Rain and Chi continued their celebration, oblivious to the mysterious observer. They danced and laughed, their spirits high from the success of their experiment.
The brief rain shower had brought them hope and a sense of accomplishment.
"We did it, Chi!" Rain exclaimed, still elated. "With this method, we can bring life back to this land."
It is said that fire and water is where life begins. They weren't exactly wrong. It was only then that Rain understood that concept.
Chi nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shining with excitement. 'I don't know what's happening, but as long as my lord is happy!'
"Alright, Chi. Now that we have the basic necessities to survive, it's time to develop our territory," Rain said.
Chi bobbed her head to the side, curious.
"To be honest, I don't really know how to build anything either, but I've read books about it. We need . . . uh . .
." Rain recalled what he had read and counted on his fingers. "First, some wood, a lot of it, rope, blankets, or some animal skins. If we want to improve our house, we can go for bricks. Now that we can make it rain, maybe we should aim for bricks."
Rain looked around the barren wasteland. Almost all of the dead trees were gone because they had used them for firewood, fences, and traps.
At least now their small shelter was barricaded, though it wouldn't do much if they were attacked by packs of beasts.
"Let's go for bricks," Rain decided. They didn't have many resources here anyway, and bricks only required water to make. They could then dry them under the sun.
"Alright, start gathering everyone. While we wait for the salt to form, let's make more traps and . . . let's see, you and I should map out the land and find new materials. Who knows, we might even find a village around here."
~chi!~
After designating tasks to the others, Rain and Chi set off to map the area.
They didn't have much more to do back in their territory anyway as they waited for the salt to form. It could take up days, so it was best to find some new materials or even something that would help them develop their territory.
"Could it be?" Rain recalled the time when the first Quillwolves attacked their shelter. "If I'm right . . . they came from the north side of our home. So their hideout must be in that direction."
~Chi!~
"You're right. Hideouts usually mean more Quillwolves, right? There could be a dozen of them there. But I think it might not hurt if we take a look. After all, if we leave these wolves to themselves, they'll keep coming back to our shelter every time. We have to deal with them sooner or later."
~Chi!~
"So it's better if we locate their hideout while the sun is high and then plan on how to eradicate them once and for all to eliminate the threat to our home."
Chi was hyped up, smoke rising from her nose in excitement.
"Alright. Let's make a beeline and check this side of the map first."
They set off towards the northern part of their territory, determined to find the Quillwolves' hideout. The sun blazed down on them, but Rain and Chi pressed on, knowing that finding the hideout was crucial for their safety.
If they could find the Quillwolves' lair and eliminate the threat, their territory would be much safer.
After an hour of trekking through the harsh landscape, Rain noticed a change in the terrain. The ground became rockier, and the sparse vegetation gave way to larger boulders and hidden crevices.
"Chi, stay alert. This looks like the kind of place where they might have their hideout," Rain cautioned.
~chi~
They moved cautiously, checking every nook and cranny. Finally, Rain spotted something unusual — a large opening in the side of a hill, partially concealed by rocks and overgrown with dry thorny bushes.
"That must be it," Rain whispered. "Let's get closer and see if we can confirm it."
They approached the opening carefully, peering inside. The air was cooler, and Rain could smell the distinct, musky scent of the Quillwolves . . . and something else . .
. something like . . .
BLOOD?!