Chapter 6 Jungle Horror

• “Jerk!”
• I escaped their kittenish punches and ran into the thick forest with my axe.
• In ten minutes, I returned with some rattans and dry branches. We’ll never run out of these materials in a tropical jungle.
• I climbed back to the cave and threw down the rattans.
• The girls looked uneasy as the slippery rock fazed them. I shouted to have Hailey secure the rattans around her waist with extra knots.
• Hailey had the most faith in me since she knew me the best. Although I never took myself seriously, I was still reliable when it came to life and death matters.
• She trusted my instructions and complied cooperatively. Lying her body flat, Hailey landed her feet on the rock as if she was walking up.
• After pulling her up, I made Yara tie the rattans around Tina’s waist before she walked up fearfully.
• Yara got up last. It was quite a bit of effort, and we all needed a well-deserved break. Moments later, I started working on the fire.
• The swaying flames cast shape-shifting shadows on the walls. Simultaneously, the cave dried up in no time. Following some more rest, I told them to wait while I hunted for food.
• I discovered a stuck-out rock and tied the rattans on it. I told them to go to Jude if I wasn’t back before sundown.
• “We’re scared of falling, so you have to be back.”
• I chuckled. “Wow. Was that a hint that you’ll only be loyal to me?” The time called for a dramatic exit. I held onto the rattans, hopped off, and howled like Tarzan.
• As I ventured into the forest, the smile on my face faded. I was fully aware of how malicious this place could be under its enchanting disguise.
• Alas, I had to go in. I had to risk my life, for we had nothing to live on now, thanks to Jude. We needed to rely on this forest, even if it could kill me.
• The forest floor was carpeted with soft leaves, but I was vigilant about snakes possibly camouflaging on the forest floor with every step I took.
• I had to make my own path by slashing away the branches in my way. Only a little progress was made, yet my arms were already sore.
• I came across a tall plant with fanned-out leaves. It brought me so much elation that I cheered wildly.
• I recognized it as Madagascar’s national tree, the baobab tree. It was also known as the tree of life for a good reason.
• Baobab trees looked like banana plants, yet they didn’t produce fruits. Instead, their trunks provided an incredible amount of water, which was helpful to travelers.
• I aimed my axe at the bottom, and clear water promptly spouted out. I squatted down to get as much into my mouth as possible.
• I had never encountered water as sweet as this. My stomach bloated and I was so much more energized. Before I continued my journey, I took a wide leaf to carry with me.
• I heard birds singing before they flew away from a tree. My eyes lit up when I saw what I had been looking for!
• I wasn’t so arrogant to feel entitled to all the resources here. As a human, I knew I didn’t own this land - I was only a meek intruder of this ancient eco-system. There weren’t many animals that I could prey on, but birds were on my list.
• I made a hat out of the leaf before climbing up the tree those birds had just left.
• I was lucky to find over ten eggs in a nest.
• I removed the hat and used it as a container to keep those eggs, which I later tied around my waist with a vine. I scanned around at the treetop level to see some other birds leave another tree.
• I directly invaded their home, yet I wasn’t as lucky this time. The birds found out about me. Flying back, they yelped at me.
• They had probably never met humans before. Seeing that I had no intention to stop, they pecked me ferociously with their beaks.
• Perfect. Just what I wanted.
• I aimed my axe at a bird, but I had underestimated its agility. It made a sharp turn. While it skimmed across the side of the blade, it tapped its wing on my face.
• I was completely caught off guard and reached to scratch the itch on my closed eye.
• It completely skipped my mind that I was still hanging on the tree. My legs weren’t strong enough to hold my body weight, causing me to slide down the trunk.
• I hurriedly wedged the axe on a thick branch and held onto it to stop myself from falling lower.
• Phew. But... what’s the buzzing?
• My heart sank.
• A swarm of finger-size bees charged toward me angrily.
• Holy crap! I turned to see that my axe was stuck in a beehive.
