Chapter 676 - 15: Torrential Rain (Part 3)
The two people, like the ancestors of humanity, squatted naked at the edge of the forest, guarding the mound where the three little Serrated Tiger Cubs were watching.
The wind struggled to shake the heavy leaves filled with rainwater, the wilderness was silent, even the normally incessant chirping insects had restrained their arrogance, and the wild beasts were frightened by nature’s majesty, either hiding in their nests or lying in the grass, not daring to make a sound.
The vast sky, the cool scenery, the fresh air after the rain, and the prehistoric beast cubs beside them created an exceptionally charming atmosphere, making Chen Zhou want to light a cigarette.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have any cigarettes.
"How do you feel? Are you going to catch a cold?"
Chen Zhou hadn’t spoken during the rain, and only now did he have the chance to express concern for Paul.
Clap~
Paul patted his own chest, which was covered with thick chest hair.
"I’m fine. When I was young, I often went winter swimming in the lake with my father. You know, winters are particularly cold back home."
"That’s good to hear.
We can’t start a fire right now, so we’ll just have to rely on the wind to dry our bodies.
While we have some free time, let me tell you about that group of challengers..."
...
The water gradually seeped into the soil, the remaining clouds were pushed away by the wind, and the moon slowly shifted to the other side of the sky.
Chen Zhou and Paul were unable to dry their clothes in the end, so they settled for eating the damp grilled fish, then climbed a tree and built a simple tree bed with branches between sturdy limbs, making do to sleep.
However, the environment was so terrible that, let alone Paul, even Chen Zhou, who could force himself to rest through continuous self-suggestion, couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.
The three Serrated Tiger Cubs were also brought up to the tree, and when their fur dried, the wind blew and the little ones shivered from the cold.
Paul, who claimed to be physically sturdy, lay nearby, occasionally sneezing, clearly shivering, which made Chen Zhou worry about whether he would catch a cold or even develop a high fever.
"Would you like a sip of alcohol to warm up?"
Knowing full well that drinking wouldn’t help, and could at best provide some psychological comfort, Chen Zhou still asked Paul.
For the Slavs, strong alcohol was like canned yellow peaches for the Northeastern people; it might not have medicinal effects, but it could offer a form of spiritual encouragement.
Recalling the sips of alcohol he had stolen, Paul stubbornly shook his head.
"I’m fine. Alcohol is life-saving; we can’t afford to drink it now."
Saying this, he turned to his side, covered his mouth, and tried to clench his teeth to prevent the sound of chattering teeth from reaching Chen Zhou’s ears.
Seeing him like this, Chen Zhou didn’t press further, only stared at the starry sky, wide awake for a long time.
He wondered if, as a leader, his decisions were too aggressive, leading them to this point.
If they had taken a more steady approach and built a shelter first, would they have avoided the impact of this storm, sparing Paul from the risk of catching a cold or even death?
...
Though the tree was low, the people and three beasts on top of the canopy were ultimately still above ground level, making the wind here stronger.
The little Serrated Tiger Cubs initially kept warm by snuggling with one another, but by near dawn, they all simultaneously moved close to Chen Zhou, pressing their damp, furry little heads tightly against his waist and thighs.
Chen Zhou’s body dried much faster than Paul’s, constantly radiating heat, attracting the little frozen creatures.
The discomfort from the environment conflicted with the drowsiness from their instincts, and the little ones drowsily lay beside Chen Zhou. Unsure whether it was a dream or reality, the largest one seemed to remember its mother, stretching its neck to quietly suck on Chen Zhou’s finger, drawing on the nonexistent milk.
In this tranquil and damp environment, as the sound of sucking gradually weakened, a half-risen red sun peeked over the eastern horizon.
An overnight rain pause, and the sun was finally about to cast its warmth.