章 57: Ranking

Deep in the night.

The sudden downpour was a symphony of chaos outside the grotto. Wind howled through the trees, whipping branches against the rock face with a rhythmic thrumming. Noah, startled awake by the change in weather, sat up in the darkness, goosebumps prickling his skin. The temperature had dipped considerably, and the wild boar fur, once a source of warmth, now felt damp and clammy.

His gaze darted towards the ceiling. Where moonlight had previously offered a sliver of illumination, there was now a steady stream of water cascading down. Panic surged through him. The grotto, his supposed haven, was leaking. He scrambled to his feet, the damp earth squelching beneath his boots. He needed a solution, and fast.