As Ajaka approached the line of girls, bound together and seemingly detached from the world, a sense of pity washed over him. The fate of those taken by Oro and the secretive Ifa cults weighed heavily on his mind. Even though they were now free, the harsh reality remained - most would likely succumb to the unforgiving elements, be it the weather or wild animals.
Yet, a more immediate problem confronted Ajaka - identifying his sister among the group. Regret echoed in his thoughts as he blamed himself for not seeking a description from his mother.
In a moment of uncertainty, the sparrow from Floki emerged, landing on a particular girl. Ajaka felt an undeniable connection, a call resonating through her blood. Slowly, he approached, yearning for any sign of recognition. However, the girl remained unresponsive.
"What should I call you," Ajaka ruminated "from now on I shall call you sparrow, at least until I know your true name"
Though he knows going back home now is impossible not if he wants his mother to live.
"Let's leave," he declared, lifting her over his shoulder. In the wake of their departure, Ajaka left behind a haunting scene of bodies and the soulless shells of girls condemned to a fate he couldn't alter.
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Lola, the youngest daughter of Akinremi, was a cherished presence in the family. Her father, an accomplished warrior entering retirement, had raised three strong sons alongside her. Akinremi imparted the ways of hunters to his sons, and they surpassed him in skill.
The three brothers adored Lola, and she became the envy of the town's girls. During their hunting expeditions, the oldest brother, a bit narcissistic but caring, always ensured Lola received the best portion of meat.
"You need to eat meat, so that you will grow up to become strong like me!" *laughter*
The second brother, with a penchant for adventure, brought back trinkets and shared tales of his escapades.
"When you grow bigger, I'll take you hunting and teach you how to survive in the wild."
This indulged Lola's imagination, much to their mother's disapproval, though Akinremi saw nothing wrong in a girl seeking adventure.
The third brother, a romantic soul, showered Lola with flowers, exotic bird feathers, and rare fruits.
"One day you will grow up, and you can show this to your lover or your children."
In this tight-knit family, Lola flourished amid her brothers' love, care, and unique expressions of affection, creating a warm and vibrant bond that resonated in their home.
On a day like any other, the three brothers embarked on a hunting expedition, leaving the family anticipating their return the next morning. However, as the day unfolded, and the next, there was an unsettling silence.
"Papa, where are my brothers?" Little Lola's innocent query echoed in the air.
Akinremi, the concerned father, reassured her, "You know it's normal for your brothers to last more than a day hunting. Don't worry; they will be back soon."
Days turned into weeks, and weeks stretched into a month. The absence of the brothers became increasingly worrisome.
"Papa, papa!" urgency laced Lola's voice. "When will my brothers be back?" The worry was palpable.
Akinremi, sensing that something was amiss, ventured into the forest. Armed with a spell to pick up on their trail, he embarked on a journey to unravel the mystery surrounding his missing sons. The dense foliage held secrets, and Akinremi was determined to bring his boys back home.
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Little Lola knelt before the idol, her tiny fists clenched in prayer. "Mom said if I pray, you will bring Papa and my brothers back from the forest," she whispered, mustering all the piety her young heart could gather. "Please let Papa bring back my brothers." Tears finally escaped, and she collapsed in emotional exhaustion. A year had passed since her father left, an agonizing separation she had never experienced before.
Her mother approached, embracing Lola, and together they found solace in each other's presence, sharing the weight of their grief. Lola's tender heart couldn't bear the prolonged absence of her father and brothers.
"My friends said father is not coming back, like my brothers," Lola expressed her fears, her voice trembling.
"Friends with little mouths," her mother retorted, and the sentence ended with Lola's giggles.
"You have prayed to our god, haven't you? He will surely bring them back to us," her mother declared with unwavering faith.
"I bet your eldest brother will come in with a big deer and feed you all you can eat, your second brother will come with the strongest weapon, and your third brother will bring the prettiest flower." The mother painted a vivid picture, attempting to infuse hope and cheer into Lola's saddened heart.
She managed to put Lola to sleep and she went to bed herself.
In the somber aftermath, Akinremi and his wife, lost in grief, didn't notice when the young girl emerged from her hiding place.
"Papa, where are they?" Lola's innocent voice pierced the heavy atmosphere, unaware of the tragedy that unfolded. Spotting the open door, she rushed toward it, thinking her brothers were waiting outside.
However, only silence and emptiness greeted her. "Big brother, where are you?"
No reply.
"Second brother, are you there"
"Lola doesn't want to play hide anymore," she called out into the darkness, expecting the familiar response.
Turning towards her father, she repeated her question, "Papa, where are they?" It was then that she saw Akinremi's tear-streaked face, her little mind doesn't know what to make of what was happening.
"Papa, wh..y are yo..u cr...ying?" she inquired, her own eyes welling up with tears as she tried to comprehend the sorrow that enveloped her family. The weight of the unknown pressed on her little heart, and she joined her father in the shared agony of loss.
Sounds of sorrow as a beautiful family was turned into a shambles by death.
..........,.........
A week passed since Akinremi's return from the forest, bearing the heavy weight of loss and the horrors witnessed. The forest had claimed almost everything, but it left him with a newfound determination never to endure such anguish again. In this resolve, he made a fateful decision – to transform his only surviving child into something formidable, a force that could withstand the perils of the world.
And thus, Lola's life metamorphosed from its previous innocence into something more vicious. The lessons Akinremi imparted were not of playfulness and dreams but of survival and strength. In this harsh transformation, Lola's tender heart absorbed the teachings, forging her into a resilient and formidable presence, molded by the crucible of tragedy and shaped by the determination of a grieving father.