Lilly was feeling overwhelmed, rushing from caring for one part of her farm to another, when she spotted a horse and rider approaching her farmhouse. Her heart began to beat faster in panic when she realized who it was—Ignatius Timber.

The horse he rode was sleek and well-groomed, with glossy, deep black fur that shimmered under the sun. Its saddle and harness were crafted from the finest leather, studded with precious stones that glinted with each movement. It was a sight that commanded attention, symbolizing wealth and power—quite the display.

Lilly crossed her arms as she watched him dismount and stride up to her home, his shimmering new shoes crunching on the gravel of the driveway. Today, he wasn’t in a suit, but he wore brand new pants that still had the creases in them and a wide brim hat similar to Yorik’s but without the weathered look. Apparently, Ignatius was trying to look like a farmer.

He was carrying a leather sack; and when he got closer, he swung it onto the porch with a heavy clink. With a smirk, he untied the bag, revealing a pile of gold coins that glinted brightly under the sunlight. The sight was breathtaking and intimidating at the same time. Lilly had never seen so much gold in her life.

"All this could be yours, Lilly," Ignatius began, his voice smooth as silk. "Just sell me your farm and the magical animals along with it."

He reached into the bag, withdrawing a handful of the coins and letting them cascade back into the sack, each piece chinking against the other, echoing promises of wealth and security. It was a fortune, enough to resolve her financial troubles, secure a comfortable life, and more. Someone less stubborn would have taken his offer. She was in over her head. Selling her farm for a fortune would be the practical thing to do.

But Lilly looked from the gold to the farm, to the griffy playing in the yard, to the rainbow-colored cria that was laying in the shade in her pasture beside her unicorn, Snow. Her decision was clear. Her farm was more than just a business; it was her home, and these magical creatures were her family.

"No deal, Ignatius," she said with resolute conviction. "This farm and these animals are not for sale. Not for all the gold in the world.

"Ignatius, I don't understand," Lilly continued, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Why my farm? With the kind of money you just laid out, you could easily buy a magical animal or two. You could start your own farm."

Ignatius, taken aback by Lilly's question, paused and chuckled dryly. He looked around the farm, his gaze lingering on each of the magical creatures with a certain intensity. His eyes, however, seemed devoid of the warmth and genuine affection Lilly held for her farm and its inhabitants. Instead, there was an unsettling glint of cold ambition.

"It's not just about having magical creatures, Lilly," he responded, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Your farm...it has something unique, something that's not easy to replicate. And that's what I want."

His cryptic answer left Lilly more bewildered. His persistent interest in her farm, despite his ability to start his own, made her uneasy. She knew her farm was special, but it was more than just the magical creatures. It was about the love, care, and harmony she had built here—elements that couldn't be bought with gold. Could Ignatius see that? Or was he after something else entirely?

The cloud of dust at the end of the drive caught Lilly's eye. Ignatius must have seen it, too, because he walked back to his horse and remounted. A moment later, the familiar sight of Yorik's rusty, old truck rumbled into view. The noise startled Ignatius' expensive-looking horse, but Ignatius held him steady with a firm hand.

Yorik pulled up, the truck grinding to a halt as he took in the scene. His gaze narrowed at the sight of Ignatius perched atop his horse; and he climbed out of the truck, a scowl etched deep into his weathered face.

"I hope you're not here bothering Lilly, Timber," Yorik called out, his voice echoing across the quiet farmyard.

Ignatius simply raised his hat in an almost mocking salute before responding coolly. "Just making a business proposition, Yorik," he said, his gaze lingering on Lilly before he nudged his horse and rode off down the driveway.

The moment Ignatius was out of sight, Yorik strode over to her. Lilly was still reeling from the audacity of Ignatius' offer, and she only realized she had been shaking when Yorik took her hands in his, offering silent comfort.

"Lilly," he began, his voice noticeably softer than it had been when he'd confronted Ignatius, "I came as soon as I realized that Ignatius Timber's scheming would probably lead him here after my farm. I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner. He's been trying to buy up all the local farms. He wants to corner the market on magical animals."

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His words resonated within her, fanning the flames of her anger. "The audacity of that man," she muttered through clenched teeth. "These creatures are not commodities for him to trade and profit from. They are living, breathing beings. They are my family."

Yorik simply nodded, squeezing her hands in reassurance. "I know, Lilly, and we'll do everything we can to stop him. But there is something else I need to tell you. I heard he recently bought a rainbow alpaca farm on the other side of town."

Lilly’s heart dropped. Could Ignatius have told the truth when he said Aura belonged to him? She didn’t want to return the loving, little creature to such a cold, manipulative man; but she also wasn’t the type of person who stole someone else’s livestock.

