Side Story 2.2: Angeline's POV
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It's now the middle of fall, and almost two months have passed since August and Uncle Andy embarked on their journey to the outside world. I find myself wondering constantly—is he doing okay out there? I desperately hope Gus is safe. Despite their absence, our village has been thriving beyond our expectations, largely thanks to the invaluable knowledge August shared with us before his departure. His teachings have become the foundation of our survival.
Our hunters, Erik and Uncle Red, continue to excel at their craft, consistently bringing back fresh stocks of meat that keep our stores well-supplied. The western farmlands project has been progressing steadily as we prepare the soil for next year's planting season, anticipating August's return. For now, our current garden fields provide adequate sustenance, though we all look forward to the expanded growing capacity.
The guest house near the village entrance has been taking shape, albeit slowly. Without Gus's impressive strength for the heavy lifting, construction has crawled to a frustrating pace, but we're making steady progress nonetheless. I continue to oversee the garden fields with the invaluable assistance of Betty, Hiraya, and Adarna. Aunt Theresa maintains her own specialized plot where she cultivates rare medicinal herbs for her poultices and health potions—a skill that has proven increasingly valuable to our community's wellbeing.
Although our plant production has decreased somewhat without August's expertise, we're still producing enough to meet our needs. Our current focus centers on building up our winter food stock supplies, ensuring we'll have adequate provisions stored away for the harsh months ahead.
The Grimfang pup we rescued and adopted months ago—now named Rexy by Erik—has proven to be an extraordinary addition to our community. The bond between Erik and Rexy has grown so profound that they seem to communicate through pure instinct, sensing each other's thoughts and movements with uncanny precision. Erik has even begun riding Rexy during their hunting expeditions, and despite his fearsome appearance, Rexy remains a gentle giant who still seeks out belly rubs like any common pet.
Mister Aetherwing, August's guardian beast, maintains constant patrol routes around our territory, keeping us informed of any forest movements or potential threats. Thankfully, no new enemies have been spotted since those devastating bloodhounds that claimed Uncle Christopher's life while he was protecting me. That loss remains the single most heartbreaking event our village has endured, nearly bringing our progress to a complete halt. It's also the driving force behind Gus's decision to venture into the outside world. The loneliness of his absence weighs heavily on all of us.
Daddy has thrown himself into intensive training, taking Adam under his wing with strict discipline, teaching him the fundamental techniques of being an effective tank. Our newly consolidated team, formed from the remnants of teams one and two, now consists of Erik as our leader, myself, Betty, Bren, Adam, and Isabel. We drill relentlessly, focusing on combat techniques and teamwork coordination. However, we're acutely aware of a critical gap in our capabilities—we desperately need dedicated support members and healers to improve our survivability.
Hiraya and Adarna continue their studies under Aunt Theresa's expert guidance, and we're hopeful they'll soon be ready to join our active combat group. Meanwhile, Bren has formed his own remarkable bond with Kirpy, Mister Aetherwing's offspring. The young avian predator grows stronger alongside Bren, their complementary strengths and abilities making them a formidable partnership.
As our group's sole magic user in Gus's absence, Bren specializes in water elemental magic—which might explain his exceptional talent for locating water sources throughout our territory. Watching him and Kirpy combine their magical abilities in combat, particularly against the Boarats that provide our primary meat source, creates spectacular displays of swirling wind and cascading water elements. It makes me wonder what elemental affinities the rest of us might possess.
Despite the challenges and the ache of missing friends, our village continues to flourish. We're steadily preparing for the approaching winter season while maintaining hope for August's safe return. The fields are calling me back to work now—there's always something that needs tending.
Thanks for listening, everyone.