THE CHIEF’S DAUGHTER (04)

PART 4: The Hidden Face

The forest was quiet, too quiet.

Kito woke up first. Asha was still asleep beside him, her head resting on his arm. He stayed still for a moment, looking at her peaceful face. He wished life could always be like this just the two of them, away from the world, living free.

But he knew peace never lasted long in a world full of rules and power.

He gently shook Asha awake. “It’s time,” he whispered. “We must check the traps and make sure the fire is out. We can’t leave signs anymore.”

They climbed down from the tree. Kito checked the traps he had set near the stream. One had caught a small rabbit. Asha cleaned it with water, while Kito prepared firewood. As they worked, something didn’t feel right.

Birds were flying from the trees in the distance. Asha looked up.

“Why are they flying like that?” she asked.

“Something scared them,” Kito answered. “We are not alone.”

He grabbed his bow and signaled Asha to stay quiet. They moved slowly, step by step, hiding behind trees, watching the forest.

Suddenly, a soft sound twigs snapping.

They froze.

Kito turned and whispered, “Climb. Now.”

They rushed up the tree and sat silently, hiding among the thick leaves. Minutes passed. Then, below them, six men appeared. Strong, tall, serious. One of them had a scar across his face. Another had a dog on a rope, sniffing the ground.

Asha’s heart beat so loud she was scared it would be heard.

“They were here,” said one of the hunters. “The footprints are fresh.”

The man with the scar nodded. “We will find them. Tonight, we stay close. Tomorrow morning, we take them.”

The men moved on, walking straight past the tree where Asha and Kito were hiding. Asha held Kito’s hand tightly. They didn’t move until the sound of footsteps disappeared completely.

Kito climbed down and pulled Asha close. “We cannot stay here anymore.”

“But where will we go?” she asked, her voice shaking. “They are everywhere.”

Kito looked around. His eyes stopped on the dark caves at the side of the hill. “We go underground.”

They packed their things and rushed to the caves. The entrance was tight, but inside it opened wide. It was cold and smelled of earth, but it was safe. They placed stones near the entrance to hide it.

“We will stay here during the day,” Kito said. “Move at night. It’s the only way.”

They sat together inside the cave. Darkness wrapped around them like a blanket. Asha leaned on his shoulder.

“Kito, what if… what if we don’t make it?” she asked.

“We will,” he said. “We have to.”

Hours passed. Night came again.

But not far away, someone else was watching from the shadows.

Back in the village, Chief Gidamu sat alone in his big house. He had not eaten all day. Rage burned inside him. His daughter had disobeyed him in front of the whole council. The other chiefs were laughing behind his back.

He slammed his fist on the table. “I will not be shamed like this!”

A soft knock came at the door.

“Come in!” he barked.

The door opened slowly, and a man entered. He wore a hood. His face was thin, full of secrets.

“I found them,” he said.

The chief sat up. “Where?”

“In the hidden valley. Near the cave hills. They are moving at night. Sleeping in trees and caves. But I know their path.”

The chief smiled. “Good. Then bring them to me. Alive.”

The hooded man bowed slightly. “As you wish.”

He turned and walked out. But what the chief didn’t know was that this man this spy was not working alone.

Back in the forest, Asha and Kito moved again during the night. They carried their things and followed the river downstream. It was quiet, but they both felt they were being watched.

As they rested under a large tree, Kito heard something.

Voices.

He pulled Asha behind the bush. They peeked out.

Four of the hunters were walking nearby, talking softly.

“They must be close,” one said. “They can’t survive much longer. That girl is weak.”

Kito’s face changed. He knew that voice.

It was Musa his own cousin.

The one he had once called brother.

He had told Musa about the cave hills long ago when they used to play in the forest. He had trusted him.

Asha saw the look on his face. “You know him?”

Kito nodded. “He betrayed me.”

They stayed hidden until the hunters moved on.

Kito sat down, his face hard.

“I thought I could trust him,” he said. “I told him we were running. I asked him not to say anything. But he told your father.”

Asha was silent. Then she said something Kito didn’t expect.

“There’s something I haven’t told you either.”

Kito looked at her. “What is it?”

“My father… he promised to give me to the other chief because of a deal he made years ago. But there’s more. That chief… he is not just marrying me. He wants to take over our village.”

Kito’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Yes,” she continued. “If I marry his son, he takes half of my father’s land. That’s the real reason my father is so desperate.”

Kito stood up, his fists tight.

“They’re using you like a key to power.”

Asha nodded. “But I won’t let them win.”

Suddenly, they heard a loud bark. Then footsteps. Many footsteps.

“They found us!” Kito shouted.

“Run!” Asha screamed.

They grabbed their bag and ran through the forest, trees flying past them. Arrows flew by. Dogs barked behind them. They ran toward the river. The water was high, wild, and dangerous.

“We jump!” Kito shouted.

Without thinking, they jumped into the river. The current pulled them fast, far from the hunters.

They held hands as the water took them away.

Far behind, the hunters stood at the riverbank, angry and wet.

But one man Musa just stood quietly, watching the water. And in his hand, he held something small…

A piece of Asha’s red scarf.

TO BE CONTINUED…