Chapter 104: Open Roof Policy
Yes, they all started screaming.
The moment the last cub was placed inside the nursery, a silence fell over the space that lasted exactly one and a half seconds before twelve newborn cubs opened their mouths and produced a sound so collectively horrifying that it scared the adults.
The wailing echoed off the reinforced walls Tera had been so proud of, and the layered silk-leaf ceiling that she had so carefully designed to withstand weather bounced the sound back inward, amplifying it until the nursery functioned less like a shelter and more like a drum filled with screaming.
[ALERT!] [ALERT!]
[Multiple distress signals detected!]
[(⊙_⊙)]
[This system did not know this many lungs could produce this much noise]
Tera froze with shock, watching her life’s work be rejected by creatures who couldn’t even hold up their own heads.
’What the fuck?!’
They hated it that much?!
The clan members rushed forward immediately, scooping up their babies and trying to soothe them, but the damage was done. The nursery had transformed from a peaceful cub den into a stone chamber of amplified wailing.
Xavi and Ermin appeared, carrying Nadia and Althea, both wearing identical expressions of alarm.
"What happened?" Xavi demanded over the noise.
"I don’t know!" Tera yelled back, snapping out of her shock and already moving toward the nearest cub.
But before she could reach him, the baby nearest the wall—a sturdy little badger cub with a face like an angry dumpling—did something that stopped Tera in her tracks.
She grabbed the wall.
Her tiny, chubby fingers, which should barely have been able to grip anything at all, hooked into the silk-leaf weave and ripped it open. A two-inch tear appeared in the wall, and the cub’s little arms flailed through it like it was trying to dig its way to freedom.
Tera’s jaw dropped.
[(っ º - º ς)]
’WTF?! SHE CAN’T EVEN CRAWL YET!’
[This cub has displayed impressive upper-body strength]
[And a clear preference for the outdoors]
[Please adjust design]
[(｡•́︿•̀｡)]
[This system anticipates Host’s frustration and would like to remind Host to take deep breaths—]
"Everyone, go out!" Tera shouted at them, scooping up the cub.
If they were that uncomfortable in here, they needed to be taken out.
The males and females were already filing out with their cubs, and Tera handed the one she was carrying to its father while the cries slowly subsided now that they were outside.
The screaming softened into sniffles and hiccups and the occasional disgruntled whimper.
Inside the nursery, it was suddenly very quiet.
And very empty.
And there was a baby-sized hole in the wall.
Tera looked at the clan members gathered outside. The excitement that had been buzzing through the group just minutes ago had completely evaporated. The males who had spent weeks building the nursery were staring at it with deflated looks.
’Oh no.’
[Clan morale has dropped significantly]
[(◞‸◟)]
[This system is detecting elevated stress and disappointment across the group]
Tera’s chest tightened. These beast folk had worked hard on this.
She walked back inside the empty nursery and looked around, trying to find where she could have gone wrong.
She was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice one of the older cubs tugging her leg.
It was the bear cub. He looked up at Tera with those big, serious eyes.
"It is too dark and squished in here."
Tera paused.
’Squished?’
[˙◠˙ ]
[Host has her priorities misplaced!]
She looked at the nursery again. The interior was actually dimmer than the other shelters since the walls had been layered considerably.
For adult beast folk who could see well in low light, this was fine. For newborn cubs who had spent their entire short lives in the bright, open air of the settlement, surrounded by trees and sky and sunlight, this would actually be a discomfort.
And there was the matter of fresh air...
Tera felt like a fool. The silk leaves allowed air to flow freely through it, so there hadn’t been a need for windows. But this place would be stuffy without one, and even though Tera knew that wasn’t the solution, she felt like an idiot for making such a rookie mistake.
’Damn it!’
But windows wouldn’t be enough. Tera needed the walls to stay thick, but also needed enough open space.
[What if Host made a see-through ceiling]
[With something transparent that would let light through while also keeping the rain out?]
[( ˘ω˘ )]
[Fu fu]
[This system is so smart]
’Does it LOOK like I have access to transparent materials?!’
’Do you see any glass lying around? A nice sheet of clear plastic maybe? Some conveniently placed crystal panels?!’
[This system was merely suggesting]
[(っ◞‸◟ c)]
’UGH! Sorry. But this is so frustrating...’
