Chapter 18

Getting very close to the edge of the rainforest, the grass underfoot was damper than elsewhere, gradually clinging to Cloudy's shins. The soil was softer too, making a slight squelching sound as she stepped on it. Obstacles in the grass became more numerous, mostly strange ferns growing horizontally or sinuous thin tree roots.

Walking became more challenging, as if the grass outside was a thick green marsh, and the rainforest enveloped by towering trees was the raised land in the marsh.

Only a few dozen steps remained to the edge of the rainforest. The grass, which had only reached Cloudy's shins, now barely covered her thighs. She felt uneasy, wondering if the sensations brushing against her skin were insects, even though she knew they were just grass leaves.

Engulfed by the grass, a shimmering green rainforest lay ahead. Cloudy swallowed nervously, the surrounding grass seeming like a hunting net spread out beneath the soil, ready to instantly ensnare her as she took another step closer to the rainforest.

The sweat trickled down her forehead, a tingling sensation extending from her head down to her spine, a mix of excitement and fear. Gripping the wooden spear tightly, Cloudy approached the rainforest at a slower pace. This tension brought her back to a month ago when she was thrown out of the settlement. Yes, it had only been a month, yet why did the rainforest feel so unfamiliar?

Sweat almost dripped from her palms onto the soil, memories of struggling in the rainforest a month ago resurfacing from the long-gone riverbed.

Cloudy couldn't quite recall how many days she had spent in the rainforest, but in terms of suffering, it felt like a lifetime. More tormenting than hunger or sleeplessness was the omnipresent sound.

Bird calls, footsteps, rustling leaves, murmuring water, the growl of large creatures, the flapping of birds' wings, the clatter of hard shells colliding – these sounds mingled like an overloaded metal shopping cart crashing against walls, making blood vessels rise from deep within, clinging to the spine, red tendrils enveloping the whites of her eyes.

When she had tried to escape the rainforest a month ago, she hardly slept. Whenever there was a sound, she trembled, curled up in a hidden spot, waiting for the sound to weaken or disappear, which took a long, long time. Being bitten by insects or chased by bizarre creatures became routine. Thanks to this, during her struggles in the rainforest, Cloudy was forced to learn how to climb trees very well. Being able to hang meat and organs high up in the trees was also a result of this training.

Thrown into the rainforest, Cloudy had suicidal thoughts. After three days of barely sleeping for more than three hours, she broke down, continuously banging her head against a large tree with the determination to die. Unfortunately, this method was rather clumsy, and her brain, under intense pain, began signaling every cell in her body to resist.
udy's decision, Cloudy sat on the ground after less than three hits.

Blood trickled down from her messy hair, sliding down to her cheeks, then lightly touching her lips. What a disgusting taste... Cloudy lay dizzy on the ground, covering her wound with her hand and curling up again.

...

Fortunately, she managed to escape, although her current life couldn't be considered particularly good, it was still a phase of progress. Cloudy switched the wooden spear to her other hand, wiped the sweat off her palm, and continued walking towards the edge of the rainforest.

She extended the long spear in front of her to pave the way, first clearing the bushes to assess the situation, then slowly moving forward. Every step was taken with extreme caution and seriousness.

The fresh and humid scent grew stronger, bubbles of it coming with the wind and bursting at Cloudy's nose. The familiar noise also grew louder, and Cloudy instinctively felt fear. The days she spent in the rainforest had left a deep impression on her, making it hard for her to compose herself immediately.

She decided to keep walking along the edge until she reached the stream Titus had taken her to, where she could gather some food to take back.

However, Cloudy was still a bit of a novice. Walking through the tall grass was very exhausting, especially since she was constantly cautious and tense. Not even halfway through, she started panting. The ground in the grass was already...

"Phew..." Leaning on the wooden spear, she stood leaning in the grass, looking like a middle-aged person exhausted from walking in a tourist rest area. It was still early, Cloudy brushed off the grass around her a bit and flattened it, creating a small hollow where she could rest.

She took out a thin slice and a few fruits from her waist pouch, quickly chewed and swallowed them to replenish her energy. The surrounding grass acted like a natural curtain, enclosing Cloudy completely. A stroke of luck... Just as Cloudy sat down to rest, voices could be heard from a distance.

Loud voices, as if calling out to companions. Cloudy could understand a little, roughly saying "Over there, yes, in the cave." After some thought, Cloudy slowly peeked her head out, barely revealing her eyes towards the direction of the sound. Near the giant bone remains, two tall locals were waving and calling out into the rainforest.

Before long, another person came out, someone Cloudy recognized as one of the guys who had a brief conflict with Titus before.

Once they gathered, their voices lowered, and Cloudy couldn't hear them anymore. But the mention of the "cave" inevitably made her connect it to herself. Plus, after the three of them gathered, they started walking towards the green slope. They were definitely coming for her.

Cloudy panicked. Should she be grateful for deciding to explore the rainforest back then, or regret not bringing out all the important things from the cave? Her coat, her everything... What did these people want from her cave? Cloudy didn't dare to think further, as it was all negative.

Are these people from the same settlement as Titus?
The clothing doesn't show much uniformity, nor does the skin color or appearance. If these are people from a hostile settlement, it's really hard to justify. For instance, it could be somewhat understandable if they entered someone else's territory out of necessity while chasing injured prey before. But strolling around leisurely in broad daylight as if it were a walk in the park, what does that signify?

However, there's also a possibility to consider. Perhaps Titus' settlement is actually a relatively weak one, so enemies freely entering the territory for hunting or strolling around can only be tolerated. But that doesn't make sense either. Last time, Titus even pushed one of those people, and they seemed afraid to resist Titus.

The social structure of these wild people is indeed a mystery...

