After the elder meeting was over, Pa knew that most of them agreed with finding a new forest. Niko however was against the idea and had a plan of his own. Pa, Drew, and Wilma decided that they would to talk to the seekers that evening about going out and finding a new place that they could call home.
“Do you think that Niko will realize moving is the best thing to do or do you think that he will start a fight?” Drew asked Pa.
“With Niko and his fighting background, it wouldn’t surprise me if he tries to start something,” Pa picked up a couple of dishes.
When Drew and Pa were done straightening up at Wilma’s house, they headed home for a while. Ma, Tia, and the young ones were already home when Pa arrived. He was happy to tell his family that most of the elders agreed to move. Even though this forest has been the only home that Pa and Ma has ever known, they had Tia and Jack and Olivia’s future in mind. Tia of course was thrilled to hear that she was going to see new places soon. Pa told Ma that he, Drew, and Wilma were going to talk to the seekers in the evening about looking for a new forest.
“Is Niko going out too?” Ma asked.
Pa looked at Ma and shook his head no, “he’s against it and thinks that we should fight for our forest.”
Tia looked at Pa, “but we are going to move, right Pa? We’re not going to fight are we?”
Pa looked at Tia and Jack and Olivia, “no, we aren’t going to fight. This is why we need to get the seekers out looking as soon as possible. And I have to try and stall any kind of plan that Niko might have or come up with.”
Later that evening after they ate dinner, Pa walked over to Drew’s place. The two of them then headed over to Wilma’s and then went to Nocks hut first. Nock was considered next in line from Niko when it came to security. Pa knew that talking to Nock first about looking for a new forest would be in their favor. Even though Nock was part of security, he wasn’t one who wanted to fight if it could be avoided. When they got there, Nock invited the three of them inside. The evening sky did look like rain would drop at any time.
Pa explained to Nock that most of the elders at the meeting agreed to find a new forest, but Niko wants to stay and fight. Nock wasn’t surprised by Niko’s decision and agreed to help them. He told Pa, Drew, and Wilma that he already knew of a possible place. He said that he had heard about it during one of his outings and that it is about ten miles away.
“But if it’s so close to this forest, how do we know that the humans won’t start cutting that forest down too?” Drew asked.
“Well, from what I understand, that forest is considered a national forest. The humans federal government protect that forest. So you see, the humans can’t just decide to cut it down and build on it,” Nock smiled.
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