Think

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<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio examplemusic1 fadeout>> <<audio examplemusic2 fadeout>> <<audio birdsandwind fadeout>> I looked up ahead into the dense green vegetation, to the right the [[track]] wound its way around ancient tropical towers of wood and leaf.<img src ="Images/EastPath.gif" alt="The path to my right" align="middle"/>The ground around the track was saturated in soft leaf litter that came with its own signature earthy smell of rot, and of death. Scattered about, various vegetation clung<img src ="Images/leaflitter.jpg" alt="Any patch of sunlight" align="middle"/> and set precarious root under any patch of life giving sunlight. Where there was a death, where a giant once stood, numerous species of plant life now scrambled and fought for every bit of nutrient and space, hoping that they someday would be the majestic giant themselves.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> As I opened the backpack I couldn't help but shake my head in bewilderment of how I actually came to this predicment.<img src ="Images/memory1.png" alt="First thought" align="middle"/> Faint memories and scenes raced through my head, as I tried to trace the clues, and connect<img src ="Images/memory3.gif" alt="Second thought" align="middle"/> the dots, trying to figure out what happened. All i could vaguely remember was lights, flashing<img src ="Images/memory4.png" alt="Fourth thought" align="middle"/> lights. My head ached with a dull throb from dehydration, the snippets of thoughts, melded together,rotating,<img src ="Images/memory5.gif" alt="Confusing thoughts" align="middle"/> seemingly mocking me for my lack of memory. Forcing me to just concentrate on the matter immediately at hand. In bright yellow lights the words and thoughts "''Think'', survive and get home" appeared in my mind. The lights blinking and ticking as the message burned [[inside]] the eyes of my thoughts. Thinking and reaching into the backpack at the same time I was brought back to reality when I felt my hand touch something cold and metallic. Quickly extracting it, a silver flask was revealed and when I shook it I could hear something inside.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio mistake play>> I turned the back pack upside down and shook it so that it's contents spilled to the ground. A small picnic rug fell out first, followed by a box of assorted cheeses. "Mmmmmmm awesome," I thought to myself, licking my lips in anticipation. I shook the bag some more and a few packets of trail mix and corn chips dropped to the ground and then I saw it. In the process of shaking the the bag, it fell, more accurately, was flung from the bag. It caught my eye as a flash of sunlight glanced off its screen, momentarily blinding me. In slow motion I watched it rise into the air, spinning, revolving as it reach its arc and then returned to the earth, choosing a large rock as its projected landing pad. "Noooooooo!!" My mind screamed. If my throat wasn't so parched, I would have yelled out loud in pure anguish. I launched myself towards the falling phone and dived with my arms outstretched, hands and fingers reaching desperately. I felt my knees and elbows scrape along the hard surface and as my body landed and bounced with a dull thump, I felt the phone fall into my outstretched palm. My fingers curled around it like a protective cage as my hand and wrist crashed against the rock. "Owwww! You idiot!!" I berated myself, wincing from the dive. "''Think! Think! Think'' before you act!" I forcefully and pointedly reminded myself. Fortunately only a bit of gravel rash and a sore wrist was all that hurt. With a sigh of relief I placed everything back into the backpack. I looked at the phone and pressed the power [[button]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio success play>> Taking heed to my Dad's voice and ''thinking'' first I reached once more into the bag and felt around carefully. I pulled out the little plastic bags I could feel, to reveal packets of Trail mix and corn chips, as well as revealing a box of assorted cheeses. "Crackers would also be nice" I absentmindly thought to myself as I reached back inside. My fingers felt and then grasped a small rectangular object. I could feel a smooth section as well as a bumpy section which to my delight felt like a phone. I excitedly withdrew my hand and opened it to reveal a small mobile phone. "Oh thank you Lord!" I thought. I gingerly felt for the power [[button]] and pressed it. The screen slowly glowed and came to life. "Yessss!" I exclaimed out loud. .

