'Defensible. Water access. Multiple escape routes. This will work.'
He established his position near the cave mouth where he could monitor the jungle below while maintaining tactical options for retreat or advance. The elevated position provided clear sightlines across the territory he'd traversed during the day's hunt.
Night sounds began replacing daytime activity as the ecosystem shifted to its nocturnal phase. Different energy signatures moved through the darkness—creatures that avoided daylight but thrived in shadow.
'Tomorrow I'll continue hunting. But tonight, patience serves better than aggression.'
The cave's shelter would protect him from nocturnal threats while conserving energy for the next day's advancement opportunities.
...
As time passed and Ethan waited inside the cave system, the distant sound of approaching voices cut through the jungle's ambient noise.
I have company. I can hear multiple voices coming closer.
