The jungle was thick with humidity, the air buzzing with the calls of unseen creatures. Elias wiped his brow with the back of his gloved hand, his sharp brown eyes scanning the map under the dim light of his lantern. “We should’ve reached the river by now,” he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.

Juno, walking a few paces ahead, spun on his heel with an easy grin. “Maybe the river moved?”

Elias pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’s not how rivers work, Juno.”

“Well, we’re definitely lost.” Juno plopped down on a moss-covered rock and pulled out a small, half-eaten pastry from his sash. “Snack?”

Elias sighed, turning his attention back to the map. He traced a route with his finger. “If my calculations are correct, we should be—” A loud snap interrupted him.

Juno’s eyes widened as the ground beneath him gave way. “Oh.”

“Oh?” Elias repeated flatly before lunging forward, but it was too late. Juno vanished with a yelp, followed by a loud splash!

Elias hurried to the edge of the hole, peering down. Below, Juno bobbed in an underground river, sputtering and waving. “You okay?” Elias called.

Juno spat out a mouthful of water. “I found the river!” Juno grinned up at him. “So… how good are you at climbing down?”

Elias secured the rope around a sturdy tree, giving it a firm tug before lowering himself down. When he reached the bottom, Juno was already wringing water from his shirt.

“You took your time,” Juno teased.

“I was considering leaving you down here,” Elias replied dryly, stepping onto the riverbank. “Well, at least we’re on track now.”

Juno grinned. “See? My shortcut worked.”

Elias shot him a look. “Falling into a river isn’t a shortcut.” Before Juno could argue, a rustling sound came from the trees above. Both of them froze. Elias’s hand instinctively went to the knife at his belt

Juno whispered, “Uh… friend or foe?”

Elias tightened his grip on his knife. “We’re about to find out.”