Zhuo Ya didn't think too much. She happily waved to Guli Nina and said, "Guli, come here quickly, it's so warm here."
Guli Nina looked at the somewhat crowded animal skin that was shared by me and Zhuo Ya, and her small face instantly turned red.
But there was nothing to shield them at the entrance of the cave. The whistling wind, mixed with rain, kept blowing into the cave, causing the temperature to plummet. Guli had no choice but to grit her teeth and quietly moved closer to us.
At this moment, she displayed the shyness expected of her age. Blushing, she quietly said to me, "Brother Ye, I'm really sorry."
I naturally understood what she meant, so I raised my hands high to show my innocence.
After all, I wasn't someone who would take advantage of others, and Zhuo Ya was watching.
Thus, accompanied by the sounds of wind and rain, the three of us squeezed together on one animal skin and fell into a deep sleep.
I slept until midnight and felt an itch on my face, as if something was rubbing against me. I opened my eyes and found that Zhuo Ya had somehow crept into my arms. Her alluring little mouth was opening and closing as she breathed, and her breath on my face caused the sensation.
These past few days have been really hard on her, going through so many things with me. I tightened my arm with some affection, adjusted Zhuo Ya to a comfortable position, and then went back to sleep.
The next day.
Zhuo Ya had brought some cassava with her, and we ate a few pieces hastily before continuing our journey.
Unfortunately, we waited at the foot of the mountain for a long time but didn't see the other two girls. Although I still held a sliver of hope, they had most likely perished.
Zhuo Ya and I discussed it and decided not to return to the camp directly.
The rain last night was so heavy that the predatory birds couldn't have possibly eaten all the bodies of the victims. There would surely be remains.
Even if the raptors had left, other scavengers would come and devour the rest of the bodies.
If we went there now, we might put ourselves in danger.
So, we decided to stay in the forest for another two days.
First, to search the forest for any other survivors. Second, to wait for the situation to calm down and then return to the camp to take all the essential supplies we needed.
We stayed for three whole days!
During these three days, we basically scoured the entire forest near the camp, but apart from rotten corpses, we didn't see a single living person.
Perhaps everyone else was dead.
And during these three days, Guli Nina and I grew closer, but for some reason, I always felt that Guli Nina's attitude towards me was polite yet tinged with a hint of distance, while her attitude towards Zhuo Ya was completely different.
Although Zhuo Ya herself was very approachable, and when not fighting, anyone would see her as a harmless young girl, Guli Nina's attitude towards her was far too solicitous, even... a little flattering.
But I couldn't figure out what about Zhuo Ya Guli Nina could possibly exploit.
After all, Zhuo Ya always listened to me. If she wanted to join our group, she should have been trying to please me.
After much thought, I had no idea, so I temporarily put the matter aside.
Although Zhuo Ya had great talent in combat, she was as pure as a blank sheet of paper when it came to human relationships. Under Guli Nina's enthusiastic conversation, they became good friends within two days.
By the fourth day, I no longer held any hope of other survivors.
We calculated the time and felt it was about right, so we cautiously set off for the previous camp.
However, what we saw surprised me.
In just a few days, the entire camp was in ruins.
Tents overturned by wild beasts, reddish-brown bloodstains on the ground, and scattered bones everywhere, the entire camp looked like a hell on earth.
Even though I had prepared myself mentally before coming, I couldn't help but feel disgusted by the scene.
But to my surprise, Guli Nina's face only turned slightly pale upon seeing the scene, without any other reaction.
This greatly surprised me.
After all, unless one had undergone specialized training or had seen such scenes before, most people's initial reaction would be nausea or even vomiting. It would be normal even to cry from fear.
It was quite rare to see someone as calm as Guli Nina.
I shooed away a few crows pecking at the remains, and with a heavy heart, I dug a shallow pit in the ground and buried the remains of the victims.
I hope you are born into a good family in your next life and never take a plane again.
I sighed and found a wooden board from a tent, writing "Grave of the Victims" on it with a pen.
I am not capable of avenging you now, so I can only erect a grave for you for now.
If we are ever rescued and leave Wuming Island, I will definitely send your remains back to your homeland, so you can rest in peace.
I stood in silence before the simple wooden marker, marveling at the fragility of life.
In the depths of my heart, I had a premonition that the raptors and I would meet again in the near future, and it would be a battle to the death!