The 'very large' village did not just pass by the footprints discovered last time. The elders and grand champions held an emergency meeting and decided to prepare for the worst and strengthen security.
During the day, the warriors were divided into two groups and made to patrol the river and surrounding area, and at night, the villagers were not allowed to go outside the fence at all.
And the warriors watching the net from the watchtower repeatedly warned them to be vigilant and alert. After a long time, the 'Fast Deer' and the 'Stubborn Bear' teamed up to patrol the area around the footprints they had discovered last time.
And when they saw the Pequot warriors crossing the river in canoes, they immediately started running towards the village.
At that moment, they saw villagers working in the fields.
"The Pequots are coming! Everyone, get back to the village!"
"Hey… let's go into the village!"
Everyone looked shocked at the news they heard.
"The Pequots are coming?"
"Everyone stop working. Let's go back to the village."
"Pack your farm equipment."
"Everyone hurry up."
By the time they left the place, the 'swift deer' and the 'stubborn bear' had stopped running and turned around.
"I guess it's still a long way to cross the river?"
"It was far..."
As they paused to take a breather, the village women ran towards the fence and shouted at the warriors in the watchtower.
"The Pequots are coming!"
"Tell the village elders!"
The warriors in the watchtower urgently relayed the news to the villagers inside the fence.
"The Pequots are coming!"
"We need to evacuate the people outside inside."
"Open the entrance quickly!"
* * *
The 'very large' town was so busy that there was no time to hold a meeting in the town hall. The 'very large' town had no walls, but was strictly double-structured.
Extrinsic and intrinsic. When the news of the Pequot tribe's invasion reached him, the 'Brave Wolf' stepped forward and gave instructions to the villagers and warriors.
"Evacuate the children and the elderly to the inner city."
"Have the old men who know how to use the crossbow climb up to the watchtower and guard the inner castle."
"Warriors, fully armed and ready for battle."
The 'brave wolf' turned his head and asked the 'swift deer'.
"How many Pequots were there across the river?"
"At first glance, it looks like there are more than four hundred people."
If there were four hundred, it would almost be at the level of a war between tribes. Although he didn't show it on the outside, the 'brave wolf' couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Fortunately, there aren't many canoes, so it might take some time to cross the river."
"That means we have some time to prepare our defenses."
"yes."
"Okay. First, you evacuate the people."
"huh."
The 'fast-footed deer' ran towards the castle, calming the anxious villagers.
"Okay, don't cry! Nothing will happen. Stay with Grandma."
"No matter how many Pequots come, they won't be able to get past this fence. Everyone, don't worry."
Just then, the gate at the entrance to the enclosure closed and the 'cold tree' ran up to the 'brave wolf' and reported in the Lenape language he was just beginning to learn.
"People outside. They all came in. Salt fields. Mines. I haven't heard from them."
The 'Brave Wolf' nodded and gave instructions to the 'Cold Tree'.
"Please smoke right now."
"i get it."
'Cold Tree' ran to the beacon fire in the middle of the village and started to light a fire with the firewood the warriors had brought.
Watching the scene, the 'brave wolf' remembered what the chief had said.
'If you defend well within the fence, you can easily defeat an enemy of a hundred or a thousand.'
The 'brave wolf' bit his lips as he took those words to heart.
"Yes. Time is on our side. If we hold out as long as we can, the Pequots will have no choice but to fall, since they have no food."
Calming his anxious mind, the 'Brave Wolf' continued to shout at the busily moving warriors and the young women of the village with crossbows.
"Place auxiliary supports at the front and back doors."
"Increase the number of personnel in the watchtower as well."
"Place the young women at the west and south fences."
"Bring enough arrows on the wagon so that there are no shortages."
* * *
With only twenty canoes, the Pequot warriors crossed the river several times, back and forth. 'Strong' shouted at the warriors with a displeased expression.
"Why are we crossing the river so slowly? The Lenape know we're coming. Hurry up!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The Pequot warriors who crossed the river first were keeping a strict watch around the area under the command of 'Strong'.
After a while, when all the Pequot warriors had crossed the river, 'Strong' once again reminded them of their mission and purpose for this battle.
"······This is not slavery or pillaging. There is a new weapon in that village. We must capture the people who make it. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
We are finally ready to attack the Lenape village. 'Strong' shouted loudly to the warriors.
"Get in formation and move."
* * *
"You're late."
The 'Brave Wolf', who climbed up with the warriors on the auxiliary pedestal placed at the main gate, looked straight ahead with a cold gaze.
The outside of the fence was surrounded by traps set into wooden windows, except for the way leading to the main gate.
Two watchtowers on either side of the main gate had warriors on standby, ready to fire their arrows at a moment's notice.
It was the same with the other watchtowers. And the village women, armed with crossbows, stood ready to engage any enemy who came over the fence.
At that moment, the 'fast-footed deer' yawned long and bored.
"We came running here to die, but we came too early. Are you scared of us? Why aren't the Pequots coming?"
The warriors around him laughed at the joke of the 'swift deer' and said something one by one.
"Haha! That's right. He must be scared of us."
"Are you looking around to see if we're around?"
