Day 4:
Jaxon woke up early.
The sky was still dark. Cold wind moved through the trees. The campfire from last night was almost gone. He added dry leaves and small sticks. Sparks flew, and the fire came back.
He sat by the fire and took out a fruit he picked yesterday. It looked like a peach but had green skin. He took a bite. It was soft and sweet.
As he ate, a small sound appeared in front of his eyes.
New Task: Make a Net Using Vines to Hunt Fish
Reward: 5 Coins
Jaxon read the message quietly.
His coins now were 8. If he finished this, it would be 13. He could buy something from the Shop later.
He finished his fruit, stood up, and started walking toward the jungle.
After a few steps, he heard footsteps behind him.
Lina.
She had just woken up. Her hair was messy, and her eyes looked sleepy.
"You're up early again," she said, rubbing her eyes. Then she saw him by the fire. "Already eating without me?"
Jaxon didn't reply. He reached into a small bundle of leaves and picked out another fruit. He walked over and gave it to her.
She smiled. "Thanks."
They sat by the fire, eating quietly.
"It's nice eating together," she said softly.
Jaxon didn't answer. His eyes were on the trees.
After a few minutes, he stood up again.
Lina looked up. "Where are you going now?"
"Need vines," he said.
"Oh? What for?"
"Making something."
She tilted her head. "Can I help?"
He thought for a moment, then gave a small nod.
They walked into the jungle. Birds made strange sounds in the trees. The leaves glowed softly in the light. They passed a tall tree covered in hanging vines.
Jaxon stopped. He grabbed one and pulled hard. It didn't break.
He gave it a small tug again, testing its strength.
"This will work."
Lina helped gather more vines. "Are we making rope?"
"No. A net."
"For what?"
"Fish."
Lina smiled. "A net? You're full of surprises."
They brought the vines back to the fire and sat on the ground. Jaxon began to tie the vines into a net. He twisted two vines together, pulled them tight, then tied another across.
Lina watched, then tried to do the same.
"I think I read about this once," she said. "You make strong knots, then link them."
Jaxon didn't speak. He kept working. The net grew slowly.
Lina messed up her knots twice and groaned. "Why does mine look like a broken spider web?"
"Try again."
"Fine, teacher," she said with a grin.
After some time, the net was ready. It wasn't perfect, but strong enough.
Jaxon stood and rolled it up.
They walked to the stream nearby. The water was clear, and small fish swam near the surface.
Jaxon stepped into the water and held the net across a narrow space between two rocks. He gave Lina one side to hold.
"Be still."
She nodded. "Okay."
They stood still. The fish moved slowly. One fish swam into the net.
Jaxon pulled it up fast. Three fish were caught.
Lina cheered. "We got them! That worked!"
They brought the fish back to camp. Jaxon used a sharp rock to clean them. He placed them on sticks and set them over the fire.
The smell was new—sweet and a little salty.
Lina sat beside him. "I can't believe that worked. You really know how to survive."
Jaxon didn't answer.
When the fish was cooked, he handed her one.
She took a bite and smiled. "It's good. Better than weird fruit."
Jaxon ate his quietly.
+5 Coins Earned
Total Coins: 13
Shop: Open
Jaxon glanced at the system message. Lina didn't notice. She was busy eating.
He thought about the shop. There were things he wanted. A water bottle, maybe clean clothes. But he needed to save coins for better items.
Later.
After the meal, they worked on the huts. Jaxon added more branches to his walls. Lina helped carry mud and leaves.
She looked at his work. "You're building a little fortress."
Jaxon didn't reply.
"You really don't talk much," she said.
He kept working.
"I guess I talk enough for both of us," she added.
By sunset, they sat again near the fire.
Lina looked at the sky. "You think anyone else survived the ship crash?"
"I don't know."
"I don't remember much. Just water, noise, then darkness."
Jaxon nodded slowly. He remembered the same. The big ship shaking. People screaming. Cold water. Then waking up on the beach.
And the system.
That strange voice giving him quests. Like a game. But this wasn't a game.
This was real.
Lina leaned back. "I wonder if we'll ever leave this island."
Jaxon didn't answer.
He looked at the trees, the strange sky, and the soft glowing plants.
This wasn't any island he knew. It felt hidden. Unknown.
He didn't understand it yet.
But he would.