"I think we should split up," Lazarus said. "One group goes to the eastern plains, the other to the southern forest. That way, we can gather twice the food."
Laurel nodded, arms folded as she thought it through. "Agreed. The question is how we split the groups."
"Huh? Why do we even need to do that?" Lexus frowned. "These crystal watermelons should be enough, right? The plains have monsters. We should just stick to the reef."
"There's no guarantee the reef is safe either," Laurel replied. "And there's barely enough food there to last a week. We need at least fourteen crystal watermelons per day."
She continued, more firmly now, "One fruit feeds two people per meal. We eat at least four times a day. That's the minimum. The reef looks abundant, but it will run out eventually."
"Tch." Lexus clicked his tongue. "Then I'll take the reef. You can deal with the monsters in the plains yourself."
"So selfish," Laurel muttered, scrunching her face as if she'd just seen a bug. She exhaled, then made her decision. "Fine. Bob, Lexus, and I will handle the reef. Xiaolang, Shingo, Anna, and Lazarus—you take the plains. And don't forget to take pictures."
"Understood," Xiaolang said. "I'll also bring back anything that looks edible."
"Please also look for any sign of civilization," Laurel added, her voice quieter now. "I really hope we're not alone on this island."
"Of course," Xiaolang replied. "That's the main objective, isn't it?"
"Yes." Laurel nodded. Food was only for survival. Temporary. Finding civilization—that was the real goal. Without it, there was no way home.
"We'll move out after water duty."
"We'll help," Laurel said. "It'll be faster."
The lake looked peaceful today.
The water lay still, reflecting the sky like polished glass. A gentle breeze rippled across the surface, cool and inviting.
But no one relaxed.
They knew what lived beneath.
Scarab-like creatures drifted across the water like bloated, rotting logs—silent, patient, waiting for something to come close. The illusion of calm only made it worse.
"Ah! the pots are still here!" Shingo said, relief in his voice. "That means we don't have to rebuild the fire pit every time we cook."
"Yes, you're right. Bob, light the fire. We'll gather firewood," Laurel said.
She took a step toward the forest, then hesitated. "Um… which one was the dangerous tree again? The one you mentioned yesterday?"
"That one," Bob replied, pointing toward a cluster of trees near the edge. "I picked all its fruit already. Don't go near it—the branches have sharp spikes."
"Understood." Laurel nodded, committing it to memory.
The group moved toward the forest edge, boots brushing through grass and loose soil.
"The fire's lit," Bob called out. He carried an ember in a small container and transferred it carefully into the fire pit. Dry tinder caught quickly, and flames began to rise.
"Alright," Laurel said, turning back. "Let's bring these water bottles home first, then we'll start exploring. We only have one or two days of rations left."
Now that water duty was done, the next phase began.
The path back to the lifepod had widened from repeated use. Carrying water no longer felt like a struggle—just a routine. In less than five hours, they completed their trip and returned, each of them weighed down by bottles but moving with practiced efficiency.
"Here," Bob said once they arrived. "Knives."
He handed them out one by one. "Xiaolang and I made these last night."
Each blade was shaped from knapped stone, then ground smoothly before being fixed onto a wooden handle. Crude, but sturdy.
"Thank you. These will help," Laurel said, testing the grip.
"Tch. What's this supposed to do if something like a Seliphesaurus shows up?" Lexus scoffed, though he still took one.
"It won't do much against something that big," Bob admitted. "But it should work against smaller creatures. Like scarabs."
"Then you should've made spears, not knives," Lexus shot back. "You expect us to get close to those things? Spears are better!"
"Take it or leave it, Lexus," Xiaolang said flatly. "Stop complaining."
"A knife is more versatile," Xiaolang continued, calm but firm. "We might get ambushed. We also need tools either for food or cutting. If we need spears, we can attach the blade to a longer shaft."
He nodded to Bob. "Thanks. And sorry we didn't help last night."
"It's fine," Bob said with a shrug.
"Alright. See you," Lazarus said, giving a small wave.
"Be back before sunset," Laurel added, her voice firm as she looked at both groups.