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> Soon the screen glowed and slowly came to life. I looked at the signal bar and quickly stood up to see if I could get a better signal. Any signal at all. I spun around and walked a few steps, mounted a large rock and held the phone out and up in the air like an offering to some god. I looked yearningly at the signal bar, taking note that the word Vodafone was displayed beside where the bars should be. No signal. "Dammit" I cursed. "So much for your guaranteed coverage Vodafone, you lying bastards!" I muttered angrily to myself. I slumped back to the ground, feeling dejected and lost. Once again my thoughts raced away trying to remember, trying to ''think'' how I got here. Everything was a blur, some sort of fog masked my memories. All I could remember was music. No matter how hard I wracked my brain, nothing volunteered itself, my mind was blank. "Oh! Well it's not totally hopeless." I said to myself trying to put a positive spin on things. "Positive spin?" another part of my conscious asked before continuing. "Are you mad?" Realising that I was just starting to argue with myself and wanting to take my mind of the phone failure, I decided to eat something to restore some strength. I slowly opened the pack of Trail mix, there were still another six bags and 2 bags of corn chips left along with the cheese, so food was not an issue for the immediate future, but water was. As I munched on the mix, I noticed the side pockets on the backpack and opened them one by one. A utility knife and tool combo was in one pouch and a box of matches and beanie was in the other. Nothing else was in the back pack even when I carefully turned it upside down and checked it out completely. "Not too bad," I thought to myself. "As long as I don't panic and ''think'', I gotta good chance of making it outta here!" I continued [[thinking]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> My mind replayed what I had found in the back pack, which meant that except for water and not knowing where the hell I was, the situation was not that dire yet. I looked at the phone again and went through the apps, hoping to find something useable and relevant. Unfortunately there was nothing on the phone that I could even remotely think was useful in this situation. "First thing first, is to decide which way to go." I mumbled to myself. I looked up at the sun and tried to judge what time it was. It looked like it was afternoon, "but how late in the afternoon was it?" After a couple of moments squinting my eyes and trying my best to ''think'' I realised the stupidity of my actions when I remembered that the phone had a clock. "Dammit! ''Think! Think!''" I told myself, forcefully shaking my head, as if that would help the situation. "It's going to get dark in a couple of hours," I thought, before replying to myself. "Better find somewhere to shelter for the night, no use stumbling around in the dark". "So which way? How do I decide?" I asked myself. Remembering a tip I learnt many years ago from a survival magazine I absent mindedly picked up in a waiting room once, I changed the time display on the phone to an analogue clock face. I placed the phone on the ground with the ''hour hand pointing directly at the sun. I then drew an imaginary line in between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock on the watch face, which revealed to me where north and south lay.'' Looking around, the path went both east and west. I knew that choosing east would eventually lead me to the coast[img[Images/wayeast.jpg][East]] and choosing west would lead me to the mountains.[img[Images/westway.jpg][West]] The question was which way to turn? Going east could lead me to the coast and more chance of running or stumbling upon a road or some civilization. Whilst going west, would take me into the mountains, which could possibly give me a better chance of finding a signal on the phone or at least a better view of where I was. Turning the phone off to conserve power, I packed it inside the backpack and made my choice and set off.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet">"East would and should mean mainly travelling down hill which should be easier." I justified to myself as I gathered up the backpack and started to walk east down the track. The rough track started to descend gently and twisted and turned but generally took me in an easterly direction. Slowly the fauna around me changed from dark dense tropical rainforest into more open eucalypt forest and grassland, which also allowed the sun to beat down unmercifully upon me. I stopped and leant up against the papery flakey trunk of a eucalypt and took a sip from the flask. The cool liquid refreshed my mouth and throat, my tongue licked at my cracked lips bringing slight relief. I looked up at the sun and thought "I better find some water soon, this sun's gonna kill me." I continued walking until the track started to get notably steeper with its decent. Soon he was climbing down the face of a steep incline, the track twisted and corkscrewed down the slope. Every so often my boots would slip on loose gravel and I was forced to snatch at any handholds to prevent myself from tumbling down. I reached the bottom of the steep incline and came to a fork in the track with a sign. I excitedly trotted to the sign only to be dismayed to see that someone had come along and scratched the face of the display, erasing any helpful or useful information. "Why?!" I yelled in [[frustration]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> Thinking that the best and quickest option out of this predicament was to re-establish communications, so I turned to the west path and started to walk.<img location = "centre" img src ="Images/slightincline.png" alt="The path to my right" /> The path started to steadily climb at a minimal rate so the going was quite easy but the sun still penetrated the rainforest floor with rays of heat that caused the leaf litter to emit steam as it decomposed slowly. To my left the ground rose in a steep incline and was covered in the usual rainforest debris, vegetation and leaf litter making it slippery and dangerous to try and climb. To my right the path dropped off equally as steep before disappearing into a sea of green. My first priority was water so my ears listened out attentively for the sound of water, [[running water]].As I walked for the next hour or so every now and then the wind would rush up confusing and raising my hopes, fooling me that it was the sound of water close to me. My heart would quicken and my hopes would be raised only to be dashed once I realised that the wind and trees were playing tricks on me.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> "Might as well keep going the way I was" I justified to myself for picking the easterly path. I walked for a while, eagerly looking for any signs of life or some sign of civilization but found nothing. "It's gonna be dark soon, so I better find shelter." I reminded myself as I trudged down the path. The track continued through the same vegetation, tall brown grasses, lorded over by the tall and numerous eucalypt, which gave a dappled shade, but still no real protection from the sun. I grabbed the flask and took another sip, savouring every drop and sensation of freshness, I noticed that there was probably only a mouthful left. My heart quickened with apprehension as I knew the water situation was becoming dire. I continued to trudge along wearily and as the sun settled lower in the horizon there was still no sign of water or any shelter. "Best pull up now and organise before nightfall" I thought to myself angrily, realising that I was going to spend an uncomfortable night in the open with no water. I walked a bit further in the vain hope of finding somewhere, something, anything more suitable but nothing revealed itself. Then just off the path I noticed two trees that had large horizontal branches that intertwined with each other, forming a rudimentary cover of sorts. <img location = "centre" img src ="Images/treeshelter.png" alt="The branches formed some cover" />I walked of the path and checked the area out. The trees had over time littered the area under them with ample leaf litter which made it quite soft. The high grasses surrounding the little alcove were high and dense enough to block out a lot of the wind. Satisfied I placed my backpack beneath the limbs and then proceeded to look for something to burn, some [[firewood]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> With nothing to guide me, I decided to take the north easterly path, quickening my pace, knowing that darkness can't be that far off. After walking for a short while the environment changed and the path curved around the base of a large rock cliff face, the path got rougher with larger rocks strewn about the path and beside it. There were tell tale signs of where water had run its course some time in the past. It also got notably colder as the cliff started to aprehend any afternoon sunlight, leaving the path bathed in a dullness that resembled a false surreal almost magical twilight. <img src ="Images/cliffface.jpg" alt="The rock face" /> The wind also started to be felt, its cold fingers brushed against my cheeks as I pulled my jacket up around my neck. To the left of me was a steep slope that disappeared into a blanket of dense green, whilst to the right, the cold hard rock offered even less comfort. As I trudged on, feeling less sure of my choice on each step, I heard it. At first I thought it was the tugging fingers of the wind, rushing past and rustling the leaves but as I walked further the sound got [[louder]]. "Water!?" My mind jumped excitedly, half question, half exclamation.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio backgroundsounds fadein play>> I wandered around the area looking for any piece of wood that I could find. I decided to return to my camp site, reaching it just as the darkness finally encroached all around me, chasing away the last vestiges of light, surrounding me in a cool and ink black darkness. I had not allowed myself enough time to collect sufficient fuel. The twigs and small branches I had gathered were ideal for starting a fire but nothing to really sustain it through the cold night. I quickly scraped out an area free of leaf and bark litter and placed the twigs and branches in a neat pile, layering them so as to get the best burn possible. I rolled up clumps of grass and placed them in the pile. Looking at my inadequate supplies of fuel to burn, I couldn't help but think that I really should get some more, but due to the darkness, I decided that it was probably too dangerous to venture out into the darkness without anything to help me see. As I finished that thought, I remembered the phone and once I retrieved it, I quickly turned it on and looked for the torch app. "Okay! Cool, this is going to help." I thought as I found the torch app and turned it on whilst also noting that there was still 3/4 strength left in the battery. I stood up to look around, the torch light lit up the area catching out the white papery bark of trees in a stark spotlight as if they were being interrogated, casting long shadows that intersected and lay across each other on the tall grasses, before again being swallowed by the darkness as the torches gaze moved on. I quickly walked around my chosen site for the night in a circular direction, slowly increasing it as I completed a pass. My torch light exposed twisted shapes of limbs, broken and twisted on the ground, scattered about, cast aside. After about 20 minutes or so of searching, I was satisfied I had collected a substantial amount of firewood. The darkness and surrounds had an uncanny knack of making everything look totally different confusing my mind where I had actually first set out from. I finally found the site after some difficulty in the darkness, and it was only when the torch light caught a glance at my back pack that I was able to recognize my chosen site. I dropped the gathered fuel for the fire and looked at the torch, realising that the battery power was down to half way already, I quickly turned it off, which plunged me into an instant blackness. "Well that was stupid." I said to my self as I fumbled in the darkness. In the pitch blackness I quickly reached into the back pack and pulled out the matches. With shaking hands I tried to stike a match,only to have it snap in my hands. "''Stop!Think!''"I scolded myself. Forcing myself to breathe, I calmly struck the next match and it burst into flame, relief flooded over me but was quickly replaced by concern as I cupped my hands over the match and applied it to the grass. I held it close and watched as the grass glowed and withered but would not light. Very quickly the match reached its life span and I dropped it onto the grass hoping it would ignite. When it died in a small puff of smoke I felt despair. "*''Come on! Think!''" I again berated myself. Suddenly I remembered the corn chips. I quickly retrieved a packet from the back pack and opened it, spilling some of the chips on the ground. I grabbed the fallen chips and despite the irresistible urge to eat them cos they were CC's I placed them in and around a clump of grass. Striking another match, I applied it to the corn chips and to my delight the corn chip flared up and burst into flames, igniting the other chips and soon the grass was burning [[fiercely]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio smallfire volume 0.5 play>> <<audio backgroundsounds play>> I woke up with a start, rubbing my eyes and blinking to try accustom them to the darknessand I noticed the glowing embers of the fire. The branches and larger pieces had burned through their middles, and the fire was in danger of dying due to lack of combustable fuel. At the same time I felt the chill of the wind as it blew gently through the trees, now and then it would get stronger, rustling everything around me, sending a shiver down my spine. I quickly grabbed some grass from around me and rolled them into balls before placing them on the coals, I then grabbed my remaining pile of twigs and placed them on top as well. Gently blowing on them until the light of flames lit up and bathed my face in its orange glow. I yawned as I wondered what time it was before retrieving more grass and throwing it onto the flames carefully so as not to smother it. Once some of the larger twigs were well alight I gathered the ends of the larger branches and placed them on the fire.Blowing on it until they started to glow with embers, satisfied, I allowed myself to lie back down.<img location = "centre" img src ="Images/campfire.gif" alt="The fire burned well" />Feeling cold I turned so my back was as close to the fire as I dared and tried to sleep. After a couple of minutes I knew that sleep was not going to come easy until I could get warm enough. I drew my jacket around me as I stood up and ventured out into the darkness. I felt and scrambled around trying to find anything decent to burn. Soon I had a handful of twigs and fallen branches which I returned to the fire quickly and eagerly. Placing each piece of timber on the fire, I soon had it roaring and lighting up the trees and grasses around me. I gratefully sat back down and as I rubbed my hands and enjoyed the wonderful warmth created by the fire, I first noticed it, or rather [[sensed it]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio smallfire volume .8 play>> <<audio backgroundsounds fadeout stop>> The light of the fire lit up my surrounds with yellow and orange hues. Where the darkness swallowed the fire's light a set of eyes glowed yellow as it silently observed me. Except for the sound of the crackling flames, the bush went eerily quiet. I pretended to not notice the set of eyes, and even though my heart quickened and the adrenaline coursed through my veins, I slowly reached out for the back pack and trying to not show any urgency, I slowly removed the utility knife. Feeling the cool metal in my hands, I qickly fumbled to fold out the knife section. I ran my fingers along the knife edge, trying to judge how sharp it was and if it was going to make a good enough defensive or offensive weapon. Satisfied that it would cut and make something bleed as well as being a suitable stabbing weapon, I returned my attention to the silent observer in the dark. Without taking my focus off the eyes, I held the utility knife in my right hand, out of sight, waiting and watching to see if the eyes would move. For what seemed like an eternity I watched and waited, the eyes blinked a few times but still no movement. I shifted my weight slightly to ease the pressure on my backside, in the process my legs disturbed some gravel on the ground. As the gravel scraped against my legs, the sound seemed to reverberate all around me and suddenly the eyes disappeared. In the darkness I could make out and hear a dark shape crashing through the bushes. I stood up and yelled "Yeah, you better run" with a false courage. I walked to the edge of where the fire's light could reach and peered out into the darkness, half expecting something to jump out and attack me. I felt something touch my neck, with a loud shriek and a jump back towards the fire I flailed wildly with the utility knife, before sheepishly realising that it was just a branch that had brushed against me. Chuckling nervously to myself I sat back down on the rug and tried to relax. Trying to distract myself, I placed some more sticks and grasses on the fire until it was roaring and spread its light further encroaching upon the darkness. Feeling somewhat safer I allowed myself to relax as I considered what I ''should do next''. [[go to sleep]] or [[stay awake]]

