Xiao Yi slowly opened his eyes, the morning sunlight filtering through the leaves, dappling his face. Without hesitation, he quickly rose, tidied his sleeping bag, and dusted himself off. Lin Meng woke soon after, smoothing her tousled hair with a hand, her eyes filled with anticipation and determination. Chen Hao stretched, yawned, and muttered, "A new day, keep going!" He then quickly gathered his belongings. Su Yao and Zhao Lei exchanged an encouraging smile and quickly began packing. Xiao Yi checked his backpack, making sure nothing was missing. Then, looking up at everyone, he said, "Are you ready? Let's go!" Everyone nodded, their eyes determined. They left the camp and stepped onto the dewy grass. Xiao Yi walked in front, holding a thick branch, occasionally pushing aside the grass ahead. Lin Meng followed closely behind, map in hand, carefully studying the surrounding terrain. Chen Hao, carrying the heaviest backpack, walked with a heavy, yet steady, stride. Su Yao and Zhao Lei kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings, alert for any danger. Their footsteps echoed through the silent forest, shattering the morning tranquility. Birds, startled by their movements, fluttered their wings and took to the sky. Xiao Yi and the others had no time to dwell on these events; their only concern was finding water as quickly as possible and beginning a new day of exploration filled with hope.
They marched forward resolutely along the winding stream. Xiao Yi walked at the front of the team, his eyes fixed on the trajectory of the stream, his steps light and steady. The stream gurgled, and the stream water sparkled with tiny lights under the sunlight, like a flowing galaxy. Occasionally, a few fallen leaves floated across the water, undulating with the waves of the stream. Lin Meng followed closely behind Xiao Yi. As she walked, she carefully observed the vegetation by the stream, trying to find signs of possible water sources. Chen Hao squatted down from time to time and touched the stream water with his hands to feel the water temperature and flow rate. Su Yao and Zhao Lei walked behind the team, carefully avoiding the slippery stones and muddy ground by the stream. Su Yao held a small notebook in her hand, recording the terrain and discoveries along the way. Along the way, their footsteps and the sound of the stream were intertwined. The grass by the stream occasionally scratched their trouser legs, carrying the morning dew and soaking their shoes and socks, but they didn't care. As they continued to move forward, the stream sometimes widened, sometimes narrowed, and the sound of the water became louder and sometimes softer. Sometimes, they needed to step over fallen trees across the stream, and sometimes they had to go around abrupt boulders. "Everyone be careful, watch your step!" Xiao Yi turned back from time to time to remind his companions. Their eyes were full of expectation, hoping that this small stream could lead them to a more stable and sufficient water source to meet their survival needs in this forest.
Along the way, they took every step with extreme caution. Xiao Yi led the way, holding a thick branch, swinging it back and forth, trying to clear the thorns hidden in the grass. Lin Meng followed closely behind, her eyes fixed on the ground, carefully lifting her feet to avoid the sharp thorns. If she wasn't careful, the thorns would snag her clothes like sharp claws, even scratching her skin. Chen Hao, carrying a heavy backpack, his large frame seemed clumsy on the narrow path. He took every step with extreme caution, because even the slightest misstep could lead to a trap hidden under the fallen leaves. Those traps could be deep pits or swamps covered by branches, with the consequences of falling into them being disastrous. Su Yao and Zhao Lei supported each other, their eyes constantly switching between the front and the ground. Su Yao bit her lip nervously, testing the ground with her toes before each step. Zhao Lei kept a close eye on the branches, fearing that they would hit him in the face. Their breathing became slow and cautious, as if even a loud gasp would alert any hidden danger. Every step they took was taken with extreme caution, every lift of their feet filled with vigilance. Sweat continuously seeped from their foreheads, but they dared not raise their hands to wipe it, fearing that a moment's distraction would bring unexpected harm.
"Look, there looks like a small waterfall over there!" Zhao Lei suddenly shouted excitedly, extending his right hand and pointing straight ahead, his arm trembling slightly with excitement. His eyes widened, their expression dimmed by fatigue, now gleaming with surprise. Zhao Lei's face flushed crimson, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead in the sunlight, though he didn't bother to wipe them away. Hearing his cry, the others looked up, their gazes pointed in the direction he pointed. In the distance, a faint white curtain of water could be seen through the layers of branches. Xiao Yi squinted, straining to see more clearly, his heartbeat involuntarily quickening as a glimmer of hope ignited within him. Lin Meng covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes filled with disbelief and uncontrollable joy. Chen Hao hefted his backpack higher and quickened his pace a few steps forward, wanting to confirm whether this was indeed the source of water they had longed for. Su Yao also jumped up excitedly. "Really? That's great!" her voice shrill with excitement. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the vaguely visible place, and their pace unconsciously quickened, their hearts filled with longing for water and the joy that was about to come.
When everyone heard Su Yao's words, it was as if they were injected with a powerful force. Their footsteps, which had been a little heavy, instantly became light, and they couldn't wait to run towards the direction of the waterfall. Chen Hao took the lead. He took big strides, stepping over the stones and potholes on the road, and his backpack kept swinging on his back. Xiao Yi followed closely behind, his eyes full of eagerness and expectation. Lin Meng was not to be outdone. She lifted the hem of her skirt, trying not to let it hinder her pace. Although Zhao Lei was panting, he gritted his teeth and tried his best to keep up with everyone's pace. After a while, they arrived in front of the waterfall. The roar of the waterfall rang in their ears, deafening. The clear water poured down from a height, splashing water everywhere, as if countless pearls were jumping in the sun. The water hit the rocks, making a crisp sound, and the water mist was filled, making people feel as if they were in a fairyland.
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