"But, what can we do? We're already all in."
As the battle approaches, the warriors begin to relax little by little. The 'brave wolf' also looked back with a small smile on his lips.
Black smoke continued to rise from the beacon tower. People in the mines and salt fields would have seen this smoke and evacuated to a safe place.
There are thirty people working outside. Most of them were warriors. As per their usual training, they would join the village through the back gate at night or during a lull in the fighting.
'Nothing should happen.'
There are currently about one hundred and twenty people capable of fighting the Pequot tribe, including young women.
If the Pequot tribe had been fought only with warriors, it would have been quite a difficult battle. The 'brave wolf' looked confident as he watched the village women waiting with their crossbows in hand.
At that moment, the warriors waiting in the watchtower shouted.
"Coming!"
"The Pequots are coming!"
The 'Brave Wolf' looked forward again and shouted loudly so that all the warriors inside the castle could hear.
"Prepare for battle!"
"Prepare for battle!"
As soon as that order was given, more than four hundred Pequot warriors began to swarm like ants toward the fence.
Adadadadadadadada! Adadadadadadadada!
All the warriors waiting at the main gate held the bows made by the chieftain and waited for the next command from the 'Brave Wolf'.
As the running Pequot warriors came within bow range, the 'brave wolf' shouted with a stern expression.
"Now! Rain arrows down on the Pequots!"
The warriors on the auxiliary pedestal and watchtower began shooting arrows simultaneously.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
* * *
Eww! Eww! Eww!
Warriors fell screaming, hit by arrows here and there. 'Strong', who was leading the warriors in the front, had a very bewildered expression on his face.
The bows the Lenape tribe had were not the bows he knew. The archery range has increased compared to before. The power was also considerable, so the warriors were suffering many casualties.
Phuuk! Phew! Phew! Phuuk phuuk!
"I got shot in the eye."
"Please save me."
"Ah! My leg!"
The morale of the warriors was dropping. I wanted to shoot an arrow and throw a spear to counterattack, but the distance was too far and I couldn't even reach the fence.
"shit!"
'Strong' glanced at the watchtower with a distorted expression and shouted at the warriors.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
At that command, the Pequot warriors began to fall back in a panic.
* * *
The warriors of the 'very big' village shouted in victory after easily defeating the Pequot warriors in the first battle.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
"Hahaha! You're running away so fast that your butt falls off."
"Come anytime! I'll kill you in one stroke with this bow."
"Are all the Pequots cowards? They can't even attack."
The 'Brave Wolf' also briefly enjoyed the victory and shouted to his warriors.
"The battle is only just beginning. Everyone, don't relax, regroup, and stand by."
"huh."
"Okay, brave wolf!"
The 'brave wolf' looked back and asked the young women waiting for support.
"I think I need to replenish my arrows. Bring me some arrows on the cart."
"huh."
The young women of the village ran to get the stockpile of arrows without saying a word.
* * *
The day was slowly ending and it was starting to get dark. With a stern expression, 'Strong' received reports from the warriors around him.
"···We lost fifty-two warriors in this attack."
"···There was a back door, but even there, Lenape warriors were standing guard with their eyes wide open."
Just then, the warriors who had gone to scout the other side of the fence came back with tired expressions and reported right away.
"···There were buildings taller than the fence on the west and east sides. And there were traps with wooden spears surrounding the fence. It didn't seem like it would be easy to attack."
"···hmm!"
After hearing the report, 'Strong Power's' expression darkened even more.
'I should have done a proper reconnaissance last time···'
The Lenape village they were about to conquer was better defended than they had expected. 'Strong', who had been deep in thought, shook his head and said.
"It wouldn't be easy to make a surprise attack at night."
"······."
The warriors around him seemed to agree with that opinion and remained silent. I kept thinking about how to conquer that village called 'Strong', but I was just frustrated and no good method came to mind.
"What would you like me to do?"
"······."
The Pequot warriors looked at each other, and then someone spoke cautiously.
"Great warrior! How about making a ladder and climbing over the fence?"
In that moment, 'Strong Power''s eyes grew wide and he smiled brightly.
"That's a very good strategy."
* * *
As day broke, the 'Forest Hunters' and their companions came out of the mobile hut one by one.
"Chief! Did you sleep well last night?"
From the morning, the 'hunter of the forest' greeted me.
"Yes, I slept well."
"I'm glad you slept well."
'Heavy Snowstorm' and one warrior woke up and started roasting meat for breakfast.
"Let me get some more firewood."
The 'Forest Hunter' ran out to get firewood to ease their hardship. At that moment, 'Big Mouth' and 'Wind and Cloud', who were praying to the gods and spirits in the mobile hut, rushed out.
"Chief! I think something bad is going to happen to our village."
'Big Mouth', who had already talked to 'Wind and Cloud', also spoke with a serious expression.
"The spirits are uneasy. I have a bad feeling about this, too."
"······."
In the past, I would have just ignored the sorcerers' words. But not now. I first sang 'The Hunter of the Forest'.
"Chief! I think we need to hurry to the village. There's a heavy snowstorm! Get ready to leave immediately."