Chapter 552
Chapter 552:
As we ventured deeper, I realized the forest wasn’t as terrifying as I had imagined.
Maybe it was because many of the trees along our path had been knocked down by the tsunami. What should have been a dense, suffocating forest now seemed strangely open.
Without the oppressive weight of thick woodland, I wanted to pull away from Ashton’s hand, which shifted and brushed against mine with every step. Skin against skin made it too easy for the body to release dopamine, the very chemical that unsettles judgment and blurs reason.
But I blinked and touched the leaf still tangled in my hair. In the end, I didn’t let go. We walked on until we reached a stream.
The water was clear and fast-flowing, yet it was no shallow brook I could step across in one stride. The stream was easily three or four meters wide, and by rough estimate, deep enough to reach my chest.
I frowned and looked at Ashton. “Swim across p>
Ashton shook his head. “No. We can’t risk hypothermia. If we go in now, our clothes will be soaked. The island’s temperature drops sharply at night, and losing heat is dangerous. With only this one fish for food, we won’t have enough calories to keep ourselves warm. It isn’t worth the risk p>
Almost without thinking, I tightened my grip on his hand, clinging to the reassurance. “Then how do we cross p>
Ashton looked around, his gaze pausing a short distance to the right. Then he released my hand and walked toward it.
I hurried after him. Being alone in a dense forest didn’t feel wise.
He vaulted cleanly over a fallen tree ahead. His movement was fluid and precise, the kind that only came with training. Watching him, I felt a pang of envy as I clambered clumsily around the trunk instead.
When I finally caught up, I found him standing with his arms folded, waiting by the tree.
His brows drew together as he saw me. “Why didn’t you follow directly behind p>
Every story starts at gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s﹒𝒸оm
I muttered inwardly: Not everyone has legs like yours, capable of vaulting over half the forest.
He started to speak, then stopped. “That was careless of me. From now on, I’ll p>
“Hm?” I looked up when he didn’t finish his sentence.
Ashton held my gaze for a long moment before changing the subject. “Nothing. I’ve found a way across p>
“How p>
He lifted his chin toward the stream. “There are boulders in the water. If they’re rooted firmly in the riverbed, we can use them as stepping stones p>
I followed his gaze. Indeed, a cluster of large rocks stood unmoving against the rushing current.
A flicker of relief spread through me, a fragile happiness seeping into my chest.
“Then let’s go p>
We made our way there.
Ashton asked me to wait while he leapt across first, testing each rock’s stability. Only when he had reached the far bank did he turn back and signal an “OK p>
It meant the path was safe.
Yet, I did not move.
Standing on the near side, I looked from Ashton to my own feet as the water lapped against them. My head dipped as I clutched the edge of my makeshift leaf dress.