Chapter 119: Settlement plan activated...

Anaria sat up slowly. Her leg was still wrapped. The salve had helped, and the serum had helped more. But she was not healed enough yet. She could not walk and stand for too long, so she doesn’t want to do anything stressful that might trigger the pains more or anything that might make her mates to start nagging her about recovery.

She looked at the settlement. The people were moving, the children were playing, and the elders were sitting outside their old shelters. The shelters were worn and needed repair.

She called on the system "Are you there?"

[Yes.]

"I want to start the task. The settlement well being task. I want to help them."

[You are injured. Physical labor is not advised.]

[Is host sure that she wants to start now?]

"I know. I cannot do the work myself. But I can direct and I can instruct. I just need to know what to do first."

The system was quiet for a moment.

[Since host is adamant about it...]

[Construction is the most needed. The elders’ shelters are the worst. Start there.]

Anaria nodded "Fine. Construction first. But I am not a builder. I do not know how to build."

[Construction knowledge is limited. Building equipment is not unlocked.]

"So what do I do?"

[You must use available resources]

Ananria looked around with a confusion face "What available resources???"

[Host, should use primitive methods]

[You can construct basic equipment with the help of the villagers.]

"Primitive methods?"

[Yes. Wood. Stone. Rope. These are available. You can direct the construction.]

She nodded slowly "Fine. Tell me what we need."

[First, you need a plan. Gather the villagers. Explain what you want to build. Ask for their help. They trust you, so definitely they will listen.]

Anaria looked at the people again "Then what?"

[Then you start with the shelter for the elders. It will not require complex tools. Just wood. Just labor. Just time.]

She took a breath "Fine. I will talk to them."

[One more thing.]

"What?"

[You cannot lift. You cannot carry. You cannot build. You can only speak and direct.]

[Host must take care of it’s health for the time being]

Anaria sighed "Don’t start with the nagging. I already told you that I will not do anything."

[Good.]

Then the system chimed away with any other word.

Anaria sat there for a moment, looking at her leg before turning her attention back to the settlement and the people. She was not a builder or a laborer. She was a healer. But she could plan, direct, and lead.

She called for Kenai.

He came quickly. He was always close "What is it?"

"Gather the villagers. I need to speak to them."

He looked at her "You are supposed to be resting not starting a council."

"I am already resting, I am just going to talk to them about that lost... That is all."

He did not look convinced, but he nodded anyways "I will get them."

He left.

Anaria sat there waiting. Her leg was still, but her mind was working. She was going to help these people, one way or another.

The villagers came slowly and gathered near the shelter where Anaria was staying. Some stood, some sat on the ground, and some held their children. They looked at her and waited.

Kenai stood beside her. Kai was nearby with Ana, while Rylan stood at the back, watching.

Anaria looked at them all before speaking "I want to help you."

The people looked at each other. One of them spoke. "You have already helped us. You saved Tiku and you healed us what more are we expecting from you our Settlement Angel."

Anaria shook her head "I am not an angel. I am just someone who wants to help."

She paused "Your shelters are old. Your elders live in places that leak when it rains. Your water is not clean. Your children play in the dirt."

The people were quiet.

"I cannot do the work myself. I am injured. But I can plan. I can direct. I can tell you what to do."

An old jaguar woman stepped forward "What do you want us to do?"

Anaria looked at her "First, we build better shelter for the elders. Then we find clean water. Then we make a place for the children to play."

The people murmured among themselves.

One of the men spoke "We do not have the tools."

Anaria nodded.

"I know. We can’t buy the tools now cause it would cost money, so we have to do this the old way. Wood. Stone. Rope. Our hands."

The man looked uncertain "That will take time."

"Yes. It will."

Another woman spoke "We do not know how."

Anaria looked at her.

"I will tell you. I will guide you. You just have to trust me."

The people were quiet.

Then the old tiger beastman stepped forward. He was the one who had spoken before, the one who had arranged the healer.

"We trust you."

He looked at the others.

"She went into the forest for one of our children. She risked her life. She risked her baby. If she says this is what we need, then we do it."

The people nodded, one by one, then all together.

Anaria let out a breath "Thank you."

She looked at Kenai.

"Can you help them organize? We need wood. Strong wood. And rope. And stone if they can find it."

Kenai nodded.

"I will handle it."

She looked at Kai.

"Can you keep Ana for a while? I need to focus."

Kai nodded.

"Of course."

She looked at Rylan. He was still standing at the back, watching. He did not speak, but he nodded.

Anaria turned back to the people.

"Then let us begin."

The people began to move.

Kenai organized them into groups. One group gathered wood, another group looked for stone, and a third group began clearing the ground near the elders’ shelters. They worked slowly at first. They did not know what they were doing, but Anaria directed them.

She sat on a low stool near the edge of the work area with her leg propped up. The salve had been applied, and the pain was quiet. She watched, pointed, and told them where to put things and what to bring.

Rylan stood nearby. He did not speak. He just watched her. She was not doing anything physical. She was just talking. He told himself that was fine, but his jaw was still tight.

Kai walked over with Ana in his arms. The baby was watching the work with wide eyes. She did not understand what was happening, but she was interested.

Kai spoke quietly.

"She is directing them like a general."

Rylan did not answer.

Kai looked at him.

"You are still worried."

"I am always worried."

Kai smiled a little.

"That is your job."

Rylan did not smile back.

Near the edge of the work area, Tiku appeared. He was holding a small stick and walked over to Anaria.

"What are you doing?"

She looked at him.

"We are building a better shelter for the elders."

He looked at the people working.

"Can I help?"

She smiled.

"You can help by bringing small sticks. For the fire later."

He nodded seriously.

"I can do that."

He ran off. Anaria watched him go before turning back to the workers.

She pointed to a pile of wood.

"Those need to be cut smaller. We need them for the frame."

Two beastmen nodded and got to work.

She pointed to another group.

"Those stones need to be stacked near the elders’ shelter. We will use them for the base."

They nodded and began to move.

The work continued through the afternoon. The people were slow. They made mistakes, but they listened, tried, asked questions, and Anaria answered.

By evening, the frame of the new shelter was starting to take shape. It was not much, just wooden posts and a stone base, but it was something.

The people stepped back and looked at it. They were tired, but they were smiling.

Anaria looked at the work and felt something she had not felt in days.

Useful.

The system chimed quietly.

[Task progress: Minimal. Work has begun. Continue directing.]

She dismissed the message.

Kenai walked over. He was dirty from helping with the wood.

"You should rest."

She looked at him.

"I am resting."

"You have been sitting here for hours."

"That is resting."

He sighed.

"The work will still be here tomorrow."

She looked at the shelter frame, then at the people.

"I know."

He held out his hand. She took it, and he helped her stand. Her leg protested, but she ignored it.

They walked back to their shelter. Kai followed with Ana, while Rylan came last.

The work was done for the day, but it had begun.

Anaria lay down on the bedding. Her leg was throbbing, but her heart was light.

She was helping. She was useful.

That was enough.