Shelter In Storm

Shinon and the survivors had been making good progress on their journey, moving through the abandoned city and avoiding any significant confrontations with zombies or other threats.

But as they moved further into the city's outskirts, they encountered heavy rain and strong winds that made it difficult to move forward.

At first, they tried to push through the weather, but it quickly became apparent that they would only be able to reach their destination with some shelter.

The rain was coming down in sheets, drenching them to the bone within minutes, and the wind was so strong it felt like it could knock them over.

Shinon scanned the area, looking for any sign of shelter, but there was nothing in sight apart from a building a couple of blocks away.

The group huddled under a tree, trying to stay as dry as possible, but it was clear that they needed to find a more substantial shelter if they were going to make it through the storm.

"We need to find some kind of shelter," Shinon said, looking around at the group. "We can't keep moving in this weather. It's too dangerous."

The survivors nodded, shivering in the cold rain. "But where do we go?" one of them asked.

Shinon thought momentarily, trying to remember the building he had seen in the area.

"There's a building a few blocks away," he said. "It's probably abandoned, but it should provide us with some shelter."

The group nodded and set off, trudging through the rain and wind towards the building. It was slow going, with the wind threatening to push them off course and the rain making it difficult to see. But eventually, they arrived at the building, which turned out to be an old warehouse.

Shinon pushed open the door, and they all piled inside, grateful for the shelter from the storm. They huddled together, trying to stay warm and dry, as the storm raged outside.

Shinon was about to leave them and find a place to rest, but the System had other plans.

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You have been assigned a sub-quest!

[Rainy Survival]

You have been tasked with ensuring the survival of the survivors in harsh weather conditions.

Objective: Keep the survivors warm and alive until they reach their destination.

Conditions for failure: All survivors perish due to hypothermia or other environmental factors/ the survivors turning hostile towards the user.

Punishment for failure: The user's stats will be reduced by 5%.

Reward for success: The user will receive a rare blueprint for a new blacksmithing technique.

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'Might tell me to feed them as well.' Shinon shrugged and began collecting whatever dry things he could get his hands on.

His eyes landed on a pile of scrap wood and paper in the corner of the room. He approached the pile and picked up a few dry pieces of wood, examining them closely.

Once satisfied, He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small flintstone, striking it against his sword. A shower of sparks flew out, igniting the paper and then the dry wood.

Shinon carefully blew on the flame, coaxing it into a roaring fire. The warmth spread through the room, driving away the cold and dampness.

"Oh, thank goodness!" The bald man sighed in relief. "You are our saviour!"

The survivors huddled around the fire, their clothes steaming as they warmed themselves. Shinon watched them for a moment before turning away, scanning the area again for any potential threats.

The rain continued to beat against the roof of the warehouse, but Shinon knew they would be safe for the time being.

He sat down on a nearby crate, his eyes never leaving the survivors. They looked up at him, some with gratitude and others with suspicion. They just sat there in silence for a while, listening to the rain pounding on the roof.

One of the survivors, a woman in her mid-thirties, spoke up, breaking the uncomfortable silence, "Thank you for saving us back there. We really owe you our lives."

Shinon simply nodded, not knowing what to say. He was never good at small talk.

Another survivor, a man in his late twenties, chimed in, "We have a base around the park area not far from here. It's not much, but we manage to survive. What about you? Do you have a base?"

"I do... inside the 'park'." Shinon nonchalantly replied.

The woman looked at him with concern, "If you don't mind, can I ask you a question? Why did you help us back then? I mean, I'm glad that you did, but why?"

"Isn't that what you're supposed to do?" Shinon shrugged. "I'm not saying I'm a saint, but I couldn't turn back once I found you people in danger. Plus, I have my own reasons for doing what I do."

The man nodded, "That's fair. By the way, what's your name?"

Shinon hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should reveal his true identity. "You can call me Flint."

The woman smiled, "It's nice to meet you, Flint. I'm Sarah, and this is Tim, my boyfriend, and these three kids are Jake, Lily, and Kim. As for that old man, he's Jack, my father."

Shinon nodded, "Nice to meet you all."

And then the room fell silent again. Before anyone felt the urge to talk more, the storm began to subside, and Shinon suggested they start moving again before it picked up again. They set off once more, moving towards their destination.