Chapter 2: Making Fire

Pan Mengyan finally reached the cave after running all the way with Jiang Ruoxi on her back. By now, she was completely exhausted, as if all her strength had been drained from her body. Moreover, having run in the rain, both she and Jiang Ruoxi were soaked through, their wet clothes clinging uncomfortably to their skin.

Pan Mengyan knew she had to find a way to start a fire as soon as possible; otherwise, they might fall ill from the dampness. In this deserted place, getting sick would be extremely troublesome. Gasping for breath, she carefully laid Jiang Ruoxi on the ground while thinking about how to make a fire. Looking at Jiang Ruoxi, who remained unconscious, Pan Mengyan’s heart swelled with worry, but it also strengthened her resolve to protect her.

With no idea when the rain would stop, Pan Mengyan got up to inspect the cave. She needed to make sure it was safe after surviving the shipwreck, it would be tragic to lose their lives here. With this thought, she began carefully examining her surroundings.

The cave was somewhat damp but relatively dry, with the ground covered in dry grass and leaves, as if someone had once lived there. Strange carvings adorned the walls, resembling ancient scripts or patterns. Curious, Pan Mengyan moved closer to look but couldn’t decipher their meaning.

Venturing deeper, she discovered a small pond with crystal-clear water, revealing stones and small fish at the bottom. Her heart leaped with joy, having a water source meant they could survive here.

Still, she remained cautious and continued inward. Suddenly, she heard a faint sound, as if something was approaching. She froze nervously, looking ahead with alertness.

As the dark shadow drew nearer, Pan Mengyan finally saw what it was a dog. She felt a surge of surprise: “Strange, how could there be a dog on this deserted island?” Fortunately, the dog showed no signs of aggression, which eased her tension.

Pan Mengyan cautiously approached the dog, crouched down, and gently patted its head. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a German Shepherd. “Judging by the state of this cave, someone must have lived here long-ago traces of life are everywhere. But now, the owner is gone, likely having left a long time ago,” she murmured to herself.

Just then, she noticed fresh fish scraps scattered on the ground. She guessed the dog might have caught fish from the pond out of hunger. Perhaps it had been waiting here all along for its owner to return. The thought stirred an unexpected wave of emotion and pity in Pan Mengyan’s heart.

At that moment, she heard coughing from behind. Immediately alert, she turned to see Jiang Ruoxi slowly opening her eyes on the dry grass pile, gradually regaining consciousness.

Pan Mengyan nearly burst into tears from relief. She rushed to Jiang Ruoxi’s side, tightly grasping her hand, and said in a choked voice, “You’re finally awake!” Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?”

Jiang Ruoxi gazed bewildered at the unfamiliar surroundings and furrowed her brow as she asked, “Where is this place? How did we end up here?”

Pan Mengyan quickly explained, “This and that, such and such!”

Pan Mengyan: “How are you feeling? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Jiang Ruoxi: “I’m fine, just a bit cold.”

Pan Mengyan: “Wait here for a moment. Let me see if there’s any way to start a fire around here.”
Pan Mengyan scanned the area and soon found some dry firewood, tinder, and a Flints left behind by the previous cave dweller. Gathering the materials, she returned to Jiang Ruoxi’s side, where there happened to be a bonfire pile previously used by the cave occupant for cooking.

Pan Mengyan arranged the dry firewood and prepared to strike the flints against the tinder to ignite it. Having grown up in the countryside, she knew how to start a fire as quickly as possible.

However, the flints weren’t easy to strike into a flame. Despite numerous attempts, Pan Mengyan couldn’t get the fire started, which left her feeling quite discouraged. Seeing Pan Mengyan’s anxious expression, Jiang Ruoxi comforted her: “Don’t rush. I can hold on a little longer.” These words warmed Pan Mengyan’s heart, but she didn’t stop working, continuing her efforts diligently.

Finally, through persistent attempts, Pan Mengyan successfully ignited the tinder. Watching the faint flicker of flame, she became exhilarated and immediately blew on the tinder, hoping to strengthen the fire. As she blew, thick smoke billowed from the tinder, followed by roaring flames. Carefully, Pan Mengyan placed the burning tinder into the prepared pile of dry firewood. Soon, the firewood caught fire too, crackling and popping cheerfully.

💝 Support the Team

Zephyr Yizelle

✍️ Translator

🍵 Ko-fi