The creature paused, and for a few moments I could observe it clearly.
It’s form, I could now see, was only the crudest approximation of a man.
It was, in fact, far taller than any person. Yet so stopped and contorted did it hold itself that it appeared no more than six feet in height. The limbs and extremities were thin and unnaturally long. It's torso was slight, so that at a glance it seemed to have little body at all and fancifully resembled some spider crushed underfoot.
It’s cruel mockery of a face was wet and leathery, a warped and distorted thing incapable of portraying any but the most base emotions. It’s mouth seemed no more than a dank dark opening.
Some small creature must have startled in the trees, and it suddenly raised it’s head at the sound, looking almost directly at our hiding place.
In the light of the fading sun I saw clearly it’s eyes and was seized by terror. This forsaken thing, grotesque as it was, had eyes of unmistakable intellect. In those hideous orbs I saw quick cunning and keen sense, yet knew also they engaged a mind limited to thoughts of only the most vile intent.

It was at this moment that one of the guides, his nerve broken, took flight.