As night fell and the villagers hurried to prepare hay beds to sleep on, Arjun too with his grandfather prepared bed to sleep.
Just as the villagers began to settle, the tranquility was shattered by the sound of running feet. Two boys burst into the cave, their faces pale, coming from the pen,
"Master bhima" one of them gasped, his voice tinged with panic. "Veer, Bhadra, and Tazri are out of control!"
The other boy, his breath coming in ragged gasps, added. "The other animals are becoming more aggressive too! We don't know what to do!"
Arjun's heart sank at the news. The animals' escalating aggression was troubling, He exchanged a worried glance with the other villagers around them, their faces etched with concern.
"Everyone, help with the other animals. Arjun you go handle Veer and Bhadra, remember to burn the sleeping grass if things get too out of hand" Bhima ordered.
A man with weathered skin, a testament to a life spent toiling under the sun, stepped forward. "We'll take care of the rest. Arjun go to those bulls—only you can calm them now, especially with brother Bhima unable to help."
As the villagers rushed to contain the rioting animals, Arjun sprinted toward the livestock pen, his steps quick "Let's go,"
The pens were located at the east end of the cave, where the defense walls met the mountain. This area housed the village's most prized animals: Tazri, the chief's majestic horse, her children, Veer and Bhadra, the village's strongest bulls, and Gajraj, a baby elephant the hunters had found orphaned near his dead mother.
At the pen, Arjun found his grandfather Bhima's disciple, Tej, already at work, struggling to calm the agitated animals. Tej was skilled, trained by Bhima himself, but even he seemed overwhelmed by the unprecedented situation.
"Tej,I came to help," Arjun called out. listening to the familiar voice, relief flickering across his face. "you go to veer and bhadra I will handle Tazri. Also make them take the sleeping herb—they are under the table over there."
"Okay" Arjun replied as he cautiously approached the bulls. Veer and Bhadra were massive, their muscular frames tense, their hooves pounding the ground with enough force to shake the earth. Arjun moved slowly, his voice soft and soothing.
"Hey now, my friends. It's me, Arjun." he coaxed, holding out a handful of the sleeping herb. "Here, have some of this tasty herb,".
"MMMOOO-khud" The bulls snorted, their eyes still wild, but they seemed to recognize Arjun's voice. He continued to speak gently, his tone a balm against their agitation.
Slowly, they began to calm, their heavy breaths easing as they nuzzled his hand. He gently stroked their heads, mixing the sleeping herb with the dry grass and having them eat it "it's okay now" until Veer and Bhadra began to settle.
Tazri, however, was still restless. Arjun and Tej worked together, burning a mixture of herbs known for their calming properties. Slowly, the horse's agitation diminished, and she began to respond to Tej's gentle commands.
With the larger animals under control, Arjun looked around the rest of the pens to see if there was anything else to take care of and of course there was, nothing was going right.
"Hey, where's Gajju, guys?" Arjun asked the other boys, "He's missing!".
The boys shocked, scattered, calling out for the baby elephant. "Gajraj! Where are you? Come out!"
Suddenly, a trumpeting cry pierced the air, Arjun spun around to see Gajraj charging from behind the water tank, charging towards the entrance in a frenzy.
Arjun's heart skipped a beat at the sight, the situation escalating with each passing moment. "Catch him quickly before he falls into a trap!" Arjun shouted, sprinting after the elephant.
The chase was frantic. Gajraj, despite his size was surprisingly fast, Arjun and the boys were finally able to corner him near the entrance, all four of them jumping on the baby elephant to hold him down.
" Haa You scared us you naughty boy" Arjun said, still panting from bringing the heavy elephant back to his pen. To which he only got a high-pitched squeal cry and swings of his trunk from the baby.
"YYOOUUU" Arjun angrily scolded the elephant but then softened his tone, but realizing the baby was just as scared and confused as the rest of them. He gently patted Gajraj, murmuring soothing words to calm him down.
After the animals finally listened, Arjun and Tej prepared a special feed mixed with herbs to induce sleep. They carefully distributed the feed to all the animals, ensuring that each one received a dose. The soothing effects of the herbs began to take hold, and soon, the pens grew quiet,
"Huff they sure know how to tire us out right, Tej"
"On that we agree with you, Arjun" the boys replied in unison, making them laugh at their connectivity.
Their chatting went on for some time in the night. Finally, with the animals settled and the cave quiet, The boys parted ways.
Arjun made his way to his hay bed. As he lay down, his body heavy with exhaustion, and stared up at the cave ceiling, soon he drifted off to sleep.
###
The next morning, the village chief, Dinesha and other important members, standing at the square of the clearing were discussing the situation of the villagers.
"The clearing is filled with the pens for animals, the kitchen, the medical hut that, the gathering square, and the storehouse all which are build and expaded. The living space that is left is only sufficient for approximately 60 people; the rest have to cramp in the cave. The living space is not sufficient and we still have people waiting at the village, We either have to increase the area the walls cover by destroying the old walls and building new ones or dig more space in the cave," reported a villager.
"I already knew overcrowding would happen. In the last few years, our village has increased in both the population of its people and livestock," said an Elder with a sigh, his upper half bare save for the pagadi on his head.
Another elder suggested, "Still, we ought to do something. Our people can manage with each other right now, but" — he stopped to get everyone's attention, and after confirming it was on him, he continued — "what if we have to stay here for long or come again in the near future? Or our children have to come in the far future? You know most people now are young and children are bound to born, By that time, our village would have again increased in the population of both people and livestock."
A younger villager asked, "What are we to do then? We can destroy the walls and increase the area, but what if the beasts attack at that time? We would have left a gate open for them to get in our home and eat our people behind our defense line."
