As Marcus stood in the clearing, completely swamped by squirrels, he felt like a misguided leader of an animal kingdom that had gone horribly wrong. The small creatures chattered excitedly, darting around him like hyperactive toddlers at a carnival.
"What am I supposed to do with you all?" he asked, trying to swat away a particularly bold squirrel that had decided his shoulder was an excellent perch.
**System Alert: "Squirrel Army status: Active. Total Squirrels: 27. Combat Efficiency: TBD."**
"Combat efficiency? Seriously? I didn't sign up for a rodent militia!" he exclaimed, looking around in disbelief as more squirrels scurried from the trees to join their comrades.
**System Update: "Squirrels have unique abilities. Each can distract enemies, gather resources, and scout terrain."**
