Hugo had initially refrained from turning back due to the risk that the koalas would catch up and overwhelm him. But with the stream between them, he could finally begin counter-attacking his senseless pursuers.
Hugo waited patiently on the opposite bank for the chasing koalas to arrive.
As if sensing Hugo's halt, the koalas slowed their speed and approached in a relaxed manner. They seemed to carry the enduring savagery of the wild and radiated unconcealed menace from their purple and red eyes.
The dozen or so koalas lined up silently on the other side of the stream. They seemed to be waiting for Hugo to make the first move.
Their exposed teeth looked like the sharp jagged edges of saws. They hang inside dark moist cavernous mouths, ready to slice his body until he bled to death. Their tiny paws were rooted to the ground, no doubt ready to clobber him if he made any sudden movements.
"What are you doing?" Freya asked.