“Specifically, we’ll be informing the students tomorrow on new safety measures for first year students.”

“I told you both when you first came here about restricted areas for first years. Certain parts of the campus require professors to escort students or access is limited to upperclassmen.”

“The region you all were visiting is regularly used for campus events and has been considered completely safe with the largest creatures present being small birds, squirrels and rabbits.”

“That raises the question of why a brown bear, a species which normally stays strictly in the most restricted and dangerous regions of the wilds, would have been anywhere near that area.”

“The school keeps multiple rangers on hand to manage the wilds who went looking for the bear after you all called me yesterday.”

“None of them encountered the bear, and they agreed it headed back to the more dangerous parts of the wilds after it’s encounter with you all.”

“Considering it’s the first week of classes, we’ll be restricting students to the main campus area until we know more about how this happened.”

“There’s multiple fail safes present to keep certain areas of the wilds safer than others. The fact the bear made it past them all says a lot. It really wanted whatever it was after, which appeared to be the three of you.”

“Vincent you’re talking almost like the bear’s a person. How do you know it wasn’t just looking for food or a place to sleep before it found us?”

Vincent paused for a moment as if lost in thought before stating, “Something important you’ll come to learn is that many of the creatures in this place aren’t like the ones in the outside world.”

“The very air around us is infused with natural energy, which you won’t fully appreciate until you’re further along in your studies, and that energy nourishes you and the speed at which you learn.”

Vincent’s hands rose form his side as he placed them on each boy’s shoulder.

“The key thing to understand, however is that it nourishes everything else here too. That means the animals, the plants, the very dirt beneath your feet is all being enriched.”

He lowered his hands, but Vincent’s eyes remained serious as he looked at each of them.

“For animals, age is a big indicator for both intelligence but also strength. Size too.”

“A rabbit or squirrel is unlikely to show much change but an animal like that bear takes on qualities that are impossible in a normal bear that lives to eat berries, wander around, and sleep.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Animals here want to grow. Growth mentally and physically are both possible and that growth can most easily come from eating the flesh of other enriched creatures.”

“What do you both think that means in terms of which animals are the most dangerous here?”

Arthur and Tom didn’t have an answer.

Vincent continued, “Think in terms of a food chain. Who is at the top of the chain?”

“Apex predators?” Arthur responded.

“Exactly right,” Vincent affirmed, “That bear was likely looking for something high in energy content to fight and then consume afterward.”

Tom turned to Arthur and asked, “Could it have been trying to get to Willow? She seemed like the only big source of natural energy around.”

Arthur thought about it, “That could have been the reason. Willow was certainly glowing a lot.”

Noticing a look of confusion on Vincent’s face, Arthur continued, “Willow is Shona’s idol. She apparently came from the core of a really old tree.”

“A powerful idol could have gotten the bear’s attention, but there’s no way to know for sure,” Vincent declared.”

“The important thing to note however, is that something brought the bear there, and until we have more confirmation on what happened, we’ll be keeping students closer to the main campus.”

“For now, just focus on enjoying your first week of classes. Welcome week events should start tonight as well so try and get out for that.”

“Wait,” said Tom, “Why didn’t welcome week start last night with the first day of classes?”

“It’s done that way to give students a day to get settled in with their class schedules. With everyone a bit more settled in, we can get to giving them a true welcome to campus.”

“…I don’t know,” Arthur muttered, “We’ve gotten a lot of assignments today already. I may need to get caught up before doing any events.”

“The choice is up to you!” Vincent exclaimed, “I understand the desire to get caught up, but welcome week is a great chance to meet your classmates.”

Vincent checked his watch, stating, “I may have kept you both too long to chat. Get moving and we can talk more later if you have any other questions.”

Arthur and Tom grabbed their belongings from the ground, making sure not to forget anything before heading off the gym field, going separate directions to their next classes once they hit the pavement.

As they left, Vincent turned back to the cinderblock building containing the class supplies, which he entered and headed for one of rooms located deep within the building.

His office here wasn’t much, furnished sparsely and largely occupied by a stout desk jammed into the back corner with a lamp.

Vincent spun his office chair around and heavily took a seat as he pulled out his phone.

After a few presses on the screen, he put it to his ear and waited.

He sighed as no one picked up and the phone went to voicemail.

At the click, he stated, “I asked the boys if they had any ideas what could have drawn the bear’s attention, but beyond the idol, they couldn’t think of anything.”

“It is possible, but I think we both know a creature like that is after flesh and blood more than anything.”

“They’ve both been working their tails off and I don’t see any reason to suspect them of hiding something from me.”

“Until we know more, I suppose the best bet is to observe them and try to keep them from getting into any more trouble.”

“We can discuss it more if you’re still interested, but I think they’ll be fine in the meantime with restrictions going up for welcome week.”

“Let’s hope they don’t prove me wrong.”