Chapter 69 - Plan

Everyone swallows hard, their hands growing clammy.

_ Son: “ Do... Don't scare me like that, man! ” he said, trembling.

_ Kona: “ Dammit... When is this nightmare going to end? ” she said, curling into a ball.

_ Hazel: “ Wait. ”

Intrigued, Son and Kona look up.

_ Hazel: " Nothing is certain yet. It could very well be another animal. Otherwise, I don't see why Mr. Blaike wouldn't have said anything about it. "

_ Son: " Pfft, you really trust the old man? He ditched us out of the blue and left us stranded! "

_ Ayden: " No, I agree with Hazel. Besides, he seemed relatively calm when he talked about it. Even if he is strong, I doubt he could do anything against an animal like that. "

Sensing the palpable atmosphere, I continue, wanting to defuse the tension.

_ Ayden: " Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. "

_ Kona: " Yeah, well, you failed! "

_ Ayden: " … "

Despite the ongoing stress, a question is buzzing among the team.

_ Son: " By the way... how do you know all this, man? "

_ Ayden: " When we first met in the village cabin, there were some books on the shelf, and one of them was about the animal world. I borrowed it. "

_ Son: " Ohh, I see. "

I look at the horizon, my face neutral.

_ Ayden: " It doesn't matter who we run into anyway. "

_ Son: " Huh? Why's that? "

_ Ayden: " Predator or not, they all have one thing in common. "

_ Kona: " Which is? "

_ Ayden: " Their sense of smell. "

Everyone quickly grasps my intentions.

_ Ayden: " As you've guessed, if we can neutralize their sense of smell, we have a fighting chance. "

_ Son: " Alright, but how? "

_ Ayden: " That’s where you come in. "

My gaze shifts to another comrade.

_ Hazel: " Me? "

_ Ayden: " With your Source, can you conceal body odor? "

_ Hazel: " You want me to... soak the whole group in mud? "

_ Ayden: " Exactly. It won't neutralize their sense of smell, but at least they'll have a harder time tracking us down. "

After a brief moment of reflection, the person concerned stares at me.

_ Hazel: " Good point, but it's going to be more complex than you think. "

_ Ayden: " Why? "

_ Hazel: " I activate my Source from the ground, not from my body. What's more, only in small amounts. I don't have the ability to douse you instantly and in large quantities. "

_ Ayden: " So, the only way is for everyone to lie down on the ground within your activation field? "

_ Hazel: " Possibly. “

_ Kona: " Even so, it's not practical; it would take way too long to spread our whole bodies out. "

_ Son: " Exactly. The animals aren't just going to wait patiently for us to spread out before they devour us. "

_ Ayden: " Hmm. "

Following this glitch, an alternative solution comes to mind.

_ Ayden: " Let’s keep that idea in mind, though. If we know exactly when they’re arriving, at least we’ll be prepared. "

_ Hazel: " Count on me. "

Then I look away.

_ Ayden: " There is another problem. "

_ Son: " Again!? "

Intrigued, their eyes followed mine, trying to understand what I was seeing.

_ Ayden: " With Shailly on crutches, it’s going to be very difficult. She’s a real liability. "

My blunt words make an orphan wince.

_ Kona: “ How can you say that!? “

_ Ayden: “ Relax, I’m going to do everything I can to find a solution. “

With a frown, the twin doesn't press the matter further.

_ Kona: “ Okay, I trust you. Come on, let’s hurry now. I’m going to go get Kaya. “

_ Hazel: “ I’ll let the girls know and then I’m coming with you. “

They gradually move away, slowly disappearing from our sight.

_ Son: “ We should go too. “

_ Ayden: " Wait, I saw an interesting spot earlier. I'll only be a few seconds. "

_ Son: " Huh? Where are you going now?? " he said, following him nonetheless.

Having reached my destination, I catch sight of a parrot on the ground at the foot of a tree, not far from some harvested wood.

_ Ayden: “ So I did see a bird earlier. “

I look around and notice a bird's nest.

_ Ayden: " It probably fell from its nest. However, it’s not flying away, even though it doesn't look injured. “

I analyze it in depth.

_ Ayden: “ He barely has any feathers; is he still a baby? That’s astonishing, given his size. ”

Indeed, an adult parrot measures about 20 centimeters. Yet, this baby has already reached that size.

_ Son: “ Alright, I see him... What on earth is he doing? “