@Kaisel’s shovel struck the earth again with a clang that seemed to rattle even Noah’s teeth from where he stood, gathering lumber for the braces.
The soldier was trying—there was no lack of effort—but the frozen ground was winning. Each strike scraped more frost than soil, progress measured in shallow divots instead of any real trench. Still, effort counted. Given time, stubborn work could wear even stone down. The soldier had managed a shallow scar in the frozen earth, sweat shining at his temple despite the cold. Each strike jarred his frame more than it loosened the soil.
Up on the roof, Damien fared somewhat better, though not by much. His precision was steady, shingles pried loose and stacked neatly, but the cold slowed him, nails bent, and cedar split once or twice, three times. Even so, the roof was holding. Noah left Damien to his careful rhythm on the roof and crossed to where Kaisel wrestled with the ground.
Coming towards Kaisel, Noah dropped the lumber for the braces and their clunking against each other echoed into the forest around them. "Like Damien said, try this." He reached for the shovel, and once Kai handed it to him, drove its edge in at an angle, and leaned his weight forward. The frozen dirt gave with a crack, the ground splitting enough to scoop. He offered the tool back with a faint smile, not unkind.
Turning back to get the first brace, Noah answered the younger man's question. “Because this is where I belong,” he said simply. “I grew up here. My family’s here. And this land, harsh as it is, shapes you. Demands strength, yes, but it also gives back if you learn to respect it.” He readied to add the first brace when Kaisel was ready.
Round 2! Everyone rolled low (:|) so we're onto a slow start. Keep working!
