The woman of the dark forest....

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Ajike rushed into her father's hut, she was panting and still had the look of horror on her face."What is it? who? where? what is pursuing you?" Her father Agbonde the hunter asked bewildered.

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Agbonde was a great and popular hunter in the land of Akole. Everyone knew him and respected him, even the king. He was a brave hunter who had killed lots of animals, he was the first to kill a leopard and he also killed a lion terrorizing the land. That day, he was celebrated by the whole land and neighboring villages.

The king of the land even offered one of his daughters as gift to Agbonde but Agbonde asked instead for more lands and money.

Agbonde looked at his daughter again and wondered what terrified her, after her mother gave her water to drink.. Agbonde asked again "Funlola, what was pursuing you? speak now, before I lose my patience.."
Funlola looked up at her mother and father, then she spoke.. "father, I went down to the stream to play with my friends, I was told to meet them there but when I got there I realised they had deceived me. When I didn't see any of them, I started coming back but as I turned towards the path leading to the stream, I saw a...a....." Funlola began to stammer in fear ...
Agbonde who was losing his patience shouted "you saw what???"
Funlola immediately screamed "I saw a creature father! she was neither a woman nor a snake... I saw her and she tried to attack me...she moved fast...I had to run" Funlola began to cry.. Her terrified mother held her and looked at her husband .

"My husband what if this evil creature has entered our village already.. what are we going to do... I'm afraid..my daughter could have died today..". Funlola's mother spoke.

"Ireti calm down...I'm going to the palace, I only need the kings consent, I'm going to find this creature and kill it.." as Agbonde spoke, he began to prepare to leave for the palace, but his wife quickly held him , saying..
" Agbonde you can't go to the palace, you can't kill this evil creature. your daughter said its neither human or animal.. ".

Agbonde didn't listen to his wife, he instead told her to take care of his daughter and lock the door to the hut well. Funlola was still crying as her terrified mother tried to stop her father.

AT THE PALACE

Having paid homage to the king and chiefs, Agbonde explained his daughter's plight earlier in the day, everyone was shocked..
"Are you sure she wasn't hallucinating or dreaming?" iyalode, one of the chiefs asked, the others nodded as if in agreement but Agbonde replied them that it was real , as his daughter had never been so terrified all her life.

"what do you suggest now, Agbonde "...the king asked

"longlife your Highness..I will want to go in search of the evil creature, I just need your prayers and two guards"*...Agbonde replied

Are you sure you can kill the evil creature? Otun , the king's right hand man asked..

As if caught by surprise, Agbonde rendered his oriki (eulogy) and then he replied the man by saying "have you ever heard that I missed any animal?"

The king and his chiefs looked at each other for a while then the king spoke.

"Agbonde, if what you are saying is true, we know that there is fire on the mountain and it needs to be quenched.. This creature must not enter into our land.. if you can truly kill this creature, please go ahead , I will give you two armed guards to assist you..".

As the king gave his decision, he called two of His armed guards, and told them to follow Agbonde Agbonde thanked the king and stood up with courage , setting out for the bush path.

On his way to the path leading to the stream, Agbonde searched keenly for any strange creature but he found none. He told the guards to search frantically but they all found none. Agbonde was disappointed and was about to return he saw a very beautiful woman walk towards the path. Agbonde didn't like women, but on seeing the beautiful lady he was immediately attracted to her and he ran after her to talk to her..

"Young woman... wait..who are you?" he asked
"I am someone you don't want to know" she replied Agbonde was more confused by her answer... "tell me, I want to know..you are such a rare breed..I'm interested in you"
"If you really must know, follow me" She responded.

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