Yorik interrupted her dark thoughts when he gently placed his hand under chin, lifting her eyes to look into his. “Lilly? Are you going to be all right?”

Lilly nodded her head. She would have to be.

Lilly narrowed her eyes as a new idea and determination overcame her. “Do you know where the alpaca farm is? Would you like to do a bit of reconnaissance with me tonight?”

Yorik cocked his head. "Before I agree to something, I need to know what exactly you have in mind."

Lilly pursed her lips feeling like she was ready to take on the world. "I want to check out this magical alpaca farm to see how Ignatius is treating the animals before I figure out what to do with Aura. But I don't want anyone to see me. I want to get a true view of what things are like, so I want to go tonight."

Taken aback, Yorik regarded Lilly with a look of surprise and concern. "Are you sure, Lilly? I mean, it could be dangerous. You don't know what you might be walking into."

Lilly met his gaze firmly, her determination unwavering. "That's why I want you to come with me, Yorik. We need to see for ourselves what we're dealing with. Aura and all the other magical creatures deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, not exploited for profit. I have to do this, Yorik."

Seeing the resolve in her eyes, Yorik sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and finally nodded. "All right, Lilly. I'm in. We'll check out this magical alpaca farm tonight. Let me finish up my chores, and I’ll be back in a few hours."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the land, Lilly and Yorik drove his weathered pick-up truck along the winding rural roads toward Ignatius Timber's alpaca farm. They parked the truck out of sight, tucked away amid the dense thicket of trees lining the property. Even in the gathering dusk, the farm itself was a sprawling plot of verdant pastures, softly illuminated by the dwindling sunlight.

Slipping out of the truck, they moved with a quiet stealth, ducking low and skirting the edge of the farm, using the line of trees as their cover. They whispered to each other in hushed tones, discussing their plan, pointing out notable features of the farm.

"We should stay close to the edge," Yorik murmured, eyes keenly sweeping the terrain. "Just observe; don't let them spot us."

Lilly nodded, her eyes focused on the pasture in front of them. The farm was a picture of rural tranquility, eerily contradicting the image of harsh exploitation that Lilly had painted in her mind. Here, the alpacas were grazing calmly in the open fields, their many-hued coats glinting in the dying light. They were similar to Aura in their striking colors but more imposing in their size.

A man and a woman—presumably, the couple who tended to the farm—were in the process of herding the alpacas into a spacious barn for the night. Their movements were gentle, their voices soft and soothing, the animals responding to their commands with ease. The scene was not one of cruelty and exploitation but of harmonious coexistence.

"Look at them," Lilly whispered, a tone of surprise coloring her words. "They look...content. Not at all like the mistreated animals I was imagining."

"Seems like a well-run farm," Yorik responded, his brows furrowing slightly. "But where's Timber? I don't see him around."

Where was Ignatius Timber? The man who seemed so eager to hoard all the magical creatures of Thornwood was nowhere to be seen. Lilly felt a stir of confusion and frustration, the reality in front of her clashing with the grim picture she had in her mind.

"I’ll come back tomorrow in daylight," Lilly whispered, her voice soft, but resolute. "I want to talk to that couple. See what they know about Aura and Timber."

As the final traces of daylight faded, Lilly decided to return during the daytime to talk to the couple and gain more insight into the operations of the farm and, most importantly, to clarify the situation about Aura. As they retreated back to the truck, Lilly couldn't shake off the strange feeling of surprise and relief mixed with a persistent sense of wariness.

After Yorik left, Lilly walked through the barn double checking on all of her farm animals before turning into bed. She noticed Astra's breathing had become labored. Her sides heaved as she drew in ragged breaths, and a thin layer of sweat coated her body.

"Something's wrong," Lilly whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

Lilly knelt beside Astra, resting a hand on her slightly bulging flank. The goat's heart pounded beneath her touch, a rapid staccato that sent a shiver down Lilly's spine. Uncharacteristically, the goat kicked at Lilly and moved to a different part of her stall. Lilly tried to approach the normally calm goat and had to pull back her hand quickly as Astra tried to bite her.

"Please be okay," she whispered, her voice cracking. "You can't leave me, Astra."

Lilly swallowed hard as she tried to steady her breathing. She watched over Astra, waiting for any sign of what was to come. As the night wore on, a storm began to brew outside, the wind howling like a mournful lament.

"Astra..." Lilly's voice trembled as she stared at the dark clouds rolling in. "You have to be all right. Come on, girl."

As the first drops of rain began to fall, Lilly stayed by Astra’s side, praying she could get them through the storm.