• Instantly, I broke out in a cold sweat. These bees were fatally poisonous. When they worked together, they could sting a whole elephant to death. With my size, I wouldn’t survive more than three stings.
• I opened my legs to glide down the rough trunk. Disregarding my torn pants and broken skin, I scrambled off the second my feet touched the ground.
• Along the path I made, I ran for my life, yet the buzzing sound still followed closely.
• There was not much energy left in me. My chest was burning, I was panting for breath, and I couldn’t feel my legs anymore. Just when I was on the verge of giving up, I heard the babble of a brook.
• I couldn’t care about getting lost at this point. I diverged from my original path and dived into a bush on the side.
• When I came out from the other side, I was surprised by what I stumbled upon.
• It was a piece of luxuriant grassland with a brook winding down the middle. All kinds of birds rested around. Some wary ones flew away once they heard my footstep while the others stared at me in incomprehension.
• This jungle never ceased to surprise me. But then again, I didn’t have the leisure to soak it all in. I darted over and plunged into the refreshing water.
• As it only came up to my hip, I ducked down to submerge myself fully.
• The bees circled above me for a good while before they finally gave up.
• I popped my head up and flipped them off. Then, I went back to the bank.
• I checked those eggs and was heartened that they were still in great shape. I reckoned it was time to find my way back to the cave until I locked eyes with a black figure stalking afar.
• Golly! I was scared stiff. Stuck in a stare-off, I could feel my eyes moisten.
• At the size of a calf, its inky fur was covered in mud. In between those tusks was a long nose which was snorting loudly.
• It was a massive wild boar.
• Its face grew from confusion to aggression. I could tell I had disturbed its nap after it drank from this river. Those red eyes gazed at me intensely as if they could see right through me.
• This nightmare made me sick in my stomach.
• I had seen wild boars before, but never this size.
• There was a saying among hunters—boars first, bears second, tigers third.
• It meant that boars topped the scary list. Why? Because they were reckless but awfully fast. It was hard to figure them out since boars didn’t operate by logic. They didn’t have to be provoked to get agitated and attack.
• There was no time for hesitation. I fled at full speed, only to be chased.
• Its body was so huge that its thumps shook the whole ground. I didn’t want to look back, yet I knew my speed couldn’t compare with the beast.
• I ran zig-zag to throw the boar off. There were a few times I felt a whiff of air when it passed my side. If I had run in a straight line, I would’ve been pinned on the ground already.
• In my head, this scene was more thrilling than any Jackie Chan movie.
• I lurched back into the thick forest. The boar let out a series of threatening hisses, yet his size prevented him from keeping up with me.
• I kept going around the trees to make it harder for the beast. Behind me were noises of thin trunks being bent and knocked over. It had created quite a mess.
• I took cover behind those trees until I could no longer hear the boar bumping around. When I was certain the coast was clear, I collapsed onto the ground to catch my breath.
• First the bees, then this! I was worn out through and through.
• After some rest, I regained my senses. It was then that I felt the aches all over my body.
• I was too desperate to pick my path earlier. Hence, the branches ended up scratching my skin all over, but I was so stressed out that the pain didn’t hit me until now.
• The most upsetting fact of it all was the stickiness on my back.
• Ugh. Those eggs were broken, yet I couldn’t go home empty-ended. Everyone was peckish.
• I had no choice but to repeat the process until I got around twenty eggs. On my way back, my good luck finally came back to bless me. I spotted several coconut trees, which were exactly what I desired.
• I had been hunting for those this whole time. Despite the fruitfulness, I deeply believed those trees had to be somewhere on this tropical island. Coconuts reproduced by letting the waves take their fallen fruits. When they were washed ashore again, their roots would sprout.
• I was burnt out, yet the excitement of discovering those coconuts gave me a boost. With that, I climbed up and harvested eight fruits.
• The better news was, I found the path I had made from the top of the coconut tree.