Morning found us awake and hungry. Our meager rations from the day before had only whetted our appetite, and each of us felt the painful pangs of hunger. The campfire, now extinguished, left only smoldering embers as a reminder of the previous night.
Our guide, already up and alert, gathered everyone around him.
-Today we must continue to go deeper into the forest, she said with calm authority. "In the morning, the forest is safer. Nocturnal predators retreat, and we have a better chance of finding food and resources."
The hope of finding something to satisfy our hunger somewhat revived our energy. We quickly packed up our belongings, everyone grabbing what they could for the walk ahead. The researcher checked the contents of his backpack, retrieving the few remaining tools and supplies.
As we progressed through the forest, the sun's rays pierced through the dense foliage, creating luminous patterns on the ground. The fresh, clean air was invigorating, but our empty stomachs constantly reminded us of our urgent need to find food.
The guide taught us to recognize certain edible plants and to avoid those that were potentially dangerous. Under his instructions, we gathered some fruits and roots, modest but welcome rewards. We ate them gratefully, each bite bringing a little respite from our hunger.
-Not too traumatized?, asked us Darcy
-If I'm still traumatized by what happened, I sighed
-It was really scary, added Marc with frowning eyebrows.
-At that point? asked Ambrose curiously
-Yeah because I felt that my body was no longer responding to me, I admitted to him, I didn't even manage to escape until I lost consciousness
-The thing that made you lose consciousness must have been very powerful then, said Darcy
-Yes, Marc confirmed
After several hours of walking, we reached an area where the vegetation became denser and the trees more imposing. The guide stopped, raising his hand to signal a pause. "We will explore this area in more detail," he announced. "With any luck, we'll find water and maybe even signs of life that can guide us."
While the group rested, Marc and I took it upon ourselves to look for signs of water. We moved deeper into the vegetation, following subtle clues left by the local fauna. Soon we heard the gentle murmur of a stream.
"I think we found something," I said enthusiastically.
We followed the sound until we discovered a small stream of clear water winding through the trees. We crouched down to refill our water bottles, the cool water offering immediate relief.
-We should report this news to the group, Marc suggested.
Back with the others, we shared our discovery. Our guide gave a rare smile of satisfaction. "This is great news," she said. "Water is a vital resource. We'll base ourselves here for the day and explore the surrounding area to see what we can learn."
The forest, although mysterious and sometimes threatening, proved to be an abundant source of surprises. As the day progressed, we discovered various fruits, edible plants and even some small, seemingly harmless creatures that we could cook.
By evening we had accumulated enough food for a decent meal. Our guide encouraged us to remain vigilant, but she allowed a moment of relaxation around the fire, where we shared our findings and our hopes.
Sitting around the fire, a reassuring warmth spread in our hearts. The night wore on, but this time we were better prepared, more united and determined to face this strange and beautiful world.
As the flames danced, I thought back to our chaotic arrival and our initial fears. We had already come a long way. The unknown remained immense before us, but with each step, each discovery, we strengthened our will to survive and understand the planet RKA.