Chapter 02 Meager Supplies

In the morning, Grub and Grill got up early. They were experienced in stealth and survival from their time on the farm's outskirts. They took it upon themselves to scout the nearby hills, checking the visibility of our chosen spot. To our relief, even knowing where to look, they found it nearly impossible to spot our hiding place. Our new home was well hidden from prying eyes.

Grub returned first, his face flashing a toothy smile.

 "It’s good, Hermit. We’re safe here, ain’t nobody gonna see us from the hills. We blend right in. This is a good spot, it is! We might be on to something here. Things are looking good for us."

Grill followed soon after, nodding in agreement.

 "Yeah, we did good pickin' this spot. Not even the sharp-eyed could see us down here. We just gotta be careful when we go out for food and water. Don’t leave tracks. If we do... well... things will be bad. We must be careful, always. Always!"

The rest of us gathered around, listening intently. Ears perked up, eager for any hint of safety. Pebble and Grit, the youngest hatchlings, clung to Snuggle, seeking comfort in their sibling’s embrace. Nibbles and Squirt exchanged hopeful glances, while Wiggly’s eyes darted nervously around, always alert for danger.

"I'm happy we are starting good but what is our plan for today?" I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.

Grub scratched his head, thinking.

 "You should rest for today, you hurt, a lot. You need to recover a bit." 

Grub continued after a short pause, "We need food and water, first off. But we gotta be careful. We can’t let anyone see us. Grill and me, we'll go out. Hermit, you stay here and keep everyone close. Make sure nobody makes too much noise or ventures off. Open plains are not as treacherous as the forest but tall grass is easy to get lost in. If hatchlings wander off, that will be it for them. Keep a good look on them."

Grill nodded.

 "We’ll find somethin’. Maybe even a bit of meat if we’re lucky. Keep your eyes peeled for danger, though. We will try looking for things by the edge of the forest. If we don’t come back by dark, stay put and wait for a full day before you try to find us."

The rest of us nodded solemnly. We knew the risks. The forest was filled with predators who would not spare us no matter how hard we begged for mercy. But we also knew we couldn’t survive without supplies.

Grub and Grill set off, moving like bugs through the underbrush. I took this opportunity to bury Kaka in a small clearing near our cave. The grave was empty and only marked with a simple stone, it wasn't much but at least I had a place to mourn my loss. I stood in silence, lost in my thoughts, before returning to my underground sanctuary.

Me and hatchlings huddled together in the cave, trying to keep warm and quiet. The stench of the sewage we had crawled through still clung to us, a grim reminder of our desperate escape.

Hours passed, and the silence was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant animal cries. Pebble and Grit fell asleep first, their tiny bodies curled up against Snuggle’s warmth. Nibbles and Squirt sat close together, their eyes drooping with exhaustion. Wiggly paced nervously, his ears twitching at every sound.

I kept watch at the cave entrance, straining my eyes and ears for any sign of Grub and Grill’s return. My heart pounded with fear and anticipation. Every rustle of leaves made me jump, expecting the worst.

Finally, just before the dark, I saw two familiar shapes emerging from the tall grass. Grub and Grill returned, Grub's arms full of scavenged food and Grill's meaty ears full of water. Relief washed over me, and I quickly helped them inside.

"We found some berries, a bit of mushroom, some tasty roots, and water," Grub whispered, passing out the supplies.

 "It ain’t much, but it’ll keep us going for a bit. But we must drink the water, we have no place to store it."

"Good work," I said, feeling a flicker of hope. 

"We’ll ration it out and make it last."

We all took turns sipping a mouthful of water from Grill's ear buckets until they were dry. As we ate, Grub and Grill told us more about their scouting trip. They had seen signs of wild animals in the distance but had managed to avoid detection. They also found a small stream not too far from our cave, a stable water source if we were careful.

"We gotta stay low," Grill warned.

 "No fires, no loud noises. If anyone finds us, we’re done for."

