The new day greeted us with a sky of cloudless blue, the sunlight shimmering on the dew-laden leaves. The forest was slowly waking up, and I found myself drawn to the relaxing morning sky. As I followed the curving path, I saw Eamon, who had just come back from his early morning forage, with a basket full of wild fruits and herbs. This was something he rarely did as he normally went out hunting with the others. I decided it was a good time to discuss the location for the animal pen.

“Eamon,” I began, pulling him aside. “I wanted to talk about the animal pen I proposed to the council."

Eamon turned to me, his blue eyes bright with interest. "Yes, Tak, I've been meaning to ask you more about it. It's quite a thought, isn't it? A little different from the usual."

"I know," I acknowledged with a nod, "and that's why I need your input."

Eamon rubbed his stubbled chin thoughtfully. "You’re thinking near the river, aren't you?"

"You're right," I said, pointing towards the glittering watercourse. "Somewhere close to the river, but also a place where the animals can roam around."

Eamon contemplated the thought, his eyes following my pointing finger. "I see the sense in that. Water is a crucial resource, but we need to make sure the land is not too marshy, it might make it difficult for the animals."

"That’s what I thought," I confessed. "I was considering the high ground on the other side of the stream. It's a bit of a walk, but the soil is firm, and the trees are sparse. It will give them space to move around and not feel restricted."

Eamon mulled over my words, his brow creasing as he mentally measured the distances, and evaluated the terrain. After what felt like an eternity, he finally turned to me and nodded. "It's a good idea, Tak. A good compromise between the need for water and the need for freedom. The distance might be a bit more, but it will be worth it."

I felt a surge of relief. Eamon's approval mattered. His understanding of animals and how they moved was crucial for this project. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, people listened.

"Now all that’s left is to convince the rest of the tribe," I murmured, a hint of concern lacing my words.

Eamon clapped me on the shoulder, a small smile playing on his lips. "Don’t worry about that, Tak. They will see the wisdom in it. After all, it's for the good of the tribe."

And with that, he left me standing there, the early morning sun warming my face, and a renewed sense of purpose kindling in my heart.

Eamon's steps halted, and he turned back towards me, his brows knitted in a thoughtful frown. "Tak, you've spoken about capturing animals. Have you given any thought to what kind you're aiming for?"

I paused, my gaze drifting towards the vastness of the surrounding wilderness. "I have thought about it, yes," I said slowly. "Ideally, something that would provide more than just meat."

Eamon crossed his arms over his chest, his expression deepening with curiosity. "So, you're thinking about animals that give fur? Or those that have large horns we can use for crafting?"

I nodded, "Yes, both if possible. The first step, though, would be figuring out which animals would be easiest to domesticate. It's a new territory for us, and we don't want to take on more than we can handle."

Eamon’s gaze took on a contemplative look as he weighed my words. "Hmm, that’s sound thinking, Tak. Now that I consider it, the boars in this region seem relatively docile. They could be a good starting point. They’re hardy creatures, too, and could endure the changing seasons. Not to mention, they provide a good amount of meat."

His suggestion surprised me, but it made sense. Boars were common, and while I had considered them, I hadn't thought about their hardiness. I felt a surge of gratitude for Eamon's insight.

"What about the idea of domesticating animals for milk?" I asked, "Do you think that's feasible?"

"Well," Eamon began, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "All animals have milk no? There are those wild animals with small curved horns you call goats. They're nimble creatures, but they could be a good source of milk."

Our conversation felt like the kindling of a flame, an idea starting to burn brighter with each spoken word. Eamon's insights brought fresh perspectives, and I felt invigorated by the exchange.

"Thank you, Eamon," I said earnestly. "Your insights have given me more to consider."

Eamon nodded, "We’re all in this together, Tak. We'll figure this out as we always do – as a tribe."

I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of appreciation for Eamon and the tribe that we were part of. Their trust in me spurred my determination to see this through. Our conversation ended, leaving me with much to ponder as the sun rose higher, heralding the new day.

☽☽☽

"Liora!" I called out as I spotted her dragging a collection of logs behind her. "What are you doing? Weren't you supposed to be out foraging?"

She paused, brushing away a stray lock of hair that had escaped her braid, and turned to face me, a sheepish smile playing on her lips. "I was," she admitted, "But I felt bad about taking all your luck yesterday. So, I woke up early today and decided to help you out."

I was touched by her kindness. It was a sentiment so typical of Liora, always willing to lend a hand. I had always admired this about her - her ability to sense when someone needed help and her readiness to offer it.

"I...," I stammered, "I don't know what to say, Liora. You didn't have to."

Her smile widened, and her eyes sparkled with warmth. "Of course I had to, Tak. We look out for each other."

I nodded, a surge of gratitude swelling within me. "Thank you, Liora," I said sincerely. "Your kindness means more to me than you know."

She shrugged, the tips of her ears turning pink under my earnest gaze. "It's nothing, really," she insisted, but her voice held a note of pride.

