I was very lucky that the worst of the headaches and nausea subsided within a few days. The doctor also confirmed I was recovering well and could start doing light activities again, and I couldn't wait. I'd already been bored with staying in bed and resting from the get-go.

The first thing I did once I'd assured my parents I wouldn't be going near any cliffs alone, was take a walk to Boris' house. I needed to talk to him about his nephew's strange habits, but, I also wanted to thank Aquila again for his help with a small gift. I had no idea what he'd like to receive though, which was another question for Boris.

It was ten in the morning and Aquila was in school (Iris had confirmed he was being his charming, grouchy self and responded gruffly to any attempt to question or thank him, like I'd expected), so I could speak with his uncle alone. He was likely at work in his workshop, which was the building next to his actual house.

As I walked around back, I noticed Boris had finished his garden fence. A high whining sound of a wood shaver came from the workshop, confirming my hunch that Boris was at work there. The workshop's door was open, and I stepped inside.

Boris' back was turned towards me and there was no way he could've heard me enter over the loud machine, but the man had always had an uncanny way of 'sensing' someone was in the room with him. Switching off his wood shaver, Boris turned around. A lopsided smile appeared on his face when he saw me. "If it isn't Xavier!" he greeted me. "Morning. Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"

"Morning. No, the doctor gave me the ok to go on strolls," I replied with a grin. "Just not near cliffs."

Boris barked out a laugh. "That's good, that's good," he said. "What can I help you with, kid? If It doesn't take too long, I can do it now, but this job is urgent so I can't take on any big jobs today."

"Oh, no, I don't have a job for you. I just wanted to talk for a moment." I looked at the rows of already treated planks stored in the back. "But I can come back later. Are you making another fence? I thought your fence outside looked pretty finished."

"It is. This one is for you," Boris replied, pointing at me. 

"For me?"

"Yeah, Bob and I are expanding the fencing around the cliffs since the current ones weren't sufficient."

I felt a flush spread across my cheeks. "Oh, I really don't think that's necessary," I started sputtering, but Boris waved away my protests.

"Nonsense, we wouldn't want anyone else falling down there," he said. "You were very lucky my nephew happened to be walking in the valley, else you wouldn't be here talking to me now."

"That's true," I had to admit.

Boris shook his head.  "Ah but don't mind me. You came here because you wanted to talk, right? I'll finish this wooden plank and I'll be right inside. Go fill the kettle, will you?"

"Of course, will do."

I saluted Boris, turned, and walked into his kitchen to do as he asked. Once I'd filled the kettle and turned it on, I walked on to the dining table and took a seat. My gaze wandered across the room. Not much had changed since last time—the same pair of shoes was still in the windowsill and the same carton boxes were scattered across the floor. A box with flour, a box with old books... My eyes shot back to the old books when I saw a little black spine that stood out. Wait, was that what I thought it was?

No, probably not. That would be super coincidental.

Still, I couldn't resist taking a peek at the book. I stood and walked over to the carton box. Casting a glance over my shoulder in the workshop's direction, I grabbed the little black book and immediately, I saw I was right. 

I hadn't been able to remember the drawings clearly before, but now that I saw them right in front of me it was unmistakable. I'd recognise the silvery sketch of the woods, the wolf, and the moon on the cover anywhere. This was the fairytale book our teacher had been reading to us.

I flipped the book open and started reading on the first page. The chapter started with a preface, explaining that every tale in this book was based on the truth and events the author had directly witnessed. I didn't remember any teacher ever claiming the stories were real, but it was probably a stylistic choice from the author, like horror movies often claiming they were based on real life to scare the audience more.

I was so engrossed in the book, I didn't hear Boris coming in until he closed the door behind him.

I jolted and whirled around, finding Boris behind me with a smile on his face and two cups of tea. "Make yourself at home," he said, nodding at the book in my hands. "But not this much. It's an old book, and it's fragile. I'd rather you put that back in the box."

Heat crept up my neck. I quickly but carefully did as Boris asked and put the book back where I found it. "I'm sorry," I apologised. "It's just that I've been asking Helmi about this book the other day. She said someone had stolen it from the library. That's why I was surprised to see it here."

