Tofu Island

On a quest through some lush, dense forest, you and your companions found yourselves hopelessly lost.

After many hours, the clouds gather and the chirping of cicadas ceases completely.

The hair on the back of your neck stands up, as screeching howls break the still silence.

Clicking sounds like gargling broken glass.

The scent of seawater wafts and presents you with a possible escape route.

You hear the crash of waves, and you break through the thick foliage.

Behold, brilliant blue water; the cool sea air refreshes you in this oppressive heat.

Perched on the horizon of these unfamiliar waters is a brilliant green oasis, a jewel lit up by the sun filtering through the clouds.

A rickety old raft, covered in barnacles and holes, is your only means of transport, and you all paddle furiously towards your safe haven.

A proverbial ray of sunshine in a sea of troubles, you and your allies find refuge.

The raft sinks as you approach, causing fish below to scatter.

You all jump off onto the undisturbed wet sand, leaving footprints.

Your tired eyes listen to the light as it plays upon the ethereal water.

Sun-warmed grains of sand find their way between your toes.

The heat is tempered by the briny sea air; you don’t know where your skin ends and the air begins.

A whisper of the wind reminds you, and calms your agitated brain.

Finally, a moment, a place of relaxation, it makes your worries seem so far away.

You dubbed this tropical paradise **“Tofu Island”** and everyone takes the opportunity to enjoy their time here as much as they can.

The Expanse has all sorts of biomes and regions, with vastly different climates, so one can never know what season it is.

Might as well be **summer vacation** though!

Full of trees and palms with delicious fruit, you explored the island from top to bottom, and found nothing remotely dangerous.

What you did find was a deserted beach house in a cozy cove!

There were sets of gear for diving, dusty and unused.

Equipment and reserves of supplies were found in antique chests, stacked inside like in a bunker.

Upon diving in the sea you discovered an ancient shipwreck sleeping on its side on the seafloor, covered in sand, coral, and aquatic life.

You spy a curious black sphere the size of a golf ball suspended partly in the waters, as if moored to something.

Reaching out to grab it, you find that the exterior is completely smooth and slick, freezing cold, and very oddly, **dry**? **Underwater**?

You retrieve the curiosity and take it back to your makeshift base camp, peering at it next to the crackling campfire.

You place it on the log next to you and gaze into the burning embers of the fire.

Absently, you reach out to grab it but to your surprise it isn’t there.

Looking around you notice it nestled on a pile of sand, a few meters from where it was.

You recover it, place it back on the log and look away.

Sure enough, it disappears only to be found in your open cooler.

That’s concerning.

Ah well, a problem for another day.

You shut the lid on the cooler, and break out the marshmallow-like fruits you found.

Taking a long, refreshing sip from half of a coconut, you call your companions over.

Everyone reclines on the sand, backs resting on logs around the campfire.

You distribute some sticks with pointy ends and before you know it you’re all toasting some delicious-looking morsels.

Sit back, laugh, and talk the night away.

**Enjoy your summer vacation!**