Two years later...
Four boys rushed through the thick forest.
Bushes rustled, and fallen branches broke with their steps. Each step faster than the last.
"We should hurry back before it gets too late," Pepe suggested in an urgent manner.
He was nine years old, now, and he led three younger boys back home.
The smallest of the boys, Matteo, panted and followed behind him. "Are we almost there," he asked. He was around four years old. His bangs flowed over his forehead.
Pepe stopped in front of a large root of a tree. He was in awe by the size of the tree.
The tree towered over them and the trees surrounding it. Its roots entangled and blocked the path.
Matteo ran out of a bush. He shrieked and bumped into Pepe.
Pepe caught him. "Sorry," he apologized and reassured, "We're almost there." He turned back to the tree.
Matteo rubbed his forehead.
Pepe picked him up and lifted him over the roots. "Go quickly," he urged.
Matteo nodded and crawled over the entanglement of roots.
Behind him, the two other boys reached Pepe.
"This is your fault, Stark," the taller one alleged.
"Oh, come on," Stark exclaimed and frowned. He approached Pepe and whined, "We were so close to meeting my friend."
Pepe nervously chuckled, "You were leading us to an unexplored area. It's best if we stay away from there, for now. Maybe one day in the future."
Stark was five years old, and he had spiky hair. He sighed and glared at the taller boy. "You better not tell Henry or Adelia about this. I'm looking at you, Hafen," he warned.
Hafen scoffed and began climbing the roots. Being six years old, he was the eldest of the three young boys. His long hair on top reached his jaw.
Unaware that something pursued them, the three younger boys moved on.
In the depths of the forest, a creature with red eyes waited.
Pepe glanced back into the darkness of the forest. His eyes narrowed with a hint of seriousness.