Chapter 8
Trap

“Like this, use a fishbone to make a hole, then weave it down into a row, then weave it together from the side, and finally fix it from the bottom to the top.”

“Oh, oh… I got it.”

“Do you really get it?”

Don’t look at me with that doubtful look. I got it! I got it!

Nagu held the soft grass rope that Hamoyin placed in her arms, and many large bird feathers were on her knees: “But what is this for?”

Nagu picked up the string of bird feathers that Hamoyin used for demonstration. The roots of the feathers were strung together with grass rope, and from the front, the feathers looked like reptile scales, tightly pressed into a board. Turning it over, you could see the grass rope used for fixing, all arranged in a ‘口’ shape due to the weaving method, with each feather firmly fixed on the grass rope net.

How to say, it’s like a fishing net… and one side of the net is filled with feathers.

“Is it for wearing?” Nagu touched the feathers. Fortunately, she used to knit sweaters and scarves. Hamoyin only said a few words, and she already remembered how to make this feather armor. And who would have thought this seemingly useless skill would come in handy! She would never say knitting is useless again.

“No, it’s for covering the roof.” Saying this, Hamoyin took out more feathers and grass ropes from a wooden box in the corner of the room and placed them by Nagu’s bedside. “We need to finish two layers before the rainy season.”

“Oh… can bird feathers alone block the rain?” Nagu asked like an idiot.

“This is for the top layer. Leaves will be laid underneath.” Because he received help, Hamoyin answered patiently. “The feathers prevent rainwater from directly hitting the leaves.”

“But won’t the rain still leak in?” These days, it had only rained lightly a few times in the rainforest, Hamoyin might be talking about preventing heavy rain during the rainy seasod, right?

“No.” Hamoyin pointed to the feathers on her lap. “As long as you don’t make a mistake.”

“…I won’t make a mistake.” Nagu was confident she wouldn’t mess up. “Don’t worry!”

Actually, there were a few more steps to make it rainproof, but Hamoyin was too lazy to explain them to Nagu, so he didn’t mention it. “Weave a few pieces for me to see.”

Nagu immediately grabbed the feathers and grass rope and quickly made three pieces under Hamoyin’s watchful eye. “Is this right?”

“Yes.” After checking, Hamoyin was relieved. He didn’t want to come back and see a large section woven incorrectly, which would require him to spend extra time undoing and redoing it. “Don’t make too many. Rest if you get tired.”

“Okay!” Although she hadn’t voiced her plan to stay, Nagu was happy to have a task. These past few days, she had been either lying in bed or lying in bed, with Hamoyin not talking to her, making her so bored she felt like she was growing mold. “Are you going out now? Where are you going?”

Why do you always ask where I’m going when I leave? What difference does it make if you know?

Hamoyin didn’t understand, but thinking that Nagu would help him weave the feathers he least wanted to weave, he decided to answer this time. “To set traps and catch fish.”

“Oh… go ahead, I’ll finish this.” Nagu, eager to impress, spoke in a fawning tone. “Don’t worry!”

“Okay.”
…
…

After Hamoyin left with his tools, Nagu energetically sat on the bed, battling with the feathers. This task was tens of thousands of times easier than killing a leopard. She just needed to poke a few holes at the base of the feathers with a fishbone, then weave them with the grass rope as Hamoyin had instructed.

In about half an hour, Nagu had already finished one row. She tidied up the feathers beside her and immediately started on the second row, determined to finish all the feathers before Hamoyin returned.

While working, Nagu gradually changed her plan. She decided to help Hamoyin with small tasks first, at least making him think she was somewhat useful. Then, she would ask if she could stay temporarily.
Following this step-by-step approach, it wouldn’t seem so abrupt. Of course, if Hamoyin refused her request, she would have to be prepared to face the dangers of the rainforest or wild animals again.

Damn, why do I have to go through all this? I really want a fizzy drink, a burger, and some fried chicken…

Although the fruit mush and meat soup Hamoyin fed her were quite tasty, once a person is away from junk food for too long…

Forget it. I can’t think about it anymore. Nagu swallowed her saliva, trying to focus on her work.

By the way, didn’t Hamoyin say he would catch fish? Does that mean we’ll have grilled fish or fish soup tonight?

Nagu naturally hoped for grilled fish because, since her injury, Hamoyin had only fed her bland, boiled food, and she was craving something more flavorful…

So, the entire afternoon, Nagu guessed what dinner would be while weaving feathers. Finally, as the sunlight coming through the skylight dimmed, she finished weaving all the feathers Hamoyin had left by her side.

Yes, well done.

Nagu held up her finished piece, satisfied, and looked it over several times. The piece she had made could cover most of a bed.

“…Haah.” Nagu put down the feathers and yawned. She wondered how long Hamoyin would take to catch fish and come back. Judging by the sky outside, it would be dark in an hour or two, so he should be back soon, right?

Feeling sleepy, Nagu leaned halfway on the bed, staring blankly at a spot in the room. After a while, her eyelids began to droop, but before they fully closed, she heard some murmuring sounds.

Hamoyin is back?

Nagu rubbed her eyes and sat up straight. But who was he talking to? With this thought, she perked up her ears and listened intently to the sounds outside the treehouse.

“Is it okay to go directly into his house to take it? The chief did say we shouldn’t get too close to that monster.”

“What does it matter? Since he doesn’t resist when we take the prey from his traps, going into the house should be fine, too.”

“I’m just worried that he might tell the chief. We can excuse taking prey from the traps as being taken by other wild animals, but going into the house…”

“Then you get lost and don’t follow me up the tree. When I take the furs and seeds, they’ll all be mine. You figure out how to explain to the chief at the end of the season.”

“No, wait for me. My foot is caught in the vines. Help me out.”

“Tch, pull harder…”

It’s not Hamoyin.

It’s… strangers talking! And they’re so close, climbing up the tree!

In an instant, all her sleepiness vanished. Nagu sat on the bed, panicking and looking around. Her heart was almost jumping out of her throat. From their conversation, it seemed they wanted to steal Hamoyin’s things. What should she do? Not to mention the theft, if those two found an escaped convict lying on Hamoyin’s bed, wouldn’t Hamoyin be in big trouble?

She had to hide, but where? There was nowhere to hide in Hamoyin’s small treehouse… Anyway, she had to move first.

With this thought, Nagu began to grimace and move her injured legs on the bed.