The first rays of sunlight filtered through the cracks in the cabin's wooden walls, casting a soft, golden glow over the room. Walter, who had taken the last watch, moved quietly among the sleeping forms of his companions.
He paused by the fireplace, where the embers of last night's fire still glowed faintly, and added a few pieces of wood to rekindle the flames. As the fire began to crackle and grow, he turned to the others.
"Rise and shine," Walter said calmly and soothingly. "It's morning. We've got work to do."
The group stirred, their movements sluggish as they shook off their grogginess. Ethan groaned, stretching his massive frame as he sat up. "Already?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Feels like I just closed my eyes."
Lily sat up, her hair dishevelled and her eyes barely open. "You're just getting old, Ethan," she teased.
Victor was already on his feet, his sharp eyes scanning the cabin. "We've got a lot to do today," he said. "Let's get organised."
The group gathered around the fire, their faces illuminated by the flickering flames. For breakfast, they shared a handful of berries Lily had gathered the previous day. The berries were tart and not particularly filling, but they were enough to take the edge off their hunger.
"We need to divide the work," Victor said once they had finished eating. "We can't afford to waste time. Sam, Walter, and AJ will stay here and work on the loot we've gathered. Test the scales, the meat, the plants—whatever you can. We need to know what we're dealing with and how to make use of it."
Sam nodded thoughtfully. "I'll start with the mana core and the minerals," he said. "If we can figure out how to extract the mana, it could be a game-changer."
Walter picked up one of the Ravager's claws, turning it over in his hands. "I'll see if I can fashion these into tools or weapons," he said. "They're sharp enough, but we'll need to find a way to attach them to handles."
AJ rippled slightly, his form shifting as if to indicate his readiness to help. "I'll assist where I can," his vibrations seemed to say.
Victor turned to Lily and Ethan. "You two are with me. We'll scout the area, look for a source of water, and gather more food and firewood. We can't stay here long if we don't have the basics covered."
Lily nodded, her expression serious. "We'll need to avoid drawing attention to ourselves."
Ethan grinned, his usual bravado returning. "If we run into trouble, we'll handle it," he said confidently. "We've taken down a Ravager. What's a few more monsters?"
Victor's expression remained grim. "Don't get cocky," he warned. "The forest is full of dangers we haven't even seen yet."
---
As Sam, Walter, and AJ set to work inside the cabin, Victor, Lily, and Ethan ventured out into the forest. The morning air was cool and crisp, and the sunlight filtered through the trees in dappled patterns.
The forest was alive with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves, but the group remained on edge, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger.
Their first priority was finding water. They moved cautiously through the trees, following the faint sound of what they thought might be running water.
After about an hour of searching, they stumbled upon a small stream, its clear water bubbling over smooth stones. Lily knelt by the water's edge, cupping some in her hands and taking a cautious sip. "It's clean," she said with relief. "We can use this."
Victor nodded thoughtfully. "We'll need to find a way to carry it back to the cabin," he said. "But for now, let's mark this spot and move on. We'll gather food and firewood."
The group spent the next few hours foraging for edible plants and berries, their movements careful and deliberate. Lily's sharp eyes and knowledge of the forest proved invaluable, and they soon had a small pile of roots, mushrooms, and berries to take back with them. Ethan, meanwhile, gathered firewood, his brute strength making quick work of the fallen branches and logs.
As they worked, Victor kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, his hand never far from his stone knife. The forest was quiet, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. "We've been out here long enough," he said finally. "Let's head back."
---
Back at the cabin, Sam, Walter, and AJ had been hard at work for several hours. Sam had set up a makeshift workstation on the table, where he carefully examined the mana core and the chunks of mineral they had collected.
The core pulsed faintly in his hands, its translucent surface shimmering with an otherworldly light. He turned it over and over, his brow furrowed in concentration, but no matter how he studied it, the core refused to yield its secrets.
"I can't figure it out," Sam muttered, more to himself than to the others. "I could be wrong, but the knowledge mentions that mana cores can be used to enhance abilities or create powerful tools, but it doesn't say how. I'd need to use force to crack it open, but…" He trailed off, his expression conflicted. "I don't want to risk destroying it. Not yet, anyway."
Walter, who was sitting nearby with one of the Ravager's claws in hand, looked up from his work. "Sometimes, patience is the best tool," he said calmly and measuredly. "If the core isn't ready to give up its secrets, maybe it's best to focus on what we can do for now."
Sam nodded, setting the core aside. "You're right," he said. "We've got other things to work on." He turned his attention to the pile of metallic scales they had harvested from the Ravager. The scales were tough and lightweight, their surfaces shimmering faintly in the firelight.
Sam picked one up, running his fingers along its edge. "These scales are incredible," he said. "If we can figure out how to shape them, they could make for excellent armour or tools."
Walter joined him at the table, examining the scales. "We don't have enough to make armour for everyone," he said thoughtfully. "But we could make bits and pieces—something to give us an edge in a fight."
AJ rippled slightly, his form shifting as if to indicate his agreement. He extended a tendril, mimicking the shape of a shield.
