The girl screamed.
"NO...!"
Kairo's eyes swept frantically across the clearing.
Think...
Think!
Then he saw it.
Suspended above the swamp hung a thick fallen tree trunk, tangled between several heavy jungle vines. Time and weather had left it hanging precariously above the water, swaying gently with the breeze.
His eyes lit up.
"...There."
Ignoring the burning pain in his injured leg, Kairo scrambled toward it and reached both hands up.
His fingers wrapped around the rough bark.
The trunk barely moved.
"...Hng!"
He stretched reached up and grabbed the hanging log with both hands. Gritting his teeth, he pulled with all his strength. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then...
Little by little, it finally lowered. The vines above creaked under the weight until the log hung just close enough for him to reach.
Perfect.
He quickly seized one of the thick jungle vines supporting the trunk.
"If I tighten this..."
With both hands, he pulled the hanging log backward. Once it had moved far enough, he quickly wrapped the vine around it to hold it in place. The log strained against the vines, ready to shoot forward the instant it was set free.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
His injured leg trembled beneath him.
Just a little more...
A terrified scream echoed across the swamp.
Kairo looked up.
The giant alligator had moved even closer.
Its massive body glided silently through the black water.
Only a few meters remained. The girl struggled desperately, clawing at the muddy bank, but the swamp refused to let her go.
"No...!"
She kicked wildly as the creature's jaws slowly began to open.
Kairo's heartbeat quickened.
"...Come on..."
He yanked the vine harder.
The knot slipped.
"...DAMN IT!"
He grabbed it again with shaking fingers, pulling the vine tighter around the log.
The alligator advanced.
Closer.
Closer.
The distance between predator and prey shrank with every passing second.
Kairo swallowed.
"Hurry..."
His fingers moved as fast as they could, looping the vine once more before wrenching it tight with all his remaining strength.
The suspended trunk creaked under the immense tension.
The vines groaned.
The alligator was almost upon her.
Its enormous jaws began to rise from the swamp.
Kairo's eyes widened.
"...NOW!"
With a sharp pull, he released the binding vine, the heavy trunk exploded forward like a gigantic pendulum.
WHAM!
The massive log slammed into the side of the alligator's head with a deafening crash.
Its enormous the beast's skull lurched violently sideways., sending muddy water spraying across the swamp.
The heavy trunk came crashing down with tremendous force, slamming into the side of the alligator's head with a thunderous
THUD!
The beast's massive head snapped violently to the side, sending muddy water spraying in every direction.
It wasn't enough to knock the creature over, but it was enough.
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The girl's eyes widened in shock.
"W-What...?"
She looked around frantically, unable to understand what had just happened.
From above the embankment, Kairo shouted,
"DON'T JUST STARE!"
"GET OUT OF THERE!"
The beast growled deeply, shaking off the impact, its massive head slowly swinging back toward the struggling girl. The attack had only delayed it—it hadn't changed its target.
The girl didn't hesitate.
Whoever had saved her didn't matter.
This was her chance.
She dug her knees into the wet grass and forced herself forward, dragging her exhausted body farther from the swamp.
Behind her, the alligator let out another guttural growl.
It wasn't giving up.
Its massive body continued crawling out of the murky water, thick legs sinking into the mud as it slowly closed the distance once again.
From the embankment above, Kairo's heart sank.
"...Damn it."
His eyes darted to the suspended log.
After striking the beast, it had swung back toward him, hanging within reach once more.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed it with both hands and pulled.
Pain exploded through his injured leg.
"Urgh...!"
His calf buckled beneath him, forcing him to grit his teeth against the agony.
Even so, he refused to let go.
He dragged the heavy log backward, using every ounce of strength he had before releasing it once more.
The trunk swung through the air with tremendous force.
WHOOSH!
But this time...
It missed.
The log swept past the alligator's head by inches before crashing harmlessly into the muddy bank.
Kairo's eyes widened.
"No...!"
The beast barely acknowledged the failed attack, its cold eyes remained fixed on the fleeing girl as it lumbered relentlessly toward her.
Then...
Kairo noticed something.
A bag.
It lay only a few meters ahead of the girl, half-buried in the grass where she had dropped it while fleeing.
The girl saw it too.
With the last of her strength, she lunged forward and snatched it.
She tore it open with trembling hands.
Inside...
A flare gun.
Without a moment's hesitation, she spun around and aimed directly at the charging
alligator.
BANG!
The flare shot erupted from the barrel in a streak of blazing red.
The beast opened its jaws just as the flare reached it.
The projectile disappeared straight into its mouth.
A violent burst of force exploded inside its jaws.
The alligator reeled backward with a deafening roar, its massive head snapping upward as it thrashed wildly in pain.
Its powerful tail lashed through the swamp, sending muddy water spraying in every direction before the beast retreated into the murky lake with an enraged bellow.
A wave of relief washed over Kairo.
The alligator was gone.
His body finally gave in to the strain. He let himself fall onto his back, breathing heavily as he stared up through the canopy overhead.
"Great! ...What a way to start."
His chest rose and fell with slow, uneven breaths.
For a moment...
He simply lay there, listening to the distant rustle of leaves.
Below, the girl slowly climbed to her feet.
Her breathing was still ragged from the ordeal, but she was safe.
She brushed the mud from her clothes before turning toward the embankment where the warning had come from.
"...Hello?"
No answer.
Her amber eyes scanned the ridge above.
"Who's there?"
Silence...
Frowning, she began climbing the slope, using roots and rocks to pull herself upward.
"...Hello?"
Still nothing.
As she reached the top of the embankment, she froze.
"...A boy?"
Surprise flashed across her face.
He looked to be around her age, though slightly shorter than she was. His dark ponytail hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweat, while his chest rose and fell in slow, exhausted breaths. Lying there so quietly, his youthful features carried an innocence that made him seem far too young to have thrown himself in front of a monster.
Realization dawned on her.
"...He was the one who saved me?"
Without another thought, she hurried to his side and dropped to one knee beside him.
"...Hey."
"Are you alright?"
Kairo's eyelids fluttered.
Slowly...
He opened his eyes.
Kneeling beside him was a girl about his age.
She was slightly taller than him, with a slender frame that made her look almost delicate. Her blonde hair was tied neatly behind her head, leaving a few loose strands framing a face softened by worry. Sharp amber eyes studied him carefully, searching for any sign that he was conscious.
For a brief moment, Kairo simply stared.
Before he could answer, her gaze dropped to his leg.
Her expression changed instantly.
"...You're badly injured!"
A long gash stretched across his left calf, the makeshift bandage around it already stained red.
She looked back at him and shook her head.
"Don't try to talk."
"I have a first-aid kit."
Without waiting for a reply, she carefully slipped one of his arms over her shoulders and helped him to his feet.
The moment weight touched his injured leg.
"URGH..."
Kairo gritted his teeth as pain shot through his calf.
"I know," the girl said gently. "Just hang on a little longer."
Supporting most of his weight, she slowly guided him down the embankment.
Once they reached the lower ground, she glanced nervously toward the surrounding forest.
"This area is full of wild animals," she said, keeping her voice low. "There's a cave not far from here."
She adjusted her grip around his arm.
"We'll be safer there."
She looked at him with quiet determination.
"So... just hang on."
Together, they disappeared into the dense undergrowth, leaving the swamp and the lurking predator behind.