In Pirate Cove, a small sailboat bobbed gently at the dock as WUMI spread his map out on a wooden crate. Today, the friends planned to find the hidden waterfall on Jungle Island. It was marked on the map only as a thin blue line, but next to it was a picture of an old stone arch. If they found the arch, the waterfall couldn't be far away.

HOPSI helped pack the provisions while MUCKI checked they had enough water. EDDI gazed at the islands from the dock. In the distance, the volcanic island rose above the sea, its tranquil mountain surrounded by verdant slopes. Even the crossing felt like an adventure to him.

At Jungle Island, they followed a path beneath large leaves. Colorful blossoms glowed among the ferns, and somewhere above them, the branches rustled. HOPSI had to duck frequently to keep his ears from getting caught in the low-hanging leaves. EDDI went ahead, but waited at every fork in the path for WUMI and his map.

After a while, they heard rushing water. HOPSI was sure they must be there soon, but the path initially led away from the sound. Behind a clump of densely growing plants, it forked, and suddenly both directions looked equally promising.

WUMI studied the map. MUCKI remembered they hadn't seen the stone arch yet and suggested they stay at the fork for now. Together, they scanned the surroundings. Finally, EDDI spotted a piece of hewn stone between two thick roots.

 

The arch belonged to the forgotten ruins. It was almost completely overgrown with plants, but a narrow, clearly visible path continued beneath it. The friends carefully made their way through and came to a small courtyard with a smooth stone floor. A lizard sat basking in the sun on an old wall.

 

Here they took a break. While the others ate their apple slices, Mucki listened to the rustling sound. It sounded much closer now and came from the other side of the yard. There, a thick curtain of long leaves hung over the path.

Wumi carefully pushed some leaves aside. Behind them, the waterfall came into view. Bright water cascaded over a wide rocky ledge into a turquoise pool, and fine droplets shimmered in the sunlight. The four of them stopped on the dry stones at the edge and gazed in wonder.

 

On the way back, Wumi more clearly marked the overgrown arch on his map. Later, when they were sitting in Pirate's Cove again, they could see the volcanic island in the evening light. Eddi pointed over, but this time he didn't pack up his things right away. They had explored enough for one day, and the next island could wait a little longer.