I hate cutting wood. I’m not strong, nor am I big. Things like this just aren’t made for me, but those are the things I must do. Even if you hate something, sometimes you need to do this. This is how the world works.

I was cutting the wood behind the elder’s house. A month has passed, since I started living with him. In this time I got to know him, and everyone in the village. I learned how to work, and how to help others. I wanted to be useful.

I hope I am useful.

I looked around. The leaves on the trees were starting to change their colors. Autumn was coming, and the days have become a little colder. I didn’t dislike it that much. Jacob and Anna would tell me, that hey hate when it’s cold, but I’m a little different than them. Maybe I’m weird? I don’t really know.

“This should be the last one.” I said, as I cut another piece of wood. I needed to prepare it for the winter, but there is no reason to spend the whole day on it. I still had some time.

I still had some time…

“Do you know the name Tiaris?” I didn’t know that this question, would make them so angry. How did I even know that name? A goddess of madness, pain and hatred. I didn’t remember anything new after that. Why did I remember that name?

“Adam are you done?” I heard a familiar voice.

It was Anna. She was looking at me, and smiling.

“Something happened?” I asked, and looked at the basket in her hands. I could smell something good coming from it.

“The elder’s wife has told me to give you this. She’s saying that you should get some rest for today, and eat something good.”

Yeah, there is no reason to work today. Especially now, that I have something really tasty to eat. As I looked at the basket, a loud noise escaped my stomach, and Anna laughed.

“Come, eat.” she said, and I did just that.

This lady has gave me some sandwiches. and apples. I liked her cooking, but I was too hungry to even think about the taste. I ate quickly, as if someone was going to take my food away. It seemed to entertain Anna, because she looked at me all the time.

It’s not like I cared. I was happy. The way I lived now. I was happy.

“If you are free after that, then maybe you would like to go with me to the forest? I want to look for mushrooms. I know that the autumn has just started, but I’m sure we will find something.” Anna said, as I was eating.

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“I don’t see a problem with that.” I just responded, and she smiled.

Days like this are nice. There is no reason to refuse her. I like walking through the forest, it calms me down. The sound that the leaves make, when they are moved by the wind. It’s calming, and nice.

“Are you done?” Anna said, when I ate the last apple.

I was a little sad, that the food was gone, but there was nothing I could do. I just nodded, and looked around. I have cut a lot of wood. Two weeks of a work like this, and we will be ready for the winter.

Yeah, maybe I have a skill now. Something like “woodcutter”. Who knows? Well, it’s not like I can check it. Even after all this time, I haven’t found out, how to call for this weird table. I asked many people, but they told me that this is natural for them. That they don’t even think about it.

It’s like a second nature for them.

“Come Adam. You’ll see, that we will find something good.” the girl said, and I started walking after her.

As I was on the road, I looked at the houses around. I looked at this small village. Who knew, that I would met people so kind. They aren’t rich, but they are truly kind.

Truly kind…

“Run! Run!” a woman was running towards us. I knew her, she was one of the villagers, and it seemed that she went to the shrine. She was thin, with a face full of terror. When I looked at her, I noticed a child. She was carrying a small boy, maybe three years old with her.

He was crying for some reason.

“W-What happened?!” Anna shouted, and the woman tripped. Both she, and the boy have fallen into the ground.

“T-The wolves! The wolves are coming!”

Wolves? Wolves are coming? Why… Wait, I don’t understand… What should we do? What is going to happen? Where?! Where are they? What is she talking about?! I can’t see them!

I looked at the woman one more time. She got up, and was running towards us once again, with the child in her hands.

“Adam, we need to hide! We need to tell the others!” I heard the scared voice of the girl beside me.

Yeah… You are right. We need to hide. We need to… I looked at the child one more time. He was about three hundred meters from us… He should get here in time. There is no way that he will…

I thought about those things, but then I looked behind him.

A wolf... A wolf was standing there. I was looking at the entrance to the forest. A big, gray wolf was looking me in the eyes. He was large… It didn’t seem normal… Why is he so large?

As I looked at him, I noticed smaller shadows that were walking behind him. Another ones. They are here to kill us.

This child… He won’t get here on time. He will die… Him, and this woman will die. Part of me wanted to help them. Part of me wanted save this boy, and a woman… A small, insignificant part of me…

I started running to the elder’s house. I needed to tell him. I needed to tell the others. We need to close the doors, we need to barricade! I was running. I have never run like this before.

“No! Leave me! Help me! Please!”

Screams. Screams of this woman behind me, and the cries of this young boy. I looked around and I saw that one of the wolves was biting her leg. She tried to defend herself, but there wasn’t anything she could do.

I didn't want to look at it. I couldn't look at it. I just turned around, and ran as fast as I could.

Soon after that, their voices disappeared.