Boris cocked his head to the side. "It's unfair to say it was stolen when it never belonged to the school library in the first place, hm? Though Helmi may not remember that."

"Oh, it was yours then?" I asked.

"Yeah, I let the school borrow it for the little ones," Boris replied. "But then Mrs. Bennet and I decided it was for the best that the kids didn't have access to it anymore. It nearly caused an accident like yours, you know. When teenagers and children went looking for the wolves in the woods."

I blinked. "It did? I don't remember hearing about any accidents. I just remember Mrs. Bennet at some point saying the kids shouldn't be exposed to this material."

"Ah yes, well, you would've been a little too young to have been told," Boris said. "Another young woman got lost in the woods one evening. She was around your age. Her parents wanted to keep it hush-hush. It was a reputation thing to them. Couldn't let the other folks know they lost track of her."

"Really, who was it?" I asked with wide eyes. 

"Your friend Iris' mom, Mrs. Apple," Boris replied. "But she was only gone for a few hours while you went missing the entire night."

"I see." I made a mental note to ask Mrs. Apple about the incident the next time I was at Apple's supermarket. I especially wanted to know now if she had also seen a wolf the night she got lost.

Boris took a seat at the table, placing both steaming cups of tea on its surface. "But that's not what you came here to ask, I take it? How can I help you?"

"Oh, right!" I sat down opposite Boris. "I wanted to get Aquila something for helping me out. A small gift or something. I'm a bit at a loss for what he would like, though. I wondered if you had any ideas."

"I think he would most like to go back to being anonymous at school," Boris said with a grin.

I grimaced. "I had a feeling it'd be that way. He's not happy with getting attention at all, is he?"

"No." Boris laughed. "But let the boy complain. This is good for him."

"It is?"

"Sure! He can grouch all he wants. In the end, he's a teenager." Boris shrugged. "Everyone wants to be liked on some level. To be a part of the group. It's no different for Aquila."

So far, Aquila had been heavily resisting every attempt I'd made to help him to be a part of the group. I strongly doubted what Boris said, but I still nodded. "I suppose," I said. "You still haven't answered my question, though. What should I give him?"

Boris thought about it for a moment. "Flowers," he then said.

"Flowers?" I repeated, unable to keep the surprise out of my voice.

"Yeah, or lavender tea," Boris confirmed. "Give the boy something that smells nice, but in an earthly or nature kind of way. No perfumes or chemicals."

"Really?"

Boris raised a brow and grinned. "Is that so hard to believe? Aquila has a sensitive nose. He hates things that stink and loves things that smell good. It's quite simple, buying him gifts."

"No, I suppose that makes sense," I said. "I'll swing by Helga's plant store. Thanks for the idea."

"No problem," Boris said. "Just do me a favour and buy a flower in a pot. Not a bouquet that will wither in a few days, alright?"

"Alright," I easily agreed. I preferred plants and flowers that stayed alive a while longer as well myself.

With the gift matter settled, there was only one more question on my mind. I frowned. "Say, Boris, are you never worried when he walks into the woods at night with no shoes on? Aquila? He also stayed away the entire night with me, yet, nobody seemed worried about him."

Boris snorted, as if amused by some sort of inside joke. "Like I told you before, there's a lot I worry about for that boy. But it's not him walking in the woods."

"Even without shoes?"

"He's fine, Xavier. He's been in those woods his whole life."

I really wanted to beg to differ with all the enormous wolves stalking the trees nowadays. For a moment I thought about mentioning what I'd seen in the river and the cave to Boris too, but I quickly decided against it. I wasn't in the mood to be looked at like I was crazy or seeing things by yet another person.

"Noted," I said. "I won't ask about Aquila again then."

"Oh, you can be curious about him." Boris waggled his eyebrows. "It also wouldn't be bad for Aquila if someone showed some interest. I can give you his phone number. He's a good guy."

I laughed nervously. "Wait, are you trying to match-make me to your nephew?"

"That depends. Is it working?" Boris asked with a wink.

"Well, that's—" I sputtered. "Anyway, I should go to Helga's shop now. Thanks for helping out. Sorry, I don't have time to drink tea. So very much to do today! Have a nice day!"

Boris laughed loudly behind me as I all but fled his house, my head feeling twice the size from all the blood rushing to it.