The forest clearing bustled with newfound energy. For the first time since Riku had joined the group, the refugees moved with purpose. Tasks were no longer haphazard; each person had a role, and even the children carried water or gathered firewood.

  Riku stood in the center, sketching rough plans into the dirt with a stick. “We can’t stay here forever,” he said to Garin and a few others who had taken leadership roles. “This clearing is too exposed, and the resources nearby won’t last more than a week. We need a permanent settlement.”

  Garin frowned. “A permanent settlement takes time. We’ll be vulnerable.”

  “Not if we’re smart about it,” Riku countered. “First, we find a location near a water source with natural defenses. Then, we build shelters and basic fortifications. I have a few ideas for traps and barriers that’ll keep predators—and people—at bay.”

  “Water and defenses,” Garin repeated, nodding slowly. “I’ll send scouts to search for a suitable place.”

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  “No,” Riku said sharply, surprising the older man. “We’ll go together. This isn’t the kind of decision to leave to chance.”

  The next morning, a small group set out: Riku, Garin, Leira, and two others. They scouted the area for hours until they found what Riku was looking for—a narrow valley bordered by steep hills and dense forest. A slow-moving river wound through it, providing a reliable water source.

  “This is it,” Riku declared.

  Garin nodded. “It’s defensible, but it’ll take work to clear the land.”

  “That’s why we’ll start small,” Riku said. “Shelters first, then defenses. Once we’re secure, we expand.”

  ---

  Back at the clearing, Riku rallied the refugees. “We’ve found a place we can call home,” he announced. “It’ll be hard work, but if we do it together, we’ll survive—and thrive.”

  The group marched to the valley the next day. The work began immediately. Riku divided the people into teams:

  Builders gathered fallen logs and stone to construct simple lean-tos.

  Foragers scouted the area for food, marking sources of berries, mushrooms, and edible plants.

  Hunters set up snares and hunted small game.

  Guards kept watch for predators and other dangers.

  Riku worked alongside them, showing them how to lash branches together for stronger shelters and how to sharpen stones into effective tools. Despite his young appearance, his knowledge and confidence inspired trust.

  By the end of the first week, the group had constructed a small cluster of shelters, a basic palisade, and a few simple traps around the perimeter.