"It’s a bit icy. We have to warm it up before drinking, or it’ll be harsh on our throats."

Zion Lowell took two bottles of liquor and started to heat them. Everyone except Wendy and Wyatt Vaughn got a small cup. The alcohol was potent and high-proof, over fifty percent ABV. After just one small cup, several of their faces started to flush.

Evelyn Ford was an average drinker, so she only took a small sip before giving the rest to Ronan Kendrick.

The liquor left a burning sensation in her stomach, but her body warmed up quickly.

The snow fell heavier with each passing day. Combined with Wyatt Vaughn’s injury, everyone was weighed down with worry. Although they didn’t lack food at the moment, simply consuming their stockpiles without replenishing them was a cardinal sin during a cataclysm.

"We still need to go into the mountains to hunt and chop firewood. There are ten of us. Even though we still have a lot of Musk Beef, fish, and shrimp, what if the snow never stops? We can’t just stay cooped up forever, can we? I think we can ride the horses or the Mammoth into the mountains to hunt."

"I agree," Miles Vaughn said, taking a sip of the warm liquor.

"A few months’ worth of supplies probably isn’t enough. We need to stockpile at least two years’ worth, otherwise I’ll never feel at ease. Ronan Kendrick said there are no animals left in the forest behind us, so let’s go to the one three kilometers away. Among the ten of us, we have the middle-aged, the elderly, and a child. We have to prepare for the worst."

"It’s probably negative sixty or seventy degrees Celsius out there now. No one should stay outside for too long. Also, and this is very important, do not use the toilet outdoors."

A stove had been placed in the small courtyard’s outhouse, for fear that using it could lead to sudden freezing and frostbite.

Taylor Vance’s expression was grim. "I once saw a news report about people in extremely cold regions who tried to relieve themselves outside. The resulting frostbite was so severe that their lower extremities had to be amputated."

Everyone’s expression turned serious. "Understood."

Taylor Vance continued, "Since we all agree we should hurry up and stockpile supplies, here’s the plan. We’ll rest well tomorrow and the day after—everyone’s exhausted today. Starting the day after tomorrow, everyone except Wendy and Wyatt Vaughn will ride into the mountains. We’ll bring the Mammoth along, too. We’re heading for the forest three kilometers away to make a big haul."

Everyone began to rub their hands in anticipation. Despite the cold, nothing could dampen their enthusiasm for the hunt. More than the cold, they feared starvation.

After dinner, Evelyn Ford went to check on Wyatt Vaughn’s back injury. The ointment was working well; she wasn’t in much pain anymore.

The next day was a rest day, but no one lazed around in bed. Except for Wyatt Vaughn, everyone got up to tend to the sheep pen. Last night’s snowfall had been so heavy that the shelter’s roof was piled high with snow, and the argali sheep were bleating from the cold.

"We need to build a stove or a heated brick platform. The sheep will definitely freeze to death in this weather."

But the ground outside was covered in snow. Where were they supposed to get the earth to build it?

"Let’s dig for it inside one of the houses. A stove’s fire goes out too easily, and if the sheep knock it over, the whole pen could burn down. It’ll be hard work, but we have to build a heated platform."

Evelyn Ford had an idea. "Let’s go to the village and bring back some of the fallen gray bricks to build the platforms. Building them entirely out of earth would be a massive project."

Zion Lowell smacked his forehead. "Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? We can plaster the gaps with mud to make it sturdy. That’ll be much easier than building one entirely from earth."

Ronan Kendrick, Quincy, Peter Owens, and Miles Vaughn rode out on horseback to find the gray bricks. Evelyn Ford stayed in the sheep pen to observe the argali, with Officer Graham and Taylor Vance helping nearby.

"It looks like six of the ewes are about to give birth. Their bellies are very swollen. Ewes can have two litters a year, with one to five lambs each time. Looks like the flock is about to get bigger."

Evelyn thought they should expand the sheep pen. She could replace the collapsed wall with a wooden fence and extend the pen to cover the entire courtyard, leaving just a path for access.

"Once the flock grows to around a hundred, we can start culling them as needed. If there are too many, it’ll be difficult for us when we have to travel."

"Should we install a heated platform in the stables, too?"

Evelyn pondered for a moment. "Let’s put one in. These are top-quality horses; we can’t afford any mishaps."

Ronan Kendrick and the others returned quickly. They made two trips in total and brought back more than enough gray bricks. Everyone then threw themselves into the energetic work of building the heated platforms.

Wendy boiled water and made ginger soup in the kitchen, while Wyatt Vaughn took everyone’s worn-out clothes to mend them.

Before dinner, the two heated platforms were finally finished. They lit a fire inside to test them out. The smoke vented outside perfectly, without any of it getting into the enclosure.

Once the heated platforms were ready, the sheep all gathered around them for warmth. Their bleating finally stopped, and the small courtyard fell quiet.

Unfortunately, Evelyn Ford got her period again. After dinner, she boiled a bowl of brown sugar water, drank it, and went straight to sleep. Even though her body had grown more resilient, getting her period in this extreme cold was still an uncomfortable affair.

Living together with everyone made it inconvenient to change, and Evelyn felt listless. She was already asleep when Ronan Kendrick came into the room. In the middle of the night, Evelyn woke up groggily and discovered that Ronan had placed a warm Water Cup on her abdomen. She had actually put on a Warm Baby, but Ronan’s thoughtfulness still moved her deeply.

"What’s wrong?"

Evelyn shifted, and Ronan was instantly awake, rushing to check on her.

"It’s nothing. I’m just going out to change... you know."

"I’ll go with you."

Ronan Kendrick grabbed a thick, cotton-padded jacket and put it on Evelyn, bundling her up tightly.

The two of them left the courtyard, and Evelyn suddenly wanted to go somewhere farther away.

"I want to take a shower. Let’s go behind the blueberry patch. I’ll take out the RV, and we can both change our clothes and wash up."

Ronan Kendrick’s brow furrowed. "Getting your period is such an ordeal. In our next life, I’ll be the woman, and you can be the man."

Evelyn didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, whatever you say."

The main thing was that she felt sticky and incredibly uncomfortable. It had been so long since she’d showered, Evelyn felt like she could scrub off three pounds of grime.

They immediately went behind the blueberry patch. With Ronan Kendrick’s Sharp-Hearing Ear, Evelyn wasn’t worried about anyone approaching.

After bringing out the RV, Evelyn quickly heated some water.

The more extreme the weather, the heavier her flow was. Thankfully, she had a huge stockpile of sanitary pads in her space.

She took a quick shower, dried her hair, and came out.

"Ronan, go take your shower. The water’s hot."

Ronan Kendrick looked at her flushed little face, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Okay."

Ronan was even faster, probably taking only a little over ten minutes.

The RV’s interior was still set up the same way it had been when they were digging for medicinal herbs at Stag’s Leap Mountain. Evelyn whipped up a simple late-night snack.

"It’s been too long since I’ve had you all to myself," Ronan Kendrick said, looking a little aggrieved.

"You’ve been so busy lately, you haven’t been paying any attention to me."

Evelyn felt wronged. "What do you mean I haven’t been paying attention to you? It’s true I’ve been a bit busy these past two days, but I’m always thinking about you."

Ronan Kendrick raised an eyebrow. "Then let’s not go back tonight."

Evelyn was speechless. ’You’ve got a dangerous look in your eyes, mister.’

"Wendy sometimes gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. If she finds we’re not there, she’ll probably get suspicious."

"She’s a smart kid. She won’t say anything."

Ronan Kendrick rested his head on Evelyn’s shoulder. "I’ve really missed you. Don’t you miss me?"