Page 11 of Sohut's Protection

Present day

(Over a year later)

Walking through the undergrowth, following a path she’d now memorized, Cleo made her way to her lookout spot high up on the side of the mountain.

From there, she could see the road that cut through the jungle. It was the same bumpy road the orcs had been transporting her on so, so long ago.

Sometimes she saw carts rattling through, and the sight of them always sent her back to that day when she’d escaped.

Taking a deep breath now, she settled in the bushes, her gaze on what she could see of the road.

There were no travelers now—not that she could see—but she still remained hidden.

Such was her routine.

She made it a point to surveil the area at least three times a day without fail.

It was the only way she could keep tabs on her surroundings while remaining relatively safe.

Crouching low, she scanned the area far below.

Many times, she’d seen vehicles passing through, but never had the occupants ever spotted her.

She’d taken precautions for that.

If anyone happened to look in her direction, she was sure they wouldn’t see her.

The mud she’d daubed over her body stuck to her like a second skin.

She blended into her surroundings like a gecko.

Camouflage, bitches.

Eyes narrowing, she kept scanning the area. Parts of the road were obscured by the vegetation, but she could see enough spots to tell what was happening down there from her particular location. And so, she kept an eye out for any movement.

On several occasions, she was sure she saw the green aliens that had been transporting her on that fateful day.

For over a year, they kept returning—she assumed, to search for her. But they never, ever ventured far into the jungle.

They always kept close to the road.

As a matter of fact, of the many carts she spotted taking the jungle road, none of the aliens ever stopped and entered the jungle itself.

She didn’t mind. No intruders meant she was relatively safe, and safety meant she could live free.

And, surprisingly, she had been safe. So far, she’d encountered no dangerous animals lurking in the underbrush.

She sometimes heard them though…far in the distance, though they never ventured close enough for her to meet one.

And she wasn’t curious enough to go looking for one either.

Gazing from the lookout spot, her eyes moved over the yellow-orange plant life.

Spots of purple and pink flowers dotted the yellow-orange, making the scene look like some sort of wonderland.

She was a modern-day Tarzan. She even had her own little pet monkey.

As if he knew she was thinking of him, the little Chihuahua-monkey stood upright on her shoulder and rubbed his head against her neck.

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