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio nightandwater volume 0.6 play>> <<audio smallfire volume 1.1 play>> To one side was nothing but blackness so dark, that only around the fire, the rock wall and ceiling glowed in its light.In front of me, in the skies there was an invariable light show. Pin pricks of light, too many to count, dotted and speckled the dark sky. Whole bands of <img location = "center" img src ="Images/nightsky.gif" alt="The night sky" />miniscule stars formed dust like clouds of light surrounding larger, brighter celestial objects. This beautiful tapestry of light was interjected every now and then with space debris and fallen stars burning up leaving behind bright trails that stretched across the skies before disappearing into nothingness<img src ="Images/shootingstar.gif" alt="A shooting star" />as they died. Despite my situation, I couldn't help but enjoy the scene before me. Dark tree shapes, punctured the sky, blocking out parts of the majestic view,<img src = "Images/darkshapes1.jpg" alt = "The trees silhouette"/> creating strange silohuettes. If I allowed my imagination to run wild I could have created imaginary fears and dreads<img src = "Images/darkshapes.gif" alt = "The trees silhouette jumped out"/> of the night but strangely instead I felt calm. The darkness, the solitude and despite the situation, I felt no fear, felt no panic, just a strange calmness. Somehow I knew I would get through this just as long as I ''didn't panic'' and ''thought'' before I acted, I should be okay I reassured myself. I watched the light show and listened to the sounds of the jungle at night, creaking limbs, the rustling of leaves and swaying branches, combined with the nocturnal habits of the wildlife, created a cacophany but yet strange orchestra of pleasant and comforting sounds. I threw some more pieces of wood on the fire and satisfied that it would burn through the night, I allowed myselfself to close my eyes and sleep. Exhaustion overcame my eyes as they drooped close, reminding me exactly how tired I was despite it still being early. "It will be clearer in the [[morning]]." I thought to myself as I drifted off into a deep sleep.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio nightandwater volume 0.6 play>> <<audio smallfire volume 0.2 play>> <<audio birds volume 1.2 play>> I woke to the sound of birds, running water and the first rays of warmth poking through the darkness and trees. I blinked a couple of times as I grew accustomed to the faint day light. I sat up, yawned and then stretched my aching bones. I was sore, but surprisingly I had slept quite well and quite deeply due to the ordeals of yesterday no doubt. I looked out into the jungle and the morning sky, the sky was obscured with segments of mist as it swirled gently in the morning breeze. The trees were cloaked in the grey-whiteness of the mist,<img src = "Images/mistytrees.gif" alt = "The trees were covered in mist"/> like apparitions they appeared and disappeared as the wind gently pushed the mist through their midst.The water bubbled, trickled and splashed as it playfully danced amongst the rocks making its way down stream, disappearing into the mass of green. A bird I could not recognize called out as if to greet the day, which was soon answered by others scattered out among the green [[mass]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio smallfire volume 1.2. play>> <<audio backgroundsounds fadein play>> Waiting for a few more minutes I slowly started to feel more relaxed as I strained my ears and eyes trying to discern any audible or visual clues to the strange creature that was out there. Not hearing or seeing anything over the roar and crackling of the fire, I allowed myself to breath a sigh of relief and totally relax. Just to be sure as well as reassuring myself I yelled "Yeah you better not come back! I got you covered, whatever the hell you are!" into the darkness. Strangely, by yelling out, I felt a bit stronger and braver and the normal noises of the bush and night resumed, which helped me decide that it was probably best and safe enough to sleep till [[the sunrise]]. I checked the fire once more, satisfied it was going to remain alive until morning I lay my head back down, but left the utility knife in my hands as I closed my eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio scarymusic fadein volume 0.5 play>> <<audio smallfire fadein play>> <<audio animalmoving volume 1.2 play>> As the figure and noise it made as it crashed through the bush died away, my imagination started to run riot. Images of bush monsters, yowies and other legends of the bush started to conjure in my mind, creating all sorts of imaginary fears and dangers. Feeling insecure and with one eye on the surrounding darkness I quickly gathered up more sticks and grasses and threw them on the fire, feeding it so that it soon grew into a roar and its light illuminated more of the surrounding darkness. "Great, I'm not gonna get any sleep now" I thought to myself. "Best to see if I can keep this fire going all night now" Hesitantly I stood up, clutching the utility knife in one hand I scanned the darkness searching for any sign of the eyes. Not seeing anything I ventured a little into the darkness and started to search for more timber. As I got further away from the light of the fire, my nerves were being stretched taut and at any noise or movement I was startled. "''Get a grip on yourself!''" I exclaimed. When I was abot 50 metres away from the fire, I stumbled across a large branch on the ground. Stopping myselfself from falling, he quickly grabbed the branch. It was only about a metre long and felt as thick as my arm leading me to think "It won't burn for long, but it should make a good weapon." I placed the utility knife in my pocket and picked up the branch and layed it over one shoulder, feeling more secure I continued to look for more fuel for the fire. After a couple more minutes of scrambling around in the darkness I had collected a decent amount of timber and by this time I could only just make out the glow of the fire in the distance. Realising how far away from being comfortable I was, I gathered up as much fuel as he could in one hand and proceeded to walk back towards the safety of the fire light. As I took a few steps I heard a sound behind me like something charging through the bush. I panicked and dropped the timber and spun around in one movement holding the branch like a baseball bat. In the darkness I could make out a dark shape running towards me, I froze momentarily before snapping out of my trance. Raising the branch I waited for the sound and shape to get closer, straining my muscles as I gripped the branch tightly. I could feel the rough bark bite into the palm of my hands as I stood tensed and ready. As the shape and noise got louder I braced myself and then waiting for the right moment I swung the branch with all my might. I felt the branch strike something solid and heard it crack and splinter as it smashed into the shape, there was a dull thump of flesh being struck but no other sound was emitted as the shape stumbled and then crashed away into the darkness. Gathering up as much fallen woood as I could, I half ran, half stumbled and scambled back to the fire. Half expecting something to grab me from behind, my breathing and pace quickend as I crashed through the bush. Looking over my shoulder I ran into a tree and bounced of and crashed into the ground. Cursing to myself I allowed half the pile of sticks to fall to the floor as I staggered back to my feet and continued my flight back to [[safety]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio smallfire play>> <<audio animalmoving fadein volume 1.2 play>> "Yeah!No! Fuck that!" I thought to myself as I stumbled back into the familiar and safe light off the fire. I dropped the remaining pile of sticks and realising that I would probably have to go out there again to gather more. With a audible sigh, I placed the sticks neatly on the fire and watched them burn as I tried to calm down and breath properly. "What the hell was that?" and a hundred other questions raced through my mind as I tried to reconcile in my brain what had just happened. Before I could even start to answer, I heard the noise of something running around the camp site. Sounding very close, but agonisingly just out of revelation in the fire light. I stood up and grabbed a burning branch from the fire as well as groped for my utility knife from my pockets. For a brief moment I performed a wierd dance as I held the burning branch aloft and my other hand tried to extract the knife. "Mental note to self, store the fucking knife somewhere easier to get!" I cursed myselfelf silently as I finally pulled it loose only to almost drop it. "''Stop! Think!''" My mind screamed as I juggled and finally secured it. I allowed myself a brief moment to take a deep breath before putting the branch down and opening the knife with both hands. Picking the branch back up I waved it around towards the darkness and the sound. By now it seemed the sound was everywhere, all around me, making me spin and jump around in frightful reaction to every sound of disturbance in the darkness. I tried to calm myself down but the situation was getting to me and I knew I was fast losing it. Losing all patience I yelled into the blackness "Well come on then! Come get me." My voice straining and spitting with venom and anger. I got startled by a sound behind me, spinning around quickly and in anger I [[threw]] the burning branch in that direction.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio smallfire play>> <<audio animalmoving fadein volume 1.2 play>> The branch spun off into the darkness momentarily lighting up the trees as it cartwheeled through the air. It hit a tree and bounced off, landing in a clump of dried grass, which almost instantaneously burst into flames. "Whoah!" I involunatrily backed away even though the stick had landed a few metres from my camp site. As the grass started to burn I caught a glimpse of a dark hairy shape, disappear into the black of the night. Looking at where the shape had disappeared and then back at the fire that had started, I realised that I had better go an put it out before it spread, making me jump from the frying pan directly into the fire. "But!That thing?" My mind argued. "Stuff it!" I replied as I ran sideways towards the burning bush, facing the direction where I last saw the shape. I quickly reached the fire and proceeded to stamp it out. ignoring the smell, smoke and heat I continued to stamp and grind with my boots until I was satisfied that it was completely dead. Then realising I was in the dark again, I freaked and started to run back to the camp fire. As I got closer to the fire lights outter limit, something rushed out from the same side the shape had disappeared and brushed against my legs. With a scream that would have put a teenage girl to shame,I shrieked and lashed out with my knife, only to feel it brush of a hairy hide as it was knocked from my grasp. Just as quickly the shape disappeared. I scrambled back towards the fire and upon reaching it, grabbed another burning branch and waved it wildly about. [[Silence]]

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio scarymusic fadein volume 0.5 play>> <<audio smallfire play>> As I waved the burning branch wildly trying to light up the area as much as possible I suddenly realised the silence. Not a rustling of leaves, grass, nothing. I would have thought I had gone deaf or was hallucinating if it was not for the sound of the fire crackling behind me and the woody smell of smoke. I tensed myself waiting, anticipating something to charge out of the darkness and finish me as I now had no knife. The silence only served to increase the tension, my nerves at snapping point, every fibre of my being, strained, ready to react, ready for something, anything. Cold sweat beaded my forehead and my palms were sweaty. Hating the feeling as well as realising that I was scared, I slowly rubbed them against my jeans. Hoping that the simple action would also wipe away my fear and nervousness. It was as if the bush was taunting me with its silence, waiting to see if I would snap, if I would make the first move and break. The silence was almost deafening as my mind continued to race, allowing itself to conjure up all sorts of images and thoughts. "Come on something happen, anything" I thought trying to interupt my slowly running away train of thoughts. I stood there for a couple of minutes, searching, seeking the darkness for any sign of movement. Nerves stretched, muscles and sinews strained, eyes darting from side to side, like a sentinal, not daring to take my eyes of the darkness. After what seemed like an eternity filled with a surreal silence punctuated only by the crackling of the fire I allowed myself to start to [[relax]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio smallfire play>> Just as I started to relax and let down my guard, I saw them again. The set of yellow eyes, appeared, staring at me, unblinking from the darkness. I tensed my body again, and thought to myself "Shoud I just [[ignore]] it, or should I [[throw another stick]] at it?" "Come on, ''think'' about this." I reminded myself.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio success play>> <audio scarymusic stop>> "Stuff this!"I thought to myself. "If it was going to get me, it would have got me by now" I reasoned. Slowly and hesitantly, half expecting to be set upon at any moment I turned away from the staring yellow eyes and started to place more sticks on the fire. Still keeping one eye on the eyes but making an act of carrying on as if all was normal, I gathered my back pack and moved my rug closer to the fire. Checking the pile and making sure I still had a few left over for the morning as well as keeping a larger one handy I turned back to where the eyes were. The eyes were still there, staring, unblinking except for narrowing every now and then as I made any movement. Trying to ignore their gaze, I slowly lay down on the rug and gathering the back pack I placed my head down facing the eyes. "How on earth am I going to sleep?" I asked myself. Suddenly a light bulb exploded in my head. "Sunglasses!!" "Maybe, I can fool this thing to think I am still watching?" I further reasoned. Deciding that there was nothing to lose trying it, I grabbed my sunglasses from my top pocket of my jacket and placed them over my eyes. Everything turned a shade darker including the staring unblinking eyes. I lay my head down and continued to stare at the eyes from under the sunglasses, satisfied that it was not going to move, I allowed my body to relax and my eyes started to close. "See you in the morning, I hope I get to see [[the sunrise]]?" was my last thoughts as I found myself drifting off into an exhausted sleep.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio forestfire play>> <<audio scarymusic fadein volume 1.2 play>> Growing impatient and more annoyed at the waiting and watching eyes I finally snapped and grabbing another burning branch from the fire, I cast it with all my might towards the eyes. The flaming branch twisted and twirled through the air, creating cartwheels of fire light as it journeyed. Only as it got closer to where the eyes were, which by now had totally vanished once again, I realised that the branch was quite a bit larger than the last one. This also meant that the flame that it piggybacked on its journey from the fire was also quite a lot larger than the earlier flaming stick I threw. As if in slow motion in orange and yellow hues the scene played out before myself. The branch and passenger of fire returned back to the earth with a thump right on top of a rock. Just as I started to breathe a sigh of relief, the branch bounced and hundreds of sparks like a fireworks burst outwards showering the dry grasses and debris that had patiently gathered around the rock undisturbed for ages until now. As if co-ordinated by some pyrotechnician, in near perfect unison the multiple sparks from the shower of light landed and instantly ignighted everything they touched. The dryness, the brittleness made perfect conditions for an eruption of flame, which started to burn fiercly as if fanned by the beasts of hell themselves. <img location = "centre" img src ="Images/bushfire.gif" alt="The fire created a bushfire" />My eyes were transfixed, hardly comprehending and believing what had just happened and what was unfolding before my very eyes at a almost surreal rate. Slowly as I watched the tongues of flame light up and lick at the darkness, my mind screamed for me to run or to do something, but I stayed rooted to the spot, unable to tear my eyes away from the unfolding scene. Slowly as if in a drunken haze, I felt my limbs start to respond as the fire flared and started to jump from grass to grass, igniting them into a bonfire of light. Almost exploding from their dryness, the cracked and popped as the fire took hold, the light and the noises peircing the [[darkness]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio smallfire fadeout stop>> <<audio backgroundsounds fadeout stop>> My eyes opened and I got up with a start, my sunglasses half hanging of my face like some dishelvelled party goer just returning to reality. I quickly glanced around furitively to a scene that made me blink a few times to make sure I was awake and not dreaming. <img location = "centre" img src ="Images/mistytrees.gif" alt="The mist shrouded the trees" /> Mist blanketed the area reducing the sun to a dull yellow orb, every now and then when the light breeze permitted, shafts of sunlight would break through and catch a tree or grass in a natural spotlight before disappearing and returning to that misty haze. Once again there was silence,not a sound just an eerie stillness permeated the area made worse by trees and branches appearing and fading away like apparitions as the mist moved among them. I looked at the fire and was relieved to still see burning embers with a light grey smoke slowly wafting and mingling with the whiteness of the mist before being swallowed up itself. I stood and stretched my sore limbs and noticing for the first time the grazes on my elbows and forearms. I also noticed on my jeans a tear and underneath three scratch marks running parallel. They were deeper scratches but didn't require any medical attention which was a relief. I was amazed that I had not felt anything last night, but with the adrenaline running through me at the time, I was not surprised. Not seeing any sign of the beast from last night, I walked around the camp trying to see where I had dropped the utility knife as well as see if there was any signs left from last nights encounter. As I searched I also collected any burnable bits of wood until with a start I realised I could no longer see the campsite. My preoccupation with searching for the knife made me forget about the mist and its deceptive nature. "Ohhhhh Shit!" I said to myself. "This is not good, not good at all" the voice in my head rose a little in panic. "''Think, come one, think!''" I chided myself. I struggled to fight the panic building inside myself. The slow tightening of the muscles and the dryness of my mouth but yet dampness of my palms also reminded me that I had nothing to drink since yesterday. "''Think,think!''" Forcing myself to calm down I couldn't help feeling disgusted at myself for my susceptability to panic. "''Panic'' is what's going to ''kill'' you!" I berated myself. Not knowing what the time was but also reasoning that the mist should lift once it got hot enough I had decided I had two options. [[Wait]] or try find my [[way back]]?

