Into the Jungle: A Novella

Chapter 6

Sometimes, Ruby would sprint, other times, she would pause and listen for danger. When they got near the edge of the slope and looked down, she said, "That brute could still be lingering around here. I don't have faith going this way anymore." Then she tiptoed and scanned the jungle. "No sign of any, though."

Suddenly, Ruby gasped when Iris splashed water on her neck. "Hooray!" Iris shouted.

Ruby was about to hit her, but knelt and sipped water from the jug around her sister's waist instead. "At least, you reminded me to drink water."

"I knew that you needed to drink some, so I realized it would be fun to splash you on the neck with it."

Ruby chuckled, an ounce of hope now that she had the medicine. Then she grabbed her spear and eased down the slope, clutching the tree trunks for support.

Branches rattled ahead, a token of peril. Hunting the gorilla was a random miracle, but now they were hindering the girls from returning home.

Ruby stopped behind a tree and nudged Iris to hide behind her. After a while of silence, she whispered, "If I go down there, can you stay here and warn me if there are any brutes?"

"No," Iris smiled and replied.

Ruby took it as a joke. "Listen, if I tell you to run, then run back up the hill. Okay?" Iris nodded. Then Ruby inched down the slope and listened for animals. She could faintly see the giant river, and the loud rapids drowned out other sounds. As far as I can tell, there are no brutes, at least, not on this side of the stream. She took a step closer when suddenly, a gorilla rose from lying down beside the waters, so Ruby froze and slowly bent down, hoping he didn't notice her. The beast strolled toward a partner and began biting his chest, playing around. Ruby decided she wasn't crossing this river. So while they were giggling, she quietly back-stepped up the hill, using the trees as cover.

Five steps. Ten steps.

She looked rightward and believed she could go around those animals and still make it to the stream that led home. But when she put her foot down, she stepped on something tender that slithered. Ruby looked back and saw a viper rising from the plants to stare at her, its neck curling in striking position.

Then it struck.

However, Ruby whacked its neck with her spear and scurried to the side. She hid behind another tree, but when she peeked around it, the gorillas were staring her in the eyes. They had heard her momentum, her crunching in the leaves. "It's okay, it's okay," she whispered. "Just move slowly." Ruby waited but the monkeys kept staring.

The moment she took steps backward, one gorilla stood on his feet like a monster. Ruby would shoot him, but Iris had the blowgun! And suddenly, the brutes decided to charge one after the other, remembering she was the one who killed their own and posed a threat to their family.

Ruby turned and raced up the slope. "RUN! RUN!" She squinted and saw Iris following her orders.

When she got to the top, she glanced toward Dr. Andrew's tree fort and thought about returning, but that would be like going backward instead of going home, so Ruby pointed and commanded her sister to turn left and run into the underbrush.

Ruby passed her sister.

"OW!" Iris cried, falling behind.

Ruby glanced over her shoulder to see the kid trying to yank her foot from a vine. She ran closer and quickly pried the thorny plant away with the spear handle.

Then she ran ahead of Iris and soon noticed a giant wall of large leaves and branches blocking her sight. She frowned with wonder, a jumping muscle telling her not to go that way, but she had no choice. In the likely event, she could still find the stream and go home no matter how far she ran. No matter how lost she became.