Amazonian Umbrella Bird

100 words

The forest floor, strewn with stones and leaf litter, hampered the explorer as he hacked his way farther into the jungle. Sweat poured from his body, drenching, weakening him. Still he persisted.
No one had ever seen this mythical creature, yet the man knew in his heart it existed.
Raising his eyes up into the canopy he searched. Ears listening for the call, camera raised in readiness, the first man to capture the image.
Weeks passed. Debilitated by mosquitoes, leeches and exhaustion, he fell to the ground. Watching in the trees high above, the Amazonian Umbrella bird squawked.

Story using 100 words and the words: stone and umbrella