"From now on, I won't sleep without a coconut." Liu Zhenhan vowed.
Although there were only a few scoops left of the eaten coconut, Liu Zhenhan didn't waste it. He threaded them with vines to make simple pants. Even though the island didn't seem inhabited, he still didn't feel comfortable running around naked. Finally, he felt a bit more at ease with himself.
He put the spare coconut shell on his head like a helmet.
"Damn, I must look like an idiot now." Liu Zhenhan chuckled foolishly.
He pushed through the dense bushes, aiming for a mound not far away. The bone spear in his hand was temporarily used as a machete. The setting sun's afterglow had begun to appear in the clouds. Liu Zhenhan thought it necessary to find a place to settle down—who knows what was on this island?
After going through the bushes, he found himself in a Red Willow Grove. Liu Zhenhan's arrival startled a flock of seabirds that lived there. The grey flock soared into the sky in surprise, causing Liu Zhenhan to jump and nearly drop the coconut on his back.
Underneath the short Red Willow trees was a thick layer of bird droppings and feathers. Liu Zhenhan tried stepping on it—it was very soft. He was wondering whether to cross or go around when a small squirrel-like creature landed on his shoulder.
The little critter had long ears and a chubby face. Its golden fur glistened like silk. It held a wild fruit in its front paws and offered it to Liu Zhenhan.
Seeing the tooth marks on it, Liu Zhenhan shook his head and declined the creature's kindness.
Liu Zhenhan observed the tiny creature. It didn't seem scared of humans at all, which he found interesting. Since it was so lean, he didn't have the heart to harm it. He gently lifted it by its fluffy tail from his shoulder and put it on the ground.
"Off you go, little one!" Liu Zhenhan stuck out his tongue and playfully agitated the creature's head.
"Guoguo~~" The little one murmured, and it made a similar face at Liu Zhenhan, sticking out its pink tongue.
"So cute." Liu Zhenhan pinched its chubby face, feeling a squishiness in his palms.
After wallowing in self-pity for half a day, Liu Zhenhan finally felt much better. Looking at his ragged appearance, he could only apologize with a smile.
"Go home!" Liu Zhenhan patted the little critter's head again and headed towards the Red Willow Grove. He noticed many bird nests on the low-lying trees. He decided that although the ground was filthy, he didn't care—he wasn't here for a beauty contest. The nests were bound to have eggs, which would make for a good dinner for the next few days.
Indeed, there were many eggs in the nests of the Red Willow Grove, along with many newborn birds. Liu Zhenhan picked up about a dozen eggs, filling his "helmet" with them. He left the newborns undisturbed. The screeching seabirds circling the sky were either praising Liu Zhenhan for his decency or cursing him for his wickedness.
Turning around, Liu Zhenhan was surprised to find the little creature was still following him, carrying a wild fruit skewered on a thin stick, standing upright, looking at him.
Liu Zhenhan stared at it for a long while, dropping the coconut on his shoulder, splattering the bird droppings on the ground.
"Is it... is it imitating me?" Liu Zhenhan was struck dumb.
The small creature walked over, its large belly protruding, a stick over its shoulder carrying the wild fruit. It looked like a proud general, covered in patches of black and white bird droppings, returning victorious.
"Can't be!" Liu Zhenhan felt his tonsils stiffen, quickly closing his mouth. The critter was clearly laughing, its eyes squinting in delight.
Liu Zhenhan felt there was a sense of wisdom in that laughter, far from animalistic.
He recalled a story his mother once told him about animals having spirit communication. He didn't believe it when he was young. That was until they once butchered a cow back at the production team. He saw the cow's tears rolling down its eyes.
That surprise he felt then could only be matched by what he was feeling now.
Liu Zhenhan squatted down and beckoned the little critter. It immediately dropped its stick and clambered up his arm into his embrace. Its small head snuggled against him. Liu Zhenhan felt immensely satisfied. He then picked up the creature and stroked its head. The critter seemed to be enjoying it too, its rabbit-like ears standing tall, purring contentedly like a kitten.
After a short bout of playing, Liu Zhenhan took the squirrel-like rabbit-like creature and continued his journey. He felt that he could never part with this little thing. The creature was agile like a squirrel, with excellent jumping ability. From time to time, it would run into the bushes on the roadside, picking berries or something similar, bringing them back to him like a gift. Even though he dared not eat the berries, his heart felt extremely full.