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio nightandwater fadeout stop>> Deciding to take advantage of the coolness of the morning and not knowing how long it would last before the heat of the day saturated the land. I quickly gathered up his cheese and rug, packing it all carefully in the back pack, I then turned to the fire and started to extuingish it. I stomped and ground my boots,scattering the burning embers onto the flat rock that served as my bed the night before, and throwing some of the larger branches into the water. Despite the situation the paranoia of fire combined with my environmental leanings, I made sure that there was no chance of any fire spreading. Once satisifed as the last wafts of smoke left the ground out embers and branches, I finally started walking. The mist was still around but as due to the relentless pressure of the morning sun, it had retreated towards the cooler cliff face. Hugging the path and rock face, making it appear as if the rocks themselves were steaming. Any hollow or opening in the wall of natural rock was obscured by the mist. Not being able to see the the area closer to the rock wall, I stayed away from it an walked more towards the rainforest side and slope as I walked down the path. I followed the path as it ran parallel along the base of the ancient rock face. To my left the path quickly fell away with a steep incline that was quickly swallowed up with an assortment of tangled vines and thick greenery. The morning mist still lingered in hollows and crevices along the rock face <img location = "centre" img src ="Images/smallopening.gif" alt="The mist clung to the rock face" />and the cliff face afforded some shelter from the sun as I walked so my pace picked up. After estimating that I had walked for a couple of hours now and with the sun a quarter of the way through the day sky, I decided I needed to pull up soon, rest and eat. I soon came upon an area where the path went in between giant slivers of rock that had been spilt from the rock face by some powerful force in the past. The monolith slices of rock face, had slid away from the base of the cliff, leaving a large opening for one to walk through. Dwarfed by the entrance, I couldn't help but marvel at the forces of nature. Inside I was further diminished by the large cavern, which towered high above me with cathedral like heights. Sections of light penetrated down to the caverns floor from multiple holes in the ceiling, illuminating the space, but yet not warming it up.<img src ="Images/highceiling.jpg" alt="The immense cavern" />The ground beneath me squelched under my feet from the mud, signifying that inside never really received enough heat to [[dry out.]] Something in the back of my mind nagged me about the place. Something about why the ground was muddy and why it looked like a dried watercourse but I was too weary to give it further thought.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio nightandwater volume 0.6 play>> <<audio smallfire volume 1.2 play>> <<audio lightwind volume 1.2 play>> Feeling a bit at unease due to the mist shrouding my surroundings in the unknown, I decided to eat first. I fed the fire and warmed myself beside it. Ruing the fact I did not have a large steaming cappaccinno with a thick section of froth and dash of hazlenut I retrieved the cheese and threaded a large piece onto the end of a stick. I held the cheese over the fire and watched it start to bubble and fizzle before removing it and carefully nibbling at the edges. The soft, hot melting cheese spread an inner warmth inside my body and the taste seemed to be the most satisfying in the world. I then opened a packet of trail mix and devoured that greedily before washing down my morning meal with some fresh mountain water. Somewhat satisfied I sat there looking out at the rainforest. Where at night, unknown scary shadows and silohuettes had filled the sky and my eyes, causing my imagination to run riot, now were revealed to be majestic soaring giants of the forest, whose branches reached out to the sky. The sound of a gentle breeze wafted in and around the trees, rustling the leaves gently whilst birds called out and answered eachother. [[Feeling content]], I could have stayed there a lot longer but by now the mist had long vanished. <img location = "centre" img src ="Images/clearedup.jpg" alt="The mist had cleared" />Evaporated and vaporised into nothingness.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio birdsandwind fadein play>> <<audio smallfire fadeout stop>> <<audio backgroundsounds fadeout stop>> <<audio success play>> "Okay, calm down." I told myself. Reasoning that the sun would continue to rise and as it did, the heat would soon make all the mist disappeared. Best not to do anything but just sit and wait it out. Resigning myself to having to wait I dropped the collected sticks on the ground and sat down. The cool morning air felt fresh against my exposed face, a slight breeze wafted in and out slightly chilling me, but not making me too uncomfortable. I looked around and even now the mist had begun to thin, expanding my visibility to a couple of more metres, exposing more of the ghostly trunks that littered the area. Birds had begun to sing and call, greeting the slowly revealing sun as it painfully slowly began to emitt more of its celestial power. I started to gather up the sticks as I waited for the visibility to grow better and in almost a blink of an eye. As if some giant hand or breath had pushed the mist away, the sun suddenly was there, bright in the sky. It's as if the mist never even existed. I stood and looked around trying to see if I could see my campsite and too my delight and surprise it was to my right only about 20 metres away. I say surprise as my gut instinct had told me to go to my left when the mist had engulfed and befuddled my senses. Returning quickly to the campsite I realised that collecting firewood was all a moot point as I was not going to stay here. It would probably best to move now, before it gets too hot, and hopefully I find some [[water]] soon.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio mistake play>> <<audio scarymusic fadein play>> "I should be okay." Reasoning to myself that I couldn't have wandered that far and surely if I walked around in some sort of search pattern I would be okay. The mist suddenly got darker and thicker as if trying to warn me that my decision was probably not wise. The light of the morning sun was now reduced even more so that everything around me glowed in a light blue tinge, making it even harder to see what was right in front of me and around me. I could hardly make out individual trees through the thick haze as I stumbled through the grasses, which seemed to pop up right in front of me like some shaggy demon trying to trip me up, pull me to the ground. I started to stumble and then finally tripped over a long dead limb that had been cast aside causing my burden of fire wood to scatter before me. Cursing I picked myself up and looked around. With rising panic I realised that for all intents and purposes, I was blind. As if some supernatural force was at work, the fog had gotten unbelievably thick and swirled and congregated around my legs. "This is absolute madness" I thought to myself. All sense of peace and calmness had now started to depart, replaced instead with irrational fears and racing thoughts. Not pausing to ''think'', my brain way past that point. The gates of fear had been opened and the demons of dread and doom were unleashed. They roamed freely in my head, heralding my impending doom and disaster. My inner self lay curled , in a foetal positon covering my head and ears trying to block out their incessant messages and encouragment of gloom. "Nooooooooooo!" My mind screamed. The final vestige of rational and sanity had long gone. The pressure of the ordeal, the predicament, the encounter last night, then this. all combined with a raging nagging constant thirst finally caused any fragile strings that kept me bound to reality, [[snapped]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> My mind was no longer my own, fear had taken root so deep that its influence over me was total. I blindly ran through the darkness, vaguely aware of my clothing and any expose skin being torn and scratched by the trees and foliage around me. I did not care, all my mind and body wanted was to get away as far as possible as quickly as possible. In my blind panic and with the suffocating whiteness around me, I did not even see it coming but felt it start to happen. Suddenly I felt the ground drop away from my front foot. Before my fuddled mind came to the conclusion of danger, I was already falling forward, flailing wildly as my momentum propelled me over an edge of some sort.<img location = "centre" img src ="Images/drop.gif" alt="Before me was nothing but mist" /> Before me, as I fell, I could see nothing but utter whiteness where any speck or any ray of light was seemingly melded. In sudden free fall I wildly flung my arms around in desperation, clutching into the dense whiteness trying to grab hold of something but my outstretched fingers only grasped at cold thin air. I tumbled through the black and without warning I felt my body strike something hard and as it came to a rest I heard loud snaps as some of my bones shattered through the impact. I felt a sharp pain shoot up my spine, piercing my skull like a hot poker causing my eyes to swim. As my body fell off the side of the unseen immovable object, I felt the sharpness and the invigorating bite of the water wash over my head as I slowly sank. "Guess I found water."I mumbled to myself as all vestige and threads of life slowly seeped from my body. I felt the tug of the current as I drifted off on another journey. The [[end]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio forestfire play>> <<audio scarymusic fadein volume 1.2 play>> Finally as the fire had spread in seemingly a blink of an eye to enough grasses around it that it licked greedily at the trees above and already the papery bark started to glow and smoulder on some trees, did I hear that voice screaming in my head. "Run!" With all sense and logic long cast aside, I turned and started to run around the fire as if performing some tribal dance, trying to decide what course of action to take, but in reality the only course of action in my mind was just to flee. Stopping just long enough to grab my back pack but leaving the rug and anything else outside the bag behind I turned and started to run in the opposite direction to the greedy flames. As if I was locked in auto pilot, my mind sitting back whilst my body took over and based on muscle memory alone I started to run through the darkness. Almost immediately I ran straight into a hard object with glanced off my right shoulder, causing me to over balance and fall into something else on my left side sending me sprawling to the floor in an undignified heap. I scrambled to my feet, flailing my arms about in the darkness, trying to feel in the blackness of the sinister night. My heart felt like it was beating in my head as I struggled to catch my breath before struggling on. Branches clawed at my face and clothes, snagging and snaring momentarily until I tore away, sometimes leaving traces of myself behind. Feeling my face sting from each slap of a branch or low limb that ambushed me from the darkness I continued to blindly push myself through. Behind me as if on unwanted cue, the wind rose and began to feed the fire with more of the precious oxygen that I desperatly tried to gulp down as I ran. I could hear it grow and come to life, emerging from the darkness to engulf everything in its path. Crackling and cackling, popping and snapping as it matured and grew larger,fueled and fed by the wind and the dry combustable sacrificial grasses around it. <img location = "centre" img src ="Images/bushfire.gif" alt="The fire was everywhere" /> I took a chance to glance back to be greeted by a site that made my mind kick it into another gear,where pure adrenaline was the only force driving me forward. The flames had grown astonishingly fast, it now towered above me and had spread out in a wide arc which continued to grow at an exponantial rate. The [[fire]]...

