The Art of Adaptation      

Rain was amazed when everyone returned with handfuls of branches, wood, fibers, and even some stowaway fabrics.

Having troops with hands really did speed up things!

The problem was that the EP he gained by doing the same tasks was reduced. Rain didn't mind it too much since he had expected that outcome.

As long as he assigned his troops new tasks they hadn't done before, the EP would come in numbers.

Right now, he didn't need EP that much, so he let it be.

Everyone gathered around the fire and ate the meat with gusto. Rain watched #4, who ate the meat without any enthusiasm, unlike its brothers and sisters who almost emptied his meat supply.

"Don't worry, #4. Don't give up just yet. We will figure out what went wrong and then we can try again. Don't lose hope."

~Chirp . . .~

#4 responded unenthusiastically, and Rain let it be.

While the others were eating and resting, Rain began sharpening some woods to make traps.

"Guys, after you rest, dig up holes at the two entrances over there. We will do some pit traps and barricade the entrances with these spikes as well."

Rain planned to use some of the resilient threads from the cracked eggs and the furs and fibers to make ropes that would serve as blankets for the pit traps. The remaining ropes would be tied to the spikes to form a barricade.

He just hoped that it would work and could somehow deter any beasts lurking around while they rested during the night.

Everyone chirped happily except for #4, who went back to the corner and faced the wall, back turned to them.

"Augh . . . I hope he feels better tomorrow," Rain said.

Chi frowned and grumbled.

"Don't be so hard on him, Chi."

Chi snapped her head. 'That's not an excuse to be lazy.'

Rain forced a laugh. Part of his task was to maintain peace within their little family, so he should mind who he should side here.

As the night wore on, Rain continued working on the traps, occasionally glancing over at #4. He couldn't shake the feeling of worry for the little guy. Failure was hard to swallow, especially when everyone else had succeeded.

He decided to keep an eye on #4, ensuring he got the support and encouragement he needed. Rain knew that everyone had their own pace, and he was determined to help #4 find his way.

With the traps nearly complete, Rain felt a sense of accomplishment. Their shelter was becoming more secure, and despite the setback with their territory, everything was coming together. They were making progress, even if it was just a little at a time.

Rain looked around, the shadows lengthening as the sun began to set. The play of light and shadow created a serene atmosphere, and for a moment, Rain felt a deep connection to his surroundings.

This land, with all its challenges, was starting to feel like home. Each struggle, each small victory, brought him closer this place.

"Tomorrow is a new day," Rain said to himself, feeling hopeful. "We'll figure things out, one step at a time. For now, we'll take turns in guarding the shelter while we sleep. Okay?"

~chirp!~

~chi!~

When night came, Rain couldn't resist the allure of rest, especially after a hard day's work. The first to take guard was Chi, followed by Chin, Chick, and Chill.

#4 was still moping around, so Rain decided to let it be for now.

In the middle of the night, Rain was surprised that he couldn't sleep despite his weary body. Maybe it was because his real body was already asleep.

Chi and the others were already snoring softly while Chin stood guard at the entrance. The fire was slowly burning, providing heat in the cold night.

Since he couldn't sleep, Rain decided to do something productive like sharpening more wood to use as temporary weapons.

~Chirp!~

In a blink, Chi was beside Rain, her eyes fixed on the darkness outside. The others were wide awake as well, standing straight in attention, their attention snapping outward.

"W-what? What is it?" Rain questioned. Could it be . . . beasts?!"

Rain scrambled to his feet and looked outside. Under the brightness of the twin moons, he could make out the forms of three wolves in the distance.

As his eyes adjusted, his heart skipped a beat. They were three wolves, each the size of a bear and as intimidating as hell. Their pelts bristled with long, needle-like quills, making them truly terrifying to behold.

"W-what are they?"

~Chii!~

"Quillwolves?" Rain muttered and immediately checked the bestiary for information on the beasts.

|| QUILLWOLVES ||

A blend of the canine ferocity of a direwolf and the innate dangers of a porcupine, creating a beast that is as difficult to engage as it is to fend off.

|| E N D ||

"That's it?" Rain wanted to cry at the lack of information.

"At least explain how to defeat it, like the other beasts in your bestiary!"

Beasts in this area were hardly logged because only a few players visited the place. That explained the little information on Quillwolves.

The wolves' quills stood on end, extending up to a foot in length, wreathing the creatures' bodies in a halo of spikes as they roared and growled, kicking up dust as they bolted towards them.

Rain's heart pounded in his chest. "This isn't good. Prepare for battle!" he announced, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him.

Chi and the others quickly took their positions, their makeshift spikes in their hands. Rain could see the determination in their eyes, even in #4, who had snapped out of his earlier funk.

Rain's mind raced. He had to come up with a plan quickly. The makeshift barricades and traps might slow the Quillwolves down, but they needed more than that to survive an encounter with these deadly creatures.

The Quillwolves moved closer, their glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. Rain tightened his grip on his sword, his heart pounding in his chest. The battle was about to begin, and there was no turning back now.