Chapter 826


    Three Squeaks was confident in his ability to dig up some food for himself, but without his cultivation he would have had quite some trouble finding any in the immediate area. The chopped down trees might not have been a problem on their own, but the underbrush was crushed as well, leaving the tastiest insects and other food morsels without anywhere good to live.


    To be honest, it wasnt even clear how the <em>beavers</em> were nning to live in theing years. Were they just going to travel ever further for food?


    He shook his head. Everything was messed up. They couldnt just leave things like this. After all, they hadnte here and made things better. At most, they were less bad, which was different. Three Squeaks hadnt really wanted to get into an all-out war with the beavers, but their gate guards had been hungry for violence. Maybe they should have just torn down a section of wall or something and avoided them but the whole point had been the <em>attempt</em> at diplomacy.


    He looked at the tiny form of Fearsome Mandibles being carried around by her sister. Her legs werent going to recover in just one night, no matter how much natural energy there was to eat in the nearby area. Speaking of natural energy, the bodies of the beavers were going to be wasted if they just left them around. The least they could do was help catalyze growth in the area theyd devastated.


    Taking a look through the former gate, the water build up was only half drained as the river flowed with great vigor. It had been more than a few days of buildup covering a wide area. Some water would have seeped into the ground so they wouldnt quite get back the total amount of water, but at least there was flow.


    Too many things to do Three Squeaks shook his head. I suppose we should get the lemurs involved. And any others around here. He could feel curious figures at the edge of the clearcutting. Meep, can you start digging somewhere that looks like a good ce to nt some trees? And find local seeds, if you can.


    The meerkat saluted. Yes sir. He began slowly shuffling about. Three Squeaks knew he could aplish the task, and even if it wasnt done quickly it would be done <em>well</em>.


    Half Oink, you can either help him dig, ore with me to talk to the lemurs.


    Ill stay here as long as youe get me before you go fight.


    Im not nning to fight anyone, Three Squeaks said. Not even the remaining beavers, if we can help it. Im fairly certain the majority of their warriors are dead. And a high portion of their poption in general.


    Bring me anyway, Half Oink said.


    ... Sure, Three Squeaks agreed. It would look more aggressive, but he also didnt want to risk being overwhelmed by enemies. He wasnt fully recovered in terms of wounds or natural energy after just half a day of sleep. Especially since the formerly forested area was dead.


    Despite the majority of her limbs being damaged, Fearsome Mandible still insisted on joining the conversation. We need to make the beavers work with everyone else instead of against them. Or get rid of them.


    Three Squeaks wasnt sure what he thought about that. They werent predators, but then again he didnt care if people were predatory creatures as long as they didnt hunt <em>other</em> sapients. And the beavers clearly didnt care for the harm they caused to others. Well see, Three Squeaks said. He understood the logic behind it. If this was their coalition, that was what they would have to do.


    He hadnt intended toe here and cause such change but he also knew that he wasnt nning to wander around and let people like that stay in power, regardless of whether or not they actually attacked first. The questions had all been leading up to a decision, and the beaver guard captain had just skipped the rest of the intervening steps.


    Along the way, he had to cross the river- but it was easy enough to leap across. It was only thirty meerkats wide. Ten meters, approximately. As it turned out, using natural energy to propel a small weight that far wasnt difficult at all.


    Hello there! Three Squeaks called out to the lemurs hiding in the trees ayer or two away from the border. We spoke to Big Howl yesterday. Is he here? Three Squeaks knew he was, but asking was polite.


    Here I am, the leader of the lemurs showed himself. I felt you had something to do with what happened over there. Im not sure quite what, but the river is flowing.


    Three Squeaks nodded. Yeah we busted down their gate blocking the flow of water. We could tear down the rest of the wall but that would just flood everything for a while.


    The beavers will not be happy about this, Big Howl frowned.


    Theyre definitely not happy. But they wouldnt havested long anyway, with their attitude, Three Squeaks said. We took down their leader, by the way.


    Which one? Big Howl asked.


    The one in Essence Collection. Hopefully he was the strongest? If there was another one, theyd have to try to draw them away.


    Collecting what?


    Ah its the stage of power just past me, Three Squeaks said. His momentary internal reflection showed him how much <em>more</em> true that was than usual. Hed begun this journey hoping to find an opportunity to break through, and already he was half a step across the line at the beginning.


    Oh. I thought I felt him battling but I didnt want to hope too much, the lemur leader said. It would be quite a relief to us if we could confirm his death.


    Well, I guess we could bring the body over. Kinda unpleasant, though. You coulde with us and see it, if you want. Oh, it would also be a good idea if you guys helped with the renting of the forest.


    ... renting?


    Well its not just going to grow back on its own! Three Squeaks eximed. Not in your lifetime, or your childrens, or their children. But with some love and care you might make that a lot faster.


    How do trees grow?


    From seeds, obviously, Three Squeaks said. Did they not know something so basic? Had <em>he</em> ever not known that? Hmm, there was a time, he supposed. Or at least, he hadnt really understood it. Ill tell you guys all about how it works.


