Chapter 75

By the afternoon, the settlement was unusually quiet. Occasionally, loud voices could be heard, but most of the time, there was silence. After Matriarch left, Cloudy stayed in front of the warm house, carefully considering new ventilation methods. Wah Ben continued to burn bricks with the other mothers, and everything progressed calmly and orderly.

Somewhat regretfully, Cloudy tried three ventilation methods - placing vents on the top, diagonally, and in a row of small, dense holes. Once the firewood in the wall started burning, a very unpleasant and dizzying smell filled the house.

"..." If only she knew how to install a ventilation fan. Cloudy sat outside on the ground, feeling dazed because of inhaling the fumes several times. She felt a pounding sensation in her head. Today, she had no other ideas for now. She could only rest well tonight and think of a new plan in the morning.

Let's start researching charcoal production today... Cloudy lay on the muddy ground, recalling the miraculous moment of charcoal production from the day before. It was taken out from the crevices of the wall, which was sealed with mud by Titus the day before. Does this mean a sealed environment is needed to produce charcoal?

As Cloudy thought, she played with the mud on the ground with her fingers. She was feeling a bit lazy after working intensively for several days... Besides, it was getting dark now. Cloudy squinted and looked into the distance. It was at that moment that a suffocating roar came from outside the settlement.

It was not just a wild animal's scream after an attack, but a deliberately rhythmic and urgent roar. Cloudy was startled when she heard it. She turned to look in the direction of the sound, but there was nothing unusual except for the noise.

She thought it was a way for the locals to communicate when they spotted prey, so she didn't pay much attention. It was only when Wah Ben and the other mothers rushed over, picked her up from the ground, and carried her on their shoulders that Cloudy realized the seriousness of the situation.

It wasn't a communication about prey; it was an alarm for imminent danger.

"Cloudy, Cloudy." Another mother, stronger than Wah Ben, was carrying Cloudy forward. "Infant, we need to catch ..." Compared to Wah Ben and Matriarch, she wasn't good at communicating with Cloudy, so she could barely make out what was being said next.

Infant, outside the settlement, escape, danger. She only managed to extract these key words from the urgent words of the mother, and then... she was unexpectedly left behind halfway. Due to the fast pace, Cloudy tumbled on the ground before coming to a stop. She coughed and spat out the dirt and ash she had inhaled. "So..."
"What should I do?!" she shouted loudly as she lay on the ground, watching as the figures of the mothers grew smaller and smaller.

The unmistakable direction the mothers were heading in was towards the longhouse, most likely to protect the newborns. But what about her? Cloudy got up from the ground and, without much thought, started running towards home. Along the way, she could see other locals rushing towards the cliff settlement, which led to the reservoir.

She quickly changed her course and followed the locals towards the cliff. As they sprinted towards the rock face, Cloudy felt like she was running for her life. "What's happening??" she gasped, grabbing a nearby local for information. However, the tall local paid her no mind, only gesturing urgently and pointing towards the wooden platform jutting out from the cliff above.

Two figures that looked like hunters approached, using both hands and feet to climb directly up the nearly ninety-degree rock face like lizards.

What on earth were they doing? Cloudy stood in awe as the two individuals ascended towards the stone platform on the cliff face. The tall local once again began directing the crowd gathered below the cliff, signaling for everyone to quickly and orderly start climbing the rock face.

Wait, are they really planning to climb up there as an emergency escape route? Oh no... Oh no!! Although she could climb trees, she had no experience in rock climbing! And... Cloudy's eyes widened as she looked up at the almost vertical hundred-meter-high rock face...

Amidst Cloudy's confusion, the mothers arrived with the newborns. The slightly older ones were clinging to the mothers' backs, wrapped in animal skins, while the ones who couldn't walk yet were securely fastened. The Matriarch led the way, urgently shouting at Cloudy who was still standing at the base of the rock face, "Get up there, Cloudy! Hurry up!"

"I can't go up there!!" Cloudy shouted back in distress. At this moment, it was evident that others were too preoccupied to pay attention to her. The mothers with children began climbing the rock face. "Can you carry me up? I'm not heavy," she pleaded, blocking the Matriarch's path. "Please have someone take me up."

Although the Matriarch was in a rush, she paused to instruct the tall hunter who had spoken to Cloudy earlier, "You, take Cloudy up." With that, the Matriarch leaped onto the rock face and started climbing upwards.

