Three days later, Gideon had already prepared another row of military tents for the Greenwarden researchers while the refugees finally began moving into the temporary residential area. Surprisingly, not a single one of them chose to leave.
Of course, with winter growing harsher every day, they didn't have many options.
Still, Gideon wanted to know why they had abandoned the Burrow altogether instead of simply enduring it until spring.
"The taxes kept increasing every month," one of the refugees answered.
"Eventually, none of us could afford to pay anymore. If we failed..." The man lowered his head. "The leader would simply send his men to beat us."
His name was Rick. He worked as a hunter while his wife, Andrea, was a tailor. Together they made a decent living before everything fell apart.
Rick hunted aberrants for their meat and cores while Andrea processed their hides into winter coats, bags and other necessities.