We spent the rest of the day working on the logs Liora found, our conversation flowing as easily as the nearby river. There was a comforting rhythm to our work, punctuated by Liora's laughter and my grateful smiles. As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, I couldn't help but feel that today was a small victory towards our goal. And I had Liora to thank for it.

"But how exactly are we going to create a pen, Tak?" Liora's question hovered in the air between us, heavy with curiosity.

"Well," I began, raking a hand through my hair. "We could lay the logs in a circle, or a square perhaps. The important part is creating a secure perimeter." Using my hands I created the shape of a circle and square to get the point across better.

"And what about the spaces between the logs?" She asked, her eyebrows knotting together in confusion.

"That's the role of the vines, Liora. We'll weave them around and through the logs, binding them tightly together. There will be minimal gaps then."

As I explained, I used my hands to mimic the actions, forming a circle with my fingers and then interlacing them to mimic the function of the vines. Liora watched, her eyes narrowing in concentration.

"But," I added, "This won't be a one-person job. I'll need more hands to help. Would you...?"

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Before I could finish, she nodded eagerly, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Absolutely, Tak. We can gather others too. After all, we're all in this together, right?"

The sound of footsteps rustling through the underbrush interrupted us. I turned to find Joran, the tribal craftsman, approaching us. A smile creased his weathered face, his blue eyes warm and friendly under the brim of his straw hat.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation," he admitted, offering a sheepish smile. "The idea of building an animal pen - it's fascinating. It's different and exciting."

My eyebrows lifted, taken aback by his eagerness. "Really? I mean, we could certainly use the help."

He laughed, patting my shoulder reassuringly. "Of course, young Tak. After all, isn't it our collective knowledge and effort that keeps the tribe thriving?"

It was my turn to smile, touched by his willingness. "You're absolutely right, Joran. Thank you."

With his offer, our little project suddenly seemed a lot more achievable. The anticipation fluttered in my chest like a hummingbird, a sense of hope budding within me.

"Have you given any thought to how you're going to catch the animals?" Joran's question pulled me from my momentary reverie.

I turned to face him, a thoughtful expression on my face. "Yes," I admitted. "I've considered building traps that will capture the animals without hurting them."

Joran's brows furrowed in curiosity, a stark contrast against his tan complexion. "Traps? Like snares and nets?"

I nodded, gesturing with my hands as I explained further. "Yes, but not the kind that hurt them. A sort of cage, perhaps, with an entrance but no exit. We could use food as bait."

An appreciative look flickered across Joran's face, the corners of his mouth tugging upwards. "Interesting... never heard of this before. I wonder how it will work. We could definitely give it a try."

His agreement bolstered my confidence. The first steps towards this new approach were slowly falling into place. With each passing moment, the idea of creating a sustainable way of living was becoming more of a reality. For the first time in a long while, the future looked bright and promising.

"There's something else," I ventured after a moment, looking into Joran's attentive eyes. "The animals we choose to capture... they have to be right."

"Right how?" he asked, his expression showing both intrigue and confusion.

"Well," I started, thinking through my words carefully. "Some animals might be too dangerous or too hard to contain. We'd need something relatively peaceful, maybe smaller animals like deer or goats, if we can find any."

His gaze wandered for a moment, processing my words. "Huh... deer and goats, eh?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's a good thought, Tak. Those large creatures are better than wolves and the large beast with fur. We'll need to people scout around, and see what we can find."

I agreed, a feeling of relief washing over me. I wasn't sure how others would react to my ideas, but having someone like Joran and Eamon understand and support me was a huge relief.

"I'll round up a few of the lads," Joran said, giving me a firm pat on the shoulder. "We'll start planning how to make these traps and scout for animals tomorrow. It's going to be a long day."

"Thank you, Joran," I said, looking him in the eye. "For believing in this."

He shrugged, a soft smile on his lips. "Someone's got to push us forward, Tak. I'm glad it's you."

With that, he walked off, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I'm not sure when but Liora also disappeared from sight giving me a moment to really think about what was happening. My previous life experience gave me the knowledge needed to push our tribe forward. I just lacked most of the expertise to do it myself even if it seemed simple.

Day turned to days and days to a week as our little group tirelessly worked on building the pen. It was back-breaking work, and we encountered a plethora of problems.

The first hurdle was the sheer physicality of the task. Lifting and moving logs, binding them together with vines, securing them into the ground... it was exhausting work. But we toiled on, taking breaks only when our bodies threatened to give in.

One day, while we were trying to secure a particularly obstinate log, Joran sighed in exasperation. "We need something stronger to bind these logs," he said, panting heavily. "These vines... they're not strong enough."

"I've noticed," Eamon chimed in, wiping the sweat from his brow. "We need something that can withstand the pull and strain."

I racked my brain, trying to think of a solution. We'd been so sure that the vines would work, but the truth was proving otherwise. "What about... rawhide?" I suggested tentatively.

"Rawhide?" Joran questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," I said, gaining confidence. "It's tough, flexible... it might be stronger than the vines."

The men pondered my words, and after a few moments, Eamon nodded. "It's worth a try. I'll ask some of the hunters if they can spare some."

