Chapter 12

Chinua backed off to deescalate her aggression. Though she spoke the same language as he did, her tone felt more archaic. She avoided using slang and spoke as though from another era.

Then Chinua heard something else beyond her irritating voice.

“Shush! Did you hear that?” Chinua asked cautiously.

The girl ignored him. “Did you just try to shush me?” she retorted.

A rustling sound cut through their argument. They exchanged a silent, alarmed glance. The girl grabbed Chinua’s arm, her eyes wide. Chinua’s chest hammered violently.

Immediately, flashes of brown and yellow emerged from the shadows. The pungent smell of damp fur plagued the air, making each breath feel suffocating.

Hyenas with eyes glowing in the darkness stalked towards Chinua and Obiageri, their growls vibrating through the dense atmosphere. They backed away, pressing instinctively against the rough bark of the tree.

.

Chinua’s hand trembled as he watched them inch closer. He wished he could disappear, wished he could be anywhere but here. He raised his hands to defend himself against the hungry creatures before him.

He closed his eyes as their sharp fangs got nearer. Clack! The sound of their jaws snapping, but when he opened his eyes, he was airborne. They hadn’t taken a bite because he was being pulled up a branch by a fluffy, sturdy hand.

Though his feet dangled, the hyenas couldn’t jump high enough to reach him.

The scaled surface of the tree scraped against Chinua’s back as he pressed against it, but it was a better alternative than the fate he’d narrowly avoided. He watched Obiageri land beside him on the branch, her eyes wide, a gasp escaping her lips.

They exchanged a long glance, both speechless, searching for the right words to express their terror. Chinua felt goosebumps spread across his skin. He was exhausted from narrowly escaping harm time and time again. He collapsed on the branch, he was beyond exhausted.

As they steadied themselves on the branch, catching their breath. Chinua’s chest heaved as he turned around. Nothing in the world could have prepared him for the sight before him.

He gasped in awe as his unexpected savior stared back at him.

An enormous silverback gorilla emerged from the shadows, its soulful eyes reflecting an intellect that belied its fearsome appearance. It had a bulging chest, and large, hairy arms and feet.

A concerned Chinua whispered into Obiageri’s ear, “Do you see it, or am I losing my mind?” 

“I see it too. You’re not crazy... yet,” she whispered back. 

“I thought I was hallucinating,” he murmured.

“Do you think it wants to hurt us?” she asked.

“It’s probably inviting us to dinner... though we might be the main course,” he quipped. 

“That’s not funny,” Obiageri grumbled. 

 “I was being sarcastic.”

“Do you think this is the right time for sarcasm?”

“I don’t know; I haven’t been face-to-face with a big gorilla before,” Chinua shot back.

The silverback seemed young. It moved gently, trying as best as it could not to look dangerous. It failed woefully, as Chinua’s face winced every time its body shifted in the dark.

 “Greetings, mmadus! Kedu, I am Opara the Mild.” The words came from the silverback’s mouth.

Chinua’s jaw dropped. He wondered if he had really seen the gorilla speak. Animals couldn’t talk, he thought. Maybe in films and books, but never in real life. The sight and sound left his mind reeling.

Obiageri, however, didn’t seem impressed by the speaking gorilla. She wasn’t afraid either, and for some reason, Chinua was curious to know why. He asked quickly, his words coming in short whispers. “Did you hear that? Why aren’t you freaking out? It talked!” he emphasized the last words.

“Kpuchie ọnụ! Keep your voice down,” Obiageri hissed, cutting him off. Then, turning toward the gorilla. She bowed solemnly and spoke calmly.

“I greet you, great gorilla. My name is Obiageri, and this scaredy-cat beside me is Chinua. We’ve wandered far from where we should be. Can you help us, biko?” 

The gorilla stared at the humans with curious eyes, as if he had never seen humans before. He responded awkwardly, “Forgive me for asking, but are you lost? No one enters the hyenas’ territory unless they’re desperate... or foolish.” 

“Yes! Yes, we’re lost in this godforsaken forest!” Chinua blurted out. “There was a ram, and a tree, and then those monsters started chasing me, and—” 

Before he could finish, Obiageri jabbed his ribs with her elbow, forcing air out of his lungs. “We’re not lost, just... a little off track. We only need directions, that’s all.” 

She glared at Chinua while holding a finger to her mouth, shushing him immediately. Clearing her throat, she continued,

“I think I can help,” the silverback grunted. “The forest of Obodo-ohia is unforgiving at night. Climb on my back—quickly. We need to leave before the predators find us.” 

Chinua was wary of the gorilla; just because it could speak didn’t mean it was trustworthy. He was still a wild animal who could harm him just as easily as the hyenas at the base of the tree could. His instincts screamed at him that it was dangerous, but he disregarded those warnings. With nimble movements, he clambered onto the gorilla’s broad back. Obiageri was beside him; the gorilla was big enough to carry both their weight easily.

Despite his lack of courage, Chinua couldn’t ignore the unexpected softness of the gorilla’s fur against his hands. It gave him a strange comfort.

The gorilla stretched his hands, caught a vine, and with a powerful push, dived into the air, the wind taking them away.

As the gorilla swung his body, Chinua felt the onset of motion sickness. He fought to stifle nausea, struggling to cover his mouth to keep from vomiting.

 He had never been a fan of rapid changes in orientation. The rushing breeze carried the sweet scent of wild leaves and damp earth. From above, the forest grounds stretched out like a lush canvas in a painting. Sunlight sifted through the leaves, casting a golden glow.

As the gorilla picked up speed, the forest became a swirling blur. Chinua braced himself against the harsh wind when a rogue branch lashed across his face. He thought maybe the gods wanted him to embrace vegetarianism after all. He gripped the gorilla’s fur tightly to maintain his balance.