Wilderness Survival with Druid System-Chapter 514 - 13: Searching for Tinder

After deciding to hunt the black bear, Chen Wen began to approach.

He crouched low, his steps light and quick, moving swiftly toward the black bear.

Around one hundred and fifty meters away, Chen Wen stopped for the first time.

This was because the black bear, which had been drinking, stopped drinking.

It slowly turned its head, looking up slightly, sniffing the air continuously with its nose.

The black bear’s sense of smell is far stronger than that of humans.

A dog’s sense of smell is more than a hundred times that of a human, and a black bear is even better than the best of scent hounds.

In human terms, their sense of smell is more than a thousand times stronger than humans.

If they remember a human scent, even without wind, they can easily smell it from twenty or thirty kilometers away.

This black bear clearly detected Chen Wen’s scent.

But due to its poor eyesight, it turned its head for a long time, yet didn’t see Chen Wen.

Chen Wen fixed his gaze on the black bear’s body, waiting for its next move.

Logically, after smelling a scent, if no threatening events occur, the black bear should continue drinking.

But inside, Chen Wen felt somewhat anxious.

Because he recalled something the old hunter Short-Beard had told him.

A moment later, Chen Wen’s anxiety became reality.

The black bear stopped drinking. After confirming Chen Wen’s approximate direction, it quickly trotted away to the other side.

"Ah, I’ve been discovered!"

Chen Wen sighed, standing up somewhat disappointed: Short-Beard’s words were true.

During adaptive survival experiences, Short-Beard had once told Chen Wen something.

"Wilderness Alone has been broadcast here for three seasons, and these seasons have had very high viewership, which has led many to come here because of the fame. Our club was also established at that time."

"But when there are more people, it’s not good news for the animals. Their lives are affected by humans, and over time, animals will realize that humans pose a threat to them. Therefore, some animals will remember the human scent."

"After smelling human scent, these animals will run far away."

Chen Wen roughly relayed what Short-Beard had conveyed to him.

Then, he reflected with some emotion, "Human activities have a significant impact on animals, and when we affect them, their behavior in turn affects us. See, this time, I’ve been affected."

Hearing Chen Wen’s words, Greg behind the screen felt a bit embarrassed.

He had heard this said before by someone high up in the World Conservation Union.

The person had reminded him to occasionally change shooting locations, otherwise it would adversely affect the local wildlife.

Now, hearing Chen Wen say the same, Greg was quite surprised.

After Chen Wen’s reflection, he didn’t say much more.

But turned to go fetch water.

The loss of this opportunity, although somewhat regrettable, did not discourage him.

After fetching water, Chen Wen didn’t rush to leave.

Looking around, Chen Wen quickly found what he was looking for.

A reed bed.

Since it was already deep autumn, most of these water-edge reeds had withered or decayed.

These things couldn’t be used to start a fire.

But Chen Wen quickly walked over.

...

"These things can’t be used to make a fire, right?"

Beside Lin Jiawei, a local guide who had been wandering around, and also an old employee of Wilderness Alone, couldn’t help but interject.

Lin Jiawei didn’t reply.

But the monitor, being very familiar with him, started chatting.

"Indeed, it doesn’t work. They’ve been soaked too long and are wet inside. Levin tried before, and it simply couldn’t light up."

The monitor said while once again expressing disdain for Chen Wen: "This guy isn’t as amazing as they say, just seems average. I don’t know why Greg thinks so highly of him."

The guide smiled a bit: "Maybe he has some unique skills? Ha."

Though he said so, the guide’s words also carried a hint of contempt.

After all, to these old employees, they had seen every former survivor, whether successful or failed. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

This also led them to learn some survival skills.

Therefore, for every newcomer who came, no matter how famous they were.

If they hadn’t won Wilderness Alone, they carried with them a bit of disdain.

It’s like those service staff in luxury boutiques who, even if they can’t afford the store’s goods themselves, will look down on anyone dressed plainly who approaches.

Lin Jiawei was familiar with this mentality because he had experienced it too.

But he didn’t say much more, continuing to watch Chen Wen’s actions.

At this time, to talk to the guide, the monitor switched the audio to external speakers and lowered the volume.

Then continued chatting with the guide as if nothing happened.

But soon, Chen Wen’s voice came through.

He said, "I’ve looked into the information here before, and people might think I’m searching for reeds, but actually I’m not. These reeds have been withered for too long, constantly soaked in water, and the inside of the reed stalks has become very damp, not suitable for making a fire."

Once by the reed beds, Chen Wen squeezed the reeds open, revealing the hollow interior of the reed stalks.

Just as Chen Wen said, the inside of these reed stalks was a wet, sticky mass.

"If it were summer, especially midsummer, or reeds on the shore, they might be usable, but these are not. However, I came here to look for something else."

"Before coming here, I noted that the area around the Great Slave Lake is not only home to mammals but also a paradise for some migratory waterfowl. Generally, waterfowl choose to place their nests in the reed beds by the water’s edge. I came here to find bird nests near the reeds."

Upon hearing Chen Wen’s explanation, Lin Jiawei suddenly understood.

If there’s anything in the world that acts like natural tinder, something ready to use right away.

Nests should definitely be among them.

Birds, when building nests, choose slender twigs and soft leaves.

These things, once dry, become natural tinder.

And birds tend to shed feathers, with many using bird feathers to build nests.

Soft and dry bird feathers catch fire easily.

Therefore, if you find a dry bird nest, your fire-starting tinder is immediately complete.

Why didn’t I think of that?

Lin Jiawei slapped his forehead, realizing he needed more practice.

The monitoring staff member and the guide beside him both looked somewhat stiff-faced.

Through simultaneous translation, they also heard Chen Wen’s words.

Is it possible to use bird nests to start fires?

The two who were half-skilled and somewhat clueless fell silent.

Director Greg, however, nodded slightly.

Chen Wen’s choice matched his own thoughts, only someone with real survival experience knows how useful a bird nest can be.

Greg didn’t say much more, but he was sure, Chen Wen would definitely succeed in making fire today.