Well, that turned out to also be the wrong direction. Not because it led in a circle or out or anything, but running into some sort of...winged cat-monster clearly spelled 'wrong direction' better than anything else.

To his credit, Neku's reaction is just a shriek and a few steps back.

"Wah! I didn't do anything, I just got lost! Sorry for uh...intruding on your forest...and...oh god don't eat me."

He hasn't noticed that they resemble one another yet, he's focused more on the wings and such.