Trek to the Mountain

The pair of you set off toward the mountain. You had lost your compass and fruit to the river but were otherwise unscathed. With good light and just you and Soo-yin travelling you are able to make good time despite the constant challenges and obstacles.

You aren't even dried out from the river incident when the rain hits. It starts with the patter of a few fat drops as they hit the broad leaves around you, but within a minute the skies simply open up like a faucet being turned on. You had never experienced such a drenching downpour in your life, you don't think it could rain more if it tried. The sound was deafening as the downpour hammered against the leaves and branches. It was even worse beyond the trees. Any area outside the jungle canopy seemed filled more water than air. The rain turns the earth into a slick slippery muck, which slows you down even more.

The worst part was that it provided no relief from the oppressive heat. The rain was actually warm and seemed to make the already impossibly high humidity go up even more. The pair of you press forward in silence, a grim determination had set in and all that mattered right now was making it to the mountain and finding the ruins.

You stop for a quick rest and lunch. You had found more of the fruit and you were able to drink the rainwater both from small pools gathered on some of the larger leaves but also just from opening your mouth and looking up. Despite your miserably soggy condition the rest and refreshment did a world of good and you set off with renewed vigor.

By mid afternoon the rain begins to abate and then, just as quickly as it started, it ends. The sun soon comes out and the regular noise of the jungle springs to life once more, the undergrowth glows green once more from the filtered light through the treetops. You didn't think it was possible but it gets even hotter.

You are moving along through a small trail you had found when Soo-yin grabs your attention.

"Edward...over there."

You look, craning your neck from side to side to see what she has spotted. It looked to be a piece of white canvas, spattered red blood across it's center.