We all nodded in agreement. Our survival depended on staying hidden and moving cautiously. The memory of Kaka’s suffering and death drove us to be more vigilant, and more careful. 

Over the next few days, we worked tirelessly, digging into the earth with our hands until our nails bled and our fingers ached. The dirt caked our skin and filled our lungs, but we pressed on, driven by the desperate need to create a safe haven. We created a small cavern underground, just big enough for us to huddle together. 

Our efforts began to transform the small cave into a cozy living space. Each day brought a new task and new progress. We dug a storage room, securing it with rickety doors made from sticks and vines we scavenged from the forest. Grub and Grill, with their experience and resourcefulness, guided us in reinforcing the walls and ceilings with sturdy branches, ensuring our cave wouldn’t collapse.

We carved shelves into the dirt walls to hold the meager food and supplies we managed to gather from the surrounding area. Pebble and Grit worked tirelessly, their small hands surprisingly nimble as they wove baskets from grass and twigs to store our berries and roots. Nibbles and Squirt took on the task of organizing our tools, making sure everything was within reach.

Within a week, our humble cave had become a livable space, our new home away from the brutality of the breeding farm. We arranged a sleeping area with a makeshift bed of straw and leaves, creating a semblance of comfort in our underground refuge. Snuggle used some wildflowers to make the sleeping spots as cozy as possible, while Wiggly kept watch at the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning for any signs of danger.

Each night, we gathered in our cavern, sharing the day’s findings and planning for the next. The conversations were a mix of hopeful plans and grim reminders of our situation. Grub and Grill took turns scouting the edge of the forest for food, always returning with stories of close calls and narrow escapes.

"We’re gettin’ better at this. Found a whole patch of berries today, enough to last us a few days. In the morning we will try pushing a bit deeper into the forest. We took a sniff in the air and it smelled like there might be some goodies nearby but we did not dare to venture any further today," Grub said, his voice filled with cautious optimism.

Grill added, "Oh yes! Smelled like food. It did! We be careful and sneak around, trying to find what it is. But we should rest for now, I feel tired, barely draging my feet. Carrying all the water in my ear buckets did a number on me."

The next morning, Grub and Grill, with their keen eyes and nimble fingers, ventured to the edge of the forest, searching for anything that could aid our survival. They moved silently through the dense foliage, their senses alert to every sound and movement. Their eyes were sharp, scanning every inch of the ground and the surrounding foliage for anything that could be of use. 

Their search began to bear fruit as they stumbled upon a cluster of bushes heavy with berries, a rare find in these parts. They carefully picked the berries, ensuring to leave some behind so the bushes could continue to produce. They also found a patch of wild roots, which they dug up with their hands, the dirt caking their nails.

As they ventured further, Grub's sharp eyes caught sight of something unusual ahead. They approached cautiously, and their hearts began to race as they saw the ground littered with adventurers' belongings, it was clear that something terrible had happened here. 

The ground was covered in blood, dark and sticky, indicating a brutal fight had taken place. The air was thick with the scent of spilled blood, mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest. Shredded tents and ripped bedrolls were strewn about, their fabric fluttering in the light breeze. Weapons lay abandoned, swords and axes stained with blood, some broken, others still gleaming ominously, the signs of a fierce and hopeless battle. There were empty potion bottles and shattered vials, the remnants of desperate attempts at survival.

The bodies of the adventurers were nowhere to be seen, but the signs of their violent end were all too evident. Claw marks raked across the ground, deep gouges that spoke of a beast's ferocity. The trees bore the scars of the struggle, their bark stripped away and branches broken.

Scattered among the debris were leather pouches, some of which had spilled their contents - coins, dried meats, and small trinkets glinting in the sunlight. Grub picked up a silver amulet, its surface smeared with blood, inside a picture of a happy family. Grill found a partially filled waterskin, the liquid inside a potential lifesaver.