Cloudy was amazed at how the massive figure could effortlessly conquer the vertical rock face. As the instructed hunter gave her a quick pull and positioned her beside him, he urgently muttered, "Others... go up... quickly." While still directing those who hadn't yet attached themselves to the rock face, Cloudy could somewhat grasp the situation, realizing that those who hadn't climbed yet were being urged to do so.
Hands and guards, they must wait for all the mothers in the settlement to go up first before following behind.

At this time, looking up at the rock wall would be very spectacular, with most of the settlement's people hanging up there, all climbing towards the highest point.

What exactly happened? Cloudy looked up at the sky for a moment, then looked outside the settlement walls. Where is Titus? What happened to Titus and the others... Was that dangerous alarm from Titus and the others? What exactly happened?

Cloudy still remembered that in the morning, Titus left because a large number of animals appeared outside the settlement, and the hunters hurried out to hunt. Could it be that the large number of animals attracted even higher-level predatory animals? Thinking about this, Cloudy became even more anxious. What if something happened to Titus outside?

Just as Cloudy was worrying, there came a more piercing shout from outside the settlement walls, sounding closer than the last time. The shouting was louder and longer, as if it contained a message.

As it turned out, Cloudy's guess was correct. This time, the shouting from afar did indeed have a "message." Because she watched in horror as the hunters and guards who were preparing to climb the rock wall all rushed towards the outside of the settlement.

Leaving her alone at the base of the rock wall.

"Wait... Wait!!" Cloudy frantically paced in place, even turning to jump towards the rock wall, trying to climb up. Normally, Cloudy might have been able to climb up a few meters, but now she was scared by the inexplicable situation in the settlement. Everyone was climbing the rock wall as if they had seen a ghost, and she lacked the ability to climb a hundred-meter vertical rock...

The sound of breathing and heartbeat grew louder, mingling together like drums beating on her body. Cloudy tried to climb several times in a short period, but she kept falling down. Unlike trees and the settlement walls... if you can't climb up, you just can't. Cloudy stood up and reassessed the situation.

Something appeared outside the settlement, causing Titus and the others, who were out hunting, to sound the piercing alarm. Upon hearing the alarm, all the locals started to flee, and after the second alarm, the hunters and guards who had planned to climb the rock wall also ran towards the outside of the settlement. This proved that the meaning of the second alarm was definitely "we need help."

One, a huge and dangerous predatory animal appeared, which even strong hunters like Titus couldn't handle.

Two, an enemy ambush.

Cloudy felt there was an eighty percent chance of an enemy ambush. Considering that now is a time of scarcity for all settlements, others must have also noticed the sudden appearance of the animal group, leading to a conflict with Titus and the others... escalating to the point of attacking the settlement to seize resources.

Thinking this, Cloudy immediately started to prepare for action. For the locals, climbing up the rock wall is a very rapid and efficient way to seek refuge; even if foreign enemies discover them on the rock wall after entering the settlement, it would not be easy for them to attack. Cloudy...
Following the example of this escape method, in short, it's all about running away. If she calms down and looks for another place to hide, that would work too.

The first place Cloudy thought of was the fire cave, but if that place was discovered, there would be nowhere to escape... She moved in the opposite direction of the gate along the rock wall while pondering. The gate was to the due south, and if the enemy were to come in, they would likely come from that side. She could also try to find a way to climb out from the northern edge of the wall and hide in the rainforest.

"... " In any case, run. Cloudy, who now had an escape plan, instantly calmed down. Although she was still very worried about Titus, in this dangerous situation, the likelihood of Titus surviving was much higher than hers.

How could such a thing suddenly happen, whether it was a dangerous beast or enemies from other settlements, Cloudy hoped that the hunters who went out in the morning were safe and sound. The settlement could not afford any casualties... Gasping for breath, Cloudy quickly reached the northern edge of the wall, which was built next to the rock wall. There were many gaps between the wooden wall and the rock wall where she could use her hands and feet to climb easily.

Halfway up, using both hands and feet, Cloudy again heard angry roars coming from the end of the settlement gate, irregular and purely angry shouts, not just one person, but many... She dared not look back, climbed over the top of the wall with her head down, and when descending, because her feet kept slipping, she fell outside onto the muddy ground as usual.

Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, at this moment, Cloudy only saw the dense rainforest not far away. She quickly got up from the ground, adjusted her posture, and staggered towards the rainforest.