The next day, with the sun's glare in my eyes, I wake up still feeling groggy.
— …What a horrible night. — I grumbled, rubbing my face. — I tried to sleep in this uncomfortable bed, and when I finally managed to, I kept waking up... all because I was afraid of something showing up.
With a long sigh, I got up, feeling the heat that was already starting to take over the environment.
— Haa... What time is it now? Around eleven? It's getting too hot to keep sleeping...
I looked around, grabbed what was left of the improvised spear, and headed out of the cabin. Immediately after, my stomach rumbled, as if demanding immediate attention.
— Yesterday I found a water source, but I'm still missing food... That's not an insect.
I decided to go back to the spring. I also brought the bucket, so I could bring some water back to the cabin. On the way, I tried to observe the trees more carefully, looking for anything that could serve as food.
— What kind of trees are these? They don't seem to have fruit...
But after walking the entire way, nothing caught my attention. Resigned, I just drank some water, filled the bucket, and returned.
On the way back, I came across a group of ants, each almost thirty centimeters tall, carrying pieces of the cockroach I killed yesterday. They were organized, heading toward what was probably their nest.
— Seriously, this place is an insect paradise...
I decided not to waste energy for nothing. I just walked through the group in silence and continued on my way to the cabin. The strong sun was burning my skin, forcing me to walk close to the trees to take advantage of any shade I could find.
— Twenty-nine days... I just need to survive for twenty-nine days... — I muttered, feeling the weight of exhaustion even without having done much. — I need food!
My voice echoed through the island. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, but I realized I was screaming alone, like a madman.
— ...Calm down. Breathe. Let's think of another way.
Looking behind the cabin, I realized the beach still stretched further ahead. I decided, then, to explore in that direction.
I walked for a long time without finding anything interesting until the sand ended, giving way to the end of the beach. However, something caught my attention.
— Those bushes in the water... Something's moving in them.
As I got closer, I saw the surface of the water ripple and a transparent shell soon shone in the sun.
— Is that... a shrimp?
It was huge, at least the size of the cockroach I killed yesterday. Its long antennas lazily wiggled among the algae, and every movement of its legs made the water bubble.
— They say shrimp are the cockroaches of the sea... Finally, a meal! — I thought as my stomach ached for food. — But... how am I going to catch it?"
It stares at me with black, spherical eyes, while its pincers move slowly, producing a muffled snapping sound. With every sudden movement of the creature, small waves spread across the shore.
Its enormous pincers give me a shiver, but they also make me think of something.
— If I can get a long enough piece of wood for it to grab onto, I can pull it onto the land and wait for it to die.
With a plan in mind, I return to the cabin in search of a piece of wood, but I don't find any.
— ...No choice, I'll have to break off a piece of this cabin.
The cabin was tied together with some vines that I had no idea where to find on the island. So, I tried to untie them carefully, but when I realized it was impossible, I used the tip of my spear to cut a section and loosen some planks.
— Alright, now let's go get it!
Putting the plank on my shoulder, I head toward the shrimp. Seeing that it's still there, I try to annoy it by poking it with the wood.
After hitting it three times, it finally grips the wood with its claw, and I pull it out of the water with all my strength.
— Okay, now I just have to be careful with its antennas and claws while I make it stay on the land.
I walk close to the water while holding the wood and then push, making the shrimp move even farther away.
Noticing that it probably won't survive if it stays there, the shrimp starts to jump, trying to get back to the water, since the sand doesn't let it walk properly.
Taking advantage of its desperation, I push it with the wood every time it jumps, preventing it from returning.
— This is more work than I expected...
After a few minutes, I notice the shrimp is getting weaker until it finally stops moving.
Now, instead of transparent, it has a whitish color, indicating it's almost dead.
— Finally... I'm tired.
I get closer to the shrimp to look at its appearance. Its claws are still threatening, but what I'm looking for most is what's on its forehead.
Something sharp, as hard and as sharp as a blade, would be perfect for creating a new spear.
— For now, let's take this home.
I grab a large rock, lift it, and throw it at the shrimp's face. The blade on its forehead comes loose from the impact. I carefully grab it, trying not to hurt my hand in the process.
— I can use this as a knife too...
While thinking this, I cut a piece of the shrimp with the blade and take it to the cabin.
— I think it's going to take about three trips to carry everything... Well, at least now I have good items to survive with.
Unlike the cockroach and the slug, what the shrimp offers is much more useful. In addition to its meat, it has this knife on its forehead, sharp claws that I can use as a weapon, and enormous antennas that can serve as rope.
— ...And its exoskeleton can be used as armor... I'm going to keep hunting shrimp on this island and survive!
And just like that, I never found another shrimp on this island.
[To be continued...]