THE CHIEF’S DAUGHTER (05)

PART 5: The Final Decision

The river carried Asha and Kito for miles. Their clothes were soaked, and the cold night air stung their skin. But they didn’t stop. They swam until they could no longer hear the barking dogs or the shouting hunters. The only sound now was the rushing of the river and the crackling of branches as they moved through the forest.

Kito pulled Asha up onto a small sandbank, gasping for air. His heart raced from the fear and the cold. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice shaky.

Asha nodded, though she was pale. She didn’t want him to see her weakness. “I’m fine. We have to keep moving.”

They made their way to the edge of the forest, both exhausted. They found shelter under a large tree, where they tried to dry their clothes and rest. But sleep didn’t come easily. Every sound in the night made them jump, every rustle of leaves felt like a threat.

Kito lay on his back, staring up at the sky. “Do you think we lost them?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Asha said, curling up next to him. “But we can’t stop now. Not until we’re far enough away. I won’t let them take me back.”

Kito turned to look at her. His eyes were full of determination. “I’ll protect you. We’ll find a place where no one can reach us.”

Asha smiled weakly. She had no idea how he would do that, but she trusted him. She trusted him more than anyone in the world.

The next morning, they kept moving. They walked along the river, hoping it would lead them to a safer place. As the hours passed, Asha’s legs began to ache, and the heat of the day made her feel dizzy.

Kito noticed. “We need to rest,” he said. “Let’s stop for a bit.”

They found a shady spot under a tree and sat down, exhausted. As Asha closed her eyes, she heard a faint sound, like a rustling in the bushes. Kito stood up immediately, his hand on his bow.

“What is it?” Asha whispered, her voice filled with fear.

Kito motioned for silence. He moved cautiously toward the sound. Asha’s heart pounded in her chest as she waited, barely breathing.

Then Kito came back, a confused look on his face. “It’s just a… a bird.”

Asha breathed a sigh of relief. But something about the way Kito looked at the bird made her uneasy. It wasn’t just any bird. It was the same type of bird that the hunters had seen earlier, the one they used as a signal.

“Something’s wrong,” Kito muttered, looking around. “They know we’re close.”

Asha’s stomach twisted. “We have to go. Now.”

They stood up and started running again. The forest felt like a maze. The trees closed in around them, and every path seemed to lead them deeper into the wilderness. Kito’s mind raced. He knew they couldn’t outrun the hunters forever. But he had a plan.

“There’s a village not far from here,” he said. “I know a man who owes me a favor. If we can get there, he’ll hide us.”

Asha nodded, desperate. “Let’s go.”

They ran through the forest, faster than before. Their feet were bruised and bleeding, but they didn’t stop. They had no choice. The hunters were getting closer, and they needed safety.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the edge of the forest. In the distance, they saw smoke rising from the village. Asha’s heart leapt with hope.

But as they moved closer, something caught Kito’s eye. A familiar figure stood at the village entrance, his arms crossed. It was Musa—the cousin who had betrayed him.

Asha gasped. “He’s here. He’s waiting for us.”

Kito stopped dead in his tracks. His fists clenched. “We’re not going there.”

“Why?” Asha asked, confused. “He can help us.”

“No,” Kito said sharply. “He’s the one who told your father. He’s the one who led the hunters to us.”

Asha’s face went pale. “What? You’re sure?”

Kito’s eyes burned with anger. “I saw him with the hunters. I saw him watching us.”

Asha’s heart shattered. She had trusted him too. The man she thought was family had sold them out for a price. The pain of betrayal cut deep. “Then what do we do now?”

“We fight,” Kito said. “We make sure they never take us.”

They ran in the opposite direction, heading for the high hills, where the thick forest was even denser. But they knew they were running out of time. The sound of horses grew louder. They couldn’t outrun them anymore.

Suddenly, they heard a voice behind them. “Kito! Asha!”

It was Musa.

Kito turned, and for the first time, he didn’t see the familiar face of family. He saw a stranger. A man who had betrayed him.

“You don’t have to run,” Musa said, stepping closer. “Come with me. It’s not too late to change your mind.”

Asha stepped forward, her eyes cold. “No, Musa. We know what you did. You betrayed us.”

Musa shook his head. “It’s not betrayal. It’s survival. Your father is the one who will give you the life you deserve. But you’re too stubborn to see it.”

Kito clenched his fists. “You don’t understand. I don’t care about power. I care about her. And I will never let you take her away.”

“You’re a fool,” Musa sneered. “But fine. If you want to die for her, so be it.”

Suddenly, the sound of hooves echoed through the trees. The hunters were here. The trap was set. But Kito wasn’t scared. He turned to Asha, and with a fierce look, he said, “Run.”

Asha didn’t hesitate. She took off into the forest, her heart pounding. Kito followed, but he could hear the hunters getting closer.

They ran until they reached a cliff overlooking a deep ravine. There was no way out.

Kito looked at Asha, his breath heavy. “We can’t go back. But we don’t have to die here. We’ll jump.”

Asha’s eyes widened in fear. “What? No! We can’t—”

“We can,” Kito said firmly. “Trust me.”

Without waiting for another word, Kito grabbed her hand and pulled her to the edge. Together, they leaped into the unknown.

The wind rushed past them. Time seemed to slow as they fell.

And then, they hit the water below.

The impact knocked the air out of their lungs. Kito struggled to stay afloat, his eyes searching for Asha. When he finally saw her, he reached out and pulled her toward the shore.

Breathing hard, they stumbled onto the riverbank. The hunters were far behind now.

Kito held Asha close. “We made it.”

Asha smiled, tears in her eyes. “We’re free.”

But in the distance, the sound of galloping horses echoed again. And far above them, on the cliff, Musa stood watching.

The game wasn’t over yet.