The Tale of Ren - Book one: The Hunt Begins

17. Crotre and Lausanne

Forty-seven minutes later they arrive at their destination. Kyle was right. You see ground that has been pulled up and fallen trees with their roots visible. They slowly and carefully slide down the hill. 'What happened here?' Michelle wonders. Unlike the rest of the forest that they've been walking through, this part is dead silent. not a little rustle of mice in the bushes. Even the birds high in the sky aren't flying close to this place. It even looks like they are avoiding it on purpose.

      Ren, Shun and Kyle approaches the place closer with care. 'Wait there Michelle. Only come when we give you the sign, okay?' Ren says. 'Alright.' She answers a bit nervous. Kyle inspects the trees that have fallen down while Shun and Ren inspect the water. Shun sticks out a hand into the water and take a little bit in his hand. He then brought his hand to his mouth and tasted a bit of the water.

'And? Anything weird with the water?' Ren asks Shun. Shun shakes his head. 'Nothing that tastes weird, however...' Shun puts his fingers on his chin and goes deeply in his thoughts.

'However, what?' Ren asks. Shun looks at him.

'I taste a bit of Black Matter in the water.' He answers. Ren glances at the water. It looks beautifully sky blue and is very clear. It was just like glass, not a rippling in the water. Nothing at all that could give away that something didn't feel right. Nothing except for one thing, there are no fish in such a giant lake. Ren stands up.

'What are you going to do?' Shun asks Ren. Ren suddenly takes of his coat, vest and shirt. Shun jumps up of surprise.

'Ren!' He shouts out, sounding a little, tiny bit embarrassed.

      Michelle was looking at the surrounding when she suddenly hears Shun shout. She turns around because she wanted to see what's going on, but when Ren suddenly takes of his clothes except for his pants, she quickly covers her eyes and without noticing, she also blushes. The next thing she heard was a raised voice of Shun and then a splash.

A splash? She thinks. She lowers her hands and see Shun looking at the water. She sees ripples coming to the edge. Kyle also comes running to the edge of the lake. Huh? She thinks. 'EH?!' She then shouts out and also runs to the edge of the lake.

'Did Ren just jumpinto the water?!' She asks. Shun nods.

'S-seems so.' Kyle answers. 'I wonder why he did that so suddenly.' Kyle says. 'didn't he say something to you Shun?' Michelle asks.

'No, I just tasted the water a bit, told him that I tasted a bit of Black Matter and then he suddenly took off his clothes and dived in.' He says.

'I see.' Both Michelle and Kyle say, still a bit stunned. Kyle sighs.

'Then I suppose we have to wait.' Kyle says.

'I agree.' both Shun and Michelle replies. Shun stands with his arms crossed over each other, tapping his right foot on the ground, Kyle bents down and sit like that and Michelle just sits on the grass, all staring at the water.

      'You know, I'm beginning to worry after all.' Michelle states after half an hour had past.

'Hmm, maybe you're right. It's taking way too long. Maybe I should go and get him after all.' Kyle says and stands up. He wanted to take off his clothes too when suddenly a big earthquake happens.

'Wh-what's going on. Does Karmieneu have earthquakes?' Michelle asks.

'Not that I know of, at least not in this area.' Shun says. Suddenly, as if a bomb went off in the lake, the water in the middle of the lake splashes 17 m up. And the three of them see how Ren got thrown out of the lake and smacked to the ground. Michelle turns around.