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio forestfire play>> <<audio scarymusic fadein volume 1.2 play>> smothered and clothed the trees in a suit of bright orange with flickers and flecks of red and yellow. The soft bark had started to burn sending up a shower of fine white shapes ranging from dust like particles to larger pieces that floated off into the night, some spreading the gospel off its master themselves. Whole branches were blazing and creating their own brand of destruction, of sound and light as they disintegrated into nothingness, their dead souls permeated the air leaving behind a trail of smoke and vapour. If I had not been witnessing myself I would have looked at others with skepticism if they retold what I was witnessing. The noise was becoming louder and louder, every now and then a roar would rise up as another tongue of flame metamorphed and burst forth from the host it had latched onto. These pillars and eruptions of flame would snatch at anything around them trying to spread their untamed energy. The crack of consumed timber and debris sounded off like gunshots, popping and snapping creating a cavalcade of sound that penetrted my senses. My mind, was now even more convinced that it was best to remain in the back seat as my body propelled itself forward blindly to get away from this ungodly threat. I picked up my pace and started to stumble and flounder more as my tired and bruised body came into more frequent contact with unseen objects cloaked in darkness. In the corner of my eye I could see a tree come crashing to the ground as if trying to flank me. The minions of flame clamoured and jumped over eachother devouring the fallen giant as they raced to catch me. Turning away from the fallen burning folliage I continued on my flight into the dark unkown, not caring where I went, just as long as it was anywhere but here. Not knowing and not caring in what direction, I continued to flee, trying to get as much distance from the burning demon that sought to consume me horribly. That thought just sent my mind spiralling further into the point of no return, anytime soon and I picked up my pace. Soon I could feel blood seeping from the many cuts from hidden assailants, reaching out, trying to stop me, detain me. My jacket and sleeves was beginning to be ripped and shredded with chunks of material left behind, it was not long after another fall that I realised the back pack was [[gone]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio forestfire play>> <<audio scarymusic fadein volume 1.2 play>> Yet this realisation did nothing to calm my nerves or chase away the demons that had firmly rooted themselves into my consciousness. Instead it fanned them on, spurned them onto greater efforts in convincing me to just get out of there. I stumbled and scrambled, gasping for breath and groping wildly in the black night trying to feel my way through when suddenly I felt the ground drop away from my front foot. Before my fuddled mind came to the conclusion of danger, I was already falling forward, flailing wildly as my momentum propelled me over. Before me, as I fell, I could see nothing but utter darkness where any speck or any ray of light was seemingly swallowed and snuffed out. In sudden free fall I wildly flung my arms around in desperation, clutching into the darkness trying to grab hold of something but my outstretched fingers only frasped at cold thin air. I tumbled through the black and without warning I felt my body strike something hard and as it came to a rest I heard loud snaps as some of my bones shattered through the impact. I felt a sharp pain shoot up my spine, piercing my skull like a hot poker causing my eyes to swim. As my body fell of the side of the unseen immovable object, I felt the sharpness and the invigorating bite of the water wash over my head as I slowly sank. "Guess I found water."I mumbled to myself as all vestige and threads of life slowly seeped from my body. I felt the tug of the current as I drifted off on another journey. The [[end]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> I quickly smothered the already dying fire in dirt and a thick layer of leaf litter so that only small wafts of smoke escaped the funeral pyre through small gaps in the pile. Gathering up my back pack, I set of down the path. After walking until the bright yellow sun was about a quarter of the way through the sky, I came upon a cliff edge and the path turned sharply before working its way down the face in a zig zag configuration. To my far right along the cliff face a waterfall flowed and tumbled lazily over the edge <img location = "centre" img src ="Images/waterfall.jpg" alt="The waterfall on my far right" />creating a rainbow as it disappeared into a covering of green. Right below me, far below I could see the reflection of light off the surface of water. Feeling hot and sweaty and somewhat very dehydrated, the sight of the water far below lifted my heart and sent my inner spirit soaring. <img location = "centre" img src ="Images/waterbelow.jpg" alt="The water lay below me" /> I breathed a sigh of relief and started walking down the roughly carved out steps. After half an hour of traversing the stairs I finally reached the bottom and before me lay one of most [[beautiful sights]] to my tired and thirsty body.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio backgroundsounds play loop>> Vines on the offensive, striking out and up, utilising their hosts work in reaching the sun. Some so old and advanced, they stood like scaffolding around an empty shell. The conquered long forgotten as finally on their own legs the vines stand and maintain their own lofty status. I wiped the sweat from my brow. Even in the dark dank shelter under the canopy of green, the heat of the sun could still be felt strongly. I had already walked for half a day, a forced trek to get help. Around me the sounds of the bush continued, oblivious and impartial to my presence, birds called out now and again and the wind gently blew through the trees and surrounds. I was fortunate to stumble across the track in my confused state but after looking to the right, my look to the left was a similiar haze of green, giving no clues as to what direction I should turn.<img src ="Images/WestPath.gif" alt="The path to my left" align="Middle" /> "''Think first'', then act" I could hear my Dad's voice echoing in my mind. With a wry grin and slowly sinking to the ground. I started opening my [[backpack]] to check out what I had.

tc630 - Earth wind fire and water » fire2.wav PhreaKsAccount - fire_small_loop.wav axiologus - turkey run state park (stereo) » birds with wind through trees worthahep88 - Light Wind.wav CGEffex - Wind blowing through trees.mp3 j1987 - water_bottle_emerge2.wav dikolson - Þingvellir waterfall hard 1.wav LukeIRL - Asia - Africa 2012 » 41_nightlife_chikangawa.WAV alexbird - morning_birds.wav sethlind - Costa Rica field recordings » Costa Rica cloud forest at night.wav themusicalnomad - negative_beeps.wav Mativve - Happy Sounds by Mativve » Electro success sound ebcrosby - Notification 1 sandyrb - Sandyrb Didgeridoo 01 » DIDGERIDOO 03.wav marcelosf - didgeridoo.wav missteik - Selva Amazonas Insectos y Aves 12m.mp3 Dynamicell - Competition 1 » Fire_Forest_Inferno.aif mike_stranks - Water » Rushing stream 2.wav

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<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio smallfire play>> <<audio backgroundsounds play>> I gently blew on the flames until the smaller twigs started to burn and the warm comforting glow of the flames started to be felt on my cheeks. I played with the fire until it was well alive and burning with a life of its own. Looking at my reminaining pile of fuel for the fire and weighing up the possibility of finding anything decent to burn, multiplied by the torch using up power at an exponantial rate, I thought to myself that I will just have to make do. Retreiving the picnic rug, I lay it on the ground and lay down beside the fire, only realising then just how tired and hungry and hungry I was, not to mention thirsty. I reached into the backpack and pulled out the box of cheese and heard my stomach growling like a ravenous beast. I licked my dry lips in anticipation which only served to remind me of my precarious water situation. "Worry about that later." I thought to myself as I opened the box. Inside was a selection of cheese, from which I selected the Swiss variety and started to nibble on it. Despite the situation, I had always loved my cheese so for a moment, I savoured it as I chewed and turned it over and over in my mouth. I enjoyed the smooth and rubbery wax like texture until it disolved, filling my taste buds with that rich smooth creamy cheese taste. After a few more bites, I opened a packet of trail mix. The different textures combined with the sweetness in the trail mix, made me feel somewhat satisfied. Feeling thirsty, I slowly opened the flask and peered inside. "Only one sip left." I regretfully reminded myself as I raised it to my lips. I slowly drank the remaining water, swishing it around, feeling the cool feeling invade my parched mouth until with some disappointment I swallowed and then licked my parched lips. "Better find water or.."I stopped thinking as the threat of not finding water was almost to difficult for me to contemplate. I lay on my back and using the back pack as a pillow I looked up at the sky. All around me was still pitch blackness where ever a tree or foliage blocked the view of the night sky where there was an invariable light show happening. Pin pricks of light, too many to count, dotted and speckled the dark sky. <img location = "centre" img src ="Images/nightsky.gif" alt="The night sky" />Whole bands of miniscule stars formed dust like clouds of light surrounding larger, brighter celestial objects. This beautiful tapestry of light was interjected every now and then with space debris and fallen stars burning up leaving behind bright trails that stretched across the skies before disappearing into nothingness<img location = "centre" img src ="Images/shootingstar.gif" alt="A shooting star" /> as they died. Taking a last look at the fire, and staisfied that it would burn for a long while yet as well as being isolated enough so as to not cause a bush fire, I turned back to the stars and felt my eyelids droop as I fell [[asleep]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio lightwind play>> I allowed myself to rest. The path had gotten considerable steeper and my legs ached from the exertion. I opened my flask and took a sip of water, bitterly noticing that there was only probably one more sip left. Trying not to think too much about the situation, I savoured the feel of the cool fresh moisture reinvigorate my aching body as I swirled it around my mouth before swallowing. Placing the flask back into the backpack I set off again. As the sun slowly started to get lower on the horizon and the trees started to cast longer shadows, I started to grow more concerned but upon rounding a corner in the path I spotted a possible site to bed down for the night. Before me on my left a large rock jutted out and up from the steep slope. The path passed right in front and under a slight overhang which afforded some shelter from the elements. I thought to myself "Should I stop here,[img[Images/overhang.jpg][stop]]or should I go on?"[img[Images/slightincline.png][further]]

