Not A Small-Town Girl

----

Orion was worried. The people in Whitepool Village were

evil, which was why both villages kept to themselves.

Orion said frankly, "You can’t just go to Whitepool Village

as you please. They are very wary of outsiders. You may

be poisoned unknowingly before you even meet anyone at

the entrance of the village."

"What? What should we do then?" Xavier frowned. The

Darling family was facing crisis after crisis. Matthew was

missing and Danielle was poisoned.

Orion offered his help, saying, "I’ll send a message to the

chief of Whitepool Village to see if they will help you. We

don’t usually interact with them, so they may not help us."

“Thank you so much, Chief," Howard said gratefully.

"Chief, why don’t the villagers interact with outsiders?"

Danielle asked in confusion.

----

Orion explained, "Everyone in our

village, adults and children alike,

know how tograndle venomous

creatures. We are simple people,

and we are-afraid of being exploited

by those with ulterior motives iKwe

go to Re city. We are also afratd that

thespeople in the village will.gd

astray." Orion was impressed by the

Darling family’s bravery. Usually,

outsiders would be scared when

they found out that the villagers

interacted with venomous creatures.

----

"Chief, have you found my brother, Matthew?" asked

Danielle. She was constantly worried.

Orion shook his head and said

honestly, Tee last time your brother

Matthewwas seen, he was in our ~

forbiddef-area. We gathered a few

peopl search nearby this oCnoveldrama

moroing, but we couldn’t findyany

trade of him. I’m afraid it doesn’t

bule well for him."

----

“The forbidden area? Can I enter the village’s forbidden

area? I want to find Matthew as soon as possible,"Danielle

asked Orion.

“We’ll go look for him together." Howard, Vivian, and Xavier

also had worried looks on their faces.

Orion looked troubled. He explained,

"I’m not theane who sets the rules,

but the reason why it’s calleda = ¢

forbiddefrarea is because it’s very

dangerous. No one from our village

daré$to go there. No one has ever

cote out of the area alivesS

----

Danielle insisted, "We’re here to find Matthew. No matter

how dangerous it is, we’ll find him. Chief, please take me to

the entrance to the forbidden area. I’ll go in myself."

----

Orion advised against it. "Please think this over carefully. I’ll

help you keep an eye out for Matthew. That place is really

dangerous, so you really shouldn’t go there.”

Danielle still had a lot to do and couldn’t afford to wait here.

The longer they waited, the higher the chances Matthew

would be in danger.

“Danielle, we’ll go with you. You can’t go in alone," Howard

urged, afraid that Danielle would sneak off on her own.

If Howard hadn’t said this, Danielle would have actually

gone alone. Now she couldn’t sneak away by herself.

Danielle replied, "Alright."

----

Orion said, "Since all of you’ve made up your minds, get

ready. I’ll take you there. But remember, you must come

back before sunset regardless of whether or not you find

Matthew. You must remember this."

Orion was worried about their safety.

"Chief, don’t worry. I’m wearing a watch." Xavier showed

Orion the watch on his wrist.

Orion rode a tricycle and sent the Darling family to the

mountains outside the village. They arrived at a large

entrance to a cave. Orion said, "This is as far as I can take

you. Be careful and stay safe."

“Thank you, Chief." Danielle thanked Orion with a nod.

Outside the cave, Danielle reminded them, "Mom, Dad,

Xavier, stay behind me. I’ll lead the way. Be careful not to

get separated when we’re inside."