    ... And we have to leave the trees?


    Three Squeaks spread his arms wide. Sorry, thats kind of required to build up future safety. Were not going to do all of it for you. I dont mind teaching you, though. Hed like to do it, even.


    Big Howl nodded. As the leader here, I should be the one to take the risk and go with you.


    Three Squeaks didnt think there was much risk though. What could eat them?


    Navigating the river was a bit difficult for Big Howl. He seemed able to swim, but he wasnt strong enough to simply leap across so they had to find a narrow enough spot.


    And as they were returning to the rest, Three Squeaks got an answer to his question. The cry of a hawk wasnt the first thing that gave it away to him, but it certainly helped. Though it caused Big Howl to freeze.


    It wasnt even that strong of a hawk. Just a big one, though Three Squeaks didnt know the type. And before it could even get close, he had shot it out of the air. It only had a bit of natural energy gathered from previous hunts, nothing of great enough quantity or control to matter.


    Big Howls eyes were always big, but Three Squeaks thought they might be actually about to pop out of his head. Your detached w is very powerful. No wonder you are unafraid of the things in the skies.


    Weapons are good, he said. And its mostly about control of natural energy. I could teach you this too, you know. At least the basics. The lemur had opposable thumbs and fingers, so it would be <em>way</em> easier for him to use a bow. Here we are, he said, gesturing to a wide hole being dug, which had a pile of torn up stumps nearby. ... Are you nning to bury them all in one ce, Meep?


    Yes, Meep said. Big pile will make big trees.


    I guess Ill trust you on that one.


    And mush rooms.


    Yeah, I figured, Three Squeaks nodded.


    It really is him, Big Howlmented. Ive only seen him from afar, but I can sense the lingering energy. And you intend to bury him?


    Yeah, eating other people who could think is not our idea of a good time, Three Squeaks said. So we bury them and let nts recycle their energy.


    Cycle it again. Yes, I see. It bes stronger.


    It does, actually. In the long term.


    It was a long day of digging, pulling out stubborn stumps, digging more, moving bodies, and filling in dirt. Even with the use of natural energy, there was only so much four bodies could perform- the two void ants could likely perform fine work very well, but they had no need of anything small scale. And Fearsome Mandibles had to be forced to rest instead of wandering around on broken legs.


    Where did you learn all of this? Big Howl asked.


    Anton, Three Squeaks said.


    Ive never heard of one of those.


    Hes a human. Anton is his name, though Im pretty sure humans should be new to you as well. Theyre kind of like you but without a tail, taller, they only walk upright, and they have weird feet. So mostly the hands thing I guess, Three Squeaks said. Anton helped our coalition form and grow strong. So now we want to help others.


    And youre not here to take our food?


    Thats the thing. We can grow it. Or the right stuff to get the good bugs, Three Squeaksmented. Were strong enough we dont have topete.


    Big Howl obviously thought it was weird, but he also seemed to trust the meerkat. Though perhaps that was because he didnt feel he had another choice.


    Oh, Im going to go talk to the remaining beavers tomorrow, I guess, Three Squeaks said. You should probablye.


    Beavers? You mean the tree munchers? Why talk to them at all?


    Because it would be better if you could work together.


    Big Howl shook his head. Even before recently, we didnt get along. They eat trees, we need to live in them.


    Sure, Three Squeaks said. I get that. But they know how to build stuff. And you have the hands to help. If you worked together to pick which trees to make grow more and which to use for other things, you could probably make some amazing stuff happen. Even this whole thing, he gestured towards the wall. Its a pool of water that could help you all in a drought. It was just too much. Way too much.


    Hmm, the lemur grunted. I dont like it.


    Well, it was the prerogative of leaders to be grumpy and old and unwilling to ept change. But hopefully this one was wise enough to at least consider it. You need to think about it, at least, Three Squeaks said. Maybe the rest of these beavers will be rotten too, but not everyone of a certain species is the same. Im sure youve found lemurs you didnt get along with.


    Big Howl nodded. Over there. Forests arent connected, now. That might be the only good thing.


    Same with us and lions. Weve had trouble with some of them, but were also friendly with others. Three Squeaks didnt mention that those cubs were from a tribe they killed. It was too much to get into. And one of my best friends is an eagle, if you would believe it. Youd be surprised how relieving it is to have someone in the skies watching out for you.


    Hmm. This is all very strange, Big Howl said.


    Yeah, youll get used to it eventually. Hey, did I talk to you about energy cultivation? Turns out you can get strong in ways beyond just eating things.


    And you can learn about swords! Half Oink butted in.


    Yeah I guess you could actually use a lot of different weapons, Three Squeaks said. Again with the whole hands thing. Very useful.


    We have big rocks.


    Sure. But have you considered sharp rocks? Or rocks on a long stick so you dont have to get down from your tree to get it back?


    Big Howl frowned. Intriguing. Continue.