Greetings my lovely friends and readers, I think I am here for the first time to participate in this contest organised by dove11 and since it is open to all, I found it pleasurable to complete the story

John once came home after several days. His mother, who was anxiously waiting for him, asked him as soon as he arrived, “Son, where were you all these days?” John was a bit hesitant at first, but then he told his mother:

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Muu uu um, I went to the strange forest to get you the herbs, at this point he was stammering because he knew his mum may not believe him, his mum was shocked, one thing that saved her life was that this statement was not reported to her by someone who saw John when he was about to embark on this life-threatening adventure.

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Nobody saw him though, if not he would have returned to hear that his mum died of shock(heart failure), Immediately he said this his mum began to cough severely as if she was about to give up the ghost, John immediately mixed the fruits as he was instructed by the voice from the tree which he assumed was the voice of God, he pour it into a calabash container and poured it slowly into his mum's mouth, while she cough the liquid found passage through her throat and the disease left simultaneously.

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The relief felt like magic, and both John and his mother shed tears of joy. They cried together because it was the final hope for her survival after many failed attempts by a well-known village herbalist.

John saved his mother's life, and she eagerly awaited the story of how he was able to access the forest of healings, a place where disease solutions are found.

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John began, Mum I saw you in this dying state and vow that I must lay down my life for you, I can't sit to watch you die, I would be motherless, so I took upon myself this task to embark on the journey to the forest of healings, though many had died on their way, I choose to die trying than never.

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I sneak out of the house, with Daddy's hunting gun and lantern(this tool was given to John's father by the chief priest for his success in a battle, it is believed to possess a magical power that gives direction, neither John nor his father ever utilised it until now). I went there at night and walked a few meters to find rest so I wouldn't be hunted by the animals and nobody would see me.

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So the next morning I woke up and saw a lion sleeping under the tree, and I gave it a shot on the head since its position was towards the road that led to river Salem.

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I managed to reach the river after receiving several bites from a snake whose poison kills in 24hrs, I got to the river, I saw no boat just crocodiles that would waste me if I tried to swim, I remembered while going with dad hunting he told me of a fruit that when squeezed into the water becomes very repulsive to the crocodile, finding that fruit was a big problem because I had just 3 shot left and who knows how many lions I will meet on my return, this is when I had to make use of the lantern, it wasn't dark but it directed me to the fruit which was a stone throw, I used the fruit and it worked.

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I swam across the river and met with another forest I thought of ways to succeed here, I was weak and tired it was just a few hours to the time of the poison's effect on me. I was happy thinking that was all until I overcame a fierce lion using my remaining shots. I finally reached the tree of healing, ate the fruit, and felt a weight lift from me. I was then granted the ability to rule over every animal by the strike of a rod given to me on the ground, and this was what I did continuously till my return. I wonder what sort of magical power this forest possesses, his mother was so happy and thanked John for the sacrifice he paid.

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Upon returning, not only did his mother get healed, but other villagers with chronic diseases were also cured. John became the village doctor, known for finding solutions to diseases. It seemed like he held the key to healthiness and might live forever.

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Entries from my friends @solperez @bossj23 @wakeupkitty @dwings will be fun reading

The picture above is mine and edited to give that texture