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio success play>> Deciding that it was no use carrying on any further for the day as night was quickly approaching. Already the sky was starting to darken as the black night chased away the light. I checked out the overhang and placed my backpack down before venturing into the surrounding area collecting as much firewood as I could. After about 20 minutes I had figured that I had gathered enough wood for the night. By now the sun had slipped before the horizon, streaks of pink and orange hues streaked across the sky like some last attempt at the day to get back at the encroaching darkness. I hurried back to the overhang and dropped the pile of wood and debris I had collected. Feeling the sudden drop in temperature I quickly found the matches and with shaking hands I tried to stike a match,only to have it snap in my hands. "''Stop!Think!''"I scolded myself. Forcing myself to breathe, I calmly struck the next match and it burst into flame, relief flooded over me but was quickly replaced by concern as I cupped my hands over the match and applied it to the grass. I held it close and watched as the grass glowed and withered but would not light. Very quickly the match reached its lifespan and I dropped it onto the grass hoping it would ignite. When it died in a small puff of smoke I felt some despair. "''Come on! Think!''" I again berated myself. Suddenly I remembered the corn chips. I quickly retrieved a packet from the backpack and opened it, spilling some of the chips on the ground. I grabbed the fallen chips and despite the irresistible urge to eat them cos they were CC's I placed them in and around a clump of grass. Striking another match, I applied it to the corn chips and to my delight the corn chip flared up and burst into flames, igniting the other chips and soon the grass was burning fiercely. Satisfied I removed the picnic rug and sat down beside the fire to try and stay [[warm]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio mistake play>> Considering water as being more important I decided to continue walking further. After about another half an hour with no water in sight, I started to regret my decision as now it looked as if I would have to spend a night out in the open. Worse still was the fact that I had probably left it too late to safely see enough, to collect firewood. The path was now almost to dark to see, it was bathed in dappled twilight and individual rocks and roots threatening to reach out and trip you were becoming increasing difficult to see. <<audio scarymusic play>> I tried to walk further but soon tripped over something and went sprawling to the hard ground. My hands instinctively reaching up to protect myself bore the brunt of the force as my palms slapped against something hard and cold. Cursing out loud, I sat up and reached around for my backpack and fumbled in the dark for the phone. Turning the phone on and torch, I shone its light around me. Everything looked the same on one side, whilst the other side just disappeared into blackness. I got myself to my feet and continued to walk, using the torchlight to guide me. The track started to get steeper very quickly, its gradient rising sharply as the path zigzagged its way up the mountain rainge. Every so often I had to use my hands to pull myself [[upward]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio waterbottle play>> Excitedly I unscrewed the plastic cap and peered inside, to my delight I could see clear liquid. It was only half full but my heart quickened. I took a quick sniff which revealed no tell tale clues which was a good sign in itself. With some trepidation, I raised the flask to my lips and slowly took a sip. The neutral yet sweet taste of water washed over my parched tongue, invading my mouth with that refreshing feeling that only water could provide. I swirled it around gently before swallowing, enjoying the feeling of the water as it travelled to my stomach, spreading its refreshment to my whole body. I took another sip before begrudgingly screwing the lid back on and placing it on the ground before me. "Best to conserve as much as I can," I thought to myself. I reached back in the bag and rummaged around before thinking to myself that I should just empty the bag on the ground, but then I heard my Dad's voice again ''"Think!"''.I paused and thought "Should I just empty it onto the [[ground]] or [[carefully]] take another look?