"And if we try to dig and increase the cave, it's more labor-consuming and our tools would easily be destroyed in the process as they are not strong enough. After all this, the most important thing is that the chances of cave-in are high. We could lose lives before we even finish."
Chief Dinesh, till now listening to the people discussing, stayed still showing no expression on his face. Suddenly, cut into their discussion. "We have to do something. only grow if we ignore it."
He paused, gathering attention. "We need a plan that ensures safety and maximizes our resources. Here's what we will do:"
The crowd fell silent, all eyes on their chief.
Dinesh outlined his strategy, "First, we will survey the cave to understand its structure and avoid any collapse. We'll use charcoal to mark safe areas and rely on our eyes and hands to measure. Then, we will divide our people into shifts. Each shift will work for a few hours, ensuring that no one gets too tired and our progress is continuous."
He continued, "For the walls outside, we can wait until the beasts are least active. But inside the cave, we can start immediately."
"We will focus on soft rock and soil first, using wedges and wooden tools to split and remove them. For the harder rock, we will use fire to heat it and then water to cool it, making it easier to crack. Also, we are to use wooden beams to support newly dug sections of the cave to prevent any collapse."
A murmur of agreement spread through the crowd. The chief's plan was practical and within their means.
"the cave had to be well-ventilated and lit, or we would die from the smoke and dust build ups " he added. "We will create boards that we can fan to bringing fresh air as we dig, and use torches and oil lamps to light our way."
"And for debris, They can be used to layer on the wall, and larger pieces can be used in the barricades to form a second barrier outside the walls."
"If we get suitable pieces of rock, send them to the stone Smith,They can be turned into tools, it can increase our combat power"
He looked at the gathered villagers. "This will be hard work, but it is necessary for our survival. We will do it together, for our and our children's future."
"For our and our children's future,"
"For our and our children's future," the villagers echoed, their morale boosted.
****-----
The villagers gathered inside the cave, their torches casting flickering shadows on the rough, uneven walls. The air was thick with the smell of earth and sweat. The cave, stretching 30 meters from the entrance to the end, 20 meters in width, and 14 meters in height, was both a sanctuary and a challenge.
Despite its size, the cave was crowded. Mats and hay beds with a cloth on it to not irritate the skin were spread out on the floor for sleeping, and makeshift partitions had been erected to provide some semblance of privacy for both women and men. The sound of murmured conversations and the occasional cry of a child filled the air, blending with the rhythmic clinking of tools against stone.
At the far end of the cave, a group of villagers were hard at work. They had divided into shifts, as the chief had instructed, their hands steady as they outlined areas for excavation. The tools they used were simple but effective: wooden wedges, stone hammers, and chisels made from bone and flint.
Arjun worked in a pair with an older villager, holding a chisel while the man struck it with a stone hammer. Each blow sent chips of rock flying, slowly but surely expanding the cave. Nearby, a small fire crackled, its heat causing the harder rock to expand and crack.
Once the rock had cooled, another team would pour water over it, the sudden temperature change causing it to fracture further. The resulting debris was scooped into buckets and carried outside by younger villagers, who sang work songs to keep their spirits high.
Nearby, A group of women and older children were focused on Swinging wooden boards attached to rotating logs, creating a makeshift ventilation system. The gentle breeze they generated was a welcome relief, freshening the air inside the cave.
In another section, men were setting up wooden supports, driving thick beams into the ground and securing them against the walls to prevent any cave-ins. They worked methodically, checking each beam for stability before moving on to the next.
Torches and oil lamps were placed around the cave, their warm light illuminating the work areas. The flickering flames created a sense of movement, making the cavern feel alive with activity. Shadows danced on the walls, mirroring the villagers' tireless efforts.
Arjun paused for a moment to wipe his sweat, glancing around the cave. He spotted Denesh walking through the cave, offering words of encouragement and advice. The chief's presence was a steadying force, reminding everyone of the importance of their work "one day I will surely surpass him".
A young boy approached the chief, holding out a simple drawing he had made with charcoal on a rock slab "Look, Chief, I drew the cave and where we're digging."
The chief knelt down, examining the drawing with a smile. "This is very good. It shows our progress. Keep it safe and redraw one at the end of the day so we know how much we've progressed. Then give it to the elders, and we will use it to plan our next steps."
The boy beamed with pride, and the chief ruffled his hair before standing and addressing the villagers. "You are all doing excellent work. Keep it up."
"Hahaha," the villagers laughed, their spirits lifted by the chief's encouragement.
The whole day, Arjun and the other villagers dug at the cave, Slowly but surely, the cave expanded. By the end of the day, they had managed to add nearly four to five meters to the length of the cave, offering more room.
As night fell, The chief's plan had worked well, and the villagers had made significant progress. Tomorrow, they would continue their efforts, but for now, they could rest, knowing they had accomplished much.
The days went by peacefully and tiredly as every villager tried to support the work.
These days many animals have been found in the traps laid in the village and near the cave. A testimonial to the increased animal activity that endangers them in the end they all ended up helping them with their meat as nutrition, tendons and bones as weapons and tools .
Five days later, The cave had been extended by 20 meters in length, its full width providing much-needed space for the growing community.
the peace was shattered one afternoon when a young boy came sprinting from the cave, his face pale with fear. "CHIEF, CHIEF!" The boy screamed urgently as he ran, alerting everyone outside.
The chief, who was listening to the nearby situation of their cave from the scouts, heard the boy's frantic call and saw his fearful urgency. He shouted, "What happened?"
The boy, breathless and just out of the cave, yelled at the top of his lungs, "The cave has collapsed near the east corner!"
Author's note ----###
So what how was this chapter
I know it was monotonous but it was just building for future cases.
Do tell me your thoughts here.