“Legend says, long ago, a fearsome tribe once treated the Enamor jungle as their home. A terrifying group of giants, their very souls reduced to nothing but those of beasts. Strong, fast, and highly territorial. If they were to lay their eyes upon you, they will choose. Either to kill you on the spot, or something much worse. Something far more sinister-“
“Ok that’s enough. You’re gonna scare the boy.”
Alistair spoke loudly from the front of the group, cutting down vines with his machete. He scrunched his thick moustache as he leered at Reggie, who reluctantly stopped his horror story. Alistair’s beige shirt had darkened in several places from his sweat, the sweltering heat of the jungle being almost unbearable. He wiped his forehead as he continued clearing a path for the rest of the group. Reggie went back to the map, studying it closely through his large pair of glasses. His lean swimmer’s body was shrouded in an oversized shirt. Even though he was taller than Alistair, at 6”1’, his presence was nowhere near as commanding as the twins behind him.
Matt and Tom were peacefully walking at the back of the group, carrying the two giant bags with all of the group’s tents and supplies with ease. Their cargo trousers had been deliberately torn to resemble tight shorts, that could barely hold onto their thick thighs. The twins looked practically identical. They shared the same height of 6’8”, the same perfectly chiselled face, the same musclebound body, even the same thick layer of hair across their meaty pecs. The only thing different between the twins were their attire. Whilst Matt preferred to wear a tight white vest, Tom opted for no shirt at all, his ripped torso out in full view. Poor Benji could barely keep ahead of them, as they lunged with their tall legs. The 18-year old’s uniform mainly consisted of hand-me-downs, with a pair of heavy trousers many sizes too big for him. He tied the pair around his thin waist with a belt, tucking his poncho of a shirt into it. As he looked casually at the colourful environment around him, he tripped over a tree root and fell to the floor. Alistair turned to see Matt helping the boy up to his feet, lifting him up with one of his powerfully muscular arms.
“What is the first rule of exploring Benjamin?”
“Always watch where you’re stepping.”
“Exactly.”
“Sorry Sir.”
Alistair didn’t respond, and instead pressed on. Reggie sighed as he returned to the map. After what seemed like an eternity, Reggie’s voice cut through the silence of the jungle.
“There, straight ahead. Just a few more steps.”
He pointed at a heaped mess of brambles and branches, too thick to see through. Alistair eagerly cleared the way, pushing through. The sunlight beamed through the thicket. His biceps flexed with each swipe of his machete. The rest of the group waited until they saw their leader make it into what appeared to be a small clearing. After signalling to the others that it was safe, they joined him and fixed their eyes on the peculiar shape in the centre.
The sharp, unforgiving ground of the jungle had suddenly ended as the clearing began, turning into a sea of soft grass. In the very centre stood a stone column. It was perfectly smooth, and was adorned with intricate decorations of tribal symbols. As they surrounded it, Alistair began to smile with great enthusiasm.
“This is it boys! The very first piece of evidence for the Suxu ever recorded.”
“But it’s just a stone column. How can we take that back to the museum?...Sir?”
Reggie asked, scratching his stubble nonchalantly. Alistair’s gaze remained unbroken. However, Benji noticed he wasn’t staring at the column, rather at something hidden under the grass. The man slowly reached his hands to the ground, and gently picked up a gold necklace decorated with the same symbols. It glowed like a precious jewel in the sunlight.
“Sir, what is that?”
“This? This is why we came here. Finally, people will know that the Suxu existed. Here.”
He threw it to Benji, who failed to catch it, picking it up from the ground embarrassed. Alistair smiled as the boy examined it even closer.
“It’s your first adventure boy. It only seems right you’re the one who bears it. You’re part of the team now.”
Benji turned to see the twins smile down to him. Even Reggie couldn’t help but half-smile as the boy carefully out the necklace around his neck, a gentle breeze whooshing past him as he did so. Alistair clapped his hands together, before making his way back towards the thicket.
“Right then, off we go. The village is only a few days away. Best we start now before the sun begins to set. Reggie, lead the way.”
And so, they began to make their way back to civilisation. As Benji walked, he felt the necklace tickle his neck. He stepped with confidence over the roots and logs, as if something was giving him a new burst of energy. He was even walking faster than Matt and Tom. Benji smiled as he walked past them. This was going to be quite the adventure.