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> The fire soon started to warm my cold and tired body and feeling famished I retrieved the cheese from the back pack. I reached into the backpack and pulled out the box of cheese and heard my stomach growling like a ravenous beast. I licked my dry lips in anticipation which only served to remind me of my precarious water situation. "Worry about that later." I thought to myself as I opened the box. Inside was a selection of cheese, from which I selected the Swiss variety and started to nibble on it. Despite the situation, I had always loved my cheese so for a moment in time, I savoured it as I chewed and turned it over and over in my mouth. I enjoyed the smooth and rubbery wax like texture until it dissolved, filling my taste buds with that rich smooth creamy cheese taste. After a few more bites, I opened a packet of trail mix. The different textures combined with the sweetness in the trail mix, made me feel somewhat satisfied. Feeling thirsty, I slowly opened the flask and peered inside. "Only one sip left." I regretfully reminded myself as I raised it to my [[lips]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> "This is just getting worse." I kept saying to myself, fully realising my folly of not stopping at the overhang when I had the chance. It was so cold that I doubt I would have drunk much water anyway. Now I was stuck on the side of a mountain, in the dark. I also had a look at my phone and noticed that the battery had depleted considerably leaving it hovering just above 50%. "I am going to have to turn it off" I realised somewhat dejectedly. Pressing the power button I was suddenly plunged into a pitch black darkness as my eyes struggled to grow accustomed to the dark. At first I could not see anything as the glowing image of the phone screen burned in my retinas. Slowly as the negative coloured image dissolved my eyes started to see a little. Even though I was now above the rainforest canopy from my vertical trek, the clouds covered the moon so effectively that I was essentially blind. I groped blindly and strained my eyes to try and discern the path in the blackness. The little moonlight that managed to break through glistened of rocks above me. Not being able to comfortably remain here for the night, I pushed [[on]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> Slowly and painfully I edged my way upwards as the night slowly ticked by. Already exhausted from the days trekking this further exertion was not doing my aching body any good. Each step upwards was a concentrated effort as I forced my limbs to coordinate. The cold wind blew briskly across the face of the mountain and every now and then a stronger gust would come along and almost knock me of my feet. Feeling miserable, cold, tired and hungry I continued to climb. Long past the capable thinking stage, my mind zombified, climbed purely in auto mode. The lack of sleep and more importantly the lack of proper food and water, combined with the almost arctic like winds my body was also numb and sore. Reaching up for another rock above me to pull myself up, I felt it started to loosen as I pulled on it. My mind to dazed and confused failed to register the significance. As I hauled my tired body up, the rock came loose with a pop. I felt my body start to fall and slide down, my legs jarred against the rocks below me and as they buckled I toppled [[over]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> Before me, as I fell, I could see nothing but utter darkness where any speck or any ray of light was seemingly swallowed and snuffed out. In sudden free fall I wildly flung my arms around in desperation, clutching into the darkness trying to grab hold of something but my outstretched fingers only grasped at cold thin air. I tumbled through the black and without warning I felt my body strike something hard and as it came to a rest I heard loud snaps as some of my bones shattered through the impact. I felt a sharp pain shoot up my spine, piercing my skull like a hot poker causing my eyes to swim. As my body fell of the side of the unseen immovable object, I felt the sharpness and the invigorating bite of the water wash over my head as I slowly sank. "Guess I found water."I mumbled to myself as all vestige and threads of life slowly seeped from my body. I felt the tug of the current as I drifted off on another journey. The [[end]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> "Why? Why would anyone do that? You sons of...." I trailed off, realising that there was no point. "Lord, forgive that person or persons, cos I sure as hell can't" I prayed silently. I looked at the tracks, one went east directly, whilst the other veered north east. Taking note of the sun and how it would be dark soon, I had to make a decision but there was ''no discernable signs or clues as to what or where each track lead to''. "Come on, ''think''" I screamed at myself but in all reality, there was nothing to base a decision on. It all looked the same. A seething mass of greens and browns, amalgamated into one solid wall, penetrated by the path piercing he wall to create a walk way. The path continuing to the east[img[Images/secondeastpath.png][east path]]looked exactly the same as the path to northeast [img[Images/northeast.png][north east path]]. It was as if someone had taken a photo, put it through a filter and flipped it over. "I guess this is going to be a bit of a gamble" I said to myself as I set off down the track.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio loudwaterfall play>> I quickend my pace and has I walked through a large boulder which bordered the path, and the cliff face and<img src ="Images/boulder.jpg" alt="The boulder and cliff" /> I turned a bend in the track and I came across it. Before me lay one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen, the path snaked along the base of the cliff and around a gully forming a U shape. In the middle of the U was a small waterfall.<img src = "Images/tallwaterfall.png" alt = "The tall waterfall"/>I followed the falling droplets of life giving water up the cliff face, which rose steadily into the twighlight sky. After surviving the great plunge from above, the water filled a small pond size area which continued into a creek which dropped away quickly around large boulders and rocks before disappearing into the wooded and green mass below. The path was able to sneak behind the waterfall, as over the centuries, a large hollowed out section had been created. A perfect place to bed down for the night. I could feel the spray of the waterfall wash over my, bringing relief from walking but also sending a slight shiver up my spine. I passed through the edge of the falls that fell gently upon the path, and ventured into the hollow. I qickly placed my back pack down on a convenient flat piece of rock and grabbing the flask, I sat down and drank. Confident that the waterfall was clean and drinkable, I finished off the water and then stepped towards the constant stream tumbling down from above. Filling the flask, I put the cap back on and removing my jacket,shirt and boots, leaving only my t-shirt and jeans, I approached the water and allowed it to drop onto my head, cascading down over my [[shoulders and chest]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio loudwaterfall volume 0.6 play>> Gasping I quickly rubbed it through my hair and face, feeling the grime and dust wash away, before quickly stepping out from the cold wild water. Feeling more refreshed than I had in a long time I walked back to the back pack. I grabbed the picninc rug and spread it over the flat rock. Sitting there and feeling the light chill of the wind and coming darkness I remembered that I would need some sort of warmth. I removed the beanie from the side pocket and placed it snuggly over my head, covering my ears. Standing, I looked out over and into the gully where a small stream continued on its merry was after surviving the plunge from far above. On either side of the creek, various bits of timber and typical rain forest debris from times of flood lay strewn about. I quickly but carefully picked my way through the large boulders and larger pieces of debris, gathering suitable sizes of dried timber. After three trips back and forth and just before the darkness finally prevented me from being able to see anymore, I had amassed a substantial pile of wood that would burn through the night. Quickly reaching into the back pack I pulled out the matches and with shaking hands tried to [[strike the match]],only to have it snap in my hands.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio loudwaterfall volume 0.6 play>> "Stop!''Think!''" I scolded myself. Forcing myself to breath, I calmly struck the next match and it burst into flame, relief flooded over me, quickly replaced by concern as I cupped my hand over the match and applied it to the small pieces of tinder. I held it close and watched as the tinder glowed and withered but would not light. Very quickly the match reached its life span and I dropped it onto the tinder hoping it would ignite. When it died in a small puff of smoke I felt some despair. "Come on! ''Think!''" I again berated myself. Suddenly I remembered the corn chips and that survival article again. I quickly retrieved a packet from the back pack and opened it, spilling some of the chips on the ground. I grabbed the fallen chips and despite the irresistible urge to eat them cos the were CC's I placed them in and around a clump of tinder. Striking another match, I applied it to the corn chips and to my delight the corn chip flared up and burst into flames, igniting the other chips and soon the tinder was burning fiercely. "Well some of those articles aren't so crap after all." I thankfully [[thought]] to myself.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio nightandwater volume 0.6 play>> <<audio smallfire volume 1.1 play>> I gently blew on the flames until the smaller twigs started to burn and the warm comforting glow of the flames started to be felt on my cheeks. I played with the fire until it was well alive and burning with a life of its own. Only then did I allow myself to relax a little and sat down on the picninc rug and attend to my hunger. I reached into the backpack and pulled out the box of cheese and heard my stomach growling like a famished beast. Inside was a selection of cheese, from which I selected the Swiss variety and started to nibble on it. Despite the situation, I had always loved my cheese, so for a moment I chewed and turned over the chunk of cheese in my mouth, savouring the smooth and rubbery wax like texture until it disolved, filling my taste buds with that rich smooth creamy cheese taste. After a few more bites, I opened a packet of trail mix as an accompaniment. The different textures combined with the sweetness in the trail mix was the perfect accompiment in the current situation. I felt somewhat satisfied after eating the block of cheese and a packet of trail mix. Taking another sip of water to wash everything down, I put my jacket back on and using the back pack as a pillow I lay down. Except for the falling water and the crackling of the fire, it was quiet and peaceful. I looked up and out at the [[night sky]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio nightandwater volume 0.6 play>> <<audio smallfire volume 1.2 play>> I shivered involuntarily as the morning brisk air seeped into my jacket. "If only I had a nice fresh, hot cappacciccino." I sighed to myself, bringing to mind the predicament I was in. "Ah well. It could be worse." I reminded myself just as quickly. I sat back down and as I began to think about my next course of action I reached into the back pack. Removing the cheese I had an idea. I grabbed sticks from my abundant pile and placed them on the fire, blowing on it gently until it became alive and started to devour its morning feast of wood and debris. I picked out the smoked bacon flavoured cheese and licked my lips in anticipation, which also reminded me that I needed a drink as well. Leaving the cheese on the back pack I got up and walked towards the water, crouching and cupping my hands I splashed water on my face. <img src = "Images/washedface.gif" alt = "Washed my face"/>The water felt like ice against my skin and I flinched before putting some to his mouth and sipping. After a good drink, I swirled some around my mouth and spat it out. Feeling refreshed and certainly awake I stood and started to walk back to the fire and cheese. Whilst walking back to the fire and his cheese, I noticed that already the mist had started to thin and burn up as the morning sun enforced more of its celestial strength. It was still thick enough that he could only see a couple of metres in front of myself, but it was definitely clearing up. Which made me start to toss up another idea that it might be wise to [[leave now]] or should I [[eat first]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio scarymusic volume 0.8 play >> <<audio rushingwater fadein play>> I shook my head and cocked my ear towards where I thought the sound was coming from. It seemed to grow louder as it echoed through the cavernous rock passage. Starting off as a dull roar the sound progressively increased in volume and in tempo until it became almost defeaning. I rose to my feet, my eyes darting from side to side, scanning every opening on the ground as well as the huge opening above. As I searched the mud squelched under my boots, again that nagging thought entered my mind. Suddenly the thought manifested itself into a scream of realization as my tired brain understood the connection between the carverns floor and the defeaning roar of noise. "Flash flood!" My mind yelled. "Get out of here!" It continued to scream as my body started to instinctly jumped into action. Grabbing my back pack I started to run. "But which way?" I asked myself. [[Through the cavern]] or [[back where I came]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> I followed the path as it ran parallel along the base of the ancient rock face. To my left the path quickly fell away with a steep incline that was quickly swallowed up with an assortment of tangled vines and thick greenery. The morning mist still lingered in hollows and crevices along the rock face and the cliff face afforded some shelter from the sun as I walked so my pace picked up. After estimating that I had walked for a couple of hours now and with the sun a quarter of the way through the day sky, I decided I needed to pull up soon, rest and eat. I soon came upon an area where the path went in between giant slivers of rock that had been spilt from the rock face by some powerful force in the past. The monolith slices of rock face, had slid away from the base of the cliff, leaving a large opening for one to walk through. Dwarfed by the entrance, I couldn't help but marvel at the forces of nature. Inside I was further diminished by the large cavern, which towered high above me with cathedral like heights. Sections of light penetrated down to the caverns floor from multiple holes in the ceiling, illuminating the space, but yet not warming it up.<img location = "centre" img src ="Images/highceiling.jpeg" alt="The immense cavern" />The ground beneath me squelched under my feet from the mud, signifying that inside never really received enough heat to dry out. Something in the back of my mind nagged me about the place. Something about why the ground was muddy and why it looked like a dried watercourse? but I was too weary to give it further thought. Seeing that it was so nice and cool inside, I decide to stop and eat before pushing on. Finding a rock that sat above the muddy floor, I sat down and placing the back pack on my lap, I opend it and retrieved the water and a packet of trail mix. Regretting I had no hot, invigorating, perk me up coffee, I unscrewed the flask and took a sip of water as I slowly started to munch on the trail mix. "I hope I can [[get out of here]] soon" I thought to myself. My mind had been so focused on trying to survive that I hadn't even thought about the whole reason I ended up stuck out here. Just as I allowed my mind to remember the events of the past few days I heard a noise.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> Not wanting to have to backtrack and lose more time, I started to run through the cavern. The cavern twisted around the rock face and then quickly turned into a slippery slope of mud. In my blind haste, I had no chance of staying on my feet as the mud coated my boots. For a brief second I managed to stay on my feet and ski down the slope, but this ended quickly when I lost balalance and crashed onto my back. As I slipped and slid down the incline my hands clawed desperately at anything to try and slow my decent. I could see the light up head, where the cavern finally opened back up into the rain forest. Unfortunately it was only blue sky and clouds that I could see. All to soon I reached the opening with flailing hands and legs trying to slow down. As I reached the opening it plateaued a little and a [[small chain]] stretched across the opening.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio scarymusic stop>> <<audio rushingwater fadein play>> <<audio thunderrain fadein play>> Not knowing what and how long the cavern might carve its way through the rock face, I decided to backtrack. "Better to lose time, rather than lose my life." thinking to myself as I started to run back where I came from. Just as I had retraced my steps, a wall of water 2 feet high rushed by me through the cavern and at the same an anouncement from the skies heralded the rain which soon began to pour from the heavens. As I counted my blessings I noticed a sign on the ground, its screws exposed where it was once fasten to something. I turned it over to read "Danger Flash flooding - Do not enter." Shocked and angry at myself for not noticing it earlier I realised that the mist had shrouded it then, so I was very fortunate. I thought about what I should do next. The small entrance blocked me from most of the rain, but it was now falling steadily and heavily and behind me the roar of water just kept flowing. Gritting my teeth, I knew I could not stay here and decided to push on. I stepped out into the downpour and surprisingly it was not freezing but still cold enough to make me feel uncomfortable. I pulled my collar of the jacket up around my neck and placed the beanie on my head as I set of into the wetness. Small water falls trickled and bounced down the rock face, turning the path into a shallow stream in some spots forcing me to tentatively navigate myself past. Recognizing an area I had passed much earlier, I saw what was cloaked in the mist this morning was actually a passage way. Just inside the entrance was a green wooden sign with the words carved out and painted in bright yellow [["Lookout and Picnic Area"]]. The arrow point into the opening.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio rushingwater volume 0.4 play>> In one final act of desperation I desperatly threw up my hands and snatched at the chain. To my immense relief I felt my hands grasp the cold hard chain and tighten their grip.<img location = "centre" img src ="Images/drop.png" alt="The chain stopped my fall" /> My body jerked to a stop and I felt my shoulders and arms stretch tight as the momentum wanted to continue me on my ride. Despite the immense pain, I held on as my legs dangled over the edge. I painfully pulled myself up, my feet wildly scratching at the side of the drop off as I tried to gain foothold. I pulled myself up and gasped as I tried to regain my breath, my aching shoulders and arms drooped by my side, exhausted and spent. I then noticed the sign. "Beware of FLASH FLOODING - DO NOT ENTER" The sign was lodged up against the side of the rock wall and cavern floor. The four screws used to attach it in place where still sticking out the back of the sign, which saved it from tumbling over the edge but utterly failed in its first purpose. Then I heard [[the roar]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio rushingwater volume 1.0 play>> Having forgotten about the very reason why I ended up down here, I had not even considered the noise but now it it re-entered my consciousness with avengance. Coming down the slippery path I had just ridden was a wall of water about two feet high. I grabbed the chain and moved towards the side of the cavern as the dirty grey frothing water surged towards me. Feeling it hit my legs I was instantly swept of my feet and for a moment hung vertically as the water trugged at my body. I could feel my boots and jeans being wrenched of by the rushing water and slowly I could feel my fingers start to slip. Holding on for dear life, I thought I could hold on but at that moment a large branch missiled into my head. With a glancing blow it knocked me in unconsciousness. Before I faded into blackness, I felt my fingers let go and my body soar into empty space. Tumbling, tumbling through the air was my last sensation as I slipped into darkness. The [[end]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio scarymusic stop>> <<audio rushingwater fadeout stop>> <<audio thunderrain fadeout stop>> Grateful to be out of the rain, I ventured into the opening, which to my surprise once again it opened up with a wide corridoor and high ceilings that disappeared into the darkness. Even better the pathway was well drained and dry underfoot. The light from the entrance lit my way as the gravel crunched underfoot. Rounding a sharp turn, the cavern decended into darkness but I could see a faint light at the other end. I quickly retrieved the phone and turned the torch on. Cold dark rock hemmed me in on my sides and from above, but before me the faint torch light revealed a clear path to the light. Quickly covering the distance I was suddenly bathed with sunshine. It was as if the cavern was some sort of portal that transported me to another time and place. In front of me was a wooden board walk that ran along the edge of a drop off bordered with sturdy timber posts, rails and wire to prevent you from falling over the edge. I walked to the edge of the boardwalk and peered over. Below me the thick carpet of green cover fell away quickly exposing the jagged rock face. The tops of magnificant giant trees towered and intermingled together to create a constant sea of green, only broken by vast monoliths of rock that had been thrust upwards by immense geological forces form deep down in the ground.<img location = "centre" img src ="Images/view.jpg" alt="The view before me" />To my left I could see a waterfall burst forth from the rock face and I realised that was where I nearly got washed away not so long ago. My knees trembled a little from the thought of the near miss as I watched the water fall and disappear into the canopy of green far below. I walked along the board walk which only ran for about 20 metres or so before turning into steps. My heart racing I started to quickly mount the steps, almost running,half jumping up the stairs, I soon heard the beeping and tones of various messages as the phone suddenly burst into life after finding a signal. As I lifted the phone up to look at it, I reached the top of the stairs to see a car park before me. The [[end]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> Feeling better after the small and simple meal, I turned and looked out into the night sky. To one side was nothing but blackness so dark, that only around the fire, the rock wall and ceiling glowed in its light.In front of me, in the skies there was an invariable light show. Pin pricks of light, too many to count, dotted and speckled the dark sky. Whole bands of miniscule stars formed dust like clouds of light surrounding larger, brighter celestial objects. <img src ="Images/nightsky.jpg" alt="The night sky" /> This beautiful tapestry of light was interjected every now and then with space debris and fallen stars <img src ="Images/shootingstar.jpg" alt="The shooting star" /> burning up leaving behind bright trails that stretched across the skies before disappearing into nothingness as they died. Around me a cacophony of sounds rang out as nocturnal animals carried about their business. I was just getting comfortable when I heard the [[noise]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> Like an express train the wind rushed through the trees all round me. Swirling along the path it hit my shelter and forced the flames to retreat and flicker weakly. Then my nose was hit with that smell of ozone and freshness in the air which usually signified rain. I quickly rose to my feet and grabbing a large branch I scraped and pushed the fire closer to the back wall of the overhang. The fire protested and stuttered as bits and pieces of its glowing self left a trail of embers. I soon had it up against the rock and quickly moved all my firewood. I threw some more sticks on the fire until it was well alight and lit up the overhang in a bright orange glow. I leaned up against the rock wall and sat down, pulling the picnic up around me to protect me from the coming rain. Soon specks of moisture could be felt on my cheeks as the first heralds of the coming rain announced themselves. I peered out into the darkness trying to see the approaching [[rain]] but the fire only revealed ghostly shapes of trunks and branches. The roar of the wind seemed to get louder but I soon realised that it was the rain fast approaching.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio thunderrain fadein play>> Soon the flames were reflecting off a curtain of water that just cascaded down from the sky and rock above me. Behind the wall of water I huddled, grateful that I had decided to stop for the night instead of getting caught out there in this lot. Remembering my precarious water situation I removed the flask and held it out under a steady flow of water droplets. Except for a few bits of stone and sand the water looked clean so I lifted it o my lips and drank greedily. Gulping down mouthfuls, I allowed some to overflow and spill out the sides, dribbling down my neck and shirt. I rinsed my mouth and swallowed the water thoroughly enjoying the sensation of the water returning essential moisture back into my thirsty body. I filled up the flask and returned to my place beside the fire. Seeing that this was going to last but I would remain dry, I lay down and using the backpack as a pillow I started to [[think about]] my situation and how I got here.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio thunderrain fadein play>> As I tried to comprehend and put in order the turn and change of events that occurred the previous day that led me here, I felt my eyelids droop from exhaustion. My mind gave up on its train of thought and giving in to the demands of my body decided to give it a rest for the night. I soon drifted into a deep sleep where the rain and crackling of the fire [[lulled me]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio waterdripping play>> <<audio birdcall play>> I woke up with a start. The sound of birds,dripping water and the first rays of warmth poking through the darkness and trees assailed my senses. I blinked a couple of times as I grew accustomed to the faint daylight. I sat up, yawned and then stretched my aching bones. I was sore, but surprisingly I had slept quite well and quite deeply due to the ordeals of yesterday no doubt. I looked out into the jungle and the morning sky, the sky was obscured with segments of mist as it swirled gently in the morning breeze. The trees were cloaked in the grey-whiteness of the mist, like apparitions they appeared and disappeared as the wind gently pushed the mist through their midst.<img src = "Images/mistytrees.gif" alt = "The trees were covered in mist"/> A bird he could not recognize [[called out]] as if to greet the day, which was soon answered by others scattered out among the green mass. Droplets of water lazily slumped and then fell to the ground before bursting into tiny bits of moisture to be soaked up by the ground.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio nightandwater volume 0.6 play>> <<audio smallfire stop>> I grudgingly rose to my feet and washed my face and then started to extinguish the fire with the abundant water available. Once the pile of flames had been reduced to a pile of black smouldering ashes, I gathered my gear and back pack and set off down the path. I had walked for a while when I noticed an opening in the rock face.<img location = "centre" img src ="Images/smallopenings.png" alt="There was a small opening" /> From the first cursory glance it looked like a shallow opening in the rock, but upon closer inspection as I got closer, it was larger than it appeared. On the side against the rock fall, a metre inside the opening was a green wooden sign with yellow letters ""Lookout and Picnic Area" with an arrow pointing inside the opening. I ventured into the opening, which to my surprise once again it opened up with a wide corridoor and high ceilings that disappeared into the darkness. Even better the pathway was well drained and dry underfoot. The light from the entrance lit my way as the gravel crunched underfoot. Rounding a sharp turn, the cavern decended into darkness but I could see a faint light at the other end. I quickly retrieved the phone and turned the torch on. Cold dark rock hemmed me in on my sides and from above, but before me the faint torch light revealed a [[clear path]] to the light.

