10

The small space enough for one and some was filled with toasty warmth as a blazing fire continued to grow on the side. It was supposedly early in the morning outside but the muffled storm made it seem like it's the middle of the night. Coldness was one of her concerns, but she was able to remedy that with the burning fire.

This cave has a cold climate inside, the storm caused the temperature to drop lower than usual. They would probably freeze to death without the fire. Unlike the flora and fauna, the mere humans did not evolve much. All the animals could endure the cold now, despite the species, unlike the humans. The books she read about the weather way before the disaster was fascinating in some sense. All those lost technology and advancement. The life before sounds so heavenly, perfect, but somehow empty. As if there is no other purpose but to live life with ease. Lacking.

"Get closer to the fire." She told the man shivering on the corner. There is no sprain in his feet, just some lacerations. He was quiet the entire time after she asked him about his desire to stay in this place. The life in the district wasn't perfect like the society before but it is a lot better than living on the main island.

It seems like the man was out of his wits after the adrenaline rush. He might be even in shock but he needs to warm himself up. She wouldn't like to go out in this weather with dozens of lightning strikes just to bury a frozen body.

"I said get closer to the fire." She repeated with a voice a little higher this time.

Electric blues turned in her direction, they looked glassy and yes, disoriented. Gesturing with her hand towards the fire, the man drew closer to the fire. He looked like he'd been to the abyss and was forcibly brought back.

Grime marred his pretty face beforehand. Because of the rain, his face was now a little clean and his prettiness was more blatant. The hair looks chaotic though. The long strands were tangled and twigs and leaves were hanging from the hair. That kind of hair will never survive living in the forest.

The silence went on for an hour. Against her will, and she is blaming the agreement, her eyes keep on checking the man on the other side of the space. He was no longer shivering even with the soak clothes. That's a good sign.

Now that they are safe, and have a fire going, a meal is another concern she has to think about. They only had the leftovers last night but since they're cold and wet like a mutt, a warm meal is more apt. The storm would probably last a few days, so they need provisions.

"You stay here. I'll find something to eat." she said to the still silent man.

Luckily for them, the cave had its own ecosystem. There is a small river running through this cave, and there is an abundant supply of fish. Only concern she has is the absence of fishing gear. She could only rely on using her hands. Stocking her hideouts did not come with the appropriate gears for hunting or fishing. In the future, she would make sure to stock those shelters with needed gears.

"Keep the fire burning." She pointed to the area where a stock of wood was piled. The firewood was a little damp but with enough heat it'll be blazing in no time. The man nodded as she took a used torch on top of the firewood pile. Successfully igniting it, she went out of the little cove and made her way to the familiar path that was barely lit by the torch she was holding.

Carefully watching her steps, she trudged upon the slippery cave floor. From somewhere in the cave she could hear a pit-a-pat of water droplets. An underground river is not the only water formation you can find inside this cave. A large pool of water is located deeper down the cave. You have to pass through narrow, claustrophobic passages to reach the place.

With the array of chambers in the cave, there is a specific place where plants thrived. It was captivating to watch. A world inside a cave with its own system. She was not able to explore the whole cave, so she was careful in navigating the twists and turns. The whole place is huge, and you can easily get lost in the darkness.

It's the same thing with the main island. She had explored the wholeness of it, but the minute details, like the inside of the caves. Everywhere she went, she made sure to leave a little mark that would lead her home. Just like the small slashes she was currently tracing with her fingers right now. This slash has a distinct number on it so as to avoid confusion.

The sound of a water running was getting closer, and a distinct sound of splashing could be heard. Sighing in relief, she concluded that the torch would last long enough for her to catch a fish or two and be back in the cove.

Water splashes were mixed with the sounds of other creatures inhabiting the place. There is the sound of the bats, slithering snakes and salamanders. She reached the river and got to work immediately. There is no time to admire the clearness of the water. Folding her shirt sleeves, she went into the cold water. It was so cold that she was shivering as she scanned the water. The light emitted by the torch can only reach a certain distance, so she did not dare go into the deep part of the river.

Turning to her right, her eyes zeroed on a fish leisurely swimming around. This decent sized fish was probably swept away by the river's current in this part. All the water in the cave was connected by this very same river, and the river leads to the place where the plants thrived. That place was able to get some sunlight because a part of the cave ceiling collapsed a long time ago. Somehow the sunlight penetrated through the hole and provided the place with enough light to start up food production for the plants to grow.

A variety of fish inhabited the area and would often be swept away by the current and would reach this part of the river.

It took her almost half an hour to catch three decent sized fish. The torch was already dying down so she hastened her movements. After gutting them with her short knife, she had to store them in a container for better grip. However, she had no container, and she left her bag in the cove. She only had the head cover. Left with no choice, she took the head cover off and wrapped the fish with it.

Hands still tracing the slash markings all over the cave, she safely finds a way to the small cove. She was a few yards away and she can already imagine the warmth of the fire on her skin. With renewed vigor, she walked faster with the torch on her right hand and the fish on the left, never minding the creatures in the area.

Finally, she reached the cove and happily went just to be surprised. The fish wrapped in the head cover fell to the cave floor while she tightened her grip on the torch.

"Where's your tunic?"

"Your face." They exclaimed together in varying tones.