The morning of the third day after the initial storm dawned bright and clear. The family awoke within the surprisingly warm and sturdy stone room Neil had constructed one days prior, its strong stone walls built upon a frame of reliable wooden planks. Sunlight filtered weakly through the doorway where the old wooden gate leaned. After a night of restful sleep in their secure shelter, a sense of cautious optimism filled the air.
The family gathered for an outdoor breakfast, sharing what little food remained. As they ate, a conversation arose about rebuilding. Grandpa, his brow furrowed with concern, looked at the surrounding damage and then at Neil. "How long do you reckon it'll take to build proper houses for everyone, lad?"
Neil considered the task, his brow furrowed in thought. "It will take some time, Ba-ba," he replied, his voice reflecting the weight of the work ahead. "Mining all the stone by hand with just a stone pickaxe is slow going. It would be much, much faster if I had iron to make a better pickaxe."
Once breakfast was finished, his grandfather approached Neil, a weathered hand offering three heavy iron ingots. "For your work, lad," he said, a rare smile gracing his lips. Neil's eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. He hefted the cool metal in his hand, a flicker of possibility sparking in his mind. He briefly considered the vague image of an iron bucket, a tool Elias had once described, but the pressing need for more efficient mining for their homes quickly overshadowed it. A strong house for the family comes first. I can always mine more iron for a bucket later, he decided. With renewed purpose, he accessed his mental crafting table and swiftly assembled the iron pickaxe. The familiar process was swift, and he could already sense the increased efficiency with the new tool. Ready for a productive day, he headed back towards the mountain cave.
The iron pickaxe made short work of the stone. Each strike bit deep, and the blocks dissolved into his inventory at a significantly faster rate. Before long, four more slots on his stone page were completely filled, holding a total of 400 stone blocks. Satisfied with his haul, Neil returned to the settlement.
Later that day, the second full day after the initial storm, Neil constructed their new home: the grandparents' room central, flanked by the children's room and the first uncle's room to the left, and the second uncle's and parents' room to the right. A central open area with a stone floor connected them. Towards the front were the main gate and the kitchen with its chimney, and to the left of the gate was storage. The outer frame was wood, the rest stone. Oak doors were placed at the main gate and each room.
As soon as the house was complete, his grandmother, his two aunts, his mother, and his sister, Lyra, eagerly explored their new dwelling, their footsteps echoing slightly on the stone floor. Lyra was particularly thrilled with her separate children's room beside her grandparents' room. Excitedly, they began moving their essential belongings inside: food to the kitchen, utensils, woven cloths, and sleeping carpets to the various rooms.
Shortly after they had settled some of their belongings, his grandfather, uncles, father, and his two brothers, Orion and Caspian, returned from a successful hunt, laden with fresh game. They stopped in surprise, gazing at their completed stone and wood house. Each family unit now had their own designated room. Neil would share the children's room with his brothers, Orion and Caspian, and his sister, Lyra.
The successful hunt called for a celebration. That evening, the family held a small feast in the central open area, their first meal together in their new home under the open sky. The air was filled with happiness and a sense of profound relief. As the night deepened, everyone retired to their own rooms for the first time. Neil, Caspian, Orion, and Lyra laid out their sleeping carpets side-by-side in the children's room. Lyra, nestled in her own space, started telling a ghost story, though she pretended not to be scared by her own words. Soon, the comforting silence of sleep settled over their new home.