Dawn broke, the sound of rain having disappeared overnight. The settlement emerged from their shelters to find puddles reflecting pale sunlight and mud that would need hours to become workable ground.
Sarah stood at her doorway, watching as the sun's warmth began the slow process of drying their world. Emma pressed against her side, still reluctant to venture far from safety after the terror of the wolf attack.
"Can we see Daddy now?" Emma asked, her voice small and uncertain.
"Not yet, sweetheart," Sarah replied, studying the soggy ground around the watchtower where Tom's body waited with the others. "We need to wait for the ground to be dry enough."
The morning passed with restless energy as people cleaned their homes and sorted through belongings that had been soaked during the storm.
The medical centre remained busy with those recovering from colds and minor injuries, while Doctor Hayes continued her vigil over Kate's unconscious form.
Children played cautiously in the spaces between buildings, their laughter more subdued than before, parents constantly keeping them within sight.
The settlement felt fragile, like glass that had survived one impact but might shatter with the next.
By midday, the sun had drawn enough moisture from the earth that Thomas deemed it safe to begin digging. Word spread quickly through the settlement, and people gathered near the grove of transplanted fruit tree saplings that would serve as their memorial garden.
---
The entire community assembled as afternoon shadows lengthened across the drying ground. The settlement's less than 200 people formed a loose circle around the small trees, their faces showing their grief.
7 graves had been prepared, each positioned beside one of the saplings they'd carefully moved from the wild grove weeks earlier.
Maria stepped forwards, her voice carrying clearly across the gathered crowd. "We gather here to remember Tom, Ben, Jennifer, Michael, Rachel, Stephen, and Peter. They died protecting this settlement, protecting us."
She gestured towards the saplings, their branches stirring gently in the afternoon breeze. "These trees will grow as our community grows. Years from now, when they bear fruit and provide shade, we'll remember the people who gave their lives so that future could exist."
Sarah held Emma close as they lowered Tom's wrapped form into the earth beside his sapling. Other families did the same, their grief shared and somehow made bearable by the community's presence.
"This won't be something we forget any time soon," Maria concluded. "Their sacrifice reminds us why we fight to build something worth defending."
The ceremony was simple but profound. No lengthy speeches or elaborate rituals, just acknowledgment of loss and commitment to the future.
As earth filled the graves, people made silent promises about the world they would create.
Emma placed her small hand against Tom's tree. The sapling's leaves rustled overhead, and for a moment it seemed like the tree was acknowledging her touch.
---
With the burial complete, the settlement got back into their construction efforts with renewed purpose.
The 3 days that followed transformed their hastily erected defences into something that resembled proper fortifications.
The palisade rose along their northern perimeter, constructed from timber they'd stockpiled or scavenged from the old shelters.
Tree trunks and thick branches were fitted together to create a barrier roughly 3 metres high and 30cm thick, solid enough to stop charging wolves and tall enough to prevent them from simply leaping over.
Watchtowers rose at the northern, eastern, and western points of their defensive line, their elevated positions providing clear sight lines across the approaches to their settlement. The towers included basic shelters for guards and storage for arrows and spears.
Gate-like mechanisms were installed at the northeast and northwest positions, creating controlled access points that could be sealed quickly if threats approached.
The gates were reinforced with metal fittings that Robert had crafted, making them strong enough to withstand significant force.
The spiked stakes that had proven their worth during the wolf attack were expanded throughout the northern perimeter.
3 rows of sharpened wooden points, spaced at 2-3 metre intervals, created a maze that would slow and funnel attacking creatures into predetermined kill zones.
Near the bridge, the concentration of stakes increased dramatically. Close to 100 pointed obstacles transformed the southern approach into a bristling field of deterrents, forcing anyone approaching from the river to slow down.
AJ contributed by processing raw timber. Gates fit snugly in their frames, the towers joints locked together, and every stake was precisely shaped and sharpened with his help.
The fighters took their turns on patrol and guard duty. Victor led one patrol and Ethan the other while Lily coordinated between them from her position in the central watchtower.
The trainees who had survived the wolf attack resumed their training. David, Carl, and Elena pushed themselves harder than before, understanding that even a minor improvement could mean the difference between life and death for their friends, families, and themselves.
---
By the end of the third day, their settlement had been transformed. From above, the layout revealed itself as a strong defensive position.
The river flowed from east to west through the centre of their community with the wooden bridge that connected the two sides of their settlement.
The bridge remained unchanged from its original construction, but now it was protected by a gate and surrounded by the heaviest concentration of defensive spikes.
North of the river and to the western side, their new constructions dominated the landscape. The recently completed houses stood in neat rows, the medical centre occupied a central position among these buildings, its larger size causing it to stand out.
The central plaza served as the settlement's heart, where people gathered for meetings and where markets would eventually operate.
East of the plaza and still north of the river, the agricultural areas spread across fertile ground that had been cleared and prepared for expanded farming.
Neat rows of crops grew alongside experimental plots where they tested new seeds and growing techniques. The livestock pens housing their rabbits and buffalo occupied the northeastern area.
South of the river, the original temporary shelters stood mostly abandoned. Some had been converted to storage for materials and tools, but most were going to be dismantled for salvageable materials.
