With everything that has improved Bob’s field, he didn’t have that much to do. Weeding once a week is more than enough. Building the windmill doesn’t pique his interest yet as there is no use for it at the moment and even in the near foreseeable future. He mostly spends his time training the cubs, Agta and Atga to herd the animals, not just the sheep as one of the only things to have him do something.

With enough spare time on his hand he puts effort into training his archery skills. The encounter with the wolf taught him a great lesson, that he lacks some skills to protect himself and the farm, he was lucky enough to hit it despite the range and survive overall. Training with the bow is not his best skill, he couldn’t hunt common animals to feed himself with which is why he sticks with farming. Strength is something that he greatly values, it is with the same strength he builds the farm and killed the wolf.

In the days that followed, his life is uneventful. Bara didn’t visit him. He received no word from Nesbitt either. In every week that Bara didn’t visit he makes a small feast for himself and the wolves. He makes stew with only vegetables and cooks the eggs for Agta and Atga. Only after a few months does he lets some of the eggs hatch and only then does he get to taste some meat.

After 2 years of living in the peninsula he finally has enough time to take a look at the place surrounding his farm. He lives on the farthest hill of the peninsula and a short distance behind his house is the cliffs. Looking down, you could see the waves crashing and birds flying around. Some of them made nest on the walls by the cliff.

Seeing as there is nothing more for him there, he goes down the hill and into the forest. He took his bow and some arrows with him along with the machete sheathed on his side. As usual the wolves are with him.

It surprised him how fast the cubs grow. It hasn’t been a month since he has them and they already look fully grown. Despite being only fed by fried eggs on a daily basis. Which led him to decide that they need more nourishment.

Inside the forest he is awed by the beauty of the trees. Various birds and small animals can be seen roaming the place. It made him recall his experience when he first got to the place. He lives off plants that are edible till his crops are fully grown and his tree bears fruit, he didn’t know there was such a life striving here with him. But he was sure that there are no monsters living here as for his understanding that they would kill him no matter the circumstances.

He found a small stream and decided to take a rest there. It is still early but thought it nice too rest by it. The cold water gave him a little jolt. It’s been a long time since he experienced cold water. The water that he has at the farm is not as cold as this. With nothing else to do for the rest of the day, he strips his clothes and jumps into the river. The wolves jump with him. They swim around, he never felt so refreshed for a very long time.

The river is not too wide and not deep either. The water is clear that you could see the bottom of it. While soaking himself he finds the time to use some rocks as a stepping stone and placed it on the more shallow part of the river, making it easier for him to cross to the other side without getting wet.

After quite a rest that he didn’t expect he returns to his main purpose, hunting. They went back to the part of the forest where they saw the small animals in abundance. A rabbit caught his eye and pulls his bow and aims at it. Agta and Atga lie low and waits for his signal. With the release of the arrow that he timed with his breathing it hit one of the rabbits leaving the others to run around. He gave the wolves a signal to run towards it and they chase the animals that runs away.

He walks towards the rabbit and removed the arrow. Tying its head and attaching it to his belt he now looks for the wolves. As fast as they left, they returned with something on their mouth. Atga has 2 rabbits on her jaws while Agta has a squirrel.

Surprised, bob scratched his head. He didn’t want them to hunt but it seems they are fully capable to take care of themselves. He wondered if the day would come that they will leave him or worse attack his remaining livestock. He took their haul for the day and tied it with the rabbit on his belt. Seeing as it is too heavy for his waist, he tied it and divided it equally with an animal on each end. He placed the tied meat over the wolves’ neck displaying a necklace of dead rabbits and a squirrel.

As they were about to leave, he feels a small tremor from the direction of the river. He inspected it and see something happening on the other side of the stream. The treetops were moving as if something big is making them do so. Upon closer inspection he saw a boulder moving, about 3 times his height. It has 2 pillars as arms and another 2 that serves as its legs. It stands upright and is walking through the forest. On the middle part of a boulder is a red crystal that shines when hit by the light. It doesn’t seem hostile from a far and he is hesitating to go anywhere near it since it is the first time he saw something like it. It enters a cave a short distance from the river.

The cave has a big entrance to be able to fit the entire creature that he just witnessed. Seeing as the creature didn’t wreak havoc, he decided to leave it alone and return to the farm. He left the forest and went to the barn to skin the rabbits and squirrel.

Before he places the animals on the fire, he clasps his hand and bowed himself.

“Oh dead creatures, thank you for being meat.”

Agta and Atga howled as he utters those words.

While staring at the burning coal and the juices of the rabbit slowly erupts his eyes met the wolves’ who’s very eager to eat.

‘They already look like full grown wolves despite only being with me for a couple of weeks’

Then his mind wanders at the creature that he saw earlier. There was nothing like it, he never heard of stories that depicts something similar, a boulder that lives.