Chapter 42: Terra Spirits
"No, not like that." Arthur interrupted his brother, who was trying to tie the rope to the nail.
They were in the middle of the great forest, and it was already quite late at night.
Traveling at this time would be dangerous since several kinds of beasts leave their dens to hunt at night. There is a lake nearby as well, where they might come to drink water.
However, since water camouflages human scent, Aston decided to make the camp not so far away.
While Aston went to bring some firewood from the forest, he left the duty to set up the camp for his young ones.
"Oh, you know this?" Kevin asked as he handed the rope to his brother.
Arthur silently kneels beside the tent’s corner and grabs the taut guide rope. He slips the loop over the small metal nail driven firmly into the ground. With one smooth motion, he pulls the rope down and around the nail, making a clean half-hitch. Then he tucks the free end under the standing line and snugly pulls to lock it in place. The rope holds tight with no slack, and Arthur stands up, satisfied that the tent is secure.
Turning towards his brother, he said, "It’s not about how strongly you pull the knot, it’s about how firmly you can tie them up."
Kevin went ’Ooh~’ clearly admiring his brother’s skills when suddenly, the third male of the Stronghart family arrived, "Where did you even learn that?"
Arthur shrugged and presented the same lie as ever, "Books. They are beneficial, I tell you."
Aston chuckled, "Your mother is well educated too, but she couldn’t even tie shoelaces properly-"