I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 375 - 371 – Endless Rain and Fire in the Cave

Chapter 375: Chapter 371 – Endless Rain and Fire in the Cave

That night the rain showed no sign of stopping. Water continued to pour down on the green forest in torrents, as if the sky had opened all its gates at once. Occasional thunder rumbled, blinding white lightning piercing the thick mist and illuminating the cave mouth for a split second before darkness swallowed everything again. Wind howled through the narrow gaps of the cave entrance, carrying cold droplets that pierced straight to the bone. The campfire in front of the tent still burned steadily thanks to the death flame, but its soft purple light felt smaller amid the deepening darkness.

Sylvia sat in front of the tent, her black cloak trailing across the mossy ground, her glowing red eyes staring outward. Noir curled in her lap, his small body warm despite the continuous cold wind. Sofia had gone back into her sleeping bag, but soon crawled out again, shivering slightly as she moved closer to the fire.

"The wind keeps coming in," Sofia muttered while rubbing her arms. "The cave mouth is small, but it feels like a wind tunnel."

Sylvia gave a small nod. "This cave faces the northern wind. But the water doesn’t come in. That’s what matters."

Suddenly, from the darkness outside the cave came the sound of heavy footsteps not one set, but several. A low growl echoed softly, followed by the crack of branches being stepped on. Wild animals. Perhaps the remnant wolves Sofia had heard earlier, or something larger from the fusion thick-furred bodies, eyes glowing in the dark, fangs glinting whenever lightning flashed again.

They approached slowly, noses sniffing the air, wild eyes fixed on the campfire light. But the moment their front paws crossed the shadow line of the cave mouth, something changed.

Noir lifted his small head from Sylvia’s lap. His blood-red eyes blazed brighter in an instant not just ember light, but pure pressure from the ancient dragon lineage flowing in his blood. The aura erupted softly unseen but felt like a heavy weight pressing on the chest. The air around the cave grew thick, cold, and filled with primal menace. The animals froze instantly. Fur along their backs stood on end, tails tucked, wild eyes widening in terror. The once-threatening growls turned into small, frightened whimpers.

They turned and fled at once large paws pounding the muddy ground, branches snapping behind them. In seconds, the sound of their footsteps was swallowed by the pouring rain.

Sofia stared outward with wide eyes. "What was that just now...?"

"Noir," Sylvia answered quietly, her hand stroking the small dragon’s head. "His dragon lineage. They didn’t dare come closer."

Noir rumbled once soft, almost a contented purr then curled back up, his red eyes dimming again. He didn’t need to grow large or roar; that aura alone had been enough.

The wind still howled in, carrying tiny cold rain splashes. Sylvia pulled the tent closer to the cave wall, then turned to Sofia. "Get inside the tent. It’s warmer there."

Sofia nodded and crawled into her sleeping bag. Sylvia followed, carrying Noir in her arms. Inside the tent, the space felt smaller but warmer, the soft floor mat absorbed the cold ground, the small purple lantern burned steadily in the corner, and the phantom wolf-fur-lined sleeping bags felt like gentle embraces. The wind still roared outside, rain pounding the earth relentlessly, but inside the tent those sounds were muffled into a soothing background.

Sylvia lay in her sleeping bag, Noir curled on her chest. Sofia curled beside her, head nearly touching Sylvia’s shoulder. "The sound of the rain... it’s nice to hear when we’re safe like this," Sofia whispered with a yawn.

Sylvia didn’t reply, but her hand reached out and briefly touched Sofia’s golden hair a cold but meaningful touch. They drifted off slowly, accompanied by the endless drumming of heavy rain on the vast green forest.

The next morning, faint light slipped in through the cave mouth. Sylvia woke first, her red eyes opening immediately. The rain was still pouring heavily outside with no sign of letting up at all. Water rushed past the cave entrance, forming a small river that flowed down the hillside. Thick mist blanketed the trees, making the forest look like a gently swaying white ocean.

Sofia stirred, rubbing her eyes. "Still raining...?"

"Yes," Sylvia answered flatly as she rose. She stepped to the cave mouth and looked out. "Too heavy. Flying in this would be dangerous. We wait until it stops."

Sofia nodded, crawling out of her sleeping bag. "Alright. So we’re staying in the cave today?"

"Yes."

Noir was already gone from the tent. When Sylvia stepped outside, she saw the small dragon returning mouth full of two large gray-furred rabbits, tail dragging a wild boar almost as big as his current body. Noir carefully dropped his catch in front of the cave, then rumbled contentedly. The boar was intact, its neck biting cleanly for food. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Sofia laughed softly. "Noir went hunting first thing in the morning! Thank you, Noir!"

Sylvia gave a small nod. "Good. Rest now."

Noir rumbled lightly, then lay down near the dead campfire from the night before, licking his snout while waiting.

