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Chapter 256: Chapter 256 Traps
Kyra leaned back slightly in her chair, her mind racing with the details she wanted to share. The warriors around her were eager, hanging onto every word as they prepared for the challenges ahead.
"Alright," she began, "let’s break this down. First, let’s talk about traps. Depending on the kind of beasts we’re dealing with, we’ll need traps suited for their size and behavior. For the larger predators, you’ll need something robust, a pitfall trap perhaps, camouflaged with leaves and debris. You could also use heavy log traps that swing down from the trees especially near places they frequent."
One of the beastmen, a tall, broad-shouldered man with short brown hair, scratched his chin thoughtfully. "And what about for the smaller, faster beasts? Those ones that tend to sneak around the camp at night?"
Kyra nodded. "For the smaller ones you’ll need snares and nets. You can use wire or thick vine, set at different heights so they get caught no matter how high or low they run. You can also bait them with smaller prey. They’re scavengers, so once they smell an easy meal, they’ll come right into the trap."
The black-haired beastman with blue eyes spoke up next. "What about defending the perimeter? We can’t always rely on traps. Sometimes the beasts will be smart enough to avoid them."
Kyra’s eyes flickered as she considered the question. "True. That’s why we should use a layered defense. Set traps around the perimeter of the camp, but also create barriers—fences made from sharpened stakes, angled outward so that even if a beast charges, they’ll impale themselves before they can get to you. You can also dig shallow trenches filled with sharp stones around the camp. If something tries to rush in, it’ll lose its footing."
Damon, who had been silent until now, spoke up with a nod of approval. "These traps and barriers are good, but we can also use some of the terrain to our advantage. If we’re near cliffs or steep slopes, we can position ourselves in ways that make it harder for the beasts to reach us."
"Exactly," Kyra added, glancing at Damon. "We need to be strategic about our camp locations. Always choose places that give us a higher ground or natural defenses. Avoid valleys or low-lying areas where we can be surrounded."
The silver-haired beastman, who had been quiet after his earlier question, raised his hand slightly again. "And these beast patterns you mentioned earlier—how do we use that to plan?"
Kyra smiled, pleased that he was paying attention. "It’s all about observation. Set up patrols to monitor the area at different times of the day. Within a few days, you’ll start to notice patterns—when certain beasts pass by, which directions they come from, and what areas they tend to avoid. Once you have their routines down, you can set your traps to fit those behaviors. Think like the beasts—if you were hunting, where would you go? What areas would you avoid if you sensed danger? That’s how you outsmart them."
The beastmen murmured amongst themselves, nodding. The warrior holding the thick paper and pencil was furiously scribbling notes, his eyes gleaming with the new information Kyra was providing.
"Right," the silver-haired beastman nodded slowly, "So we study them first... and then we can set up traps based on their behavior."
"Exactly," Kyra said, leaning forward slightly. "Also, some beasts are drawn to specific sounds or smells. If we learn which ones live in the area, we can use that to our advantage. For example, some beasts hate certain scents. We could burn those plants near the edges of the camp to ward them off. Others might be drawn to particular sounds—high-pitched or certain frequencies. We avoid those sounds at all costs. Or we could even use those sounds to lure them into traps."
The black-haired beastman, scratching his chin, nodded thoughtfully. "So... we use their own instincts against them?"
"Yes," Kyra confirmed. "It’s about manipulating their instincts. We make the environment work in our favor. But remember, these beasts are territorial. It’s not just about food—it’s about defending their land. So, we need traps that confuse them, lead them in the wrong direction, or make them think twice before attacking."
Lucas, who had been watching the exchange with mild irritation, couldn’t help feeling a bit proud of Kyra’s insight. He whispered to Damon, "She really knows what she’s talking about."
Damon nodded subtly, though his eyes stayed fixed on Kyra, a mixture of admiration and possessiveness in his gaze.
Kyra then asked, "How many days are we going to spend there?"
The silver-haired beastman glanced at her, his metallic hair catching the light. He answered thoughtfully, "It depends on what we encounter. A week, maybe longer, depending on the situation."
Kyra processed that information, her brow furrowing as she considered what they’d need. "A week or more..." she repeated. "That’s a long time to be out there. We’ll need more than just the basics—food, water, and medical supplies are essential. But we’ll also need weapons, traps, materials for emergency shelters, and backup plans for different scenarios. This won’t be a simple excursion."
The black-haired beastman added, "We’ve already gathered some basic supplies, but we wanted your guidance on how to prioritize. If we’re setting up camp in hostile territory, we’ll need to be prepared for anything."
Kyra nodded. "What kind of traps have you been using?"
"Mainly pit traps and snares," the beastman replied, "but the nocturnal beasts, especially the bigger ones, are getting smarter. They’re harder to trap."
"That’s because they’re territorial," Kyra explained. "It’s not just about hunting for food—they’re defending their space. We’ll need more advanced traps, ones that mess with their instincts and confuse them. We’ll also need false trails, decoys, and distractions. It’s about making them second-guess every move they make near our camp."
Damon’s stern gaze swept over the group of beastmen again. "And if things go south?" he asked, his voice low and serious.
Kyra met his eyes and then turned back to the group. "If things go wrong, we retreat. No one should take unnecessary risks. We’ll have plans in place for every worst-case scenario—escape routes, signal systems, and temporary hideouts if we need them. Our survival comes first."
