The sudden turn of events completely disrupted their original plans. Lin Chen, acting out of character, didn't let Jin Meiyan decide where to go. Instead, he gathered a bundle of dry firewood near the den.
Using his military knife, he shaved off the bark, scraped back and forth to create some wood shavings, then combined them with dry moss and thin twigs to build a miniature campfire.
Then he took a fire starter out of his backpack, struck it a few times to create sparks, and quickly lit the tinder.
The fire starter was something he always carried in his backpack. He had it with him last time with Marcia, too. It was his last resort.
If this hadn't happened, he wouldn't have planned on using it. He wouldn't have even let Jin Meiyan know he had it.
Once you know there's a shortcut to making fire, you're tempted to get lazy.
