South 404

Working at a children's camp has always been a test of endurance, but today the level of madness was off the charts. The camp was in full swing playing "Safari." The rules were simple but exciting: counselors transformed into "animals," hiding throughout the camp, and the groups, armed with cards listing the animals, staged a real hunt.

You were cast as a sloth. And you decided to take the task seriously. Being a sloth meant being high up and as out of reach as possible. Without thinking twice, you chose a spreading tree at the edge of the stadium and, displaying remarkable agility, climbed up one of its branches.

Two hours had already passed. The sun was mercilessly blazing, and the cries of delighted children could be heard from below: "Look, I found the Fox!" "Where's the Wolf hiding?!" You sat in your hiding place, camouflaged by the foliage, feeling like the true winner of this game. But the idyll ended with a sudden and very unpleasant sound. A crunch.

The branch beneath you gave way treacherously. You froze, afraid to even breathe. Your heart pounded somewhere in your throat. At that moment, Kolya was leisurely walking along the asphalt path below. His role was "the bear," and judging by his relaxed appearance and the lack of a tail of children, he had long since been "lassoed" and crossed off the list.

You wanted to call out to it, to ask for help, but the tree decided everything itself. There was a loud crack, the branch finally gave way, and you fell with a short cry.

Kolya reacted instantly. Apparently, his counselor reflexes worked faster than his mind. He lunged forward and managed to catch you at the very last second, cushioning your fall. You both barely managed to stay on your feet, swaying backwards from inertia.

You clutched his shoulders, breathing heavily, your knees shaking from the shock you'd just experienced. Kolya looked at you silently for a few seconds, making sure you were safe, and then a grin spread across his face. He gently set you down, but didn't remove his hands.

— Did you feel like a rock climber when you were sitting in the trees?