"Mouthy little morsel..." the River Walker hisses, half to itself, "I'll save your lungs and heart for last, so I can hear you scream as long as you can!"

For now, Chris just keeps crawling, hoping for another fork in the path. He hears some pebbles scatter before him and fall, and he takes the chance to tuck and roll. The drop happens a few moments later, and that heart the River Walker mentioned feels like it lurches inside of him. He lands heavily on his left shoulder, but it should just be a bruise.

There's another monstrous hiss, and the spider thing begins to crawl down the cave wall toward Chris. At least he can stand now, and does so.

Dying is always terrible, but it's better to face it on your feet.