Lazarus, Xiaolang, Anna, and Shingo made their way back to the river.
There were still problems with food, but for the first time since arriving on this planet, it felt like they had a moment to breathe. The constant pressure hadn't disappeared, but it had loosened.
Lazarus glanced toward the lake. Scarabs drifted across its surface, dark and still, like obsidian stones scattered over glassy water.
"It's cold!" she laughed softly, dipping her bare feet into the river. The chill ran up her legs, sharp but refreshing. "This actually feels nice… It would be great if we could bathe here."
"Agreed!" Anna brightened immediately. "Let's all come back this evening and take a bath together! We can split—men on one side, women on the other."
Even without soap, the idea of washing away the sweat and grime made her almost giddy. Her hair itched, her skin felt sticky—but everyone was in the same state, so she had kept quiet until now.
"Yeah… that sounds really nice," Shingo said, nodding. "The water here looks cleaner too."
Xiaolang shook his head slightly. "It's still safer to bathe near the lifepod. Scarabs nest in the lake. If something happens, you won't have time to react."
"But we saw a scarab on the beach too," Anna countered. "It's not completely safe there either."
"No," Xiaolang admitted. "But at least near the lifepod, you have shelter. You can retreat inside. Out here…" He glanced at the open riverbank. "If something attacks, there's nowhere to hide."
They crossed the shallow river and stepped onto the eastern plain. The terrain opened up immediately, visibility stretching far in every direction. With no dense trees or heavy cover, their guard relaxed just enough for conversation to return.
Hygiene had been bothering all of them. They simply hadn't had the luxury to think about it.
Until now.
"We could fight them," Shingo said. "We beat one before, didn't we?"
Anna shook her head, hugging her arms. "They're still scary…"
"…What if there are more?" Xiaolang added, frowning. "What if they surround you? What if they hunt in groups?"
"It's just a bath," Shingo insisted. "If anything comes close, we run."
Xiaolang didn't answer immediately.
"I see… That might work," he said at last, though hesitation lingered in his voice.
Xiaolang understood that hygiene mattered
The smell inside the lifepod had already become unbearable without running the air system. Their clothes clung to them, damp and stiff. Dirt had settled into fabric and skin alike. if not for the air conditioning inside, it would become a biohazard.
But before washing…
They needed to think about something else. They had no spare clothes and the lifepod hadn't provided any.
"We could also do laundry," Shingo said. "Lazarus, do you think you could make clothes out of leaves or something?"
Lazarus tilted her head, considering it. "Hm… leaves wouldn't make good clothes. They tear too easily."
"It just needs to last until our clothes dry."
"…I think I can manage something," she said after a moment, though uncertainty lingered in her voice.
"Careful," Xiaolang whispered suddenly, dropping into a crouch. "Those rhinos are here."
Ahead of them, a dozen massive creatures grazed across the plains.
They resembled rhinos—but wrong. Too many limbs. Too deliberate in their movements. Some tore branches from low trees, others grazed on grass, and a few chewed on fallen fruit scattered across the ground.
"They look… docile," Lazarus said quietly. "Are you sure they're carnivores?"
Xiaolang and Shingo both shook their heads.
"We don't know for sure," Xiaolang replied. "But we saw one fighting scarabs. And eating them."
He narrowed his eyes, watching their behavior. The plains offered clear visibility—but no cover. If those creatures decided to charge, there would be nowhere to hide.
Slowly, Xiaolang led them toward a lone tree, keeping low. Every step was careful, measured. Out here, they stood out against the open grass like targets.
But the rhinos didn't react. They didn't turn or charge like an angry beast. They didn't even acknowledge their presence.
Xiaolang frowned.
Did they not see us…?
"Maybe they didn't notice us," Shingo whispered.
"Or maybe they don't care," Anna said softly, almost like a prayer. For the first time, she was glad that she was ignored"We're small compared to them."
"Stay cautious," Xiaolang said, tightening his grip on his spear.
Lazarus's attention shifted to the ground near the creatures. "Look at what they're eating… is that metal?"
