Chapter 1788

Zoey and Lucy had climbed into the tallest tree house to clean its windows and replace some damaged wooden panels.

Layla was sitting on the balcony, reading an old journal they had discovered in a cave several years earlier.

Audrey was helping Susan dry herbs beneath the afternoon sun.

It was an ordinary day, but there was always something to do.

Their village had become almost entirely self-sufficient.

They grew their own food, collected fresh water, made clothing from island fibers, and built almost everything they needed.

They even maintained a small fishing dock along the southern shore.

The island provided plenty, but they had learned not to take its generosity for granted.

By lunchtime, Jude and the others returned with their baskets.

Rose immediately inspected their collection.

"Good. These are exactly what I needed."

She picked up one of the unfamiliar blue fruits Sophie had discovered.

"And what’s this?"

"We found it near the river," Sophie explained.

Emma examined it carefully.

"I think I’ve seen something similar growing near the northern orchard."

"Can we eat it?" Scarlet asked.

"Not yet," Emma replied.

Scarlet sighed.

"Living with scientists is exhausting."

"Living with you is exhausting," Natalie answered.

Another round of laughter followed.

That afternoon, Jude decided to work on something he had been planning for weeks.

A small wooden bridge connecting the main village to the eastern farms.

The old path became muddy during the rainy season, making it difficult to transport harvested vegetables.

He gathered several wooden beams and began measuring the distance between the riverbanks.

Rose joined him first.

Then Layla.

Soon Sophie, Hannah, and Stella were helping as well.

They worked together, cutting wood, tying ropes, and positioning the beams.

It took several hours.

But by late afternoon, the little bridge was complete.

Jude walked across it carefully.

The wooden boards creaked slightly.

He stopped.

Everyone watched.

"Well?" Scarlet called.

Jude jumped twice.

The bridge held.

"Perfect!"

"Don’t celebrate yet," Rose warned. "We still need to test it with a full basket."

Scarlet immediately volunteered.

She walked across carrying an enormous basket of vegetables.

Halfway through, she stopped and turned around.

"Everyone, I officially declare this bridge—"

A loud creak interrupted her.

She froze.

Then she hurried across.

Everyone burst into laughter.

As evening approached, the family gathered around the central fire.

Dinner consisted of roasted river fish, vegetable stew, fresh bread, and a sweet fruit dessert Emma had prepared.

The conversation moved from the new bridge to tomorrow’s work.

"We should visit the western meadow next week," Grace suggested. "The flowers there are beginning to bloom again."

"I want to collect some seeds," Rose added.

"Can we take the long route?" Zoey asked. "The one with the little waterfall?"

Lucy nodded enthusiastically.

"That would make a nice picnic."

Jude looked around the circle.

"All right. We’ll make a day of it."

Scarlet immediately raised her hand.

"I request responsibility for the food."

Everyone answered at once.

"No!"

Her expression fell.

"Nobody appreciates my talents."

Later, when the fire had burned low, Jude walked toward the new bridge.

The moon was reflected in the river beneath it.

He stood there for a while, listening to the flowing water.

Behind him, the village was slowly becoming quiet.

A few lanterns still glowed in the tree houses.

Somewhere, Zoey was laughing.

Someone else was singing softly.

Jude looked toward the distant mountains.

They were still beautiful, still mysterious, and still hiding countless secrets.

But tonight he wasn’t interested in discovering any of them.

Tomorrow there would be vegetables to harvest, roofs to repair, animals to feed, and probably another argument about breakfast.

He smiled.

Then he returned home.

Another ordinary day had ended on the island.

And there were plenty more waiting.

The next morning began with Scarlet announcing that the picnic would be a disaster.

Nobody had asked for her opinion.

She stood beside the central firepit, holding a basket in one hand and a suspiciously large piece of bread in the other. "We have too much food, too many people, and not enough baskets."

"We have exactly enough baskets," Susan replied, arranging wrapped portions of roasted vegetables on a wooden tray.

"Then we have too little bread."

"You are holding half of it," Rose pointed out.

Scarlet glanced at the bread, then took another bite. "This is quality control."

Jude sat on a low wooden bench, tying the straps of a small pack. "If we leave now, we might reach the western meadow before the sun gets too high."

"Then stop talking and start carrying things," Layla said, handing him a basket.

He accepted it without complaint.

The village was already awake. Smoke curled from the cooking fires, chickens wandered between the cabins, and a few small furry animals were nosing around the vegetable garden. The newly built bridge toward the eastern farms stood firm in the morning light. Jude had checked it twice before breakfast, mostly because Scarlet had threatened to test it again with an even heavier basket.

Today, however, they were heading west.

Rose and Sophie carried blankets. Serena and Emma packed water gourds. Natalie brought a small bundle of fruit, while Zoey and Lucy argued over who had forgotten the wooden cups. Grace carried a pouch of dried herbs, insisting they might be useful if they found something worth cooking. Stella brought a little carved box containing the seeds she had collected from the western side of the island.

"Why are you bringing seeds to a picnic?" Jude asked.

"Because I might find something interesting."

"It’s a picnic, Stella."

"And I might find something interesting during the picnic."

Jude nodded. "Fair enough."

They followed the narrow path that wound between the trees. The morning air was cool, and sunlight slipped through the branches in shifting golden patches. Small birds hopped along the path ahead of them, occasionally stopping to inspect the travellers before darting away.

Scarlet walked beside Jude, swinging her empty hand.

"You know," she said, "we should have brought a cart."

"We don’t own a cart."

"Then we should build one."

"For a picnic?"

"For future picnics."

"Perhaps we should build a house on the meadow too."

Scarlet considered that. "Actually, that’s not a bad idea."

"Please don’t encourage her," Susan called from behind.