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Chapter 14: Shelter Among the Ruins
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1. Finding a Safe Spot
The ruins offered little comfort, but after hours of searching, Alex and Lila found a relatively intact building. Its roof sagged but held firm, and most of the walls still stood, offering protection from the wind.
"This'll do," Alex said, leaning his spear against the doorframe.
"It's better than sleeping out in the open," Lila agreed, though her tone was skeptical.
Inside, Alex cleared away debris, kicking aside broken wood and rusted metal. He found a corner free of rubble and laid out what little they had for supplies—his spear, the small amount of dried food left in his satchel, and the books he'd recovered earlier.
"We'll need a fire," Lila said, settling onto the floor with a wince as she adjusted her injured leg.
"I'll handle it," Alex replied. "Just rest for now."
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2. Gathering Resources
For Water:
The ruins had a central square, and in its middle stood a crumbling well. Alex approached cautiously, peering over the edge. The well seemed functional, though the pulley system was broken.
"Let's hope it's not dry," he muttered.
Activating Raise Lesser Undead, Alex summoned a skeletal creature from nearby remains—a small humanoid shape pieced together from shattered bones.
"You," he said, pointing to the creature. "Go down and see if there's water."
The undead minion clattered as it climbed into the well. Moments later, it returned with a faint sheen of water dripping from its fingers.
"There's something down there," Alex said, relief washing over him. He fashioned a makeshift bucket from a metal bowl he found in the ruins, lowering it with a piece of rope scavenged from a broken beam.
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For Food:
Food proved harder to find. The village was long abandoned, and anything edible had either rotted away or been picked clean by scavengers.
Alex searched the outskirts of the ruins, keeping his spear at the ready. He activated Inspect on a cluster of plants near the base of a collapsed wall.
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Wildroot Plant
Properties: Edible tuber commonly found in desolate areas. Can be eaten raw but tastes better when cooked.
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Alex pulled the roots free, bundling them into his satchel. On his way back, he spotted a cluster of berries growing along a fence.
Inspecting again, he frowned.
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Ashberry
Properties: Highly toxic if ingested.
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"Not those," he muttered, shaking his head and moving on.
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3. Preparing for the Night
Back at the camp, Alex and Lila worked to prepare a fire. Using broken wood from the ruins, they managed to get a small blaze going.
Alex placed the wildroots near the fire to cook, the smell of roasted tubers filling the air. "Not exactly a feast," he said, passing one to Lila, "but it'll keep us alive."
"It's better than nothing," she replied, taking a bite and wincing at the bitter taste.
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4. An Uneasy Night
As the fire crackled, Alex sat with his back against the wall, his spear within reach. Lila had fallen asleep, her head resting on a folded cloth.
Alex stared at the doorway, listening to the faint sounds of the night—the wind rustling through the ruins, the distant cry of an animal.
Then he felt it: the sensation of being watched.
He tightened his grip on his spear, his eyes scanning the shadows outside. For a moment, he thought he saw a figure—tall, skeletal, its faintly glowing eyes fixed on him. But when he blinked, it was gone.
"Just my imagination," he muttered, though his heart raced.