[ WP ] You are a child lost in a jungle . Something is hunting you .

*Come, little darling. Along the path, over the hill, we are waiting among the dead wood of the dead forest. * 
 
 Elliott followed the voice as it trilled faintly along, echoing from the floor to the canopy. She began to feel scared. The squish of her galoshes alarmed the lizard who scampered into her path. 
 
 They both paused. 
 
 Elliott gasped. 
 
 The green lizard cocked it's head and eyed her. 
 
 `` Do not follow the voice.'' it croaked, and scampered back off into the bushes. 
 
 Elliott picked up her pace, hoping an exit was just round the bend. 
 
 *Come, little darling. Along the path, over the hill, we are waiting among the dead wood of the dead forest. * 
 
 The voice was slightly louder this time. A cicada buzzed on to the path and startled her. 
 
 `` Do not follow the voice.'' it warned, then buzzed into the bushes. 
 
 Elliott began to sob as she ventured forward, afraid she might be stuck in the jungle forever. 
 
 *Come, little darling. Along the path, over the hill, we are waiting among the dead wood of the dead forest. * 
 
 Now the voice was close and booming. The canopy shook and a mouse dropped on to the path. 
 
 `` Do not follow the voice.'' he squeaked, and then darted into the bushes. 
 
 Just ahead, over the hill, a green and yellow glow lit up the underside of the tree tops. Elliott's galoshes squished and squashed as they pounded the floor. The glow seemed to race away as she went. The faster she ran, the further it got. 
 
 She reached the top of the hill only to watch the light swirl into a haze and dissipate. Below her, seeming to span an ocean, lay the dead wood of the dead forest. A shadow crept close enough to scare her, and then stopped. 
 
 `` I should not have followed the voice!'' she said. `` They were right.'' 
 
 The figure seemed to vibrate and purr. 
 
 `` Who?'' snarled the creature. 
 
 `` The lizard.'' she replied, her galoshes nearly trembling off her toes. 
 
 `` Was it green?'' asked the shadow. 
 
 `` Of course it was. I should have listened to the cicada.'' she said. 
 
 `` Did it buzz?'' asked the shadow. 
 
 `` Of course it did. I should have listened to the mouse.'' she said. 
 
 `` Did it fall from the canopy?'' asked the shadow. 
 
 `` And squeaked at me, then darted away.'' she informed the figure. 
 
 The ground shook, strange birds whooped and the canopy came alive with a cacophony of jungle sounds. 
 
 *COME NOW, LITTLE DARLING. INTO THE DEAD WOOD, OF THE DEAD FOREST. * 
 
 It swelled and boomed from all around. The eyes of the shadow became large as flashlights and it stalked back and forth. As it emerged from the abyss, the shape could be seen. A panther, the largest you could imagine. 
 
 `` You must not follow the voice!'' it hissed. `` Come with me, into the jungle!'' 
 
 Elliott grasped the fur of the beast. As they ran, the mouse squeaked `` I told you so!''. The cicada buzzed `` You are done for''. The lizard taunted `` Run run, fast as you can''. 
 
 Tiny fingers clenched and clawed to grip the animal as it hit a fantastic stride. The glow began to chase them. 
 
 `` Do not let go!'' warned the panther. 
 
 Trees began to fall, collapsing the jungle into a dilapidated Jumanji set. 
 
 `` I will not let go!'' Elliott shouted above the roar. 
 
 They seemed to race forever, their breaths both short and frequent, chests heaving in unison. 
 
 The beast slowed and looked behind them. The glow was disappearing again. 
 
 `` They should have listened.'' it growled. 
 
 `` Who?'' asked Elliott. 
 
 `` The green lizard, the buzzing cicada and the darting mouse.'' it spit at her. 
 
 `` What did you tell them?'' she asked. 
 
 `` I told them to stop playing games and scaring little girls down the path with their silly voices! A force more evil than death looms in the dead wood of the dead forest, it does not like little girls.'' the beast hollered. 
 
 `` Do not cry, little girl.'' the panther said, delicately brushing a paw along her forehead. `` I am your friend.''
