Princess Cari Land Cross Arc Part Four

 Jungle Journey

They landed in front of a jungle. It was very hot though there was more than welcome moisture in the air. They rose to their feet only to see a makeshift sign post wedged into the overgrowth.

Jenrahjah Jungle

"Jenrahjah Jungle?"

"Jenrah shah!" The Chronicler corrected.

He nodded.

"What should we expect in this?"

"Nothing if we keep to the path and as far as I know."

"Yet if that scorpion lady was speaking the truth, then it should be said that it could not harm to keep your guard up."

They nodded as they walked on the path and entered the jungle. They walked on the white gravel and as they noticed that they walked on a river bent and ran parallel to the road. As they walked on the river became wider. Soon Cari noticed strange rocks in the river that were in the water. They looked similar to dragon scales but not as beautiful. This told her that they were not rocks at all. 

She then spotted strange bugs that had four wings with a long needle-like mouth and were flying to them. The moment that the swarm hit the edge of the path it seemed to spontaneously combust and soon it was a pile of ash.

"What were those bugs?"

"Mosquitoes."

"And those rocks? They were not rocks were they?"

"No. They were alligators and crocodiles."

"And that low grunt?"

"A spider monkey."

"Wait, that's a monkey?"

"Yes."

"And why did they burst into flames?"

"There is a spell on this road. Which makes sense, after all of you think about it, people would never even dream of coming here with these dangers around!"

"Well done Cari. Her Phorap the Mad put it up."

"And where are we going?"

"Tattagonna Village. It would usually be a quiet and nice place to take a place. If you can take the heat."

Cari noted as she took a glance to The Observer. She hoped that she would be alright during the journey. She knew that his time in that place and the break of the sun helped. However she knew that if they did not get to a cooler climate the sun would get to him sooner or later.

"Do not concern yourself with me Cari. I have become well aware of my immortality."

"But that does nothing to save you from sunstroke. So do remember that and for the love of Strena, don't play the hero!"

He let out a chuckle.

"Believe me I will not. After all, I am not a hero." He chuckled.

Then his chuckles stopped and he gave her a look of sorrow. She knew that she had reminded him of her. Yet she wondered what happened to this woman. She knew that she died, yet she wondered why or how. She suddenly felt a strange stabbing pain in her chest. She looked and noticed that there was nothing there. So she shrugged and passed it off as a truck of the mind.

Either way it has nothing to do with me nor can I do anything about it.

They continued until they came to a wooden bridge. They entered a strange village with wooden cottages and circular huts. Some of these cottages and huts were even high up on the trees. Some cafés were nothing but a kitchen and wooden chairs with nothing but a thatched straw roof with wooden beams holding it up. Yet some of then were still green.

They noticed as they walked to the plane wooden planks of wood that made up the doc. Then they spotted that all the boats were completely destroyed!

"What happened?"

"Syssighhin. The serpent god. He came and destroyed all the boats." Said a villager in broken English. "If not the boats, then he eats children."

Cari looked at him. He had sorrowfulness in his jaded eyes that she could not help but feel sorry for the man and wanted to help him.

"Do you know why he does it?"

"He laughs."

"Know where he is?"

"Jungle temple. The old one."

"Do you have a map?"

"No. We Afgrégan. We remember."

She nodded.

"Do you want us to help?"

"How? He a god! Can not kill one."

"Maybe he's not. Maybe we can."

"Do it. You can,  then do."

"We will. Come on, we need directions."

"No. I make you map.'

He then pulled out some papyrus and a stick of coal from the fire and quickly drew one and passed it to her.

"Should get there."

She looked at it. Her eyes widened.

That's pretty good!

"Thank you, and we'll do our best."

"Cari, do you think that we have time for this?" Ryo asked.

"It hardly matters. After all, if we have no boats then we will have to take a more dangerous path. We will be late or not make it at all."

"Then we have not a moment to lose!"

They soon quickly ate and flowed the map to an old temple. It was a building that looked made of what looked like snakes turned to stone. Even the pillars looked like giant snakes made of stone! They walked up to the entrance and without a word, they entered.