𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕟𝕕'𝕤 ℙ𝕒𝕥𝕙 {𝕄𝕒𝕝𝕖 ℙ𝕠𝕔𝕒𝕙𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕤 𝕩 𝕆ℂ}

꧁༒•ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕣𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕚𝕟𝕕•༒꧂

The men dig for days. They're all exhausted, thirsty, and hungry. If things got even worse, Ratcliff just eats happily in front of everyone while they work. Yet, no sign of gold anywhere. However, in the shadows stood a few natives, watching them curiously as they worked, confused about what they were saying and doing.

"That's it," Ratcliff watched as he ate a chicken leg. "Keep at it, men. Keep digging. It's got to be here somewhere."

Kocoum frowns as he counted his side of the camp as his companion stood by his side. He would have asked Takoda but he was gone by the time he was assembling a group.

"There's 30 more down by the ridge," his companion whispered as Kocoum's eyes widen. "That makes more than 100!"

Ratcliff looked down, finding Thomas digging deeper and hoping for results. "Anything yet?"

"Nothing but rocks and dirt, sir," Thomas coughed, slamming down his shovel on the dirt once again to dig.

"How long are we going to keep digging like this, sir?" Lon gave the man a pointed look, leaning on his shovel.

"We're slaving away, busting our backs day and night..." Ben groaned, climbing out of his hole and walking to the man. "Weston's medical herbs can barely do enough," he complained.

"For king and country," Ratcliff interrupted. "I know, I know. And I share your fatigue," Ratcliff took a bite from his lunch before already getting full, looking around. "Wiggins!"

Seeing how the scrawny man didn't respond, he called again. "Wiggins!"

Wiggins ran back, only for Ratcliff to give him his plate for him to dispose of. He tried to give it to the pug, Percy, but the dog was too entitled to eat the food. It turned but stiffened as it spotted something in the bushes and barked.

It immediately alerted Ratcliff. "Savages! It's an ambush! Arm yourselves!"

The men climbed out of their holes and rushed towards their muskets, aiming into the forest. "Make sure every man has a musket! Shoot!"

Thomas grabbed a musket and rushed to the scene, accidentally tripping over a log and pulling the trigger. It almost caught Ratcliff as the man furiously turned to him. "Them, you idiot!"

They all hid behind the logs and shot into the forest as the natives hid. One of them moved away in time to see the tree scratched. His eyes widened in disbelief but used his bow and arrow and fired.

"Where's that blasted Smith when I need him?" Ratcliff cursed as he was handed another musket. As he was about to shoot again, he spotted a moving shadow not far from him and aimed, firing their leg.

The native winced, feeling searing pain in his thigh. He dropped his weapons and fell harshly to the floor. Kocoum took notice, dropping everything, and rushed towards him. "Namontack!"

His eyes furiously narrowed as he saw a pale man walking closer to his companion and raising his weapon. He intervened, grabbing the weapon and pushing him down. The man groaned but Kocoum kicked him away. Dodging the fire, Kocoum crouched in front of Namontack and carried him over his shoulders.

"Back to the village!" he orders as they all retreated.

The men didn't see any more flying arrows and cheered as they didn't expect to win their first battle with the natives. Ratcliff, on the other hand, was anything but happy. "Shut up. Shut up, you fools! They'll be back. Everyone back to camp. Get the rest of the cannons ashore, and finish building the fort!"

"Aye, Governor!" Ben saluted as the men continued to talk while working.

Ratcliff stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing on Thomas who remained on the ground and disappointingly stare at his musket. "And you! Learn to use that thing properly. A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot."