"Yes," a firm and authoritative voice resounded from the left, capturing Mrs Shani's attention and causing her to divert her gaze from Caretaker Ivor. Her eyes wandered past the peculiar wooden structure of the tree hut, carefully crafted with the assistance of the four-eared people, until they settled on Caretaker Naida, who was nearing the age of seventy in just a couple of years and held the position of the second oldest Caretaker in the room.
"But, as Caretaker Ivor has already explained, we didn't undertake these actions on a whim. We did it because it was the only way to safeguard the village," Caretaker Naida interjected, her voice tinged with a hint of weariness. Being a caretaker came with numerous responsibilities, and burdens that weighed heavily on their shoulders.
Nevertheless, they persevered for the sake of the village. Compared to those in charge of the two strongholds, they were in a more favourable position. Despite the toll it had taken on her appearance, Caretaker Naida pressed on.
"Caretaker Shani, after hearing all of this and considering the potential for similar situations in the future, do you wish to relinquish your position as a Caretaker and pass it on to the next preferred elected candidate? Or do you choose to participate in our next meeting, taking an oath to keep everything you have seen and heard a secret, thereby solidifying your role as a Caretaker?"
Once the question was asked, Mrs Shani found herself engulfed in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, rendering her speechless. The gravity of those responsibilities left her physically drained and weakened.
"Ahem!" Another voice reverberated through the air, cutting through the tension-filled atmosphere. Mrs Shani's gaze shifted towards the source of the interruption, her eyes landing on Caretaker Zola. Despite being the youngest and perhaps the least attractive person in the room, Zola commanded attention with her remarkable intellect and strong-willed personality.
"Apologies for the interruption, but we have gathered here to finalize an important decision," Caretaker Zola stated firmly, her eyes locked onto Mrs Shani's. "While we had originally planned a grand ceremony to mark your new role as one of the farm's caretakers, our current challenges have left us with little time. Some of these challenges, you will soon be briefed on."
Caretaker Zola wearily shook her head and released a tired sigh, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. "So, please, make your decision quickly. Every moment counts, and we can't afford to waste any more time."
Listening to the young lady's words, Mrs Shani felt her eyebrows twitching almost incessantly, reminding her of Caretaker Zola's notorious blunt tongue. Nonetheless, despite the weight of the responsibilities on her shoulders, Mrs Shani took a moment to collect her thoughts. She averted her gaze from Caretaker Zola and closed her eyes, inhaling deeply to regain her composure.
In that brief moment of reflection, Mrs Shani pondered the situation with utmost concentration. After more than a minute of deep contemplation, she opened her eyes and directed a determined nod towards Caretaker Naida. The resolve in her eyes was clear as she spoke, "Former Caretaker Hrok chose me as his successor, and I will faithfully carry out my duties, just as he succeeded his predecessor. Caretaker Naida, let us proceed with the meeting."
While Caretaker Shani uttered her words, her gaze shifted to Caretaker Ivor, who nonchalantly clicked his tongue and averted his eyes.
"Alright," Caretaker Naida nodded in agreement with Caretaker Shani's response, her eyes scanning the room before she addressed everyone present. "Let us proceed then."
Caretaker Ivor cleared his throat, capturing the attention of the room as he delved into the plan proposed by Orion the previous day.
Each caretaker shared their thoughts on the potential consequences and benefits of implementing such a plan. Displeasure and concerns were voiced in some areas, while agreement resonated in others, aligning with Orion's suggestions. As the discussion unfolded, it became clear that there was little to add or modify to the plan, except the need to construct additional storage huts.
These storage huts would facilitate the storage of a greater quantity of their harvest, along with other storable herbs, in preparation for the future development of the village.
When the words of the plan reached Caretaker Shani's ears, her eyes widened in astonishment, nearly betraying the composed facade she had meticulously maintained. In spite of her efforts to rein in her emotions, it was a challenging task, and she teetered on the brink of losing her composure. And who could blame her?
If everything she had just heard was true, it meant that in a few short years, the village would embark on an exploration that would shape the growth and stability of an entirely new village.
So, how could she possibly maintain her composure and not be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the situation?
"Given that the fate of the plan rests in the hands of the stronghold leaders, as they hold the authority to make any significant changes, I will personally arrange meetings with each of them to discuss the situation," Caretaker Ivor stated, addressing the entire room. Wrapping up the conversation, he emphasized, "In the meantime, let us all prioritize the safety and abundance of our harvest until the time comes when it will be required."
Shifting his gaze across the room, his eyes settled on the middle-aged woman seated near Caretaker Shani. "Caretaker Nala, have you checked on the children and informed Overseer Anara about the current situation?" he asked.
Caretaker Nala's head bobbed in agreement, and she proceeded to share the information she had received from Overseer Anara. She explained that the village Chief had personally informed Anara about the ongoing situation, and Anara, using her tree roots, had ensured the children's perfect health.
"Regarding the children, Anara mentioned that Orion has some plans of his own," Caretaker Nala continued, "So, we have two options: we can devise a plan to handle the children ourselves, or we can wait for the Village Chief to awaken and hold another meeting with Orion to learn more about his intentions."
