Chapter 382: Chapter 288: Camp
Thunderbirds have a peculiar trait.
They’re known for being incredibly bold in the Far North Tundra.
To what degree? Even if one of their own drops dead right next to them, they’ll continue foraging without a second thought.
At the sight of a flock of Thunderbirds gathered in the bushes, Feng Shan didn’t even need to give an order. His companions knew exactly what to do, and they all raised their guns and began firing at the flock.
Crisp gunshots echoed through the forest. With each shot, a Thunderbird was hit, flapped its wings frantically, and tumbled to the ground.
The remaining Thunderbirds reacted in various ways.
Some of the bolder ones barely even flinched at the sound of gunfire, pausing only for a moment before going back to their meal.
The more timid ones would panic and fly a dozen meters away, but it wouldn’t be long before they waddled right back to fight over the berries in the bushes.
The four men didn’t stop firing.
One by one, Thunderbirds were hit, falling onto the pristine white snow where they struggled and thrashed. In no time, the snow was littered with their bodies.
The two White Wolves weren’t idle, either. The moment they saw a Thunderbird fall, they’d bolt out with incredible agility, snatch it in their jaws, and race back behind the snowdrift.
Feng Shan processed the Thunderbirds on the spot.
He cut the heads off the ones that were still alive and tossed them onto the snow. The dead ones he hung upside down from a tree to let them bleed out.
Thunderbirds were lighter than ptarmigans. After being plucked and gutted, the forty-odd birds were only about the size of pigeons.
Feng Shan waited for the White Wolves to finish eating the Thunderbird heads, then patted Lao Liu on his.
"Keep going. Find more ptarmigans and Thunderbirds!"
The Moonlight Forest sat right on the edge of the Tundra, a long, narrow strip that grew along the snowy mountains. It was the most extensive primeval forest on the fringes of the Far North Tundra, consisting mainly of spruce, black spruce, birch, North American pine, and willow trees.
Just as importantly, the Moonlight Forest served as a winter sanctuary and a source of food for most of the region’s wildlife.
Every winter, various animals would gather in the forest, depending on its rich resources to survive the long, cold season.
Reindeer and musk oxen, however, were an exception.
Despite the scarcity of food on the Tundra during winter, these two species would rather dig through the snow for dried moss than take a single step into the forest.
It was as if they had an unspoken agreement with the forest. They strictly adhered to their habits, silently enduring the harsh trials of winter on the open Tundra.
As the two White Wolves continued to scout the area, the Hunting Team’s luck held. They managed to bag another flock of ptarmigans and two more flocks of Thunderbirds.
With that, they had basically fulfilled their preset quota for the hunting trip.
Time flew, and soon it was afternoon. The polar night sky grew even darker, like a giant black curtain slowly descending upon the land.
Fortunately, the thick layer of snow on the ground reflected a faint light, so they could still see well enough to walk.
However, the cold wind blowing in from the Tundra was like a wild, unbridled horse. It howled overhead, shaking the branches until they CREAKED.
As the wind raged, the temperature in the forest plummeted. The chill seemed to pierce right through their animal-hide coats and seep into their very bones, making them shiver uncontrollably.
Feng Shan glanced at the darkening sky and decided to find a spot in the forest to build a shelter.
’Otherwise, they’d surely freeze solid spending a night in this frozen forest.’
So, the Hunting Team made its decision. The group moved slowly through the forest, pulling their sleds in search of a suitable place to set up camp.
Thanks to their snowshoes, they didn’t sink into the half-meter-deep snow.
After a difficult, half-hour trek through the forest, Nash found a suitable spot.
Two spruce trees, each a full meter in diameter, had been toppled by some unknown force. They now lay crossed over each other, cleverly forming a triangular space that was perfect for pitching a tent.
Better yet, the area was littered with dry spruce branches that could be used for firewood.
Having found a suitable campsite, the group divided the labor and got to work.
Feng Shan and Director Roland were in charge of gathering firewood. They would need a lot to keep the fire going for warmth through the night, so the two of them scoured the surrounding area for fallen, dry branches and piled them up.
Nash and Yves began setting up the tent. The two worked together in perfect sync; one secured the frame while the other pulled the canvas taut, assembling it in an orderly fashion.
And so, each person did their part.
All of them were preparing to spend a night in the frigid forest.
Before long, the outdoor tent was up.
Then, they shoveled the snow from inside the tent to the outside, using it to build a wall around the perimeter. This served two purposes: first, it acted as a windbreak, and second, it prevented the tent’s heat from escaping. It’s the same principle the Inuit use when building houses out of snow.
After clearing out the snow, they laid a thick layer of spruce boughs on the tent floor. The soft, springy boughs acted as a natural thermal blanket on the ground, effectively blocking the cold from seeping up and providing excellent insulation.
After laying down the spruce boughs, they spread animal-hide blankets over them, making the entire floor both warm and comfortable.
And just like that, after a flurry of activity, the tent was basically set up.
Feng Shan hadn’t been idle, either. He stuffed the dry branches they had collected into the portable wood stove, took out a fire starter, and with a light flick, the wood ignited.
The fire in the stove grew, and the resulting smoke was vented outside through the chimney pipe, keeping the air inside the tent from becoming foul and hazy.
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