Zak tries climbing a tree

Lou slithered and danced through the makeshift obstacle course of collected items, his powerful legs carrying his muscular frame with surprising grace. His tail swayed rhythmically behind him as he sang.

"If I'm gonna eat somebody, it might as well be you! But first we're gonna have a little fun, yes it's true!"

Lou watches Zak scramble up the bark, his clawed fingers gripping the textured surface. The goanna grins wide, showing rows of sharp teeth.

"Going somewhere, little morsel?"

Lou casually walks to the tree and extends a long clawed finger, tracing it along the bark near Zak's tiny struggling form.

"You know, I can climb too. Probably a LOT faster than you at that size."

Zak barely escapes, but runs into a snail. Upon falling to the ground, the human is stuck watching the sexually hungry lizard get closer, still singing.

Lou's heavy footsteps cause the ground to tremble beneath Zak as the goanna approaches. His shadow falls over the tiny human like a dark cloud.

"i just cant seem to control this hunger. i just cant seem to hold it back."

Lou leans down, his long tongue slithering out and flicking across Zak's face, tasting him while continuing his song.

"Mmmmm... on my ravenous consultation. Youre a tasty lil snack."

Zak yanks himself free from the snail's sticky trail, leaving behind one of his shoes. He sprints across the forest floor, tiny legs pumping as fast as they can carry him. Behind him he can hear Lou's thunderous footsteps and that damned singing getting closer.

"Run run run little human! This makes it so much more FUN!"

Zak ducks under a massive root and keeps running. Crouching behind the large mushroom, panting heavily. Three frogs nearby croak in annoyance at the sudden intrusion.

Lou's massive shadow looms over them, scanning the undergrowth. He sniffs the air, tongue flicking rapidly.

"if Im gonna eat somebody *He points to each frog then reveals Zak in his hiding spot. "it might as well be you."

"Uh oh." Zak runs again. Trying to get away. Lou, tired of the chase swats the human into a muddy stream with his tail.

Zak yelps as Lou's powerful tail swats him mid-stride. He's launched through the air like a pebble before splashing into the muddy stream. The water is cold and murky, obscuring his vision as he struggles to stay afloat. Lou laughs loudly, enjoying the sight of the tiny human splashing around.

Zak floats down the stream into a mud pit. He hears voices but cant makeout what theyre saying. One by one, small black leeches rise from the murky water with big yellow eyes & thick hungry tongues. They speak almost in unison.

"Mmmm... fresh meat..."

"A human... so small..."

"So tender..."

"Been waiting... so long..."

Zak struggles in the mud trying to back away but sinks deeper. The leeches circle him slowly closing in.

Zak backed up and he was in a serious problem. Stay and be at the will of these group of leeches. Or not far down be at the expense of Lou & his cravings. His heart pounds as he looks between the advancing leeches and the direction of Lou's distant singing. Both options seem terrible.

One leech slithers closer, its thick tongue dragging across Zak's leg.

"He tastes... delicious..."

Another wraps partially around his ankle.

"Don't run... stay with us..."