When the World Turned to Stone

The rain slowly tapered off as the sky darkened, signaling the approach of evening. The steady patter against the shelter's roof became less frequent, eventually giving way to a soft, lingering mist. Outside, the forest felt quieter, the air fresh with the scent of damp earth and the faint perfume of wet leaves. Hanako watched the sky, the warmth from the fire offering a comforting contrast to the damp chill still lingering in the air.

She glanced over at Senku, who was inspecting the shelter's walls with an almost obsessive focus. His damp clothes clung to his frame, but the fire had begun to dry him off, leaving behind a sense of ease in the way he moved. Hanako, too, had managed to dry herself with the woven leaves she had used earlier, now resting in the warmth of the fire as her clothes softened and dried.

As the last droplets of rain fell, Senku stood up, his eyes scanning the dimming horizon outside.

"I need to go back to my old shelter," he muttered, mostly to himself. 

"I've got a few things there that could be useful for our shelter." His tone was practical, as if it were the most natural thing to do in the world, despite the approaching nightfall.

Hanako looked up from the fire, her eyes narrowing slightly. The idea of venturing out again, this time in the growing twilight, didn't sit well with her. But then again, she wasn't about to let him go alone, especially when there was so much still left to do.

"Wait," she said, standing up and brushing the last of the water from her sleeves. "You're going out there by yourself?"

Senku shot her a glance, raising an eyebrow. "What, you worried about me?" he teased, though his tone held a note of genuine curiosity.

She hesitated for a moment before nodding, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "I'll come with you. It's not safe out there alone, especially now that the rain's stopped. Besides, you'll need help carrying the materials you've got."

Senku smirked, clearly unbothered by the idea of company. "Fine, if you insist. Let's make it quick before it gets too dark."

Hanako grabbed her makeshift cloak, a patchwork of broad, sturdy leaves bound together with vines. She handed another to Senku, who raised an eyebrow at the rudimentary design but didn't protest as he draped it over his shoulders. Once her own was tied loosely around her neck, she picked up a sturdy stick and began wrapping its tip with a bundle of dried leaves, securing them with strips of bark. After a moment of fumbling, she struck a spark using a piece of flint Senku had left near the fire, igniting the makeshift torch. The flickering light cast long shadows across the walls of their shelter, giving them just enough visibility to navigate through the darkening forest.

"Ready?" she asked, glancing at Senku, who was already adjusting his cloak.

"Obviously," he replied with a smirk, motioning for her to follow as he stepped outside.

The forest was alive with the quiet hum of insects and the occasional croak of frogs hidden among the foliage. The air hung heavy with the fresh scent of rain-soaked earth, and every step they took sent faint ripples through the puddles left behind by the storm. Hanako's torch lit the path ahead, the warm glow casting uneven light on the slick ground. Shadows danced across the towering trees, their gnarled branches forming eerie silhouettes against the starless sky.

After a brisk walk, they reached Senku's old shelter—a crude structure made of intertwined branches and leaves. It was small and barely held together, but it had clearly served its purpose.

"Not much, but it kept me alive," Senku remarked, stepping forward and peering inside.

Without wasting a moment, he began gathering the materials he had left behind: bundles of rope, strips of bark, stones weapon, clay pot and several containers he had crafted from hollowed-out gourds. Each item was carefully selected, evidence of his meticulous planning and resourcefulness.