Ralph woke with a start. Something was pulling at his foot. He jerked his leg back and looked at a bluish green animal of the size of a monkey, but where a monkey had fur, this one had scales. Its pointed ears and beady black eyes were inspecting him with apparent curiosity. It stood on its hind legs, which were bent at their knees, with the knees pointing outwards. The stance reminded Ralph of pictures of a frog. Its arms were muscular and ended in hands with long, pale claws.

It looked strong.

Ralph realized that he was defenseless. His sole weapon was a knife in his pack, resting out of reach against the rock to his right. He rose slowly, keeping his eyes on the creature. It continued to study him. Once he stood straight, he sidled towards the pack, then stooped to open it. Groping within, he got hold of the knife in its sheath and pulled it out. With it came a metal bottle of water. It fell and hit the rocky ground with a clang.

The creature jumped back at the sound, bared its fangs at him, turned, and ran off towards the forest. Ralph watched as it climbed one of the trees in deft movements and disappeared into the canopy.

"Woooop." The sound came from the leaves where the creature had disappeared.

Ralph stood there, the knife in his sweaty hand, his knees trembling.

He tried to relax, but that was easier said than done. His hands were still unsteady when he put his pack on his back a couple of minutes later.

All he wanted was to head back to Hope now, using the shortest way possible. He'd had enough of this wilderness.

Yesterday he had made a straight line for the river, then turned left to follow it. The shortest way back was therefore along the base of the triangle he had defined yesterday. So he set out at an angle to the water, entering the forest.

Hope was big, and he was confident he could not miss her.