Chapter 7: Seeking Help in the Rain
The torrential rain continued for five days, showing no sign of abating. Though the Silvermoon Tribe's caves were dry and warm, the waters outside were a vast ocean. The river surged, flooding the lowlands. The familiar forest seemed strange and dangerous.
On the morning of the sixth day, a sharp alarm horn cut through the sound of rain. The orc Liefeng, who was on guard, transformed into a wolf and ran back to the cave in the rain, shaking off the water droplets from his body.
"There are people downstream!" he reported breathlessly. "More than a dozen of them, probably from the Liuhe tribe, struggling towards us!"
Elder Shi Yan immediately stood up and said, "Liuhe Tribe? Their territory is right next to the river. This flood..." The old man didn't finish his words, but everyone understood what he meant.
Canglan immediately organized a rescue team: "Orcs who can transform, follow me! Bring ropes and driftwood! Sub-orcs, prepare hot water and dry animal skins!"
Lin Chen stood beside Canglan without hesitation: "I'll go too. I know some first aid knowledge."
Canglan hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Follow me closely, don't take any risks."
The rescue team rushed into the torrential rain. The rain was so strong that it was hard to open one's eyes. The ground was muddy underfoot. In the distance, a group of people could be vaguely seen struggling to move forward in the flood.
"Their tribe was destroyed by the flood!" The leading member of the Flowing River Tribe almost burst into tears when he saw the people of the Silver Moon Tribe. "Everything is gone... The elderly and children... None of them could escape..."
Lin Chen's heart sank. He saw that there were only a few strong orcs and sub-orcs among the survivors, and no old people or children.
Canglan immediately directed the rescue: "Use ropes to tie them together! Support each other! Follow us!"
Lin Chen bandaged the bleeding wound of an injured orc and helped him move forward with difficulty. The flood continued to rise, sometimes even reaching waist height.
By the time they returned to the Silvermoon Tribe's cave, the River Stream survivors were exhausted. Fifteen of them, each pale and trembling, their eyes filled with the pain of having lost their loved ones and their home.
The Silvermoon Tribe's sub-orcs immediately stepped forward, offering dried hides and hot water. Meiguo instructed everyone to make room, while the sisters Yunshan and Chenlu busied themselves preparing food.
The leader of the Flowing River Tribe—a towering orc named Hong Yan—bowed deeply to Elder Shi Yan. "Thank you to the Silver Moon Tribe for your help. Our homes...were completely engulfed by the flood." His voice choked with emotion. "If it weren't for you, none of us would have survived until today."
Elder Shi Yan helped him up. "In the face of the forces of nature, all tribes are brothers. Rest first and recover your strength."
Lin Chen busily checked the condition of each survivor. Most were just exhausted and slightly injured, but one young orc was in a bad state—he had a high fever and was breathing rapidly, clearly suffering from a lung infection.
"I need herbs to reduce the fever." Lin Chen said to Canglan, "I know a few useful plants, but with such heavy rain..."
Canglan immediately said, "Tell me what he looks like, and I'll go find him."
Lin Chen described the morphological characteristics of several fever-reducing herbs, and Canglan rushed into the rain without hesitation. Within a quarter of an hour, he returned, covered in mud and water, clutching several herbs.
"Are these the ones?" Canglan asked anxiously, his silver-gray hair sticking wetly to his face.
Lin Chen nodded in surprise: "Exactly! You found it so quickly?"
"Hunter's instinct." Canglan answered simply, but his eyes were always focused on the patient's condition.
Lin Chen crushed the herbs, mixed them with hot water, and fed them to the feverish orc. He then instructed everyone to apply wet compresses to the forehead to reduce the fever and stayed by the patient's side all night.
At dawn, the young orc's fever finally subsided, and his breathing became steady. The people of the Liuhe Tribe were filled with gratitude. Hong Yan thanked Lin Chen again, "Your knowledge and kindness saved my people. The Liuhe Tribe will never forget this kindness."
The torrential rain lasted for ten full days before gradually abating. During this time, the Silver Moon Tribe and the survivors of the Flowing River Tribe lived together, sharing limited food and space. Lin Chen taught them how to better preserve fire and how to use pottery to collect rainwater and boil it for drinking to prevent the spread of disease.
One evening, after the rain had subsided, the people of the two tribes sat around the fire. Hong Yan told them about the horror of the flood.
"Overnight, the entire tribe was flooded," he said in a low voice. "We tried our best to rescue them, but the water was too fast... too many people couldn't escape."
Elder Shi Yan sighed and said, "The power of nature can both give life and take it away. All we can do is support each other and survive together."
Lin Chen noticed that Canglan remained silent the whole night, with flickering flames reflected in his silver-gray eyes, as if he was hiding a heavy heart.
In the dead of night, Lin Chen found Canglan sitting alone at the entrance of the cave: "What are you thinking about?"
Canglan looked at the gradually decreasing rain outside the cave and whispered, "I wonder if without the changes you introduced—fire, food storage, pottery, rain protection—the Silver Moon Tribe might have suffered the same fate." He turned to Lin Chen, his eyes extremely serious. "It's you who gave us the ability to help others, rather than being the ones in need."
Lin Chen felt warm in his heart: "It is you who are willing to learn and change. Many tribes stick to tradition and reject new things."
"That's not progress, that's stupidity." Canglan said firmly, "Survival requires adaptation and innovation. You taught us that."
The two were silent for a moment, listening to the breathing sounds coming and going in the cave and the sound of rain gradually fading outside the cave.
"The rain will soon stop." Canglan suddenly said, "After the rainy season ends, the survivors of the Liuhe Tribe will need to decide their future. They may want to rebuild the tribe, or..." He paused, "join the Silver Moon Tribe."
Lin Chen looked at him in surprise: "Can the tribes be merged?"
"It's uncommon, but not unprecedented," Canglan explained, "especially after a disaster like this. More labor means a stronger tribe, but it also requires more resources and leadership wisdom."
Lin Chen was thinking about this question and suddenly realized that Canglan was not just a hunting captain, he had the thinking and vision of a leader.
"Do you think Elder Shi Yan will agree?" Lin Chen asked.
Canglan raised the corner of his mouth slightly. "The elder is very wise. He knows that the Silver Moon Tribe is changing and growing. More members mean more possibilities." He glanced at Lin Chen meaningfully. "Especially when we have special people who bring special knowledge."
Inside the cave, the feverish young orc coughed softly a few times, and Lin Chen immediately stood up to check. Canglan stared at his back, his silver-gray eyes flickering with complex emotions—admiration, gratitude, and something deeper.
The rainstorm finally subsided, and the light of dawn shone through the clouds. The Silvermoon Tribe faced new challenges and opportunities: how to help the survivors of the River Tribe, how to integrate the cultures and resources of the two tribes, and how to move forward in this changing world.
As for Lin Chen, he not only won the respect and acceptance of the Silver Moon Tribe, but also unknowingly won the special heart of a certain silver-gray-eyed hunting captain.
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