Brandon and Jhonatan ran non-stop through the entire forest trying to escape the animals and find a safe place.
As they ran between the trees, anacondas leaped from the branches trying to devour them, they dodged them by inches.
Terrmomix and César were surrounded by four four-meter-long anacondas, they drew their katanas.
—Ready?—Asked Terrmomix, his gaze was calculating and serious.
—Of course I am—Answered César, his eyes focused on the anacondas.
The battle began, the two supported each other, watching each other's backs. After 30 minutes, the battle ended. The decapitated bodies of the anacondas lay on the ground.
The boys fell to the ground, their breathing heavy from exhaustion, their katanas and bodies stained with the animals' blood.
A few meters away, a pack of wolves heard the noise caused by the fight, causing them to begin approaching silently.
Cesar spat blood from his mouth and tried to stand up but his legs were shaking.
—D-don't... Don't move—Ordered Terrmomix as he tried to get up from the ground.
Cesar leaned against the trunk of a tree to keep from falling.
—But... But we have to leave, it's too dangerous to stay here.
Terrmomix stood up, his leg was injured but he could walk.
—I know, but you won't be able to run like that.
—Then what are we going to do? more of those animals will find us soon.
Terrmomix looked around searching for a safe place to hide, caves were too dangerous and being out in the open was too.
—I think we're going to have to climb a tree.
—Will it be safe?.
—I don't know, but we have no other options—He walked over to the tree where César was leaning—I'll help you up—He interlaced his fingers and lowered them to the height of César's foot to help him climb.
He placed his right foot on Terrmomix's hands to push himself up, drove his katana into the tree trunk, Terrmomix handed him his katana so he could climb the tree with both weapons.
He reached the largest branch and hid among the leaves, he threw both katanas next to Terrmomix so he could climb up too.
He climbed the tree the same way César did, hiding next to him among the leaves that concealed them.
—I hope we are safe here at least until dawn—Said Terrmomix.
—Yes, let's hope so.
Meanwhile Marco and Ben kept running, they cut down trees to block the path of the animals still chasing them.
Wolves, bears and anacondas launched themselves from the trees towards them to attack but they cut off their heads before they could hurt them.
In the distance, an anaconda spat a liquid from its fangs, Marco managed to dodge the spit, the liquid hit the ground and began to disintegrate the grass where it landed.
Marco was terrified but kept running.
—Watch out! These things can spit acid that disintegrates whatever it touches!.
Ben was surprised by what he said.
—What?...
—Don't get distracted!
—Okay!.
Time passed as the boys tried to survive the forest, dawn was getting closer and closer.
With the sunlight, the wilder animals would hide once again.
At four in the morning, animals passed beneath the tree where Terrmomix and César were hiding, they remained absolutely silent.
Minutes went by, on the horizon the sun began to rise. The animals, angry at not finding any prey, began to knock down all the nearby trees.
The boys got scared and began to tremble slightly.
—We'll have to run if they break this tree—Whispered Terrmomix.
Cesar nodded, he had rested so his feet were a little better now.
An anaconda hissed and with its tail broke the trunk of the tree where the two of them were.
They both jumped from the branch as the tree was falling.
They began to run with all their might, the nearby animals turned towards them and began to chase them quickly.
Little by little the sun began to rise, the distant animals began to hide but not the ones chasing them.
They kept running without stopping, they just had to hold on for a few more minutes but... Suddenly an anaconda appeared from behind a tree.
Cesar didn't notice in time, the anaconda spat and the acid hit him in the side.
The acid began to disintegrate his side, he fell to the ground groaning in pain, Terrmomix stopped suddenly and turned around to go help him.
The anaconda was about to attack them but the sun's rays blinded its vision, the animals began to flee to hide.
Terrmomix knelt beside him, his breathing irregular, he couldn't believe what was happening.
—Ce-Cesar... Hold on—He lifted him in his arms—The master will know what to do!.
Cesar's side had been disintegrated along with his kidney.
—There's nothing more to be done—He said with difficulty—I'm going to die.
—That's not true!—Tears began to stream from Terrmomix's eyes—You're going to survive! Just hold on!—He ran without stopping, not knowing the direction of the cabin but hoping to find it.
Cesar smiled, his eyes barely able to stay open.
—It's useless... You don't know where the cabin is.
—BUT I WILL FIND IT!—He tripped over a stone causing him to fall along with César—Shit!.
He crawled towards César to try to lift him again but he refused.
—Enough Terrmomix, you're wasting energy on something useless—He held onto the disintegrated part.
—What nonsense are you talking about! I'm taking you back no matter what—He tried to lift him again.
Cesar kept smiling and refusing.
—You still have to get out of here, you'll run out of strength for nothing—Despite his condition, his voice was calm and relaxed.
—Cesar! I'm not leaving you here! No... Don't die please...—Tears kept falling as he knelt beside him.
—It's okay like this... We knew the risks of coming here, I wasn't strong enough to pass this test—His eyelids felt heavier and heavier. His voice getting lower and lower.
—You weren't weak...! I... I couldn't protect you.
—It wasn't your fault, Terrmomix... Thank you for being such a great friend.
He shook his head forcefully.
—NO! NO! DON'T GIVE UP!.
Cesar laughed softly.
—Silly...—He grabbed his hand with his last strength—Take care of the master, Robertita and Vexana.
—No! Please, CESAR!—He squeezed César's hand tightly—You can't go yet...
—I hope you can marry her... Tell the others that they were also... Great friends—Finally César's eyes closed forever.
His hand lost its strength, Terrmomix's hands shook uncontrollably while holding that hand.
He shook his head repeatedly refusing to accept what had happened. He shouted César's name forcefully as tears flowed endlessly.
The sun rose completely, César's smile never faded, Terrmomix cried and cried for several minutes.
He ran out of tears, his face was pale, in shock, his mind denying reality refusing to accept it.
After hours without moving, he finally stood up and began to walk aimlessly, his mind completely blank, he wanted to cry but had no tears left.