Chapter 15

As all of them gathered at the fireplace, Jeff then made a fire again, earning him some experience points.

Looking at the horizon and seeing that the sun was up, he decided it was time to go and explore more.

"I'll be out for a while, to try and find some water source for our next shelter. Since coconut juice is not a good source for dehydration," he muttered to the group.

Hearing that they have to relocate they were a little unwilling, reading their faces he stated his reasons.

Jeff first cleared his throat and addressed the group, noticing their reluctance, "Look, I know moving into the forest isn't ideal, but it's our best shot at finding a reliable water source. The beach is exposed to the elements, like it's too hot during the day and too cold at night. Plus, we're vulnerable to storms and high tides. In the forest, we'll have shade, protection from the weather, and a better chance of finding fresh water and food. It's not just about comfort it's about survival." he finished.

Hearing his explanation which seems to be reasonable they accepted it, even though they were starting to feel comfortable. Safety is still the most outmost priority.

Hearing what he had said, all of them were silent for a while as Layla took a quick step.

"Captain, I want to join in this expedition. Is it okay?" she exclaimed, raising her hands.

"Well, if the young captain wants to go, let this big sister follow you also," Emma said, pointing at herself.

Charlotte also took a step forward, "I want to join as well. I don't want to stay here one bit. Since I also need to exercise by body doing labor and especially help in doing chores," she spoke.

"I want to join in the fun too," Ariana said with stars in her eyes.

Jessica, who was skeptical, is having second thoughts. What will happen if there is a snake? But being left alone here is even more scary.

"I want to join as well," she spoke in a low voice. She really had no choice.

Upon hearing their decisions, Jeff nodded and gripped the axe. Before they set off, he took care to mark each tree, knowing that this time their path would not be a straight one.

Once inside, they found themselves in the forest again. This time, the path was not as densely overgrown with nature, making the journey less difficult.

It was still early morning, and the group hadn't eaten for some time. However, he intended to find for food along the way to eat.

After a few minutes of walking, they reached an area where the path was overgrown with waist-high grass. Jeff pressed on, leading the way.

"Will there be snakes here, young captain?" Emma asked, trailing behind him.

Jeff hearing this did not stop, in his tracks. "Yes, since this is an island there must be a lot of snakes in the place" he replied.

Hearing the word "snakes" and seeing that the grass was covering their legs, Jessica was the first one to be spooked.

She hurriedly hugged Ariana's arms while shaking. Layla, seeing this, went towards Emma. She whispered to her about the trauma, which Emma understood clearly.

"I'm sorry about that. Silly me," she replied, sticking her tongue out like a child.

Layla couldn't help but furrow her brows. She was already 23 years old. But she acts like a child sometimes, but this made Emma more approachable, which she loves it.

"Young jeff, look there is a wild banana" Charlotte said pointing at the wild banana.

It was covered by lots of trees so the view is kind of hard to see, since Jeff was focusing in front. Hearing her words Jeff looked at the spot and saw it.

"Good one, Ms. Charlotte," Jeff said, stars twinkling in his eyes, as he addressed Charlotte formally due to her seniority.

Hearing him address her that way, she narrowed her eyes, particularly at the sound of 'Ms.' Meanwhile, the others, upon seeing the bananas, were filled with excitement.

They continued on their path, and the tall grass before them gradually shortened, easing their journey until they emerged onto a barren expanse of ground.

"The fruit is too high to be reached," Ariana observed, gazing up at the wild bananas.

The tight embrace around her arms made it appear as though blood could no longer flow through her veins.

"Jessica, can you not hug me so tightly? There are no snakes here. Look, it already turned purple," Ariana muttered, pointing at her arms.

Hearing her words, she loosened her grip slightly but continued to hold on while surveying the surroundings.

Observing her actions, Ariana couldn't help but sigh and allowed her to proceed.

Jeff took a step forward and, wielding his trusty axe, he swung it through the air. The impact was so powerful that it caused the wild banana tree to shake. 

Given that the bark was not particularly tough, it only required about five to six skilled swings to do the job.

When the wild banana fell, he approached and cut the stem connecting it to the tree. Emma, noticing the fruit was within reach, quickly made her way towards it.

Ariana wanted to do the same, but she was hindered by a hand clinging to her like a panda, which infuriated her.

Emma quickly grabbed a banana, peeled it, and bit into it. The taste made her face contort into a bitter grimace as she dropped the fruit.

"This is so bitter, can this even be eaten?" she muttered, stepping on it.

Jeff shook his head, unable to hide his amusement. He had intended to stop her but was too late.

"It's still not fully ripened yet, so of course, it will taste bitter," he replied.

He decided to pick the unripe bananas from the tree and let them ripen off the tree. Once picked, bananas will continue to ripen over time.

He can store them in a sheltered spot, away from direct sunlight, and check them regularly until they reach the desired ripeness. With this, they can eat something that is healthier.

"Can you carry the banana leaves? It will be much more convenient than palm leaves," he muttered.

Since if the fire is extinguished, the cold air sweeps inside the shelter, the palm leaves power to stop wind is not strong enough.

Using banana leaves would be effective, as even heavy rain would struggle to penetrate them.

The greatest advantage is their versatility, having numerous uses beyond just shelter construction. Upon hearing this, Charlotte nodded in agreement and was the first to take action.

She does not want to be a burden, so she had to help. Emma also hurriedly removed the palm leaves attached to the banana tree.

"Jess, please let go. I want to help," Ariana said with a sad expression.

Her movement was limited thanks to Jessica. She was like tied by a chain. Ariana then patted her back and said comfortingly, "Don't worry about the snakes. Can't you see how Jeff, our captain, took care of it? So why be afraid?" she said, caressing her hair.

Hearing her, she nodded her head as she let go. Seeing this opportunity, she hurriedly escaped and helped in removing the banana leaves.

Seeing that she was tricked, she just puffed her cheeks in rage as she also helped.

When she was removing the banana leaves, she saw something in its leaves, which made her disgusted.