After a sufficient amount of time had elapsed, Aric approached the soaking pelt and began cleaning it, scraping off any residual flesh, fat and membrane, using the blunt side of his sword, so as to not damage the hide.
Fortunately for him, since the flesh of the animal was natural salty, he did not need to add salt to it in order to preserve it.
He then began using his monstrous strength to roll up the large pelt into a ball with his bare hands, only to unfold it afterwards and stretch it to the extreme.
Aric did this diligently dozens of times, over the span of about two and half hours, until the pelt had reached a softness that satisfied him.
[This isn't too bad, but I can't use it just yet.]
He glanced around before turning his gaze to the wrymling.
"Can you gather some more wood for me? I want a lot this time."
"Tweet."
The wrymling slithered away excitedly, eager to once again explore the forest on its own.
[...]
He somewhat regretted sending it on an errand because he knew it would take its time again, but he wasn't particularly in a rush either, so he didn't mind.
"Can you create something like this?"
Scribble...
He drew an object on the ground with his finger, digging into the mossy forest bed.
The object in question resembled a conical tent with narrow opening at the top, and two rectangular openings at its base.
"Chiek..."
The Fanged Avondale Spider studied the shape intently, snapping its chelicerae as though chewing something, an action which produced a sound similar to an Ox chewing its cud.
"Chiek! "
The spider indicated that it was up to the task and spat out its web and began weaving the object in question.
[It looks like it'll take some time since it's a bit large...]
He noticed and turned to the bones he picked out from the Nyxhorn Bison's carcass.
What laid before him was a large femur bone and two ribs.
"... Alright, I should get started."
Aric sat down and unsheathed his blade, the he began to diligently clean the bones just as he did with the pelt until they were pure white.
With two ribs, he used his sharp blade to shape them into an awl and the other a thin needle.
He then turned his attention to the femur bone and began shaping the thick end of it to create a solid surface, efficiently crafting a hammer out of the thigh bone.
"Whew..."
[These will have to do for now...]
He wasn't particularly happy with how they looked since it was his first time doing this, but their appearance was inconsequential as long as they functioned.
"Chiek..."
The large spider called out to him. It had been eagerly waiting for him to finish what he was doing so that it could show him what it crafted.
"Oh, that actually looks better than I imagined it would."
Aric circled around the conical tent and studied its every feature. He couldn't help but admire how good the spider was at weaving.
Well... It is a spider, after all.
"Tweeeeeeeet ~ "
The wrymling returned, chirping happily with the outline of small animals suffocating within its belly, and tied to its tail was an extremely large log that it dragged along with relative ease.
[Oh? So instead of just collecting a bunch of twigs and wood like last time...]
[... It was able to think for itself and bring something much better than what I asked for.]
[...]
[Are all beasts this intelligent, or is it the influence of my Mana?]
He wondered and praised the little Basilisk for its impressive achievement.
"Sigh..."
Sensing that the spider was feeling envious, he also went and patted its hairy head despite not really wanting to do so, for obvious reasons.
After all that was done, he began chipping away at the large log with his sword, easily slicing through it as though it were a mere piece of paper.
He gathered the chunks of wood to create a weak campfire, then he turned his attention to the conical tent and retrieved the balled up pelt.
[I hope I don't freeze to death tonight...]
He smiled bitterly and unrolled the pelt, stretching it once more to further soften it before finally placing it inside the tent as it was.
The hide was fully stretched within the tent as he nailed both ends to the tip and base on the four meter tall tent.
He then covered the weak flame in order to smoke the pelt so that it would not rot, mold, or harden.
[I'll leave it smoking overnight...]
He mused and collected the other chunks of wood to create a stronger flame. The sun was already setting at that time, evident in the darkening chasm despite the hole in the canopies.
Aric quickly cooked whatever was left of the meat and shared it equally amongst his beasts so that nothing would be left to waste.
"Chiek! "
The spider warned that they should head to the treetops because nocturnal predators would soon be on the prowl.
Aric agreed, and both he and the wrymling were carried by the spider high into the canopies, where it had built itself a nest, fortified by thick layers of web more durable than reinforced steel.
"It's a bit stuffy in here..."
He grumbled from within the cocoon of web, it was designed to fit the large spider and give it enough space to move around, but the addition of Aric and his wrymling made it rather stuffy.
Despite his complaints, fatigue overcame him, and he drifted into sleep before he realized it
///
"Tweet."
Aric was awoken by a squeaky chirping and a forked tongue licking his eyelids.
"Good morning... yawn! "
He crawled out of the web cocoon and stretched his limbs, filling his lungs with the cool air of dawn.
"Chiek! "
The large spider offered a greeting. It was standing upside down on a large branch slightly above where he stood.
"..."
[Was it standing guard?]
He wondered and lowered his gaze to the ground, which was about twenty meters below.
[It should be done by now.]
He noticed that the tent was still producing smoke from the small opening.
Fwosh!!
Thud!
He jumped from the branch landed in the soft earth below, with such force that he formed miniature crater.
Aric retrieved the tanned pelt and began to make clothing, pouches, and bags with it, using the awl to puncture holes, the needle, and the spider's durable strings to sew.
"Hm... It's not too bad. It'll have to do for now until I get to a Human settlement."
He was pleased with the results of his handiwork and prepared to leave the forest, heading in the opposite direction of his father's territory.
Aric hoped that he would soon come across a village, a town, or better yet, a city once he makes it through the forest.
Little did he know that he made a grave error... He underestimated the immense size of the forest as well as the perils that lurk within it.