Ten at night.
Zhang Suannai finished building her shelter in the dark.
The shelter might have looked crude, but she had designed it with care. She had built it from dry branches, spread "soft" hay over the top, and wedged the whole thing between several large trees, suspended about half a meter above the ground. Its triangular shape was sturdy and kept out the rain. She had failed twice while building it.
Zhang Suannai glanced at the lit houses not far away, then lay down in this shelter with a soul.
How comfortable.
Much better than that plank at sea.
She sniffed. The air was full of the scents of earth, grass, and wood.
Zhang Suannai closed her eyes.
A few seconds later, she got up, adjusted the hay, pulled out whatever was poking her, and closed her eyes again.
She hadn't slept this soundly in days.
Zhang Suannai adjusted the hay once more.
In the early hours of the morning.
Rain fell over the island with a steady patter.
Plop!
A raindrop slipped through the shelter and struck her face.
Zhang Suannai opened her eyes blearily and peered at the pitch-black roof. She blinked, shifted her head away from the leak, and went back to sleep.
The rain grew louder and louder, especially in the dense forest.
Zhang Suannai rolled onto her side.
She pressed her right ear against her right arm and covered her left ear with her left hand. Can't hear it, can't hear it.
She had no idea when the rain stopped.
Early the next morning.
Her clothes and hair soaked through, Zhang Suannai emerged from the shelter with her hair in disarray, looking every bit like a vagrant. She didn't care in the slightest. She stood before the shelter, combed through her hair, then headed