Some people say we monkey around
Your train of thought is derailed by a crackling noise as you feel the branch starting to give under your weight. You decide not to waste your time looking down - considering the manner of your arrival, there's probably nothing but leaves below you. Leaves - and a very high drop!
Better get a move on, and fast! Glancing nervously around, you spot another, thicker branch in front of you a bit higher than your feet. That will do.
You start swinging back and forth and pull up your feet until they reach the branch. Not far enough to stand upright, but you manage to wrap your toes around the branch a moment before the first branch snaps off. You drop, flip over and end up hanging upside down with a useless branch in your hands. As you let go, it falls into the dense foliage below with a rustling sound that continues for quite a while, occasionally punctuated by thumps as it strikes other branches on the way down.
You have just started wondering how far below the ground is when the cascade of noises ends with a dull thud followed by a deep roar that makes you reconsider your plans to get down on the ground. It sounds dangerous down there!
Well, this is no place to stay either, particularly not upside down. You find another branch below, swing, drop, and grab - and you are right side up again. After a moment's pondering how much you resemble the famous "hang in there" kitten, you haul yourself up on the branch and sit looking around for a while.
Some noises from below remind you that there is something down there you'd rather not meet, that became aware of your presence a few minutes ago. You jump up, look around again and leap for the next tree. Moments later your hands find a branch, and you literally hang around for a couple of seconds while planning your next move. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Gradually you develop an eye for half hidden branches that enables you to move continuously, alternately grabbing hold with your upper and lower hands, and soon you are good enough to speed up. You break the silence with a screech of triumph as you realize that you are actually brachiating! You thought it was a funny word when you first learned it, who knew that you would actually be doing it some day?
You're getting pretty good at it too. And your classmates used to tease you because you couldn't get to the top of the ropes in the gym - they should see you now! Of course they would not recognize you, but you would still leave an impression...
Oops! Almost missed that branch there! You could leave an impression on the ground if you let your mind wander like that.
You have put quite a distance between yourself and the creature you heard earlier, unless it is stalking you silently, when you become aware of an open area ahead. You slow down and stop right at the edge of a big clearing. From where you stand you can't see the ends or the ground, but the other side is clearly visible. Looks like quite a jump though...
Written by Won-Tolla on 11 November 2007
The end (for now)