Black Calamity

Under the tribe chief's command, the beastfolk skinned and dismembered the several-thousand-meter-long Deep-Sea Demon Shark. In less than half a day, they had carved the entire demon shark apart.

Carrying the shark meat back to their cave, Mother Bear remained in low spirits the whole way.

Seeing this, Father Bear tried to make her smile. On the way back, he even deliberately performed several embarrassing antics.

Yet none of it worked.

When they returned to the cave, they heard the cub crying. Mother Bear hurriedly set down what she was carrying and picked up the cub wrapped in a sling.

As she soothed the cub, tears streamed down her own face despite herself.

Father Bear began building a fire, then took out the shark meat they had just carved up and started cooking.

Seeing Mother Bear in tears, he wrapped his broad body around both her and the cub.

"Don't cry. When we went to dig up Firestone today, the chief said the Black Calamity is coming soon.

"When the humans inside the wall come out, I'll go help them. Then you and the child can follow those humans back inside the wall."

The Black Calamity Father Bear spoke of was the most terrifying disaster in this Arctic land.

Whenever the Black Calamity arrived, all the beastfolk would hide in their caves and seal them up tight, only opening them after the calamity had passed the following year.

To ensure they had enough oxygen and food to survive, caves like theirs were dug downward to create several enormous oxygen storage chambers.

Of course, even so, many beastfolk still died every year because they had not had time to make the necessary preparations.

Naturally, since it was a disaster, it could not erupt only on their side. The same calamity would