Night fell quickly. The three of them devoured fish and mutton, mouths dripping with grease.
In the iron pot, a simmering broth of bones had Haizaki Shogo eating with pure satisfaction.
After finishing the roast, they placed the remaining fresh meat inside the thorny fence, preparing it to dry into jerky.
Shogo picked up two more pieces of fresh meat, built a small wooden frame over the fire, and began smoking them.
Let's see if this smoked jerky experiment works… he thought.
After eating, drinking, and taking care of personal needs, they got ready for bed. Just walking all day was exhausting. Add a battle on top of that, and their energy was completely drained. They needed rest.
Before sleep, Shogo added more wood to the fire and lay down with his spear in hand.
All three understood the dangers surrounding them. Although they slept, it was light and cautious; any rustle or movement would wake them.
The fire crackled and popped—crackle, crackle—as Shogo relaxed his body and mind and drifted off.
Around 2 a.m., low wooo-ooo-ooo sounds rose around the camp. Instantly awake, each gripped their weapon, staring into the darkness beyond the thorny barricade.
The ominous noises, accompanied by a faint, foul stench, immediately set nerves on edge.
Falke, experienced in the wild, whispered,
"Hyenas. Judging by the sounds, it's a medium-sized pack."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. That distinct stench—only scavenging hyenas have it."
"Could they have smelled our fresh meat and come for it?"
Shogo thought for a moment and asked Nash,
"Where did you throw the gazelle carcasses we didn't want?"
"Nearby the camp."
Ah, that explained it. The hyenas were drawn by the scent of the leftover gazelle bones—and judging by the noise, there were quite a few of them.
"What now? Any way to drive them off?"
Shogo asked, seeking guidance from Falke's experience to calm their rising fear.
"Stay by the fire. Don't leave. They'll be gone by daylight."
Hearing this, Shogo and Nash exhaled quietly. The fire truly felt like a shield.
They both glanced at the roaring flames and abundant wood, relieved.
"Will the thorn barricade hold against hyenas?"
As soon as Shogo asked, one hyena found a larger gap, pushing its ugly head forward.
Without thinking, Shogo swung his spear, blinding the hyena in one strike. The hyena yelped in pain and recoiled.
Nash shoved a thick piece of wood into the gap, blocking it.
The small incident heightened their tension. A single leopard or lion would have been frightening but manageable.
A pack of hyenas, however, was a different matter. In certain conditions, teamwork among predators brings more trouble and fear.
Backed by the fire, the three men scanned the thorn barricade, enduring hours of tense anticipation until the first light of dawn.
When the hyena pack dispersed, they exhaled in unison, lying back silently, sharing a mutual, wordless understanding as they drifted into shallow sleep to restore their energy.
By 2:30 p.m., they awoke, each positioned on one side of the fire, roasting mutton.
Shogo didn't stop at roasting; he also brewed catfish soup, drinking deeply with satisfaction before passing the pot to Nash, who finished and handed it to Falke.
Once both had their fill, Shogo spoke,
"It's only been a few days this month, but we haven't had a peaceful night. If this continues, we'll break down. We need a plan."
"True. Sleepless nights are scarier than hunger," Nash said.
"Shogo, any ideas?"
Shogo considered carefully, suggesting,
"Since we have a few hours before sunset, we should reinforce the camp and set up some simple traps. Traps at night could prevent attacks and might even provide food. What do you think? I'm not skilled with traps myself."
Falke's eyes lit up, still full from the meal.
"Traps? I know how. Leave it to me, brothers."
Nash smiled inwardly. Early-warning traps around the camp would make sleeping at night far less stressful.
"Falke handles traps. Shogo and I will reinforce the camp and gather more wood for fuel."
"Sounds good. Let's start."
The three quickly divided tasks.
Falke, with Nash's help, sharpened large and small wooden stakes, dug trenches around the camp, and planted spiked sticks along with thorny branches.
Strategic thorn placements around the camp instantly made it feel secure.
Nash ventured further to collect additional thorny branches, reinforcing the perimeter and makeshift sunshades.
Shogo had it easy, collecting scattered wood while observing the surroundings for anything useful.
The African savanna offered little in terms of usable resources. Shogo was neither a botanist nor zoologist and couldn't discern the functions of plants or animals.
Once they had enough wood, they returned to the reinforced camp, cooking jerky while enjoying the last light of the setting sun.
The first half of the night passed with peaceful, deep sleep and full energy.
In the second half, low wooo-ooo sounds returned. But now, knowing traps and reinforced thorn walls stood between them and danger, they relaxed.
This time, the noises came from afar, allowing the three to sit by the fire, meditating and monitoring their surroundings.
By morning, they had safely endured the dark hours. One of them said,
"Let's sleep a bit more. Then we can handle other tasks."
"Sleep. Too tired," Nash agreed.
Shogo didn't even speak—he closed his eyes and drifted off deeply, finally feeling secure enough to sleep soundly.