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio nightandwater stop>> Quickly covering the distance I was suddenly bathed with sunshine. It was as if the cavern was some sort of portal that transported me to another time and place. In front of me was a wooden board walk that ran along the edge of a drop off bordered with sturdy timber posts, rails and wire to prevent you from falling over the edge. I walked to the edge of the boardwalk and peered over. Below me the thick carpet of green cover fell away quickly exposing the jagged rock face. The tops of magnificant giant trees towered and intermingled together to create a constant sea of green, only broken by vast monoliths of rock that had been thrust upwards by immense geological forces from deep down in the ground beaneatht it.<img location = "centre" img src ="Images/view.jpg" alt="The view before me" />I walked along the board walk which only ran for about 20 metres or so before turning into steps. My heart racing I started to quickly mount the steps, almost running,half jumping up the stairs, I soon heard the beeping and tones of various messages as the phone suddenly burst into life after finding a signal. As I lifted the phone up to look at it, I reached the top of the stairs to see a car park before me. The [[end]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio loudwaterfall fadein play>> A large pool of water lay before me, its colour that beautiful cloudy emerald green with aqua hues. Surrounding the pool were numerous scattered rocks and boulders, thrown about by the immense forces of water during times of flood. At one end of the rock pool a curtain of water tumbled lazily and noisely into the pool before me, throwing up splashes and spray coating the rocks making them shine and glisten. A small rainbow manifested itself as the sun's light split in the prisms of water droplets to display the inner colours.<img src ="Images/beautifulsight.jpg" alt="The beautiful sight before me" />I threw my back pack to the floor and removing my boots, I waded into the water. The icy coldness shocked and stung my skin as it lapped gently around my ankles. I crouched down and cupping my hands drew water up to my dry cracking lips and gulped down greedily. Instantly my parched body responded to the sudden insurgence of moisture, refreshing my very being and core. I washed my face and arms, feeling more refreshed and better than I had in as long as I could remember. As I sat there counting my blessings and good fortune of finding this place I heard a [[chattering]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> At first it was a faint sound, I had to shake my head clear and cock my ears in the direction of the path coming from the otherside of the small lagoon. I stood, trying to get a better view as well as possibly improve my hearing. Straining to see and hear, I stood there not knowing what would reveal itself. Soon a figure appeared dressed in khaki and following close behind in a flurry of camera flashes and clicking was a group of Japanese tourists. I just stood there, a dishevelled figure weeping with delight and knowing that I was safe and could now get home. The [[end]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> At first it was a faint sound, I had to shake my head clear and cock my ears in the direction of the path coming from the other side of the bend in the path. I stood, trying to get a better view as well as possibly improve my hearing. Straining to see and hear, I stood there not knowing what would reveal itself. Soon a figure appeared dressed in khaki and following close behind in a flurry of camera flashes and clicking was a group of Japanese tourists. I just stood there, a dishevelled figure weeping with delight and knowing that I was safe and could now get home. The [[end]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> //Welcome and thank you for taking the time to play and read my game, it is much appreciated.// ''WARNING: ADULT THEMES, SOME PROFANITY, RECOMMENDED AGE LEVEL: MA15+ '' ''//You find yourself lost and are confused as how you got into the predicament. Using what you have with you and making the right decisions will hopefully help you to survive and get home. As the title says, thinking is the key to finding the right path home.//'' For those of you not familiar with Twine games, please follow the tutorial below. To save or restart game use the floating menu scroll box at top right of screen. For those of you familiar with Twine games, please click [[Start]] to skip tutorial. Enjoy..... To advance in the story click on the [[link word]]

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> Sometimes the link is not a word but a picture. [img[Images/examplepiclink.png][gif link]]

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> or even a gif. [img[Images/examplegiflink.gif][Music]]

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<audio examplemusic1 play>> <<audio examplemusic2 play>> <<audio birdsandwind play>> Make sure you adjust your volume as there will be music and audio along the way. You can also pause and save your progress to return and finish later. //Now remember to ''think'' and you should get out alive.// Click on the link to [[Start]].

<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Gloria+Hallelujah" rel="stylesheet"> <<stopallaudio>> Well? Did you ''think''? Did you make the correct decisions? If you did not survive or want to try again press [[Start]]. If you did make it out then ''congratulations'' and thank you for your time and company. I sincerely hoped you enjoyed it. Please be sure to leave a comment or two, or even share the game if you liked it. Once again thank you.