Sylvia opened her inventory system again. Faint purple runes glowed, and several stacks of dry firewood appeared in emergency reserves she had stored back in Nocture. She took them out, then with a pinch of death flame split the logs into smaller pieces. The campfire was relit over the previous ashes; the purple embers flared quickly, warmth spreading immediately through the cave mouth.

Sofia took the rabbits from Noir’s catch. "I’ll clean them. You prepare the fire."

Sylvia nodded. She sat near the fire, watching Sofia work nimbly skinning the rabbits with a small knife, gutting them, washing the meat in the rainwater rushing past the cave entrance. Noir watched closely, red eyes following Sofia’s movements attentively.

When finished, Sofia skewered the rabbit meat on long branches, seasoning it simply with salt and pepper from her small bag. They roasted the meat over the fire. The aroma of grilled meat mixed with salt and pepper quickly overpowered the smell of wet earth and rain. Noir’s wild boar he left whole; the dragon began devouring it slowly, sharp teeth tearing the flesh easily.

They sat side by side at the cave mouth, watching the relentless downpour. The rabbit meat cooked perfectly crispy outside, tender and juicy inside. They ate slowly, hands warmed by the fire, stomachs filled with simple but satisfying flavor.

Sylvia bit into a piece, gazing outward. "Rain like this... could last for days in a forest like this."

Sofia nodded while chewing. "But we’re safe here. There’s a cave, there’s fire, there’s food. And there’s Noir keeping watch. It feels... like a little temporary home."

Sylvia didn’t reply immediately. She only looked at the heavy curtain of rain falling in front of them, separating them from the outside world. The wind still howled, but inside the cave it felt warm and calm.

Noir finished devouring the entire wild boar, then lay down near them, belly full, red eyes half-closed. He rumbled once soft and satisfied.

Sylvia gently stroked Noir’s head. "We wait until the rain stops. No need to rush."

Sofia smiled and leaned against Sylvia’s shoulder. "I like days like this. Just the three of us, rain outside, and warm food. Like... a real vacation."

Sylvia glanced at Sofia for a moment, then back at the rain. The corner of her mouth lifted faintly a cold yet warm smile, one that rarely appeared.

"Yes," she murmured softly. "Like a vacation."

The rain continued pouring mercilessly, distant thunder rumbling occasionally. But at the mouth of that small cave, the purple campfire burned steadily, grilled meat still warm in their hands, and the small warmth among the three of them felt more real than the storm outside.

...

The rain kept falling without mercy throughout the morning. The sound of water pounding the muddy ground mixed with thunder that grew less frequent, though the wind still howled through the cave mouth, carrying piercing cold. Inside, the purple campfire burned steadily, its light softly reflecting off the moss-green cave walls. The aroma of freshly roasted rabbit meat still lingered in the air, mingling with the scent of wet earth and burning wood.

Sylvia leaned back against the cave wall, her black cloak spread on the ground as extra padding. She gazed outward at the endless curtain of falling water. The Chain of Abyss on her wrist trembled faintly from time to time, as though listening to the hidden heartbeat of the forest behind the storm. Noir had returned to his small size, curled in Sylvia’s lap after devouring the wild boar earlier that morning. His belly was full, red eyes half-closed, but his small ears remained perked whenever the wind howled louder.

Sofia sat beside her, legs folded, holding the last warm piece of rabbit meat. She nibbled slowly, watching the rain with an expression mixed between boredom and peace.

"If the rain keeps going like this, we could be stuck here for days," Sofia mumbled while blowing on the still-steaming meat. "But... for some reason I don’t mind. It feels calm. No reports, no sound of dwarf hammers, no lycanthrope morning training howls. Just rain, fire, and the three of us."

Sylvia gave a small nod, her fingers stroking Noir’s cold scales. "This forest is huge. There might not be a quick way out. Better to wait for it to stop than fly blind in the storm."

Sofia smiled faintly, tossing a small bone to Noir who caught it in his mouth and chewed slowly. "You’re starting to sound like someone on a real vacation, Sylvia. In the past you would’ve used the Chain of Abyss to cut the rain or something."

Sylvia glanced at Sofia briefly; the corner of her mouth lifted almost imperceptibly. "Maybe. But now... there’s no point in rushing. Nocture is safe in Alicia and Stacia’s hands. And you’re here with me."

Sofia fell silent for a moment, then leaned closer, resting her head against Sylvia’s shoulder. "I like it when you say things like that. It feels... like I matter."

"You do matter," Sylvia answered flatly, though her voice was softer than usual. She reached out and briefly touched Sofia’s golden hair, a cold touch that had become their habit.

They fell quiet again, only listening to the rain. Noir purred softly, his small body rising and falling with calm breaths. Outside, the mist grew thicker, trees appearing as vague giant shadows swaying gently. Occasionally a distant animal roar sounded again but this time softer, more cautious, as though aware something stronger was in that small cave.