Beastmen: She Tames the Land-Chapter 80: A hole in their back door

"Priestess, Leaders, there’s something you need to see!" Cato’s body was full of nervous energy.

They had never seen him like this before. This wasn’t the Cato they knew. There must be something really wrong for him to come to them like this. Kaelen had only just joined the pack, and now there was an issue.

As they followed Cato, Kaelen didn’t say a word, making himself small so as not to interfere with what he didn’t understand.

He led them to the far side of the caldera, an area they had previously explored but that was densely packed with trees and overgrown bushes. They did not have a use for it at the present moment, so they had left the area to be dealt with at a later time.

He pushed through the overgrowth and pointed, "I was chasing a six-pointed deer, and it led me here."

There, hidden behind the colossal trunk of an ancient tree, a tree so big it would take more than twenty men to encircle, was a dark opening in the caldera. It was a natural pass wide enough for a group of people to walk through. There was a second entrance to the home, one they didn’t know existed.

The discovery of the hidden pass chilled the pack members to the bone. The joy of Kaelen being added to the group was washed away with the knowledge that their home was nothing more than a cage with a wide-open back door.

That night, the trio plus Kaelen held a meeting. They had Kaelen survey the pass. They needed to know what was on the other side.

"The path isn’t easy to travel from the outside, he reported. "It is steep and overgrown, but someone determined enough would be able to climb it, and they could come in unseen and unheard."

Xeno paced the room, frustrated, "We need to do something. We need to find trees or rocks. Fill it. We can’t allow anyone to find that place."

"How do we do that?" Uri’s voice was low and cold; an edge it didn’t normally have was edged into it. If we fill the pass with wood, they can ask their priest for fire. They will use it to burn us. If we fill it with stone, it won’t be long before they claw their way in. Even so, we do not have the numbers or the tools to do such a thing."

He was right, they may know a few things about building now, but they don’t have the kind of power necessary for this kind of large-scale building. They were a small pack with limited resources.

Visha stared ahead, taking in the conversation. She was trying to think of something that could help. Since they couldn’t use wood or stone, there must be something else she can use.

Her brain cycled through thoughts os her previous world. Skyscrapers that touched the sky, bridges that spanned rivers. They weren’t made from simple wood or stone.

Concrete!

The idea flashed in her mind, her eyes glittering with the thought of it. But where would she get concrete? How was it made? She knew of the concept, but it’s not like she studied it. She knew it was sand and stone, but what else?

She hit her head repeatedly, trying to remember what should be used. It wasn’t until she felt someone holding her hand that she realized they were all staring at her.

Her wide eyes looked at the three males in the room, looking at her.

"Why are you doing that? Doesn’t it hurt?" Xeno asked, eyes concerned.

"It doesn’t hurt." Visha smiled to reassure him, then she straightened up. "I was thinking of a way to make. Something more durable than wood or stone. I have seen it before," her eyes flitted to Uri and Xeno, hoping to convey to them that this method was from her world. "I am trying to remember how to make it."

"Even if we need to close the pass, you do not need to hurt yourself to do it." Uri’s eyes were gentle as he said it.

Visha pursed her lips and nodded. She really wanted to remember, but it would seem that knowing what it is tonight is out of the question.

None of them had any idea as to how to close the pass, and it was getting late. Visha suggested they go to sleep because tomorrow their minds would be fresh. Maybe she would be able to remember how to make it.

The trio offered to let Kaelen stay in their home. They would stay upstairs, and he would be downstairs. That way, he didn’t need to live outside as he had been doing. After solving the problem of the pass, they would need to think about building him a home.

The following morning, no one woke up in a good mood. The place they thought was a sanctuary had a gaping hole ready for anyone to march through. Everyone was standing in the square when Visha, Uri, Xeno and Kaelen arrived.

"We know your concern," Uri started. "We spent last night thinking of ways to block the pass. There is not much we can do. We are small and do not have the means to close it." His eyes scanned their faces. "If you have anything you need to say, please speak."

The square was silent. They were not sure how to solve the problem, so they didn’t respond.

"This is our new pack member. It is not an ideal time to say this. He was to be welcomed yesterday. But the timing is wrong. However, I hope everyone can welcome him warmly. His name is Kaelen." Uri gestured to Kaelen, who did a small bow.

For the rest of the day, the pack was silent. They did their due diligence, but something had shifted. It was no longer jovial. The gloom of a possible attack hung in the air.

Kaelen did a sky patrol, while Xeno led a ground patrol.

Uri and a few others went to check on the pass. They needed to know exactly what they were dealing with.

Visha paced in the square, her mind still on the idea of concrete. She knew sand and stone were used, but what else? She walked to a corner close to the warehouse. She had asked them to keep the wood ash since she wanted to use it as fertilizer.

It was supposed to be a project for them to undertake when they finished the houses. Chi kept saying she didn’t want to forage for her favourite berries all the time. Visha suggested she plant them at home.

That was when she remembered wood ash could be used for planting. She decided to keep it.

She placed her hand on the wood ash, wondering if it could be used.

She decided to give it a try. If nothing else, it would just be a failed idea.

If it works, they could close the pass.