Page 25 of Explorer's Revenge
Istay at the back as we trek, holding a protective position just in case. Way leads the crew after my careful order. He knew what I meant with one look, so we move slower than normal but also more carefully.
We are less likely to leave tracks.
It’s likely someone is inhabiting this island, which means they are probably here for the same thing we are, and not all who seek places like this are explorers.
Most are treasure hunters, and they can be more dangerous than anything else in the jungle ever could be.
They are more likely to kill first and ask questions later, prepared to succeed and claim their gold. Money is everything to them. It isn’t about history or heritage or even knowledge. It’s about profit. We’ve run into a few in the past, and I have a scar on my shoulder to prove it. We had a narrow escape when we were exploring caves in southern Africa, which apparently used to be for smugglers, something we didn’t know until later.
It didn’t end well, and we were lucky to escape with our lives.
We don’t cover as much ground as we would like, and the atmosphere is definitely more tense despite Logan’s and Rick’s best efforts.
An hour before the sun is due to set, I call it a day, and we erect the camp. This time, we make sure to find a position that’s hidden between the trees, and I’m tempted to keep watch tonight just in case.
I have a bad feeling in my gut—one that is usually right. I hate feeling it and not knowing what’s going to happen. All we can do is wait.
When the sun does go down, our fire lights up the trees, and it throws the once beautiful jungle into a shadowy trap. That alarm in my gut only grows until I’m pacing. The others watch me, sensing something is wrong but unable to help.
“Maybe we should keep moving,” Rick suggests.
“No, not in the dark. We could get hurt. No, it’s better to stay here until we have light again,” I mutter, scanning the trees, and I freeze when I see something ruffling the foliage.
“Okay, what if we—” Logan begins.
“Shh,” I hiss. “Something is watching us.”
“You’re imagining things,” Rick mutters, but he sounds concerned.
“Everyone, stay calm and do not move.” When I glance back at them, they are on their feet around the fire, their eyes narrowed as they search the jungle for what I saw. Leaves don’t move like that unless they are disturbed, and from that height, it has to be something big.
I’m trapped between the darkness of the jungle and the fire at my back when a shape slowly slinks from the trees, stopping about ten feet away.
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“Is that a jaguar?” Aiy hisses.
I nod, keeping my hand up and very still. “Do not move. It seems curious.”
It isn’t attacking, which is a good sign, and its ears are up. We could simply be in the way or in its territory. My mind spins with a million possibilities and plans on how to get out of this unhurt.
It isn’t the first time we’ve faced a dangerous, wild animal. There was a black bear in Canada, sharks in Australia, and snakes on an abandoned string of islands. It’s about remaining calm and in control. We are in their world, not the other way around.
“I think we’ll leave the stuff and come back in the morning,” I murmur. Its ears twitch as it paces closer.
“Wilder,” Rick whispers, and I hear him move ever so slightly. The jaguar hisses, flattening its ears.
“Don’t move.” I want to yell, but I keep my voice soft and quiet as the jaguar paces before me, hissing every so often.
Our voices seem to have agitated the animal, and it keeps glancing at us and then back to the jungle, as if debating leaving, but the swish of its tail is fast and jerky, and the alarm within me only grows. I slowly inch to the right to block the others in case it attacks, and the movement doesn’t go unnoticed.
The big cat’s paw lifts and swipes through the air. I want to leap back, but I remain rooted in place, trying to stay as calm as possible, even as I hear the others audibly panicking for me.
“Wilder,” my brother whispers as it swipes again, closer this time.
I need a plan. How do we get out of here?
My eyes narrow on the animal for a moment. It’s pacing and swiping randomly as if it’s trying to warn us away rather than hurt us. Rick, however, doesn’t notice and instead strides forward to circle the animal, but it notices and seems enraged. The jaguar’s eyes lock on Rick.
