Wilderness Survival with Druid System

The remaining wild dogs really became stray dogs as described in the text.

They struggled to flee in panic, desperately escaping into the surrounding bushes.

”Should we give chase?”

Seeing the wild dogs’ condition, Dennis, who was just guarding with Fred, asked excitedly.

Chen Wen shook his head slightly: ”No need, we have enough food and don’t need to trade for more supplies. This is enough.”

”The desert ecosystem is very fragile, and this pack of Australian Wild Dogs is an indispensable part of the fragile ecosystem. I see that the population of burrowing rabbits here hasn’t exploded, likely thanks to the wild dogs. If we drive them to extinction, the rabbit population will go unchecked, and even with natural wells, this oasis could become barren.”

Chen Wen’s words made the group ponder deeply.

Environmental protection is easy to talk about but very complicated to execute.

As Chen Wen said, although this oasis is prosperous, beneath that prosperity lies vulnerability.

A slight human influence could turn this oasis into a desert.

”Chen Wen is right; we really shouldn’t drive them to extinction.”

Dennis took a deep breath, looking at Chen Wen with admiration.

Hua Yun also nodded thoughtfully and then asked, ”Were you trying to stop us when we were about to shoot the third arrow?”

”Pretty much, but by then you had already shot it, so I didn’t say anything more. Luckily, Adam missed.”

A mischievous smile flashed across Chen Wen’s face, making Adam feel a bit awkward.

Adam thought for a moment and said, ”I got your hint and intentionally missed.”

Upon hearing this, everyone laughed.

After this, they once again realized a new side of Chen Wen.

...

After letting the wild dog pack go, Chen Wen was about to check on the severely injured wild dogs.

In the distant bushes.

A piercing scream suddenly sounded, drawing Chen Wen and the others’ attention in that direction.

The cry was from an Australian Wild Dog!

Chen Wen frowned and asked, ”Over there... what kind of place is it?”

Hearing this, Dennis said, ”Never been there, could there be danger there?”

”Whatever can kill a full-grown Australian Wild Dog isn’t right; could it be some venomous snake?”

Adam joined the discussion.

Dennis shook his head: ”Doesn’t seem likely. Most of the time, venomous snakes don’t attack passing beasts; they usually avoid them.”

”Could it be a lace monitor?”

At this moment, Chen Wen offered his guess.

The lace monitor is a well-known lizard in the reptilian world.

They can even grow up to twenty kilograms.

Likewise, they are top predators in Australia.

But after Chen Wen finished speaking, he denied his guess: ”Not likely, lace monitors live in savannas; they can’t adapt to the desert environment.”

Dennis agreed: ”That’s right, our association has never seen the presence of lace monitors here.”

While the two were talking.

Fred couldn’t help but say, ”What’s the situation? Why don’t we just go have a look?”

Once he said that, everyone looked at Fred.

Hua Yun kindly reminded: ”The situation here is complicated; it’s not suitable to venture close. If it really is some creature that can threaten us, we’ll be in danger.”

Upon hearing this, Fred awkwardly scratched his head.

But waiting around wouldn’t do much good either.

Chen Wen decided directly: ”Let’s go check it out. Theoretically, it’s not too dangerous. Adam, Dennis, you two bring weapons; we’ll go take a look. Fred and Hua Yun, clean up the Australian Wild Dogs.”

The group thought for a moment and agreed with Chen Wen’s decision.

...

As they weaved through the bushes, Chen Wen and the other two couldn’t help but feel a bit tense.

A whistling kite circled overhead, providing them an aerial view.

After walking for about half an hour.

Suddenly, the kite let out a sharp cry.

The others couldn’t understand what the kite was signaling, but Chen Wen knew immediately.

The kite was alerting Chen Wen that the Australian Wild Dog that cried out was just ahead!

And it was severely injured!

Chen Wen took a deep breath, cautioning Adam and Dennis, ”Be careful, I sense that the Australian Wild Dog that cried out is nearby!”

Just as Chen Wen finished speaking.

Suddenly, ahead.

The injured Australian Wild Dog seemed to have heard Chen Wen’s voice and immediately let out a whimpering cry.

The three exchanged glances and immediately grew alert.

”I’ll take the lead.”

Chen Wen took the initiative, quickly moving to the front.

Relying on keywords and transformation, he was the only one capable of handling various sudden situations.

Adam and Dennis didn’t say much more and quickly followed behind Chen Wen, acting as his support.

The three pushed through the bushes and arrived at a somewhat lush open area.

On the other side of this open area, in front of a cluster of bushes,

lay an Australian Wild Dog, its body severely injured.

And the cause of its injury wasn’t the venomous snake they had speculated, or Chen Wen’s guessed lace monitor, but...

”A trap?”

Chen Wen looked in surprise at the object on the Australian Wild Dog’s leg and couldn’t help but ask, ”Why would something like this be here?”

Hearing this.

Dennis also looked over in surprise: ”It’s unlikely anyone would come to a place like this; why would there be a trap?”

The group cautiously approached, and along the way, Chen Wen found a second trap.

After picking up both traps.

Chen Wen said seriously, ”Both traps are brand new, not leftovers from before.”

”Look at the stains on them; they are almost none, which means these two traps were set just in the last couple of days!”

Dennis inhaled deeply, his expression also growing serious: ”Competitors couldn’t have traps, so it seems that just before we arrived here, someone passed by this area and set the traps!”

Adam frowned: ”Who could it be? Local hunters?”

Dennis shook his head: ”Local hunters aren’t accustomed to using traps for hunting. You see, the desert climate is hot, and with trap hunting, you have to check the traps here daily; otherwise, the prey will rot after a while, and local hunters usually graze for a living. They’re nomadic and wouldn’t use traps for hunting.”

This made Chen Wen secretly on high alert.

He knew of a group of hunters, not local, who were also active in this desert.

Moreover, they harbored significant hostility towards him!

”Let’s take the traps and discuss the situation when we get back.”

Chen Wen said.

Adam and Dennis nodded.

But when they looked at the Australian Wild Dog severely injured by the trap, Adam hesitated a bit and said, ”What about it? The trap has completely crushed its hind leg; survival will be tough for it.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Wen sighed softly: ”Let’s put it out of its misery; we don’t have the means to rescue it.”

Dennis nodded silently.