Tera stepped back outside.
The clan members were scattered around in various states of dejection.
Someone muttered, "Maybe... the cubs just prefer the outdoors."
Tera’s head snapped toward him.
The badger flinched, clearly not expecting anyone to have heard him. "I just meant—they stopped crying when they came out. Maybe cubs are not meant to be inside—"
"That’s it."
The badger blinked. "What?"
Tera pushed off the wall, her eyes wide. "That’s IT! They don’t need a see-through ceiling. They need NONE!"
Everyone looked surprised.
Tera suggested a detachable roof, gesturing as she explained it as detailed as possible. The ceiling would be exposed during the day so the cubs could see the sky and trees, and it would be covered when it rained.
The walls would stay reinforced. The floor would stay cushioned. But the top would be open to not only allow ventilation and light, but also let the cubs not feel so caged.
Tera noticed how the nursery sat in a spot where several massive trees formed a natural canopy above it. Even without a roof during the day, the cubs would be shielded from harsh direct sunlight by the overlapping branches and leaves.
It was perfect!
It wasn’t perfect. Reattaching a heavy roof every time it rained would be inconvenient, and it would need multiple hands. But it was functional.
The clan members were hesitant at first, but to Tera’s surprise, they agreed to do it.
[Clan member’s trust in Host has persuaded them]
The dismantling and reconstruction took another week, but the rebuilding went smoother than expected.
The roof was separated into large panels that could be lifted on and off the structure by two or three beast men working together. Tera designed a simple system of notches and grooves along the top of the walls where the panels could slot in snugly for rain protection and be removed during clear weather.
When it was finally done, Tera stood back and looked at the open-roofed nursery.
Sunlight streamed through the tree canopy above, casting gentle, shifting patterns of light and shadow across the cushioned floor. A breeze drifted through the open top, carrying the scent of leaves and earth.
It was beautiful.
And she had also added windows for the clan members to look in and check on the cubs before entering.
The first cub was placed on the soft floor. It blinked at the brightness above, its tiny head tilting back as its eyes found the swaying leaves of the canopy overhead.
It didn’t cry.
It stared, wide-eyed and utterly mesmerised, its small mouth falling open as a leaf detached from a branch above and drifted slowly downward.
The cub tracked the leaf’s descent with the focused intensity of a predator watching prey, its head moving in a slow arc until the leaf landed softly on the floor beside it.
The cub reached out, grabbed the leaf, and stuffed it in its mouth.
"No, no, no—" one of the females rushed to extract the leaf from the baby’s mouth.
More cubs were brought.
One particularly adventurous cub tried to grab a sunbeam, closing its fist around empty air and then staring at its hand with profound confusion when nothing was there.
[Cub 6 has attempted to capture light]
[Capture failed]
[Cub 6 is trying again]
[Still failing]
[Cub 6 does not learn from its mistakes]
[This cub may take after Host]
’HEY!’
The older cubs wandered in and immediately started pointing upward, chattering to the babies about the trees as if the newborns could understand a word they were saying.
"Look! That is a tree!"
"Those are leaves!"
The babies, predictably, did not care about the educational commentary. But the older cubs were so earnestly invested in narrating that nobody had the heart to stop them.
Puff Dumpling waddled in last, surveyed the room with the critical eye of someone inspecting a venue for a very important event, and then settled himself in a patch of sunlight near the centre. Three cubs immediately gravitated toward him, their tiny bodies drawn to his warmth and his ridiculous, fluffy presence. He chirped once and closed his eyes, apparently satisfied with the accommodations.
Within ten minutes, every cub in the nursery was either sleeping, cooing, or attempting to eat something they shouldn’t be eating.
Not a single one was crying.
[First task completed!]
[(ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ✧]
’OMG YES!’
Tera almost sat on the floor right there.
The clan members were beaming, and Tera was just as pleased. Xavi was watching her daughters and playing with them as they were both mesmerised by the light.
An arm snaked around Tera’s waist, and Ermin was at her side, plastering a kiss on her cheek.
"How are you so smart? This is wonderful."
Tera laughed, leaning against Ermin.
She was so glad this had worked. Nothing could spoil this moment.
[ᕙ( •̀ ᗜ •́ )ᕗ]
[Mission channel some water to the clan starts next, Host!]
’Why are you like this?!’