Snake heard the sound clear as day, as if a giant snake is following right behind them but he was too preoccupied to care, the natives were on their tail and Oliver was slowly bleeding out right in front of him, every second counts and he did not intend to spend one turning back. He was exhausted from all the running but perhaps something kept him going and helping these slaves, was it companionship, or something more?

[hr]
Meanwhile, back in the elder's lodge, Matahari was startled by the sudden and growing hissing sound coming from down river. The sound was unmistakable to him, he knew what had happened. He gave a slight chuckle and said to himself, "Seems like our escapees aren't what they put themselves out to be..."

[hr]
It didn't take long for the native warriors to arrive, nor did it take long for them to be surrounded by slithering serpents of all shapes and sizes. The snakes striked at the warriors, although they managed to kill a few, they were far outnumbered by the snakes. Some were bitten and laid on the floor in agonizing pain, some could not even make a sound as they were slowly constricted and crushed, the lucky few fled back across the river with nothing more than a dozen pair of holes on their bodies.