Chapter 2: Trouble Takes Flight
The jungle stretched endlessly before Colt, alive with the sounds of chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the occasional growl from who-knows-what. "Alright," Colt said, flipping open his map (which was more doodles than actual directions), "the west is that way. Or… maybe that way?" He spun the map around and shrugged. "Eh, I'll figure it out."
As he trudged along, Colt couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. His eyes darted to the trees above. "Probably just squirrels," he muttered, but his grip tightened on his bag.
A sudden screech shattered the quiet. Colt whipped his head around just in time to see a massive eagle swooping down toward him, its talons outstretched. "Oh no, nope, nope!" Colt yelped, diving into the bushes as the bird soared past him.
The eagle landed nearby, its piercing eyes locked on Colt's bag. "You want my gear? You've got good taste," Colt joked nervously. "But it's not for sale!"
The eagle screeched again, flapping its enormous wings. Before Colt could react, the bird snatched his bag and took off into the sky. Colt jumped to his feet. "Hey! That's mine!" he shouted, running after the eagle as it soared above the treetops.
The chase led him to a clearing, where the eagle perched on a jagged rock, rummaging through Colt's bag with its beak. "Great," Colt groaned, "a bird thief." He crouched behind a bush, scanning the area. "Alright, Colt, you've got this. Just sneak up there, grab the bag, and don't get eaten by a giant bird."
Carefully, Colt crept toward the rock, staying low to the ground. Every step brought him closer to his bag, and the eagle seemed too busy inspecting a broken gadget to notice him. Colt smirked. "Too easy," he whispered.
Just as he reached for the bag, the eagle's head snapped toward him. Its eyes narrowed. Colt froze. "Uh… nice birdy?"
The eagle screeched and lunged. Colt ducked, grabbing his bag and rolling to safety. "Okay, plan B!" he shouted, fumbling with one of his gadgets. He pulled out what looked like a slingshot and loaded it with a small marble-sized orb.
The eagle swooped down, and Colt fired. The orb exploded into a cloud of bright light, startling the bird. "Yes!" Colt cheered, only to realize the eagle was now angrier than ever. "Oh no."
The eagle charged at him, forcing Colt to run. He darted through the clearing, zigzagging to avoid the bird's strikes. He needed a plan—and fast.
His eyes landed on a tree with low-hanging vines. An idea sparked in his mind. "Alright, birdbrain, let's see how good your flying really is!" Colt grabbed a vine and swung up into the tree.
The eagle followed, its massive wings slicing through the air. Colt climbed higher, using the branches to stay just out of reach. Finally, he spotted what he was looking for: a sturdy vine hanging over a deep mud pit.
Grinning, Colt grabbed the vine and waited for the eagle to strike. "Come on, you overgrown chicken," he taunted. The eagle dove toward him, and at the last second, Colt swung out of the way.
The bird couldn't stop in time. It crashed into the mud pit, letting out a defeated squawk as it sank into the muck. Colt swung back to the ground, laughing as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "And that's why you don't mess with Colt the Adventurer!"
He checked his bag, relieved to find most of his gadgets intact—though a few were covered in bird drool. "Gross," he muttered, shaking them off.
As he continued down the jungle path, Colt glanced back at the mud pit. The eagle was still there, glaring at him from the muck. Colt gave it a cheeky wave. "No hard feelings, right?"
The eagle screeched, and Colt laughed, jogging deeper into the jungle. "Man, the west is way more exciting than I thought!"