At dusk, the western sky was a sheet of red; the afterglow of the setting sun poured over the vast primeval forest, draping the canopy in a rosy veil. The dense trees rose and fell with the wind like surging green waves. Homebound birds chirped happily as they dove from the Void into this green swell, occasionally streaking out with a whoosh, shooting into the sky to chase and play with their companions. From time to time an animal's roar sounded from deep in the woods, adding a touch of terror and mystery to this noisy forest.
But beneath the clamorous, peaceful canopy lurked a chilling killing intent. A bird perched on a riverside shrub, cocking its head to peer at the surface, trying to spot a small fish for a hearty meal. Suddenly a bowl-thick venomous snake burst out from the shrub. Startled, the little bird flapped away in a flurry. The snake dropped into the river, and a piece of "rotting driftwood" floating on the water suddenly moved—it was actually a crocodile.
