Ella’s POV
The little girl moved back as we stepped forward and looked at her.
“Don’t be afraid of her. We are not going to harm you.” I said, reaching out a hand to her and careful not to touch her so I wouldn’t scare her away.
“Where are you from?” Kevin asked. “What are you doing here?”
The girl winced and I turned to Kevin. “Easy. You are scaring her.”
“Better I do that than she stay here and meet something that would kill her.”
The girl looked at me. “My name is Rue. I’m looking for my parents.”
I was glad that she finally spoke to me. “Your parents?” I asked in confusion, wondering where they were.
The old man didn’t mention that people lived near the jungle but I didn’t doubt the girl. The villagers also lived near the jungle though not so close and it was possible the girl had people who had their reasons for staying close.
The old man might have not have met the girl so couldn’t have mentioned her. After all, he said those who ventured into the jungle had different encounters.
“Where did you part with your parents?” I asked her.
“I don’t know but I think it was there.” She said, pointing towards the direction to the side.
“Have you tried going there to search for them? You might find them looking for you.” Andre asked her. He seemed skeptical about believing her.
She looked at him, her eyes getting wide and filled with tears as her lips shook. “I tried but I couldn’t. Something roars around the place and I’m afraid to go alone.”
“What are you looking for here?” Liam asked.
“I missed my way and entered the jungle.” She replied, sniffling.
Andre sighed, running his hand through his hair. “I am not sure about this. If we could hear her from where we were, I don’t see any reason why her parents wouldn’t have heard her. They might be looking for her and would find us without our help. Where she pointed to isn’t the path we are meant to take. Let’s continue on our journey so we can be out of here. I know her parents would find her.”
I knew Andre was right but I didn’t think I was going to be able to deal with the guilt I would feel if I leave the girl alone. What if something happen to her immediately we leave her alone before her parents show up? I didn’t think I would be able to forgive myself if I hear the echoes of her screams minutes after leaving her.
“It’s possible her parents aren’t in the jungle.” I said, trying to convince him to let us get her home. “You heard her say she missed her way. It’s possible her parents are looking for her somewhere else. I don’t think anyone would be living here anyways.”
“We don’t live here.” The girl chipped in.
I smiled down at her and how cute she was even when she was distressed. “I know you don’t. Don’t worry. We will walk with you and get you home.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at me.
“It’s not our path and it would only slow us down.” Andre insisted stubbornly. “I don’t intend to stay here for too long. We still have a lot of distance to cover even after leaving here before we can get to the pack.”
I sighed. It was definitely the magic here affecting Andre. The huge man with cropped black hair and grey eyes staring at me wasn’t a coward and certainly not one to turn his back on a young girl who needed his help.
“Who knows?” I shrugged. “We might find a shortcut to the Arok tree when we get her through the path she is afraid to cross alone.”
Damien frowned. “Are you sure? The old man says it’s a straight path from the entry to the tree.” He turned to Kevin. “Does the map with you show something else?”
“I will have to check it to know.”
“Maybe you should check it now if there is a path.”
“Are you really going to leave her alone to walk the path she is afraid to take?” I asked, scowling at me. “You are not that mean, Andre.”
I didn’t know what his response would be as a loud roar echoed throughout the whole jungle that my heart skipped a beat.
“That is it.” She yelped.
“We can’t leave her alone to walk and face that.” I said and scooped her up in my arms, running forward. “The forest isn’t safe for anyone, much more for a child.”
I heard Kevin bite back a curse as he ran after me and the others naturally followed him.