The morning sun crept above Willowshade's hills as Squad Four woke up to lend a hand. The village bustled: children clambered with coils of rope and villagers shouted directions over the clamor of hammering wood. Hilda and Lina drove spikes into a new palisade while Fendril and Jassa measured out tripwires through the woods. Liam breathed in the pine-scented air; it felt good to do something tangible, to build defenses that could save lives.
"Just like carpentry back home," Lina muttered cheerfully, hefting a bundle of rope. She grinned at the half-finished barricades. "Don't make me beat this wall into shape myself." Her laugh was bold, but Liam caught a flicker of worry in her eyes. Beneath their jokes, he felt the same tension.
Liam spotted the village carpenter, Gerrick, working on a log barrier by the blacksmith's forge. Gerrick's arms were corded with muscle and sweat beaded on his brow. He waved a fat hammer. "Liam, right? Sir Merek sent you? This place needs every hand. You ready to drive some nails?"
"Absolutely," Liam said, stepping forward. Together they hoisted the heavy log. Liam hammered nails into the wood as Gerrick steadied it. "We'll make this wall strong," Liam said, matching the man's rhythm. Gerrick beamed. "Aye, that we will. All of us together – more of us, more fire in our eyes, eh?" Liam felt the warmth of Gerrick's strength in each blow.
Nearby, Tomlin was juggling a coil of rope when a bright spark leapt from the barrel as he tugged it, a thin arc dancing across the wood. The children on a nearby scaffolding gasped and scurried away, startled. Tomlin yanked back his hand, staring at the sizzling rope.
"Lightning's being a brat today," Tomlin murmured, cheeks red. Lina clapped him on the shoulder. "Show-off. Planning to light our way with that electrical thumb?" she joked. Tomlin forced a laugh, but Liam saw the unease behind his eyes. He met Tomlin's gaze and gave a reassuring nod. Tomlin managed a small grin in return.
A shrill voice interrupted. Liam turned to see a little girl with straw-blond hair and patched knees, clutching a thick rope. "Here, mister! I made this trap to catch goblins," she said, dropping the rope into Liam's arms. "Papa says we gotta trip them up so they can't rush in."
Liam knelt and untangled the rope. "That's smart thinking, Mina," he said, reading her name embroidered on the apron. Together, Liam and Lina braided the end into a loop. Mina climbed onto Lina's back so Lina could tie the loop high on a stake. Liam secured the rope across the path by the old oak tree. "Good work," he praised. Mina's face lit up with pride and bravery.
Nearby, an elderly woman stirred a cooking pot over a small fire. Elda's gray braid swung down her back, and despite the lines of worry on her face she offered a gentle smile. "You look famished," she called, ladling barley-and-bacon stew into bowls. "Best have some of my cooking, or you won't have the muscle to hammer these stakes."
Liam accepted a bowl gratefully. The warm stew eased his tired muscles. "Thank you, Elda. We'll give Willowshade everything we've got," he said. Elda nodded and glanced at the stove. "Keep that fire safe," she warned with a wink. "One stray spark and—poof—cooked goblins, and I don't even have to lift a spoon."
They all laughed. Lina, ever practical, looped a spare rope around the smoke pole to secure it higher. "Good thinking," Liam said. Elda chuckled and tapped the pot. "Ha! If any goblin sticks a fork in my stew, he'll get more than a taste, I promise you that."
Even Tomlin dared a genuine grin as he balanced the bowl on his knee. Together with the villagers, Squad Four turned fear into action. They hammered stronger stakes into the ground, tied nets across barn doors, and wove rope webs through the fields. Each task done made Willowshade feel a bit safer.
By midday the barricades were solid and every trap set. Liam set down his hammer. Tomlin caught his eye. "Nothing's gonna touch Willowshade on my watch," Tomlin said firmly. Liam smiled back. "That's the spirit," he said. Side by side with their new friends, Squad Four hammered on — each strike echoing their resolve to stand together.