Chapter 124: Where The Water Went
That was nearly a decade ago!
No wonder the ground was perpetually moist. Water had been draining into the land all this time.
Tera was disturbed. She didn’t know when they moved here, but the entire wolf pack had spent years rationing water from the rain while a perfectly good stream flowed uselessly beneath their feet.
"Take me to the pond."
Calis looked confused.
"Why? There is no water there—"
"I think I know why you have no water."
The murmuring that followed was sceptical, but after the meat fest, nobody laughed. Calis studied her for a long moment, then took her to the pond, which was roughly a four-minute walk away from where they were.
A few wolves followed behind, and when they arrived, Tera saw exactly what she expected.
The pond was a wide, shallow depression carved into the earth, bordered by exposed rock formations. It sat directly in the path of where the stream should have been flowing, essentially acting as a wide basin in the middle of the stream’s natural course.
And it was empty.
The stream and pond bed were mulchy and wet, but there was nothing in it.
"The water is here," Tera said. "It is flowing under the ground instead of over it."
Calis frowned. "Under?"
"Your stream is being swallowed underground before it reaches this pond." Tera straightened and pointed upstream. "Something is pulling the water down instead of letting it flow forward."
’System, I need to see that layout again.’
[Mapping subsurface features...]
The detailed map unfolded across her vision again, and she saw the sinkhole where the stream vanished underground, but there was something else in the cavern system that made Tera’s heart beat faster.
How could she have overlooked what the system had mentioned earlier? She had been too focused on the underground water stream that she had forgotten about the limestone!
Limestone formations lined the cavern walls and floor.
This was premium construction material she could use. There was no cement, but Tera could sure as hell use refined limestone as a binding agent!
’Oh my God...’
[Host?]
’Nothing. Hold on.’
Tera quickly focused on the issue at hand. The collapsed limestone shelf aside, the small cavern system led to another opening which was partially collapsed and clogged with rocks, more limestone, soil, and root debris.
It was located a considerable distance from the sinkhole but was much closer to the main dry stream bed.
If Tera could clear that exit, the underground water would have a path back to the surface. From there, a short artificial channel would connect the new exit point to the dried stream bed, and water would flow to the pond again.
Even better was the fact that the water flowing through was being naturally filtered through layer after layer of mineral rock. Whatever came out of that secondary exit would be cleaner and more mineral-rich than ordinary stream water.
These wolves would be drinking better water than her own clan.
Tera’s mind was already assembling the solution when the system interrupted her.
[This system has noticed that Host has already formulated a plan]
[(⊙_⊙)]
[Would Host like to share it with this system, or shall this system present its own recommendation first?]
’The cavern has a second exit that is blocked. Clearing the blockage works. Plus, I could have the wolves dig a short channel to connect it back to the main stream path. That way the water would continue the path it was supposed to take and get to the pond and beyond.’
[...]
[(꒪⌓꒪)]
[That is more effective than what this system was going to suggest]
’What were you going to suggest?’
[Something less efficient involving the sinkhole]
[Host’s solution is better]
[This system is... impressed]
[( -᷅ ⤙ -᷄ )=3]
Tera fought back a smirk.
[In light of Host’s initiative, this system has decided to formalise this as a task!]
[New Task!]
[Clear the Blocked Water Source!]
[Restore surface water flow to the Glimmer Pack’s territory by clearing the cavern exit and connecting it to the existing stream bed]
[Rewards: Construction +10, Influence +5, Nipples +50]
[Time Limit: 2 weeks]
[No Penalty]
Tera was stunned.
’You are giving me a task for something I was already going to do?!’
And what was this? No penalty?
Tera wanted to mention it out loud but decided not to let it change its mind and give her one.
[This system noticed Host was already planning this and decided to make it official!]
[(ᵕ—ᴗ—)]
’How many things have I done in the past that could have been tasks?! HOW MANY NIPPLES HAVE I MISSED OUT ON?!’
[Host has over 700 nipples!]
[Don’t be greedy now!]
[٩(๑`^´๑)۶]
[This is a rarity. Do not expect it too much, Host]
Two weeks was generous too, but Tera was intent on working those wolves to the bone to make sure water was available.
She loved her some fresh, clean water! No one was resting until she struck that gold.
Tera grumbled, and that was when she noticed the pointed stares from the wolves.
They had been watching her stare into empty space, and the looks on their faces suggested they were once again questioning her sanity. One even wondered why their alpha was humouring this strange female and her invisible distractions.
Calis was standing in front of her, looking just as baffled.
"What are you always looking at?"
"I am consulting with my mind."
The wolves exchanged glances.
"Your mind is in the air?" one asked.
Tera’s face twisted, and she felt embarrassed, hesitating before answering, "Yes."
They looked at each other again.
Calis’ jaw worked as he fought with his instinct to dismiss her. But she had known the details that no one else should know, and she had also prepared such delicious cooked meat that had reduced his entire clan to drooling pups.
He was not sure what to make of her strange behaviour and random ramblings but he wanted to see what sort of conclusion she was about to come up with.
"What did your mind tell you?"
The wolves nearly jumped out of their skin, heads jerking to their leader as he was actually paying attention to this female.
"Your water is not gone. Like I said, it is flowing underground because of a hole somewhere upstream. It is preventing water from passing here instead."
Tera pointed in the direction of the secondary opening. "You can’t see it from here, but it is a bit far. I have a solution—"
"How do you know the water is flowing underground?"
Tera huffed. It should be obvious with the mulchy soil.
"I told you. I know these things."
Tera could feel the scepticism radiating off the wolves behind Calis, but none of them said a word. The cooked meat had bought her enough credibility to at least be heard, even if they weren’t fully convinced.
Tera looked at Calis. "Look, I just need every male in your pack. You will have fresh water at the end of this."
Calis considered it for a brief second and turned to the wolves behind him.
"Call the others."
Tera’s body was giddy with excitement. This wolves better be grateful to her when she gets their water running. It would also help her clear the initial task so she can get back home to her family before returning for another quick project.
But she would have to keep an eye on Greymaw and Girruk. It was possible they would still have some bone to pick with her after this.
After all, back then, nothing Tera had ever done satisfied Kiri.
Tera hoped that wouldn’t be the case here.