. The injury to its forelimbs made it unable to run fast at all, and it couldn't catch up with the prey that was running extremely fast to survive. It would have either starved to death or been attacked by other creatures and become their prey before long.

But today might be its lucky day; it has encountered two perfect prey, whose frail bodies make them nothing more than walking prey.

As the tiger slowly approached, Bangier shielded his sister behind him, holding up the thigh bone with both hands—his only weapon. He suppressed his fear and resisted the urge to turn and run. Although he had never hunted before, he knew that turning and running away when encountering a wild animal was the most foolish thing to do.

The tiger sensed the presence on its thigh bone and hesitated slightly, but it had no other choice. If it didn't eat soon, it would die. The instinct of hunger shattered its awe of the powerful creature.

Just as Bangier was preparing for a desperate fight, an arrow pierced the tiger's body. Not far behind Bangier, a malicious, mocking voice came. "Look what we found, two little Li Family."

Bangier turned around and saw a group of people approaching from a distance. It was the old village chief and his entourage, and Bangier's father was among them, his face full of cold anger, pointing his bow and arrow at them.

"You are my property, and you've learned to run away, haven't you? Bangier, you've disappointed me greatly." Anger surged through the hunter's nerves, giving him the urge to let go and release the arrow.

Bangier raised the thigh bone in his hand, his mind blank, only instinctive vigilance remaining.

But then, the old village chief pressed his hand down and said to Bangier's father, "I'll buy these two kids. They might come in handy for some of the scouting missions to come."

"So you heard that, Bangier, right?" The old village chief turned to Bangier and said, "Now your and your sister's lives are in my hands. I heard you ran away because of your sister."

"In that case, you must be careful when you go to scout ahead, because if you die, your sister will go in your place," the old village chief said gently, his words striking a chord with Bangier.

"Then, if you want to live, put down what you're holding. If you can help me find what I want, then you and your sister might be able to survive and become my servants. After all, I'm old and need two people to take care of me." The old village chief offered Bangier a glimmer of hope, giving him a glimmer of hope. Although being a servant meant a lowly status, it was still better than being a slave.

Moreover, it seems they have no choice but to agree now. The dangers of the forest far exceed their expectations. If they agree to the old village chief's request and become scouts, they might still have a chance to survive.

Bangier gradually regained his senses, he dropped the thigh bone, approached the old village chief, took it from him, examined it closely, and said, "You guys are really lucky."

I don't know much about the Forest Xu Ming, so please don't criticize or hold me accountable if I'm wrong.