SURVIVORS
Chapters 38. Last Night In The Snow Forest
*Dear diary,
I think it's our 20th day here. I've forgotten a lot of things.. Forgetting the time, forgetting the date, forgetting the bath, forgetting the last meal 3 times a day.
2 days ago, as I was exploring in the cave below after taking a bath, I discovered that the water used to bathe and wash clothes was digging into the corner of the cave filled with soil. I tried to plant the seeds of carrots and yams that I brought there.
It was surprising when Dewi and Nastiti who joined the team also wanted to take a shower the next day, we found that the carrots and yams had grown large and fertile and today we have plucked the yam and most of the carrots for our food supply. I let some carrots see if they can flower and produce more seeds. Also replant the new yam seeds in that magical land.
Dean assumed, it might be the light from the purple crystal I left near the mound, or the milky white light from the door that made the plant grow faster. Who know? I don't want to think much either, because this place didn't make sense in the first place.
In any case, it really helps us in the meantime, because it is not possible to continue the journey as well as the teams 2 and 3 two days ago. We waited for Sunil's injured leg to improve before continuing the journey. But so far all the team is excited and optimistic about the world behind that door of light and we can't wait to get through it.
Warm and exciting conversations about other dimensions and worlds opened up my horizons of thinking that there was always the possibility of what we thought was impossible. So, is it possible, after we pass it, we will return to Indonesia*?
--
"Hey, still writing? Look, I managed to get a large one, "The Goddess approached while showing the purple light crystal she managed to take.
"Well, if we're here, we can write comfortably because this cave is full of light." Widuri smiled then closed the book and put it in a bag.
"Am I not spared?" Widuri walked over and smiled broadly at Nastiti who was still coolly gouging out the crystal she wanted.
"We left one purple crystal cave for you, hahaa.." Alan first replied and laughed.
"Yes.take as much as you can get" Nastiti added. Widuri saw his friends excited to get the crystal, including Sunil who gouged the crystal near where he was sitting.
"Dean, you've been pacing 2 times with your crystal, is it still not enough?" ledek Widuri when he saw Dean enter the purple crystal cave again.
"You should thank me, for I brought the crystals to light your way and your little garden." Dean's reply left Widuri unable to reply.
"Oh yeah? I'd like to try planting some vegetable seeds that I saved from the package." Widuri shifted the topic of conversation.
"Try it. So we can try another menu tomorrow. Any seedlings?" Enthusiastic goddess.
"Hmm, let me see first," Widuri took out a bundle of allufoil seeds from her backpack pocket.
"This is mustard seed, broccoli, cabbage, chili, kale, tomato, lemon in small packages. Don't know how many seeds there are." Widuri showed her findings to the Goddess.
"Where did we plant it?" ask the Goddess again.
"Maybe easy first and try a few seeds. It's a pity if the seeds don't match the warm, humid temperatures there." Widuri shows a pack of mustard, chili and tomato on the Goddess. He also issued onion seedlings previously obtained from the garden in the forest.
"OK, let's plant it," Dewi immediately rose from the seat followed by Widuri. Others continue their activities.
"Dean, look at this." Alan called Dean.
"I found a red-colored crystal after successfully gouging out this large purple one." Alan pointed towards the wall next to him.
Dean and Nastiti approached, while Sunil watched from afar.
"Yes, it's pomegranate red!" nastiti Exclamation heboh. "That's so pretty."
Dean watched closely and palpated the surface.
"It feels warm" Dean looked serious. Alan felt the small surface of the red stone.
"Alan, you can try to take it if you want, maybe it's worth it" Sunil interrupted from his seat.
"Well, that's right Alan. We gather as much as we can while we wait for Sunil's leg to recover." Nastiti is excited. Dean patted Alan on the shoulder with a smile and continued to gather the purple light crystals in their original place.
*
Six members of team 1 gathered for dinner. Right now they were discussing about the itinerary through the light door tomorrow.
"So, since Sunil can walk again, I think we can continue our journey tomorrow." Dean started the conversation.
"Dean, hold on." The goddess raised her hand. Dean nodded to let the Goddess speak.
"We've been down here a week. To be honest, living in this cave is not too bad. We have enough food. We're far from wolf trouble. And occasionally you can still climb through these tree steps to check out the rabbit trap up there.." The goddess hesitated to continue her words.
"So you think it's better we don't have to go on?" Dean's question left the others stunned.
"Even though it's safe and comfortable here, it's still not our home. I miss my parents," Widuri lowered her eyes holding back her tears.
"Yes, I also have to go home and take care of my two children" Sunil added.
"But we don't know what we're going to face behind that door of light." Dewi.
"What if it turns out that the world is more sinister than here?" The goddess expressed her concerns.
Dean nodded in understanding.
"I understand your worry. I've been thinking about plans for tomorrow. Let me be the first to try to cross the light door. Sunil and Alan held my hand as I stepped. I'll sign my hand if the situation is dangerous or safe. What do you think?"
"But Dean, if you put a sign of danger while we fail to pull you back, then you'll be alone in dealing with it." Alan disagrees with Dean's idea.
"Yes, how are we?" Nastiti disagrees too.
"I have prepared the cave as well as I can to be your residence if I see it behind the door of light it is not a good thing for you. I've illuminated the cave passage with light crystals, you've got enough gardens to support, you've got axes and stone knives that can be used to cut down trees and cut rabbits. You have a red rock that produces fire when knocked. You already have the basic equipment to survive." Dean's exposure made his comrades look on in disbelief.
"So, you worked hard to gouge out the purple crystal and light up the entire cave because you were planning to leave us?" Widuri looked angry.
Dean sighed and exhaled slowly. 'Why does he always take me wrong?' I mean?' inner Dean.
"I don't think Dean's planning on leaving us. But preparing everything for us to survive if it turns out the situation behind the door of light is too bad." Sunil tried to explain. But Widuri still looked annoyed.
"You can follow me if you don't want to be left behind" Dean's eyes and smile look witty, making Widuri's face flushed with emotion.
"You..!" Widuri's words were not finished, because the other teammates immediately laughed at their behavior that was like a cat and mouse. Arguments are not clear every day.
"You guys look like a couple for a long time, thousanduut continues to be unclear juntrungannya. Haha.." Nastiti's words made the laughter even more lively.
The atmosphere melted and it was finally decided to do as Dean planned. They prepare their own backpacks before resting. It will be the last night in the snow forest.
They hope that the door is the way to the real world, so they can go home to their families.
***