One of the beasts used a forelimb to dig into the soil while its massive body rested on the others. It pulled something pale from beneath the grass—a smooth, silver bulb—and crushed it between its jaws.
"It looks like a silver onion," Shingo murmured.
"It might be edible," Xiaolang said. He raised his smartbox and took several photos of the terrain and the creatures. Far on the horizon, he could see a white shoreline where gentle waves met the land.
"If they're eating it, it's probably food," he added. "We should take some back."
"Got it," Shingo said. "Let's try digging here."
They crouched down, hands and makeshift tools scraping at the soil, careful not to draw attention.
All the while—
the rhinos continued eating. As if the children didn't exist.
As they dug into the soil, their focus shifted downward. Hands scraped through dirt, eyes fixed on the ground. Only Xiaolang kept watch, his gaze locked on the distant rhinos.
None of them noticed the blue worm slithering along the tree.
It clung to the bark like a living vine, its body rippling in slow, searching motions. Drawn by warmth, it crept closer—silent, patient.
Anna felt something brush against her neck. At first, she thought it was her hair.
Then it moved. A cold, crawling sensation slid across her skin. Her thoughts froze.
"Hieek!" she screamed, jumping back and clawing at her neck. The worm was harmless, but her shriek had attracted something far deadlier.
"Be quiet!" Xiaolang snapped, shooting her an irritated glare and plucking off the worm that slithered on her neck But the damage was already done
The rhinos lifted their heads. One by one, their gazes snapped toward the noise. A low, rumbling roar rolled across the field. Fear slammed into the group. The herd eyed the group of children that tresspassed into their territory.
"Shit—they're onto us! Run!" Xiaolang grabbed Anna and yanked her upright.
"Wait! I found one—there are more here!" Shingo protested, clutching the silver bulb.
"Run!" Xiaolang barked, already moving.
They sprinted.
Wind tore past their ears as the ground thundered behind them. The rhinos charged, heavy bodies shaking the earth with every step. The distance between them shrank.
Xiaolang's heart pounded. His eyes darted. The rhinos were fast. they would soon catch up.
"The tree! Climb! Hurry!"
He leaped first, grabbing onto the trunk and pulling himself up with practiced speed. Lazarus followed close behind. Reaching the first branch, he stretched down, hauling Shingo and Anna up one by one.
Moments later, a rhino slammed into the trunk. The entire tree shuddered. Wood groaned under the impact. For a moment, Xiaolang thought it would snap.
But it held.
Below, the rhinos circled, snorting and stamping. One struck the trunk again, sending vibrations up through the branches. The children held on to the tree for their dear lives. At the river's edge, scarabs floated silently, their dark bodies drifting like obsidian debris. They watched—but did not move.
After several failed attempts, the rhinos stopped. Their agitation faded into irritation. With a final growl, they turned and trotted away, disappearing back into the plains.
Silence returned. The group collapsed onto the branches, breathing hard.
"We're… safe…" Shingo muttered, slumping against the trunk. Each branch was thick as a dining table, but his arms still trembled from the climb.
Anna dropped to her knees.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" she sobbed. "They chased us because of me… If something happened—if someone died—"
"It's okay," Lazarus said gently. "Anyone would've reacted like that. Something crawling on your skin isn't exactly easy to ignore."
"You should check it," Xiaolang added, still scanning the surroundings. "That thing might be poisonous."
"Yeah… let's head back," Shingo said, lifting the silver bulb weakly. "We didn't get much, but at least we got one of these. If we can eat this, we can pick more tomorrow. Stealthily of course."
"Once we test it, we can come back better prepared," Xiaolang nodded.
When they returned, the lifepod stood quiet. It was empty. They had arrived a bit early. So they waited. A few hours later, the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in orange and gold. Just before sunset, figures emerged from the distance.
"Laurel!" Shingo called.
"Look what we found!" Laurel waved, her voice bright with excitement.
Everyone turned to see what they were carrying.
Lazarus, your parents love you. They made great sacrifices to save you. Please don't hate yourself or the world. Your parents would be sad—they wanted you to live a happy life.~Lazarus