Chapter 7 The riddle in the jungle

Chapter 7: The Riddle of the Jungle

The jungle felt alive, watching her every move. The dense canopy above filtered the sunlight into streaks of gold, casting shifting shadows that made it hard to tell what was real and what wasn't. Natasha pressed on, determined to find Liam.

As she walked deeper into the jungle, the faint sound of water reached her ears. Following the noise, she found herself at the edge of a crystal-clear stream. It was calm and serene, an odd contrast to the sense of unease growing in her chest.

Near the bank, a large stone sat half-buried in the soil, its surface carved with strange symbols. Natasha stepped closer, brushing off the dirt to reveal what appeared to be a riddle etched into the stone:

"To find what you seek, you must pass the test,

Through wit and wisdom, you'll prove you're the best.

The path will be shown when you answer me true,

But tread with caution, or it will be your undo."

Below the inscription, a question was written in bold, glowing letters:

"I speak without a mouth, and hear without ears.

I have no body, but I come alive with the wind.

What am I?"

Natasha's heart raced. A riddle. Liam had mentioned riddles before in the game, but this felt different. It wasn't just a puzzle—it felt like a gatekeeper, a test to prove her worth.

She knelt by the stone, running the words over in her mind. "Speak without a mouth... hear without ears..." she murmured. Her thoughts drifted to the jungle around her, the sounds of the wind rustling through the leaves and the faint whispers of nature.

"A sound," she guessed aloud, but nothing happened.

Frustrated, she sat back and thought harder. The words echoed in her head, teasing her with their simplicity. Then it clicked.

"An echo," she said firmly.

The symbols on the stone began to glow, the light spreading outward until the entire surface was illuminated. A soft rumble shook the ground, and the stream's water parted, revealing a narrow path made of stepping stones that hadn't been there before.

Natasha stared in awe. "Okay, then," she muttered, standing up. "Guess that's my cue."

She stepped onto the first stone, the cool water lapping at her ankles. Each step felt deliberate, as though the jungle was watching her every move.

Halfway across the stream, the air shifted. The calmness of the water was replaced by a sudden rush of wind, and the jungle grew darker. Natasha froze, her instincts screaming that something was wrong.

The voice from earlier—the distorted, low growl—echoed through the trees.

"She solves the first, but many await."

Her breath caught in her throat. The voice didn't belong to Liam, and it certainly didn't sound friendly.

"Who's there?" she called out, her voice trembling.

There was no response, only the sound of branches snapping in the distance.

Natasha quickened her pace, leaping onto the final stone and stepping onto the opposite bank. As soon as her feet touched solid ground, the water closed behind her, the stepping stones vanishing as if they had never existed.

She looked back at the stream, her heart pounding. Whatever this jungle was, it wasn't just a game. It was alive—and it was testing her.

Turning back to the path ahead, she whispered to herself, "One riddle down. How many more to go?"

The jungle remained silent, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was waiting for her just beyond the trees.