Quickly, as night fell, the three of them enjoyed bites of fish and morsels of lamb, their mouths dripping with oil.
There was also a pot of bone broth in the iron pot, and Shōgo was relishing it.
After finishing the roasted meat, they placed the excess fresh meat inside thorny bushes to air-dry it into jerky.
After a thought, Shōgo picked up two more pieces of fresh meat, constructed a wooden rack, and hung it over the fire to smoke.
Shōgo wanted to try making smoked jerky, although he wasn't sure if it would be successful.
Having eaten, drunk, and taken care of nature's calls, the three of them prepared to sleep. The day's journey alone was exhausting, and having all engaged in battle added to their fatigue. Their strength was nearly spent; they needed rest.
Taking advantage of the remaining time, they added more wood to the fire. Shōgo nestled in with his spear and drifted off to sleep.
Aware of the environment they were in, Shōgo, Nash, and Friedrick may have been asleep, but their sleep was light. The slightest rustle in the grass would wake them.
And so, to the crackling sounds of the fire, Shōgo relaxed his body and mind and drifted into slumber.
Around 2 AM, the camp was surrounded by rising and falling howls. The three woke up immediately, each gripping a weapon and peering into the darkness beyond the thorns.
The rising and falling calls made them tense, and a foul stench lingered in the air.
Sensing the smell, Friedrick immediately recognized the approaching animals.
"It's spotted hyenas. From the sound, it's likely a medium-sized pack."
"Are you sure they're hyenas?"
"Positive. That unique stench belongs to scavenging hyenas."
"They aren't here because they smell the meat and are after our fresh meat, are they?"
Shōgo thought of something and asked Nash.
"Where did you dispose of the antelope carcass bones we didn't need?"
"Near the campsite."
Okay, Nash's response clarified things for Shōgo.
These hyenas were undoubtedly drawn by the scent of the antelope carcass. The sound also indicated that their numbers were substantial.
"Now what do we do? Any way to drive them away?"
Shōgo posed the question, seeking Friedrick's experience to help them fend off the hyenas, quell their panic, and alleviate the fear that was beginning to rise within them.
"Stay close to the fire; don't leave. They'll likely leave before dawn."
Hearing this, Shōgo and Nash both let out relieved sighs. They realized that the fire was their savior.
At the same time, Shōgo and Nash glanced at the fire together, watching the flames burn fiercely and the abundant woodpile, easing their minds.
"Can the thorns around us withstand the hyenas?"
Before Shōgo could finish speaking, a hyena had already found a larger gap, its grotesque head attempting to slip through.
Without hesitation, Shōgo swung his spear, blinding the hyena's eyes with a swift motion. The pained animal quickly pulled back.
Nash had taken out a thicker piece of wood and blocked the gap.
This unexpected situation put all three on edge. While a single leopard or lion might not evoke such fear, a substantial pack of hyenas is an entirely different story.
Under certain conditions, teamwork could lead to additional worries and fears.
This was one such time. A pack of hyenas had three grown men nervous and jittery.
With their backs to the fire, each of them watched around the thorns. After enduring this ordeal for several hours, they finally welcomed dawn's first light.
As the hyenas dispersed,
The three of them truly breathed a sigh of relief. They all lay down, silent and taciturn, entering a light slumber in unison, conserving their energy.
Around 2:30 PM, they woke up, each sitting by the fire, roasting their portions of lamb.
Shōgo not only roasted the lamb but also prepared a pot of catfish soup, which he savored contentedly. After finishing, he handed the pot to Nash, who drank his fill before passing it to Friedrick.
Seeing that both of them were almost done, Shōgo voiced his thoughts.
"We've only been here for a few days this month, and we can't get a peaceful night's sleep. Let's think of a solution; our lack of sleep will drive us crazy."
"Indeed, it's scarier not to sleep than not to eat."
"Shōgo, do you have any ideas?"
Shōgo carefully worded his proposal, suggesting with a tone of suggestion.
"While the sun is still up for several hours, let's fortify the camp. We can also set up some simple traps. Traps won't only protect us from attacks at night, but they might also provide additional food sources. What do you think? By the way, I'm not familiar with setting traps."
When traps were mentioned, Friedrick's eyes lit up. Despite being stuffed, he eagerly exclaimed:
"Traps? I'm good at that. Leave it to me, brothers."
Hearing this, Nash was pleased too. If they had warning traps around the camp, they could sleep more soundly at night. Nash said:
"Friedrick, you're in charge of setting traps. Shōgo and I will reinforce the camp and gather more wood for fuel."
"Sounds good, brothers. I'm happy with this task. Let's start now."
With their plan set, the three quickly divided their tasks.
With Nash's assistance, Friedrick sharpened large and small wooden stakes and then dug a deep pit in the camp, inserting rows of pointed stakes and some thorns inside.
He also strategically placed thorny bushes around the camp, turning their makeshift site into something organized.
Meanwhile, Nash assisted Friedrick with the wood and then went farther away to gather more thorny bushes, reinforcing the camp and their makeshift shelter.
Shōgo had the easiest task, aimlessly collecting wood around the camp while keeping an eye out for anything usable.
Unfortunately, the African grasslands had nothing useful. Shōgo wasn't a botanist or a zoologist, so he didn't understand the functions of various things.
After collecting enough wood, Shōgo returned to the now safer camp, and along with Nash and Friedrick, they cooked jerky while watching the twilight sun's lingering glow.
They slept peacefully during the first half of the night, their spirits full and calm.
During the latter half of the night, the rising and falling howls returned. However, knowing about the traps and fortified thorn walls around the camp, they were somewhat reassured.
This time, the howls were far away, which contributed to their peace of mind.
After waiting for two hours and seeing no trouble, the three transitioned from standing to sitting by the fire, attentively sensing their surroundings.
Until dawn broke, the three had safely navigated through the pitch-black night. After exchanging a few words, they fell asleep with a sense of relief.
"Let's get some rest first and do other things when we're refreshed."
"Sleep, I'm so tired."
As for Shōgo, he didn't even say anything. He simply closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.
Feeling more at ease, he slept deeply this time, awakening only when the midday sunlight filtered in.