The fog was thick, making it impossible to see the source of the screams. I climbed higher up the tree, holding on to the rough bark like my life depended on it, which it did. In the thick brush of the jungle, it was impossible to tell what was hunting us. But I knew that it was not human.

Another scream echoed through my ears. I shook, my fear getting the best of me. I should have stayed, I should have fought.

And I knew I was going to regret my decision.

I carefully lowered myself down the tree, ignoring the burns the bark left on my palms as I landed in the thick jungle mud. It splattered onto my combat boots as I sprinted towards the fight.

I made it to the clearing, and our attacker came into view. A jaguar was no more than five feet away from me, its body rigid. It turned its head, and the yellow eyes bore right into my deepest fears.

I turned and ran, the traction of the mud slowing me down as my heart rate only accelerated. I jumped over roots that stuck out of the ground and avoided low hanging vines. The jaguar growled from behind me, letting me know that it was getting ready to pounce.

I saw the cliff ahead of me, and I weighed my options. Get eaten by a hungry jaguar, or jump off a cliff. Either way my death was imminent.

My feet did not stop.

My lungs gasped in shock as the ground left my feet. I was falling, the wind coming from all directions as I lost my sense of direction. Adrenaline pumped through my body as I had forgotten about my fear of heights. But before I could fall into the darkness, something wet wrapped around me, pulling me out of the dark abyss.

I was pulled back onto the edge of the cliff, and I looked at the source of the wet tongue that was wrapped around my waist. The jaguar stared at me and retracted its tongue, leaving a trail of slime. The jaguar barked at me.

I awoke in a start, sitting up hastily and taking in my surroundings. The jaguar was licking my face all over, preventing me from seeing. I pushed the jaguar away, and wiped the slobber off of my face with my free hand. When my vision became clear, I realized that my dog continued licking my palm.

“Cooper!” I shouted, and he barked at the sound of his name. I laughed as the fear of a jaguar chasing me faded into distant memory.