They knew the outer side of the forest would be dangerous, but Zaki Lee and Easther had underestimated just how perilous it truly was. It far exceeded the hazards of the inner zone they had crossed. Every step forward felt like their lives were dangling by a thread. They had assumed the outer zone would be easier, less lethal—but they were brutally mistaken.
No sooner had they entered the dense, shadowed forest than a massive leopard lunged at them from the undergrowth, its claws glinting in the dappled sunlight. Instinctively, they braced for the attack. It was fortunate that their bodies had already regained strength after their meal of fat fish and honey; their muscles were taut, ready, and unnervingly precise.
Together, they confronted the beast. With movements swift and merciless, E
