The Creche in Action

At the edge of the village, the Weavers gathered. Their forms flickered in the dim light, their spindly appendages weaving rapidly as they coordinated their response. Unlike the Creche of the city, the Weavers here were deeply attuned to the land and its rhythms. They had long anticipated this storm, analyzing weather patterns and preparing countermeasures. They even used and stored the energy it produced, depending on need and availability of materials.

Meadowlight extended a filament-like limb, which shimmered with an intricate series of patterns—signals to the others. In response, smaller drones emerged from the forest, carrying long, flexible barriers made of bioengineered material. These were rapidly anchored into the ground, forming a semi-permeable shield that would redirect wind and manage floodwaters, and the movement was absorbed as energy.

Other Weavers focused on the river that ran past the village. As the water rose, they deployed absorbent pods and widened the riverbanks using nanotechnological processes. The changes were subtle but effective, buying precious time.

Inside the longhouse, Lyra and Meera tried to distract the villagers by leading a communal task, weaving baskets and mats to keep their hands busy. Still, the distant roar of the storm was deafening, and the occasional gusts that slipped past the Creche’s barriers rattled the wooden walls.

“Do you think it’ll hold?” Meera asked quietly.

“It has to,” Lyra said. “They’ve saved us before.”