This area served as a buffer zone and would eventually be developed for workshops and other industrial activities.
The palisade wall enclosed the entire northern section of the settlement, creating a protected area that could shelter the entire population during attacks. The wall's construction was somewhat rushed but it would be improved upon in time.
Guard posts provided continuous observation of all approaches, while the watchtowers offered commanding views of the surrounding landscape.
Communication between positions was maintained through flag signals that allowed rapid coordination during emergencies.
---
Kate's eyes opened as the sun set on their third day of construction. The medical centre was quiet except for the soft sounds of Doctor Hayes organizing supplies in the adjacent room.
Consciousness returned slowly, her mind struggling to piece together fragments of memory. The storm, the wolves, David and Carl fighting beside her, then pain and darkness. She tried to sit up and immediately regretted the decision as her wounds ached.
"Hayes," she called weakly, her voice barely audible.
Footsteps approached quickly, and Doctor Hayes' face appeared in her field of vision, relief evident in her expression. "Kate. Thank goodness. How do you feel?"
"Like I was chewed up by a wolf," Kate replied, attempting a weak smile. "Which is pretty accurate I guess."
"Your wounds are healing well, but you need to stay in bed for several more days. The risk pf infection is still significant, and your body needs time to rebuild the blood you lost."
Kate nodded, understanding the seriousness in Doctor Hayes' tone. "David and Carl?"
"They're fine. They've been checking on you every few hours when they're not on patrol duty. They'll be relieved to know you're awake."
Through the medical centre's window, Kate could see the completed palisade wall rising against the blue sky. "We finished the fortifications."
"Three days of the hardest work this settlement has ever done," Doctor Hayes confirmed. "But yes, we're much better protected now than we were during the wolf attack."
Kate closed her eyes, exhaustion pulling her back towards sleep. "Good. That's good."
---
The hunting teams had began preparing for their first expedition since the wolf attack.
3 groups assembled near the northern gates, their equipment checked and rechecked while the sun painted the sky in shades of orange and red.
Ethan's team had been reduced by one member, Peter, who had died defending the eastern approach during the battle. The loss left them with 3 people instead of 4 him included, but their increased experience partially compensated for the reduced numbers.
Victor's group similarly mourned the absence of Rachel, an experienced hunter whose knowledge was very useful during their previous expedition. Her replacement was eager but inexperienced, requiring additional attention.
AJ's team remained at full strength, though the dynamic had changed with Kate's absence. David and Carl had requested to continue working together, their partnership during the wolf battle having forged a strong bond between the 2 young men.
"Primary objective is food," Maria announced to the assembled teams. "Secondary objective is more intelligence gathering about wolf movements and territory."
The teams would venture into different sectors of the surrounding area, mapping creature activity while hunting for game to supplement their food stores.
Their improved defences gave them confidence to range further from the settlement than they had dared before the fortifications were complete.
Lily would help coordinate the expedition from her position in the eastern watchtower, her elevated view allowing her to track each team's progress and maintain communication through signal systems they'd developed.
"We're not looking for fights, avoid conflict if possible," Victor said as they departed through the northeastern gate.
The late afternoon sun provided ample light for their expedition, the clear sky a welcome change after the entire day of rain.
Ethan's team headed up north where game was typically abundant. Within an hour, they'd successfully taken down two rabbits and a deer-like creature whose meat would feed several families.
"Clean kills," reported one of Ethan's team members, as they prepared the carcasses for transport. "No signs of wolf activity around here either."
Victor's group ventured towards the north east. They managed to capture several birds their quick reflexes making the swift creatures manageable prey.
"Movement patterns look normal," Victor observed, studying tracks in the damp earth. "These animals aren't behaving like they're under extra pressure from the wolves."
AJ's team explored the eastern sector. Their success proved the most significant—a large elk-like animal that would provide meat for many people, plus several smaller catches.
But it was during AJ's expedition that they discovered something that changed the nature of their mission entirely.
"There's something wrong here," David called out, pointing towards a cluster of boulders about 50 metres ahead. "Look at the ground around those rocks."
The earth surrounding the rock formation was torn and churned, as if a large amount of creature had been digging or passing by.
AJ moved closer to investigate, he picked up on traces of the same scent they'd encountered during the wolf attack.
But this was stronger, more concentrated, as if there were many wolves in the area.
"Cave entrance," AJ stated, his form shifting to peer into the darkness between the boulders. "Goes deeper than I can see, and the wolf scent is coming from inside."
Carl gripped his spear tighter, understanding the implications immediately. "A den?"
"Probably..." AJ replied.
"Do you guys remember this rock formation always being here?" David asked, "I'm pretty sure I've never seen it even though I've come by here a few times."
Carl studied the boulders with growing unease. "Now that you mention it... no. I hunted in this area just a few weeks ago with Tom. This wasn't here."
Elena nodded slowly, her face growing pale. "I gathered berries from those bushes over there last month. There were no rocks, no cave, nothing like this."
Alarm bells rang in AJ's mind as he processed their words. Rock formations didn't appear overnight. Caves didn't materialise from nothing.
"We're leaving," AJ commanded, his voice urgent. "Now. Back to the settlement immediately."