Chapter 12: Survival resources
The sun rose over the ruins, its golden rays filtering through the cracks and casting patterns of light and shadow across the cavern walls. The group stirred from their sleep, their bodies still sore but minds sharper after a night of rest.
Vivek yawned and stretched, breaking the morning silence. "Alright, we need to start planning. Should we split into groups? Some of us could explore the ruins while the others gather food and water."
Vedant, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, nodded. "It makes sense. We can't waste time sitting around, and we need both resources and information about this place."
Before anyone else could speak, Bhoumik stood up, dusting off his clothes. "No. Let's not divide into too many small groups. Exploring the ruins can wait we'll leave two people here to look around while the rest of us gather food and water. There's more fruit on those trees than we can carry with just a few people."
The group exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
Hitesh stretched his arms. "Alright, sounds good. Vivek and Vedant, you two can stay and check out the ruins. The rest of us will head to the forest and gather as much as we can."
Tsering raised a hand, her brow furrowed. "Wait. What about water? We don't have anything to carry it back with. We can't just use our hands."
Vedant perked up at this, his eyes lighting up with an idea. "There's a solution bamboo. If we find thick bamboo stalks, we can cut them into sections to store water. The hollow interiors will work perfectly as containers."
Bhoumik nodded, already strategizing. "Good idea. We've got swords and daggers to cut them down. We'll search for bamboo near the fruit trees."
With the plan settled, the group prepared to leave. Bhoumik and Atul led the way, with the others following closely behind.
The forest loomed large as they stepped into its depths. Towering trees stretched high above them, their massive roots snaking across the ground like ancient veins. The morning light filtered through the thick canopy, creating a soft, greenish glow.
"This is the same place where we saw that beast yesterday," Atul muttered, his voice low but tense. "Stay alert."
Weapons in hand, the group moved cautiously, their eyes scanning every shadow and rustling leaf. Though none of them were skilled fighters, the grip on their weapons was firm, their determination fueled by necessity.
After a tense but uneventful trek, they arrived at the clearing near the waterfall. The sight was as breathtaking as it had been the day before the water cascading down the rocks into a crystal-clear lake, its surface shimmering in the sunlight.
Tsering stepped forward, marveling at the view. "It's incredible. The water looks so pure."
Bhoumik nodded but kept his focus practical. "Alright. Before we start drinking or collecting fruit, we need to find bamboo. Spread out, but don't go too far. If you find anything, call out immediately."
The group fanned out, each pair sticking close together as they searched the surrounding area.
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Hitesh wandered a bit farther than the others, muttering under his breath about the weight of the sword in his hand. His steps slowed as he spotted a small hill up ahead. It wasn't tall, but its rocky surface was dotted with large, dark holes unlike anything he had seen before.
Curiosity tugged at him, and he approached cautiously, his heart pounding faster with every step. The holes seemed unnaturally deep, their insides coated in something black and sticky. A faint growling sound emanated from within, low and rhythmic, like a beast sleeping in the shadows.
Hitesh froze, his instincts screaming at him to retreat.
Backing away slowly, he kept his eyes on the holes until he was at a safe distance. "What the hell…" he whispered, gripping his sword tightly as he turned and hurried back toward the others.
Elsewhere, Tsering and Riddhi moved carefully through the dense undergrowth. The forest around them was eerily silent, devoid of even the chirping of insects or rustling of birds.
After some time, Tsering's eyes lit up. "Over there!" She pointed toward a cluster of tall, thick bamboo stalks standing in a grove.
The two women approached cautiously, examining the stalks. "This should work," Riddhi said, running her fingers over the smooth surface. "They're hollow, thick, and sturdy. Perfect for storing water."
They quickly retraced their steps to call for the others. Within minutes, the group gathered near the bamboo grove.
Bhoumik inspected the stalks, nodding approvingly. "They're about six or seven meters long and at least ten inches wide. These will do."
Hitesh stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves. "Alright, let's get to work. I'll start cutting them down."
With surprising strength, Hitesh swung his sword, slicing cleanly through the bamboo. Atul, holding a mace, called over to Yashvi. "Hand me your sword. I can't do much with this thing."
Yashvi handed him her weapon, and Atul joined in, cutting the bamboo with swift, clean strokes.