Sam's eyes lit up. "A shield," he said. "That's a great idea. Ethan's the strongest, and he's usually on the front lines. If we can make him one, it'll give him more protection in a fight."
Walter nodded. "We'll need to figure out how to shape the scales and attach them to a frame," he said. "But it's doable. We'll start on it when the others get back—we'll need their help getting the size and shape right."
With the shield project on hold for now, Sam turned his attention to the plants they had gathered. He spread them out on the table, his sharp eyes scanning each one. "The Nightshade Caps are our priority," he said. "If we can turn them into a healing salve, it'll give us a way to treat injuries in the field."
He began by crushing the mushrooms into a fine powder, using a smooth stone to grind them against the table. Once he had a small pile of dust, he added a few drops of water, mixing it into a thick paste. The paste had a faint, bluish glow, and Sam could feel the mana radiating from it. "This should work," he said with satisfaction.
Next, he turned to the Firethorn berries. The berries were toxic if eaten raw, but Sam was determined to find a way to make them useful.
He placed a handful of berries in a small pot he had found in the cabin, then filled it with water and set it over the fire to boil. The berries released a pungent smell as they cooked, and the water turned a deep, reddish-black. Sam stirred the mixture carefully, his expression focused.
Once the berries had boiled for a whilst, Sam set the pot aside to cool. The mixture would need to sit for several hours before he could test it, so he turned his attention to AJ.
"I've got an idea," he said excitedly. "If AJ can consume a Nightshade Cap and replicate it, we might be able to produce more of the salve without having to forage for more of those mushrooms."
AJ rippled in response, his form shifting as if to indicate his willingness to try. Sam handed him one of the Nightshade Caps, and AJ absorbed it into his body.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, AJ's form began to shift and ripple, his body glowing faintly as he worked to replicate the mushroom. It was a slow process, and Sam watched with bated breath as AJ's form pulsed and shimmered.
Close to an hour passed before AJ finally succeeded. His body rippled one last time, and a small, glowing Nightshade Cap emerged from his form. Sam picked it up, his eyes wide with excitement. "It worked," he said with awe. "This is incredible. You'll need more practice to master that ability, but this is already amazingly helpful."
---
As Victor, Lily, and Ethan returned with their haul, the group gathered around the fire to share their findings. "We found a stream," Victor said with satisfaction. "It's not far from here. We'll need to figure out a way to transport the water, but it's a start."
Sam held up the mana core, its faint glow illuminating his face. "I've made almost no progress with this," he said. "I think we might need to crack it open, but I don't want to take that risk since this is the only one we have right now." The group nodded in agreement. Even though they all wanted to use it to boost their strength, they knew they shouldn't be hasty.
Walter handed the makeshift dagger to Victor, who tested its weight in his hand. "It's not perfect," Walter said, "but it's better than nothing. We'll need to refine the process, but it's a start."
Walter then turned to Ethan. "We don't have enough scales to make everyone armour and we don't yet know how to. So we thought making you a shield would be the best thing to start with. We haven't made it yet as we'll need you to help with the shape and size."
"Sounds good to me." Ethan said enthusiastically.
Sam then reached for the Nightshade Cap that AJ had produced, holding it up for the group to see. "But this," he said excitedly, "is a real breakthrough. AJ managed to replicate a Nightshade Cap. If he can keep doing this, we'll have a steady supply of healing salve."
Lily's eyes widened as she leaned in for a closer look. "It's just like the real thing. Seems like our slimy friend is getting the hang of his abilities."
Ethan grinned. "Looks like the slime's finally pulling his weight," he said, giving AJ a playful nudge with his boot. AJ rippled in response, his form shifting as if to say, You're welcome.
Victor's expression was more measured, but there was a glint of approval in his eyes. "This is good," he said steadily. "A decent supply of healing salve could save us in critical situations."
Sam nodded. "You're right." He then picked up a small jar filled with the healing salve he had made earlier, its faint blue glow casting a soft light on his face. "And this," he said, holding it up, "is the first batch of salve. It should help heal minor injuries and at least prevent major ones from getting worse."
Ethan clapped Sam on the shoulder, his grin widening. "Keep it up, genius," he said. "If you can turn lizard scales into a shield and armour and slime into a mushroom factory, we might just survive after all."
The group each let out a small chuckle. They had faced danger and come out stronger, and the resources they had gathered—along with AJ finally getting the hang of his ability—gave them a glimmer of optimism for the future.
As the fire crackled and the shadows danced on the walls, their spirits lifted by the progress they'd made so far. The cabin felt almost cosy now, with the fire warming the room and the faint scent of pine filling the air.
However, an uneasiness began to creep in as night fell.
The walls seemed to shift ever so slightly, the wood groaning as if it were alive. The faint creaks and cracks were easy to dismiss as the natural settling of an old structure.
But there was something unnatural about the way the cabin shifted. It almost seemed to be breathing, its walls expanding and contracting like the ribs of some great beast. The air grew heavier, and the shadows deepened, stretching further than they should have.