Chapter 1793

The rain arrived before sunrise. It began as a gentle tapping against the wooden roofs, then gradually grew into a steady shower that washed the leaves, darkened the paths, and filled the little channels running between the cabins. Water dripped from the edges of the treehouses, and the forest beyond the village disappeared behind a soft curtain of mist.

Jude woke to the sound of rain and remained beneath his blanket for a few moments.

It was one of those mornings when the entire village seemed reluctant to wake up.

Then came a loud knock.

"Jude!"

He closed his eyes.

Another knock followed.

"Jude! Are you awake?"

He recognized Scarlet’s voice.

"Unfortunately," he answered.

The door opened slightly.

Scarlet peered inside. Her hair was untidy, and she was holding a wooden bowl.

"Good morning."

"It’s raining."

"I noticed."

"Then why are you standing outside?"

"Because I have a problem."

Jude sat up. "What happened?"

Scarlet lifted the bowl.

"Water."

He stared at it.

"Water?"

"Coming from the roof."

Jude looked toward the ceiling of his cabin. There was no leak.

"Your cabin?"

"No. The storehouse."

He sighed and reached for his clothes.

"Why are you carrying a bowl instead of telling Susan?"

"She’s already there. I came to get you."

"Couldn’t you have waited until after breakfast?"

Scarlet looked at him as though he had suggested something unreasonable.

"The vegetables are getting wet!"

"Then let’s go."

They stepped into the rain together. Scarlet held a broad leaf over her head, while Jude pulled his cloak around his shoulders. The path was already muddy, and small streams of water ran beside the cabins.

At the storehouse, Susan stood near the entrance with Natalie and Rose. Several baskets had been moved away from the wall, and a wooden container had been placed beneath a steady drip from the roof.

Susan looked up as Jude approached.

"Good. We need to fix this before the rain gets heavier."

"Is anything damaged?"

"Not yet. The water is only reaching the corner."

Natalie pointed toward the roof. "One of the wooden coverings has shifted. I think the wind loosened it last night."

Jude stepped inside and examined the ceiling. The storehouse had been built from thick timber, with a sloping roof covered by overlapping wooden panels and broad leaves. It had served them well for months, but the recent weather had begun exposing its weaknesses.

"We’ll need to replace that section," he said. "And perhaps extend the roof over the entrance."

Susan nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

Scarlet placed her bowl beneath the leak.

"There. Problem solved."

"Temporarily," Rose said.

"Temporary solutions are still solutions."

Jude examined the stored supplies. Most of the food was safe, but a few bundles of dried herbs had absorbed moisture.

"Let’s move these to the cabins until the repair is finished."

Natalie picked up two baskets.

"I’ll take these."

"I’ll help," Rose said.

Susan gathered the remaining bundles, while Scarlet insisted on carrying the largest basket despite its awkward shape.

Jude watched her struggle through the doorway.

"Are you sure you can manage that?"

"Of course."

The basket caught against the doorframe.

Scarlet stopped.

Jude waited.

She backed up, turned slightly, and tried again.

This time she made it through.

"See?"

"Very impressive."

"I know."

They carried the supplies to the cabins and stored them in dry places. By the time they returned, the rain had become heavier. The eastern farms were barely visible through the trees, and the small wooden bridge was shining with water.

Jude stood beneath the storehouse entrance and looked toward the sky.

"We won’t be repairing the roof from outside in this weather."

Susan folded her arms. "Then what do we do?"

"First, we move everything away from the walls. Then we’ll inspect the roof from inside and prepare the replacement pieces. When the rain stops, we can secure them."

Natalie glanced toward the vegetable garden.

"And the crops?"

"They’ll be fine for now. The drainage channels should carry most of the water away."

"Should," Scarlet repeated.

Jude looked at her.

"Don’t start."

She smiled.

They spent the next hour organizing the storehouse. The baskets were rearranged, the damp herbs were spread near a sheltered cooking fire, and the floor was cleared so that water could be collected before it reached the supplies.

When they finished, the storehouse looked almost empty.

Scarlet stood in the middle of it.

"It feels strange."

"What does?" Rose asked.

"Having so much space."

"Because we’ve moved everything."

"Perhaps we should make another room."

Susan gave her a warning look.

Scarlet immediately changed the subject.

"Is breakfast ready?"

Jude laughed.

The rain showed no sign of stopping, so everyone gathered at the central firepit for a late breakfast. The fire had been protected beneath its wooden canopy, and the cooking area was warm and dry.

Emma was preparing a thick porridge with pieces of sweet fruit. Grace had placed fresh bread beside the fire, and Sophie was pouring warm water into wooden cups.

Zoey and Lucy arrived together, both looking slightly damp.

"What happened to you?" Serena asked.

"The western path is flooded," Zoey explained.

"Not flooded," Lucy corrected. "Just very muddy."

"You slipped."

"I stepped into a puddle."

"You fell into it."

Lucy sat down. "The ground was deceptive."

Jude handed her a cup.

"Stay away from the western path until the rain stops."

Lucy nodded solemnly.

"I make no promises."

Rose laughed.

Breakfast continued with the sound of rain falling around them. They talked about the weather, the storehouse, and the work that would have to wait until the afternoon.

Layla had brought her journal and was making notes about the rainfall.

"I want to keep track of how much water we receive during each season," she explained. "It might help us understand which crops grow best at different times."

"That’s useful," Jude said.

"We could also mark the places where water gathers," Natalie added. "Some of the lower garden beds become too wet."

"Then we should improve the drainage there," Jude replied.

Layla wrote that down.