Night had fallen deep.
The campfire had burned out, leaving only a pile of dark red embers that occasionally crackled and sent up a few sparks.
The tents gleamed faintly silver beneath the stars. There were two, one larger and one smaller, standing quietly at the edge of the wetlands.
The cries of night birds came from the distance, along with the occasional bubbling of puddles. Everything was so quiet, so peaceful.
Except for the faint sounds coming from one particular tent.
Makomo lay with her eyes open, staring at the roof of the tent.
She had held that position for over two hours.
Beside her, Dawn had her back to her, breathing evenly, seemingly fast asleep.
But Makomo knew she was awake-because she had just seen the tips of Dawn's ears turn red again.
The sounds from the neighboring tent came and went, but she could always hear them clearly.
Makomo could tell it was Cheryl's voice, gentle with a hint of trembling, as though she were desperately holding something back. Occasionally, she could also hear Xia You's low voice. She couldn't make out what he was saying, but that tone...
She buried her face in her sleeping bag, gripping its edges tightly with both hands.
Again.
Again, again, again!
Wasn't this exactly the same as last night?!
How could they do this every day?!
Weren't they tired after traveling all day?!
They really had endless energy!
She tried hard to think about something else.
Tomorrow's research plans, for instance, or the ecology of the Icirrus Wetlands, or that interesting girl Langley, or what interesting people they might meet next and what interesting places they might visit...
But those sounds kept dragging her back.
In the end, she gave up helplessly.
After who knew how long, the neighboring tent