Walking out of the underground cavern, I paused and looked around.
It had been a full day since those spider-monkeys attacked us.
After spending countless hours buried beneath the earth, waiting for the fire to die and the beasts to scatter, we had finally decided to exit the hollow chamber.
And the first thing I noticed upon coming outside was that all traces of the forest fire I started yesterday were gone.
The scorched plants and charred vegetation had already been overtaken by fresh undergrowth — lush vines, curling ferns, and sprouting moss blanketing the forest floor.
Even the towering black trees had recovered from the burn damage, their bark now unmarred and leaves rustling softly in the breeze.
The jungle looked exactly as it had before I set it ablaze.
And just like before, the whole place was swarming with overgrown insects — many of them so creepy they sent shivers down my spine.
"Juli is not going to like this place," I muttered.
I wondered where she was.
