Chapter 96 — Catching the Sky
S.C. 1510 — Mid December
Hidden Island — Eastern Cliff
The sea breeze slapped Ren in the face like a salty morning greeting.
Ren stood beside the half-dug entrance of the future island chamber, tools neatly arranged in a row like well-behaved students:
mini pickaxe
chisel
spade-head
Meanwhile, Zemo was rolling around in a sunlit patch of grass like a creature with exactly zero responsibilities.
Ren wiped sweat from his brow and stared up at the open sky.
"Winter rains are coming… and we still don't have water storage."
Zemo paused mid-roll, blinked twice, then continued rolling.
Ren sighed.
The island was perfect—safe, hidden, untouched—but also completely dry.
No natural ponds.
No streams.
Not even a stubborn puddle.
If things got bad in Foosha Village…
If nobles tightened travel…
If Ren had to hide here…
He needed a water system.
Ren clapped his hands.
"Alright. Time to catch the sky."
Zemo barked in agreement… or encouragement… or because a crab pinched his tail. Hard to say.
---
Step 1 — Building the Frame
Ren dragged a wooden stake into position, knelt down, and sketched a rough plan in the sand:
Water Collection System
4 wooden poles
crossbeam frame
angled tarp like a slanted roof
funnel plank leading into clay jars
low visibility
Simple. Efficient. Not suspicious.
He grabbed a rounded stone and hammered the first stake into the ground.
THUD—THUD—THUD
Zemo sat beside him, supervising with great seriousness.
Ren hammered the second, third, and fourth stakes into the earth, forming a tidy square frame.
Zemo wagged his tail and sprinted circles around it.
Ren said, "It's not a playground."
Zemo climbed onto the corner stake like it was absolutely a playground.
Ren sighed.
"…Fine. Temporary playground."
---
Step 2 — The Tarp
Ren unfolded the waterproof tarp he'd prepared earlier—thick cloth coated with a thin layer of oil for smooth water flow.
He tied the tarp to the stakes:
back corners higher
front corners lower
angle sharp enough for rain to slide
He tested it by flicking water from his flask.
It slid perfectly.
Ren struck a proud pose.
"Yes. Physics."
Zemo walked under the tarp, sat in the shade like a tiny king, and looked smug.
"You love this thing, don't you?"
Zemo: Kingly stare.
---
Step 3 — Funnel System
Ren brought out the clay jars and set them beneath the tarp's lowest point.
Then he used his chisel to carve a smooth channel into a plank.
SCRRRK—SCRRKK—SCRRCK
Zemo flinched with every scrape.
Ren tied the plank to the tarp edge.
"When it rains, water runs down this slope… follows the groove… and drops right into the jars."
Zemo sniffed the plank, sniffed the jars, sniffed the tarp, then nodded wisely.
Ren grinned.
"You don't understand anything, do you?"
Zemo wagged his tail proudly.
---
Step 4 — Protecting the Water
Ren covered the jars with cloth lids tied with rope.
Then placed a wooden lid over the largest jar.
"Fresh water only. No bugs, no dirt."
Zemo stuck his nose under a cloth cover.
Ren pulled him back.
"No. Bad fox. This is for drinking. Not for sniffing."
Zemo made an offended huff.
---
Step 5 — Backup Basin
Ren walked behind the main system and started digging a shallow basin.
He used the spade-head tool:
SHNK—SCRAPE—THUMP
The soil was surprisingly moist.
"That's good. Means groundwater isn't far."
He lined the basin with smooth stones—a backup reservoir for heavy rains.
Zemo sat beside the basin and dipped a paw in the dirt.
Ren pointed sternly:
"Emergency water only. Don't drink it unless filtered."
Zemo blinked.
Ren sighed.
"That's a yes-you-will-drink-it-anyway face."
---
Step 6 — The Filter Bowl
Ren prepared a basic filter:
bottom layer: pebbles
then sand
then charcoal
then cloth
A makeshift filtration bowl.
He placed it beside the jars like a proud scientist.
"This is for emergencies. I hope we won't need it… but we probably will."
Zemo sniffed it and sneezed charcoal dust.
Ren patted his head.
"That's why."
---
A Quiet Moment
Ren finally sat down under the tarp—exhausted but satisfied.
Zemo curled at his side, warm and fluffy.
The sea breeze cooled Ren's face.
Waves whispered against the shore.
He looked at the collection system.
Not fancy. Not complicated. But functional.
Ren whispered:
"This island is really becoming ours."
Not a fortress.
Not a weapon factory.
Not a hero's hideout.
A home.
A base.
A quiet birthplace for the future.
He stroked Zemo's fur.
"One step at a time… just like this."
Zemo pressed closer, closing his eyes.
Ren looked at the sky again.
Soon, the rains would come.
And this island—his island—
would catch the sky.
---
End of Chapter 96