The days causally passed, and we gradually made progress. The pen began to take shape. It wasn't perfect, but it was ours. And more importantly, it showed people that we could innovate from our ideas. It was a tangible manifestation of our efforts to change, to adapt, and to survive.

Throughout this time, our conversations revolved around the project. Each problem we encountered sparked a new discussion, a new brainstorming session. The ideas flew back and forth, heated debates flared up, and resolutions were reached. It wasn't just the pen that was growing and taking shape - it was us, as a team, learning to work together towards a common goal.

Weeks passed, and the pen's form emerged more distinctly against the landscape each day. We built a space for the animals, spacious enough for them to move, yet secure enough to keep them from wandering too far. The once-arduous task of carrying logs became routine. We learned the best way to bind them with rawhide, figuring out a technique that ensured the tightest and most durable bind.

Still, we faced new challenges. As the structure took shape, it was clear we needed to consider shelter from the elements. One particularly warm afternoon, as the sun glared down on us, Joran looked at the pen thoughtfully.

"How do we keep the animals safe from storms?" he asked, shielding his eyes from the sun's intensity. "We need to think about a roof of some kind."

Liora, who had just arrived with fresh berries, chimed in, "Maybe we could weave branches together, cover them with leaves?"

"The leaves will dry and fall off, and the branches will crack over time," I countered, pondering the issue.

Silence fell over us as we all contemplated the problem. A solution came to me in a memory, a piece of wisdom passed down through generations. "Reeds," I finally said, my eyes lighting up.

"Reeds?" Joran questioned, just as he had when I first suggested rawhide.

"Yes," I said, excited now. "We can weave them into a thick mat and use them as roofing. They're light, sturdy, and can withstand heavy rain."

Eamon nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "That could work, but where do we find enough reeds?"

"There's a marshland downstream," I responded, my mind already racing with plans. "I've seen reeds growing there in abundance. We can collect them, dry them out, and weave them into mats."

The group murmured in agreement, the prospect of a solution breathing new life into our tired bodies. The air was thick with renewed energy, a collective understanding that every problem encountered was just another challenge to overcome. Through shared effort and constant communication, we were slowly but surely laying the foundation of a new way of life for our tribe.

After several weeks of collective toil and relentless problem-solving, the animal pen finally stood complete. An edifice born of innovative ideas, shared labor, and unwavering determination, it was a testament to our tribe's capacity for progress.

The pen stood tall and proud against the gentle backdrop of the river. Framed by the verdant lushness of the forest, it looked as though it had always been part of the landscape. Its walls were sturdy, built from fallen logs we had bound with strong, durable rawhide. They formed a spacious area where the animals could roam around in, a sense of freedom maintained within the boundaries.

At the top, a woven mat of reeds provided shelter. The greenish hue of the reeds contrasted beautifully with the darker wood, adding to the pen's charm. They were arranged meticulously, leaving no gaps for water or cold air to seep through, their resilience promising to weather storms and heat alike.

As we stood admiring our collective achievement, the tribe buzzed with joy. There were smiles all around, a sense of pride in every glance. Liora, who had been instrumental in gathering materials, looked at the pen with wide-eyed admiration. "It looks even better than I imagined," she declared, her voice full of awe.

Joran, who had questioned my ideas initially but later became an unwavering partner in the task, clapped my shoulder proudly. "I didn't think we could pull it off, but we did. And it's all thanks to you, Tak," he said with a grateful nod.

I laughed lightly, brushing off the sole credit. "It was a team effort. We all contributed to it. Without your help, we wouldn't have been able to make it."

Eamon, standing tall with his arms crossed, nodded approvingly. "We did well. Now, we just need to see if the animals will accept their new home."

The mood was jubilant, a well-deserved respite after weeks of hard work. Our shared accomplishment had strengthened our bond, cementing a sense of unity that I hoped would serve us well in the times to come. After all, the pen was just the beginning.

Turning to Eamon, I asked, "Have you managed to scout out any suitable animals?"

Eamon, a man of few words, nodded, his calm eyes reflecting the firelight. "Aye, we have. There are a few herds of deer that wander nearby. We've also seen some goats and wild boars in the forest."

His report intrigued me. "That's an excellent variety. Do you think we can manage to catch a few without causing them harm?"

Eamon took a moment to consider my question before responding. "It'll be challenging, but we can try. Perhaps we can start with the goats. They're smaller, more manageable."

Liora, who was listening in on our conversation, chimed in, her enthusiasm infectious. "That's a brilliant idea! If we can manage that, we can learn how to handle larger animals over time."

Joran, ever the practical thinker, voiced out his concerns. "We need to think about their food as well. We can't keep them without a proper plan to feed them."

"You're right, Joran," I acknowledged his valid point. "We need to consider a feeding plan. Maybe some of the plants we've started farming would serve as good fodder."

The conversation flowed as easily as the river, ebbing and flowing with ideas and concerns. Our excitement was tempered by the daunting tasks that lay ahead, but we were ready. The pen was the first significant step in the journey, a step towards a future brimming with potential.