CHAPTER TWO
THE FIRST DAY OUTSIDE
The sun rose slowly and softly over the small village. Warm gold light touched the tiny houses, the farms, and the long dirt road that led into the deep forest. Birds sang from high trees. Leaves moved in the gentle morning wind.
Ari opened his eyes.
He felt the cool air of a new day touch his face. He sat up and looked around the small room. It had only a bed made of straw, a wooden chair, one window, and a tiny table where an old cup stood. It was not much, but it was his. And today, he would step outside and learn the new world he had been born into.
Ari took a deep breath.
"Today is my day," he said in a small but brave voice.
He stood up, washed his face with cool water from a bowl, and tied the small cloth belt around his simple brown shirt. Then he picked up the wooden stick he carved last night. It was not a real sword yet. But for now, it was good enough.
He went to the door, put his hand on the handle, and then stopped.
For a moment, he felt scared.
The world outside was big. The forest was full of strange sounds. There were animals he had never seen. There were places he did not know. The wind outside felt different from the safe air inside the house.
"What if I get lost?" he whispered.
"What if I fall? What if I can't fight?"
His heart beat fast.
But then he remembered the fire he felt inside in Chapter One, his wish to grow, to learn, to protect, to be strong. That spark warmed him again.
He took a deep breath.
"I can try," he said.
"I just have to try."
With a slow push, the door opened.
The morning light poured in like a warm hug.
Ari stepped out.
THE PATH TO THE FOREST
The village was quiet at this hour. Most people were still inside their houses. A few old men sat near the well, talking in low voices. A woman swept the dust from her doorstep. A young girl carried a basket of small red fruits. The smell of warm bread drifted from a bakery.
Ari bowed to them as he walked. They smiled kindly at him.
One old man said, "Be careful, boy. The forest is deep today."
Ari nodded.
"I will try."
He walked until the houses grew fewer and fewer. The dirt road narrowed. Grass grew taller. The trees rose higher. The sound of the village faded behind him.
Ahead, the forest waited.
Its tall trees stood like guardians. The shadows inside were deep and cool. Little lights danced between the branches as the sun tried to peek through. Birds chirped. Insects buzzed. Leaves rustled.
Ari's small hands tightened around his wooden stick.
He stepped into the shade.
The forest welcomed him with a soft whisper.
FIRST SOUNDS, FIRST FEARS
Ari walked slowly, step by step. He stayed on the path, looking left and right, trying to understand everything.
A squirrel ran across the path.
Ari jumped.
A bird flew down from a branch and landed near his foot.
He froze.
A soft wind brushed his hair, making the leaves move like quiet waves.
He shivered.
Everything was new.
Everything was loud.
Everything felt bigger than him.
His breathing grew fast again.
"It's okay," he whispered.
"It's just new. New is okay."
He walked deeper.
A small stream cut across the path. Clear water danced over smooth stones. Ari bent down and touched it. It was cold, but nice. He washed his face again. It made him smile.
The forest was scary… but also beautiful.
He walked on.
THE FIRST CREATURE
As Ari stepped over a fallen log, he heard a small sound.
Rustle. Rustle.
He froze.
Something moved behind a bush ahead.
Not big. Not heavy.
But not tiny either.
A shadow wiggled.
Ari raised his wooden stick.
He took one careful step closer.
The bush shook again.
Then…
A small creature popped out.
It was round. Very round. Almost like a soft ball with legs. Its fur was bright green. Its eyes were wide and shiny. It looked like a mix of a rabbit and a soft fruit.
It stared at Ari.
Ari stared back.
The creature blinked.
Then it made a sound like "Puuuuuh!"
A silly, squeaky sound.
Ari lowered his stick slowly.
"It's… cute," he said.
He knelt down a little.
"Hello," he whispered.
The creature hopped once, then twice, then rolled forward until it bumped lightly into Ari's shoe.
Ari laughed.
"You're not scary at all."
But then, the forest wind changed.
It blew harder.
Colder.
Sharper.
The little creature froze.
Its fur stood up.
Ari felt something too.
A sound.
A deep one.
A growl.
From somewhere farther inside the trees.
The small creature shook and hid behind Ari's leg.
Ari swallowed.
"Okay… maybe something big is there."
He looked down at his tiny friend.
"Let's go back," he whispered.
But the creature pulled on his pants with its tiny teeth and shook its head.
"You want me to help?" Ari asked.
The creature nodded.
Ari felt his heart beat louder.
He did not have real armor.
He did not have a real sword.
He was still small.
But someone needed him.
He stood up straight.
"Okay. I will try to help."
THE FOREST BOAR
The growl came again.
Branches snapped.
Heavy steps thudded on the ground.
Ari held his stick with both hands. His arms shook. His legs shook. His whole body shook.
Then the creature stepped out.
It was a boar.
Big.
Brown.
Angry.
Its tusks were long and sharp.
Its eyes glowed a little red.
Its breath puffed like smoke.
The small green creature hid behind Ari's leg, trembling.
Ari wanted to run. Every part of his body screamed to run. But he stayed.
The boar scraped the dirt with its hoof.
Ari whispered, "I will protect you…"
The boar charged.
A SMALL HERO'S FIRST FIGHT
Ari jumped to the side.
The boar ran past him, crashing into bushes.
Ari's heart jumped to his throat.
He held his stick tight.
The boar turned.
Ari raised his stick.
The boar rushed again.
Ari swung.
WHACK!
His stick hit the boar's side.
It did not hurt much, but it made the boar stumble.
Ari breathed fast.
The boar growled louder.
Ari stepped back.
His legs hit a rock.
He fell.
The boar ran toward him.
Ari closed his eyes
Then Puuuuuh! the little creature shot forward and bumped the boar's nose.
The boar stopped, confused.
Ari opened his eyes.
He stood up fast.
With all the strength he had, he swung again.
WHACK!
This time the boar backed away.
It snorted.
It stomped.
Then, slowly, it turned and ran back into the trees.
Ari fell to his knees.
He was shaking.
"I… I did it…"
The little creature hopped to him and nuzzled him with a soft "Puuuh."
Ari smiled weakly and petted it.
"Thank you."
THE PATH BACK HOME
Ari walked back out of the forest with slow steps. The small green creature followed him, hopping in happy little jumps.
When Ari reached the village gate, he turned back to the forest.
"I will come again tomorrow," he said softly.
The wind brushed his hair again, but this time, it felt like a warm friend.
Ari smiled.
He had taken his first step.
He had faced his first danger.
He had made his first friend.
He had survived.
And tomorrow, he would grow more.