After walking for what felt like forever, we finally stumbled upon a long, winding river.
The moment I saw the water—clear enough to glimpse smooth stones beneath the surface—I felt a heavy weight lift off my shoulders.
Clean water.
Finally.
In a situation like this, nothing mattered more.
You can endure hunger for a while, but without water? You're done.
And this river looked pristine—no smell, no strange colors, not even a trace of debris.
Of course, we'd still have to boil or filter it later to be safe…
But honestly, judging by its clarity, it looked drinkable even now.
"Should we rest here for today?" I asked, glancing up at the sky.
The sun was already dipping behind the treetops, scattering streaks of orange across the water.
Night would fall soon, and traveling in the dark—especially in an unfamiliar region—was asking for trouble.
Fortunately, the weather was mild.
No wind, no dark clouds, just the faint chill of evening.
