Chapter 72 I Stopped Running

Nate sat cross-legged on a flat stone, his focus entirely on the plate of food before him. The aroma was rich, a mixture of freshly cooked rice, seasoned vegetables, and tender chunks of meat. It was the first proper meal he'd had since leaving earth, and he savored every bite.

The rice had been a small miracle of its own. A young plant manipulator in their camp had managed to grow rice from seeds scavenged from the island's ruins. Using his powers, he cultivated it in a makeshift patch by the stream. Not just the rice—this individual had coaxed tomatoes, onions, and peppers from the soil, creating a variety of ingredients for the meal. The meat came from a successful hunt earlier that morning, where Ryder and Madison had brought down a wild boar. Together, these elements made the feast before Nate possible.