CHAPTER 317: HOUSE IN THE FOREST

"Coco, we’re here."

Zaque shook Coco awake gently, his voice soft as he informed her that they had arrived.

"Come on." Zaque murmured, his touch light and gentle as he tried to rouse her from her slumber, making her stir slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she slowly came back to consciousness.

"What..?" A groggy groan escaped her lips as she looked at Zaque, her expression dazed and slightly disoriented.

"We’re here." Zaque repeated what he said, smiling softly.

Coco hummed as the memory of being in the carriage came to her, and she looked around, noticing the stillness of the vehicle with audible the neighs of the horses outside reaching her ears.

She rubbed her eyes sleepily, trying to shake off remnants of her slumber, her mind still fogged by sleep.

Sinclair stepped out of the carriage first, finding no reason to stay and watch Zaque wake Coco up, followed closely by a visibly upset Quizen.

The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, allowing the early morning air to fill the cramped space in the carriage.

Quizen, still harboring a bit of envious feelings, followed closely behind the hybrid, his steps quick and impatient, the sour expression on his face still evident.

Zaque ignored the two that got out of the carriage and hummed softly, his gaze focused on Coco’s slightly disheveled hair.

"Come on." He said gently, his words a gentle insistence. "We don’t want to keep them waiting."

His fingers gently ran through her hair, smoothing it down and making her look more presentable, her dark locks feeling soft under his touch.

Coco nodded her head in agreement and stood up from her seat, her movements still slightly clumsy from sleepiness.

Zaque quickly stood up as well, his hand reaching out to gently assist her before she descended from the carriage, helping her maintain her balance as she stepped out onto the ground, his grip firm and supportive.

Coco stabilized herself, her eyes slowly widening as she looked around at their surroundings, the sight of tall trees surrounding them caught her attention, making her realize that they were in the middle of an unfamiliar forest.

She blinked a few times, her mind trying to make sense of the unfamiliar place, her gaze flitted between the towering trees and the hybrid who was standing beside the coach man.

Coco turned to Sinclair, her expression puzzled as she asked, "Why are we back in the forest?"

Coco’s voice held a tinge of confusion, her eyes scanning the surroundings, her mind wracking her brain for an explanation as to why they had returned to the forest.

Sinclair waved goodbye to the coachman, watching until the carriage was no longer visible in his line of sight.

Once the vehicle was out of sight, he turned to Coco, his expression softening as he gathered his thoughts, preparing to explain their presence in the middle of the forest.

Wouldn’t it be better to show Coco though?

Sinclair cleared his throat, deciding the best course of action, and smiled as he turned his attention to the narrow path before them.

"The baby rabbit is just down this path." Sinclair said, addressing the group, his words were confident and calm.

He began leading the way down the path that wouldn’t fit any vehicle, his footsteps soft and unhurried, with Coco, Zaque, and Quizen following closely behind him, their eyes taking in the path and the surrounding trees.

Sinclair continued walking, his pace steady and measured, with the group following, their gazes occasionally darting around before settling on Coco’s back, then looking away once they saw Coco looking back at them.

They passed by tall trees for a good while, the only sound being their footsteps and the occasional chirping of birds.

As they walked, a house came into view in the distance, appearing like a small dot— the house seemed to be surrounded by a small clearing, allowing the surrounding area to be clearly seen.

They walked closer to the house, its details came into sharper focus.

It was a small, quaint cabin-style house, its walls constructed of wood and its roof made from straw, and it sat on a small clearing, with the surrounding trees standing at a distance, giving the house a sense of isolation.

The path they were walking on led directly to the porch of the house, the gravel beneath their feet crunching softly with each step.

Sinclair stepped up to the door and opened it without knocking, the sound of hinges creaking as he pushed it inwards which made the interior of the cabin visible, furnished with simple wooden furniture and a homey atmosphere.

A soft glow wafted from a lamp on the table, casting a warm light over the room, but Coco only stared at the door reluctantly, her expression hesitant and uncertain.

Behind her, Zaque and Quizen hid, their bodies pressed closely against her back, as if using her as a shield.

They were reluctant to budge, their eyes darting around, refusing to step forward unless Coco deemed the area safe, and they made their wariness evident by using their body, their shoulders tense and their bodies still.

Sinclair rolled his eyes at them, his expression faintly amused as he huffed out, "It’s safe."

To prove his point, he opened the door leading to the back of the house with a soft push, and from Coco’s position, she could clearly see the outside of the other side.

Then, her eyes clashed with red ones, their gaze met hers for a moment before disappearing into the bushes.

The sight took her by surprise, her eyes widening slightly and a gasp escaping her lips, realizing that she had just locked eyes with the baby farming rabbits that she kidnapped.

Coco rushed into the house, her movements fueled by excitement and curiosity, leaving Zaque and Quizen outside.

"Coco?!"

Their outbursts were unheeded as her focus was solely on getting to the backyard as quickly as possible, to catch that baby rabbit hiding behind the bushes.