She retreated back into the depression to hide. What should she do? Are these people really heading to her cave, or is it just that there are other caves in that direction?

Cloudy knows she's considered an anomaly to these wild people, something strange, even deviant from their religion. But is it a bit too late to think about killing her now... No, it's not too late.

Initially, she posed no threat to these wild people or hindered their way of life. But things have changed now, thanks to Titus... Yes, Titus.

Judging from Titus' physique, movements, and strength, Titus is definitely an excellent hunter in the settlement. But what has Titus been up to these past few days? Coming over to find her time and time again! The skirmish near the bone remains a few days ago must have been a warning from fellow tribesmen to Titus to focus on his duties.

And now? Titus is nowhere to be found at night, playing carelessly with her on the green slope. If Cloudy is considered some kind of anomaly, a mysterious being that shouldn't be among the tribe in the local religious beliefs, then her situation might truly have become dangerous because of her undue advantage with Titus.

Why are the obedient and powerful hunters in the settlement no longer following orders? It's because they've fallen under the spell of the monstrous woman in the cave. To save the hunters from the clutches of the woman, the only solution is to completely eliminate her!

Hmm... Forget it. After imagining the scenario, Cloudy suddenly felt liberated.

These people have long known where she lives; her location has always been exposed. Now that they've come knocking, she can only blame herself for not being discreet enough. Thankfully, she's not in the cave now, ensuring her personal safety is the top priority.

The essential things in the cave for her are the food, which she has completely mastered how to gather and prepare, so if they take it, she can make more. The fences and wooden doors too. The only regret is the jacket and some modern items she brought along. Though these items may not serve a significant purpose, they are like a small emotional support for Cloudy.

But if they take them, they take them. As long as she's unharmed, that's what matters.

A tricky question might be whether she can return to the cave tonight. She must go back; these locals won't stay outside all night, even if Titus only spent one night and insisted on returning, indicating that returning to the settlement at night is a custom.

If they can't find anyone or cause trouble, they'll definitely return.
Cloudy consoled herself, thinking that at worst, she could do as she had done before - find a tree hollow or a high branch in the rainforest to spend the night and return in the morning. After a good rest, Cloudy continued along the pre-planned route.

After walking for several tens of minutes, she arrived at the spot where she had fetched water the day before. She remembered it so clearly because she had marked the edge of the rainforest with a small sign on a tree. Following this tree into the rainforest and walking straight for a hundred steps from Titus, her eight hundred steps, she should be able to see a small stream.

As she walked, she kept an eye out for a suitable tree hollow or branch to spend the night. The dense forest and explosively growing giant ferns slowly receded behind her. Walking among these plants, Cloudy felt like a tiny figure in a miniature landscape placed in a green belt. Sturdy tree roots protruded from the ground, resembling the ridges of crocodiles in a swamp, covered with thick moss.

The thick moss in the rainforest was so dense that every step Cloudy took created a footprint puddle. Insects scurried around, and she had to wave her wooden spear constantly to drive them away, occasionally killing several strange bugs as big as her foot. Cloudy plucked their silhouetted antennae or tentacles and tucked them into her bag, feeling they might come in handy someday.

After walking about three hundred steps, Cloudy spotted a sturdy tree with a hollow opening about three meters above the ground. She circled the tree twice; she couldn't embrace the tree trunk herself, so if she could squeeze into that hollow for the night, it would be fine. First, she needed to check if there were any indigenous inhabitants inside. Cloudy planted her wooden spear in the ground, rubbed her hands, and, like a monkey, climbed up using both hands and feet. The three meters posed no significant difficulty for her, and ten minutes later, she reached the opening of the hollow. Inside, there was a strong earthy smell.

The space was quite large, with sunlight slanting in. Cloudy glanced at the bottom and then the top of the hollow; it was about a meter high, quite spacious. There was a lot of sedimented soil, with some wild grass growing. The sedimented soil might contain animal droppings, but they seemed old, not fresh.

This seemed to be an abandoned hollow for some reason, perhaps because the opening was too large, unsuitable for small animals requiring high concealment. Cloudy quickly returned to the ground; this would be her shelter for the night.

She was somewhat amazed at her own carefreeness; how should she put it... after staying on the green slope for a while, her mindset had improved slightly! Finally, she had adjusted her mental frequency so that she wouldn't cry out and want to crash into a tree as soon as she entered the rainforest.

She promptly collected materials around her to make a simple door to cover the opening of the hollow, something she had done frequently before. Back then, her mind was still a mess, and she would just crumple large leaves together like a napkin to block the hole, similar to stuffing a Coke bottle with tissue.
Now things are different. She wants to make a simple but practical and sturdy door that's above the ground level!

Firstly, leaves, sticks, and vines are essential natural combinations. They are very common in the rainforest, so Cloudy didn't spend much effort to gather enough materials.

Based on the size of the tree hole, Cloudy folded the sticks in half and split them to about 20 centimeters. This length and width are just right to pass through the tree hole.

After arranging the sticks, she sewed them together like sewing clothes, one stitch outside and one stitch inside, passing through the top of the broadleaf. Next, the lower end of the broadleaf was also passed through with sticks in a similar manner.

Similar to a leaf scroll, once the top and bottom are done, it's time for the left and right. The leaves are like a canvas, framed by four sticks, but this is not sturdy enough. Cloudy would use fine vines to wrap around each stick contact point a few times to secure it. A leaf frame is done...

Cloudy tied the frame with vines, then wrapped a few loops around herself, carrying the leaf frame back to the tree hole. She took off the leaf frame door from her back, slightly tilted it, and managed to wedge it into the tree hole. She adjusted the direction by hand and covered the tree hole from the inside.

Very perfect!