The hunt and the prey

The weather at sea always changed quickly. After raging for several hours, the downpour suddenly gave way to clear skies.

With the rain gone, crystalline droplets trickled down the broad palm leaves. A sea breeze stirred them gently, and the round beads of water trembled, reflecting the warm sunlight.

The ground was muddy. Shallow pools mirrored the azure sky and the dazzling sunlight.

"Kraa—kraa—"

A white gull emerged from a crevice in the dark gray rocks and beat its wings, taking to the sky. It spread them and glided above swaying green woods, a rushing, pale-colored stream, and Xia Lun in his dark gray coat.

It was only just past noon.

Although the survivors had discovered a dried corpse in the cave and found some unsettling information, after some discussion, they decided to stick to their original division of labor: Gunner and Xia Lun would handle hunting and preliminary exploration, while the other three would head to the beach to gather any shipwreck supplies that might have washed ashore and finish choosing and planning a site for their shelter.

As soon as the downpour stopped, everyone put the plan into action.

Now, Xia Lun and Gunner were making their way through the rain-soaked woods.

Warm sunlight filtered through the swaying foliage, scattering mottled patches of light across the ground. Cool, damp vapor rose around them, laden with the rich scent of soil and the distinctive briny tang of seawater.

The forest teemed with life after the rain, but it also harbored many dangers.

Xia Lun carefully skirted a snake coiled on a palm tree, its tongue flicking out. After meeting its emotionless, slit-pupiled gaze for a moment, he turned toward Gunner up ahead.

Still bare-chested, Gunner crouched and pinched a little soil from the soft ground. His nose twitched as