Lizzy nodded, pointing into the cave that she had found herself sleeping in the first night she arrived. Her leaf pile was undisturbed in the corner closest to the entrance. "This is where I want us to live. Although, I know there will be a few things we need to do to make it livable."
Phantom sniffed the air, stepping forward with a frown. "If this is what you want. I can easily expand the place and add anything needed with my stone and earth affinities."
"You can?" Lizzy perked up, smiling widely at him. They had traded the last of her [Healing Moss] and [Fairy Berries] for some candles and other basic necessities. They already had a basic bed thanks to her completing the quest for a mate and the furs that Phantom had possessed, so they only needed things that would make seeing in the cave easier. Although now that she considered it. "Are you able to create a hole in the cave to let in light? And maybe something for rain water that we can collect until we locate a water source?" She pointed to the roof of the cave, trying to illustrate with her hands what she wanted.
Phantom nodded. "I can create a few places to allow light into the cave, but there is no need for a water source." His ears flicked towards the back of the cave. "I hear an underground stream further in the system. Although, there's also a strange smell."
Lizzy did not doubt Phantom's sense of smell, but she also knew that the cave was musty and hadn't been swept. Perhaps once she did some basic cleaning, it would feel better? Also, getting the bed put into place would help with her comfort levels immensely. She stepped forward, finger tapping her lips as she considered how she wanted to construct the space. She needed to consider not just how to make the space work for defense, but also how to make it work for children. Her footsteps traced the opening of the cave while Phantom worked on introducing a 'skylight' using his stone abilities.
Watching the magic at work would normally be something that interested Lizzy, but she found herself absorbed in how to make the entrance more defensible as well as safe so no children wandered. Then again, if she kept it with the appearance of a simple cave and focused on building fortifications further into it? No, she blinked away those thoughts as Phantom opened up a slanted hole in the ceiling, allowing light to permeate the space. This will look too inviting if I don't come up with a way to fortify it. Lizzy nibbled her lip. She wanted it to feel like a home but there was no way she could leave the entrance so exposed. She waved at her new mate, waving at the space before her. "Are you able to build thicker walls and maybe leave enough space open to act as a door?"
Phantom moved to stand by her side, tilting his head to the side as he considered her request. "Ah, to prevent predators once we have pups?" He nodded. "There's a limit to what my ability can do. It's not the strongest from the village, but I can at least work to make this place safe." He bent down to the floor of the cave, the skin between his eyes becoming pinched and wrinkled as he closed his eyes.
There was a rumble, tiny pebbles on the floor of the cave vibrating across it as stones and earth moved to create a wall with a smaller front entrance at the opening of the cave. The process took several minutes and Lizzy used that time to take stock of their situation and the cave. Now that the light was pouring in from the top, she could see several other tunnels leading away from this main cave. She wanted to explore and ensure the safety of it, but also found herself growing tired after walking all the way here.
Heaviness seemed to weigh on Lizzy's shoulders and she sighed, dropping her shoulders. It had been three long, excruciating days since she had landed on this planet with this system. And yet, those days seemed tragically short when she considered that the Universe's Conquer All Tournament was set to officially begin on day seven. That left her with only four days to build up the strength of those around her, fortify her home, and hope that she could make her class work for her in ways other than sacrifice.
Arms wrapped around her middle as Phantom pressed his front to her back. He nuzzled her neck, his hands pulling her into a tight and possessive hug. "Is there anything I can do to make this den better for you?" He whispered, kissing behind her ear.
Lizzy shuddered, leaning against him. She looked around the space, her eyes becoming more critical of the space. There seemed to be some hidden ability within her that was able to break down exactly how to make the space livable while also considering future uses.
{Ding}
{Congratulation Contestant!}
{Skill Unlocked: Nesting}
{Description: You have the passive ability as a future mother to analyze your living space and evaluate it's qualities. Is that window big enough for a predator to snatch a cub? Is the water going to be a resource or a potential murder scene? Is this pile of bedding large enough to support your soon to be growing stomach? All these questions and more can be answered through a simple glance. Lean into your instincts and trust that mother knows best when it comes to the safety and comfort of your mates and babes. Now, go out there and create a fortress that can protect you during the Games. Skill unlocked through successful breeding and past life experience!}
Lizzy lifted a finger and mentally dismissed the window. That was not exactly a skill that she wanted. It was passive, so that was the only benefit she could see. She had no idea what the system meant by past life experience since her memories of Earth were still fragmented and hazy. Who was she that this was a skill that could be unlocked? "I want to create a bedroom, but not in this main cavern. Are you able to explore and see if there's any concerns in some of those other tunnels?" She pointed towards four other entrances at the back of the cave. While she guessed that one of them could potentially contain an emergency exit, it also meant it could be used as an entrance. She had no idea if the other Contestants had 'spawned' near her or not and there was a strong possibility of other beasts in the area.
Phantom put his hands on her hips, squeezing gently. "I shall check after I build you a room you can begin to nest in." He kissed her shoulder, moving towards a wall and repeating the same actions as before. It took several moments longer than when he created the new cave entrance to create a separate room. In the end, his skin was covered in a sheen of sweat but he waved at the empty 350 square foot space with pride. "If this space will do then I will search the other tunnels quickly." He waited on her nod before shifting into wolf form and padding away.
Lizzy spun in a circle within the room that Phantom had created. She mentally called up her inventory, peering with critical eye at the boxes until she found the Basic Bed. She looked at the far corner of the room from the door and her eyes widened once she saw a blue glowing square settle there. Her instincts told her that it was providing the general outline for where the bed would be situated so she confirmed that's where she wanted it placed.
A King sized mattress appeared on top of a box spring which settled upon a dark wood bed frame. Glorious teal sheets and a fluffy comforter draped across the bed and Lizzy had to repress a squeal of delight. While the fur pile that she had slept in the night before had been comfortable, there was no comparing to fresh sheets and bedding. The only thing that could make settling down in this cave better would be the introduction of plumbing.
Even though she was anxious about the possibility of Phantom finding something dangerous, Lizzy found that her exhaustion was weighing her down. She pulled the pile of furs out of her inventory space and set them beside the bed. A cave was sure to grow cold at night and the pair would need them, but for now the bed looked welcoming. She lay down with the intention of simply resting her tired bones for a few moments.