Share the watering hole

Alice edged closer to the watering hole. Some of the bugs instantly took the air, breaking off their drinking to fly to safe height above Alice's head. The furry red primates, none of them high enough to reach her knee, stayed by the clear water although a few of them gaze her quizzical looks.

Alice wasn't sure what to make of the reaction. Why weren't they scared of her? Even if they hadn't seen a human or a humanoid alien before surely they would be cautious of larger animals?

Carefully she kneeled down by the water. Stick grasped in her right hand she used her left to scoop the water into her mouth. Despite the frustration of only being able to sup a little water at a time the cool liquid felt absolutely wonderful as it dribbled down her throat.

The small pond seemed to be fed from a trickle of water which oozed slowly in from a tiny stream flowing in from the north. It would be make sense to follow the stream northwards, Alice thought, it could lead to a larger body of water or perhaps even higher ground which would make a rescue more likely.

Just as Alice mulled over her options a deep rumbling roar echoed loudly from the guts of the jungle. At the sound of it the red primates fled, running and jumping through the undergrowth and to the thin green trees that they seemed to favour. They called nervously to each other before ducking out of sight behind the dense canopy of the treetop.

Alice knew which direction the terrifying roar had come from. It had come from the north.