Chapter 202: Working The Soil

Tera was confused.

She had wanted them to eat first before even doing anything. She didn’t want them to slave away like this.

These wolves had spent hours huddled together in the pouring rain, using their bodies as shields for the cubs and the females. A lot of them had likely not slept at all, and now they were standing in a muddy field at dawn

Tera explained this to them, but to her shock, this motivated them even more. What even stunned her more were the elders approaching her.

"Give us the hoes," one of them said gruffly. "We are not too old to dig."

Another nodded. "We may not be fast, but we know how to work soil. Let us help the younger ones."

"If there is anything else you would suggest, we would appreciate it. We want to get this done properly."

Tera was baffled.

These were the same elders who had resisted every instruction she had given. Who had argued about washing animals, and who had grumbled about the farming concept itself.

Even as she caught a few sending scared glances towards Calis, who was just as surprised by their behaviour, Tera noticed that some of the elders also genuinely wanted to help.

[(..◜ᴗ◝..)]

[Pack Morale Boost Detected!]

[The wolves’ collective willingness to work despite exhaustion and adverse conditions has triggered a morale threshold!]

[Charm +2]

[Influence +3]

Tera blinked at the notification, bewildered.

’Why did my stats go up? I didn’t do anything.’

[Host told the wolves to rest and eat before working]

[(ᵕ—ᴗ—)]

[Host put their well-being before the task]

[The wolves are touched by Host’s consideration]

Tera’s chest tightened.

She was nearly moved to tears.

[Host’s eyes appear to be leaking]

[(꒪ᗜ꒪;)]

’What?! No!’

Tera composed herself and faced the wolves in front of her, waiting expectantly.

She didn’t trust her voice, so she simply started pulling the hoes from the system space and handing them out. The elders took them with firm grips and faint nods, and the younger wolves received theirs with an eagerness that bordered on competitive.

Calis had been watching the entire exchange, and he felt so proud of Tera. She was such a good female who knew how to handle responsibilities very well.

[Influence +1]

He stared at her fondly before composing himself and joining his wolves in taking a hoe.

Within minutes, the field was dotted with wolves carefully propping up plants, packing soil, and replanting seeds. They worked with a quiet focus that carried the memory of Tera’s previous instructions, spacing the mounds the way she had shown them, firming the soil around exposed roots with the gentle pressure she had demonstrated days ago.

They had listened. They had learned. And now, without her even needing to direct them, they were doing it right.

Calis stepped in a few times to help the wolves who were making mistakes, and Tera also worked alongside them. This was slightly different from creating the farm from scratch, so she showed them how to firm the soil around exposed roots without damaging them.

While this was happening, a few wolves were left behind to tend to the females and the cubs.

When the replanting was almost done, Tera came to the realisation that this wasn’t just going to be a simple farm, she was going to create something close to as greenhouse for it if it wasn’t going to be affected by another storm.

And while she helped the wolves, she was constantly thinking of the Dow clan and her family.

She made her way to Calis.

"Calis, I need you to supervise the rest of this. I need to see my—"

Calis’ eyes softened, and he nodded. "You need to go see your clan. I understand."

Tera smiled gently in return, nodding. She needed to check on them and see if they needed any help. She especially hoped they weren’t heavily affected. And they had the shelters to protect them, at least.

Tera turned back to make her exit when a voice stopped her.

"Leader Tera."

Greymaw was standing a few paces behind her, smiling pleasantly.

Tera was immediately disgusted by this. He never addressed her as leader, and why was the fool smiling?

He was likely just returning from tending to the females.

Tera’s eyes darted past him. Calis was occupied at the far end of the field, his back turned, deep in conversation with two younger wolves about the mound spacing.

Greymaw had approached her the moment Calis wasn’t nearby.

"What a relief you are here," the elder continued warmly. "The pack truly benefits from your guidance. Especially in times like this."

Tera stared at him. Her irritation increased.

Was he pleased by this? Was this old wolf actually happy that the storm had destroyed her work and affected the wolves?

"Such a shame about the farm." He shook his head with mock sympathy.

’Is he mocking me?’

[YES!]

[૮( `д´*)ა]

[This system wants to shove tiny prickled insects into his loincloth!]

[He will forever be plagued where the sun doesn’t shine!]

Tera frowned, and then she noticed Girruk standing a short distance away and glaring at Tera.

’For heaven’s sake, their pack had gone through a sad ordeal, and they were still taking time out of their day to hate her?’

She did not like these two.

If not for the storm, she would have suspected they had sabotaged her work. Even now, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the old wolf was not sympathising with her loss but celebrating it.

She wasn’t even going to waste her breath on this one.

Tera walked away, her skin crawling.

’When we return, I need you to keep an eye on those two for me. Always.’

[(;⌣̀_⌣́)]

[Yes, Host]

Tera needed to get rid of Greymaw and Girruk. As soon as she got the opportunity.

They were a festering wound in this pack, and every day they stayed was another day they could do something to sabotage her.

They could also harm her clan too.

Tera walked away, intending to check on the females before she left.

Behind Tera’s retreating back, Greymaw’s pleasant expression held for exactly as long as it took her to leave.

Then his disgust returned.