After some time, they had cut down three large stalks. Bhoumik turned to Sachi. "Give me your dagger. We'll need to cut these into sections."
Sachi nodded and handed it over, and Riddhi did the same with her dagger. Bhoumik and Vishal worked together, slicing the bamboo into 30 to 35 cm sections.
"Each section can hold a good amount of water," Bhoumik explained. "This should be more than enough for now."
When they were done, they had prepared 25 bamboo containers, neatly sealed at one end.
With the bamboo ready, the group returned to the lake. They drank deeply from the water first, feeling refreshed as the cool liquid revived their tired bodies.
One by one, they filled the bamboo sections with water, sealing the open ends with cloth and vines. When the water containers were secured, they turned to the fruit trees, plucking as much of the fiery red fruit as they could. Each fruit was carefully wrapped in cloth to protect it during the journey back.
By the time they finished, the sun had risen higher in the sky. Each member of the group carried five bamboo containers, their weight a heavy burden on already tired bodies.
The trek back to the ruins was slow and grueling, the loaded bamboo adding to their exhaustion. Despite the weight, no one complained they all understood the importance of the supplies they carried.
After more than three hours of walking, the group finally reached the cavern ruins. Sweat dripped from their faces, and their steps were sluggish, but a wave of relief washed over them as they crossed the threshold of their temporary shelter.
"We made it," Atul said, dropping his bamboo with a thud.
"Barely," Yashvi muttered, wiping her forehead.
Bhoumik looked around at the group, his exhaustion clear but his determination unshaken. "Let's rest for a bit. Then we'll regroup and plan our next steps."
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The group rested after their long trek, the sound of calm breathing and rustling clothes filling the quiet cavern. The bamboo containers of water and the cloth-wrapped fruits were set aside, their weight lifted off tired shoulders.
Vedant and Vivek approached the group, their faces a mix of excitement and exhaustion. Atul, still rubbing his sore arms from carrying supplies, raised an eyebrow. "You two took your time. Did you find anything useful in this place?"
Vedant took a deep breath, adjusting his glasses. "We did. There's a chamber on the southern side of the ruins, but it's blocked by a massive stone door. It's far too heavy to move, and we couldn't figure out how to open it."
Bhoumik's eyes gleamed with curiosity, his thoughts already racing. "A stone door? If there's something behind it, there must be a way to open it. These places usually have hidden mechanisms. After we rest a bit more, let's check it out."
The group murmured in agreement, the prospect of uncovering something new reviving their energy.
It was late afternoon when the group gathered again, carrying small supplies of food and water in case they needed it. Hitesh gestured toward Vedant and Vivek. "Lead the way. Show us this chamber you found."
Vedant and Vivek nodded, guiding the group through the ruins. The path southward was covered in moss and tangled roots, with sunlight barely piercing through the cracks in the stone walls. As they reached the southern side, a large, vine-covered cave came into view.
"This is it," Vedant said, pointing at the entrance.
The group stepped inside, their footsteps echoing faintly in the wide, spacious cavern. The air was cool, and the walls were lined with thick roots that hung like curtains. The stone walls were etched with faint carvings, eroded by time but still exuding a sense of ancient importance.
"Keep moving," Vivek said, leading them deeper.
As they approached the massive stone door at the end of the cavern, Bhoumik suddenly stopped.
Bhoumik's hand shot to his pocket as a sharp heat radiated from his dark lotus jade pendant. His fingers brushed against it, feeling the warmth intensify with every step closer to the door.
"Bhoumik, what's wrong?" Tsering asked, noticing his hesitation.
He glanced at her briefly, his eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion. "Nothing. Just… wait here for a moment. There's something I want to check."
His gaze shifted to a narrow path branching off from the side of the main cavern. It was dark, the walls narrowing like a tunnel.
Vedant frowned. "We didn't check that path earlier. It didn't seem important."
"I'll take a look," Bhoumik said firmly. "It might lead to something."
Tsering stepped forward. "I'll go with you. Two pairs of eyes are better than one."
Bhoumik hesitated but eventually nodded. Together, they entered the narrow passage, leaving the rest of the group behind.
The passage was dark and silent, the only sound their footsteps and the faint scrape of roots brushing against the stone. At the end of the tunnel, they emerged into a small, open chamber.