Chapter 9: Foraging

Chapter Nine

The morning light filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, casting intricate patterns on the forest floor. The air was thick with the earthy scent of moss and damp leaves, the sounds of birds chirping echoing through the trees. The students gathered at the center of the island camp, their eyes heavy from the night's mingling but curiosity sparked by the event that awaited them.

Today's task was simple but challenging. Each group, regardless of status, was tasked with foraging for their own food. The organizer of the retreat explained it briefly: no modern conveniences, no pre-prepared meals. The students had to rely on the island's resources, using only traditional methods, as if they were living off the land, and the only tools provided were basic baskets and knives.

It was a challenge designed to push their survival instincts but also to blur the line between the privileged and the less fortunate. The public school students, accustomed to simplicity and resourcefulness, were familiar with foraging. They had spent time in the wilderness before, looking for berries, nuts, and other edible plants. But for the elite students, this would be a completely foreign experience.

Zed, Khalil, and Lotus stood in a small group, their faces marked with confusion and hesitation as they were handed their baskets.

"This is ridiculous" Zed muttered, adjusting the collar of his shirt, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of getting his hands dirty. "I didn't come here for this!"

Khalil looked equally frustrated, flicking a strand of hair from his face. "Are we really supposed to just…pick berries and leaves? I thought we were going to have a nice, fancy breakfast"

Lotus, always quiet but observant, glanced around the camp, noticing how the public school students were already moving toward the forest with purposeful strides. They didn't seem bothered by the idea at all. In fact, they looked calm and confident, already assessing the area for what they could harvest.

"Let's just get this over with" Lotus muttered. His voice was laced with irritation but also a strange sense of curiosity, he wasn't used to being challenged like this. It was hard for him to imagine a life where this was the norm. He had always been able to simply buy whatever he wanted, had access to gourmet food at the snap of his fingers. The concept of foraging, of having to depend on nature, was completely alien to him.

Meanwhile, Lena, Cris, and Jay were already ahead, leading the way into the forest with a practiced ease. The trio of public school students knew exactly where to go. Lena's sharp eyes scanned the ground, picking out various plants, while Cris moved ahead with confidence, his hands expertly gathering roots and herbs. Jay, always the quiet one, followed behind, looking for signs of edible fruits or berries.

"This is where we can find wild potatoes" Cris said, kneeling down beside a patch of plants. He motioned to the others to come closer. "The leaves are a bit bitter but the roots are good. We can roast them for breakfast"

Lena crouched next to him, brushing aside some leaves. "The berries we spotted yesterday should be ready by now too"

While the less fortunate trio worked with practiced hands, Lotus, Zed, and Khalil stood at the edge of the forest, watching them in disbelief.

"How do they know all this?" Zed whispered to Khalil. "This isn't a game of scavenger hunt! They look like they've done this a million times"

Khalil, glancing around the unfamiliar forest, shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe they just… know how to survive without all the luxury stuff. It's like they're at home out here. Maybe... they lived in the cave or something before they move in the city?"

Lotus scowled, trying to push aside the uncomfortable feeling of being so out of his element. "This is ridiculous. I don't even know what half these plants are. Should we just grab random stuff and hope it's edible?"

Zed shot him a glare, clearly irritated. "I'm not eating random plants"

They stood in awkward silence, their baskets still empty. The public school students, on the other hand, had already gathered a substantial amount of food, their baskets filling with a variety of roots, berries, and wild herbs. Lena and Cris, working efficiently together, had even found a patch of edible mushrooms—much to their delight.

"We're not going to get anywhere like this!" Zed muttered, now visibly annoyed. He finally started pacing, clearly uncomfortable. His hands hovered near his pockets, as if the lack of modern comforts—the absence of a smartphone, or the security of a car or a driver—was getting to him.

"This is insane!" Khalil agreed, his voice edged with frustration. "I didn't come here to rummage through the dirt! This isn't exactly how I imagined a retreat"

Lotus, who had been walking aimlessly, finally gave up and knelt beside a patch of grass, picking at the leaves. "I can't believe we're really doing this"

But just then, Jay walked up to them with a basket filled with wild fruits and some roots. He offered them a small, almost sympathetic smile. "Need help?" he asked, his tone surprisingly kind.

Zed glared at him, not eager to admit defeat. "No, we're fine" he snapped. But his words lacked conviction.

"You know…" Jay started again, still smiling. "There's some berries down near the stream. You guys could try those if you want. Just don't pick the poisonous ones" he added, half-joking.

Zed shot him a half-hearted glare but reluctantly nodded. "Alright, thanks" he muttered, feeling too proud to ask for real help.

With that, the trio ventured toward the stream, trying their best to look like they knew what they were doing. Meanwhile, Lena, Cris, and Jay continued foraging, their baskets quickly filling up. Lena's eyes flicked over to the elite students, and for a brief moment, she couldn't help but feel a sense of quiet triumph.

They were struggling while they were thriving.

By the time the group returned to the camp with their foraged food, the elite students had gathered little, their faces marked with frustration. Zed's basket contained a few sad looking berries, some leaves, and a root that didn't even seem edible. Khalil's and Lotus's baskets were just as disappointing.

"Where did you guys find all that?" Zed asked, his voice gruff, not yet willing to admit defeat.

Lena, standing proudly with a basket overflowing with fruits, herbs, and mushrooms, gave him a calm but pointed look. "We just know where to look" she said, her voice light but with an undercurrent of quiet pride.

Zed frowned, his usual arrogance faltering for a moment. But he quickly recovered, offering a forced smile. "Right. Well, looks like you guys have this survival thing figured out"

The others laughed quietly but it wasn't mean spirited. It was just the reality of the situation. For the elite students, it had been a humbling experience, one that brought them closer to understanding just how different their worlds were from those they considered beneath them.

As they sat down to prepare their meals, the tension between the privileged and the poor had become palpable. There was an awkwardness in the air but also a quiet realization: surviving wasn't about money. It was about knowledge, experience, and adaptation.

And for the first time, the elite students were faced with the truth: in this world, money could buy a lot of things but it couldn't buy survival skills.