Chapter 1802

Jude glanced toward the northern mountains. There were still places they had never fully explored. Deep valleys, narrow caves, and stretches of forest where the terrain became too difficult to cross.

"Perhaps," he said.

They reached the fallen tree shortly afterward.

Its trunk was thick, and several branches had broken away. The wood looked weathered but still usable.

Jude examined it.

"We can take some of this."

Sophie began collecting the smaller branches.

As Jude inspected the trunk, he noticed something unusual.

A small circular mark had been carved into the bark.

He crouched.

The mark consisted of three curved lines surrounding a tiny central point.

He touched it.

The wood around the symbol was dry, even though the rest of the trunk was damp from the rain.

"Sophie."

She approached.

"What is it?"

"Have you seen this before?"

She examined the mark.

"No."

Jude brushed away some loose bark.

The symbol appeared to be older than the fallen tree itself. Its edges were dark, and the lines were unusually precise.

"Perhaps it was carved by someone," Sophie said.

"Possibly."

"Could it be from the old ruins?"

Jude shook his head.

"The ruins we’ve found have different markings."

He studied it for another moment before taking out a small piece of cloth and rubbing the surface gently.

The mark did not change.

Sophie looked around.

"Do you think we should search the area?"

"Not today. We came for the timber."

He made a small drawing of the symbol in his notebook.

Then they began cutting the usable branches.

Neither noticed the tiny movement between the trees behind them.

Back in the village, Sol had finished helping Stella.

He had also managed to lose one of the wooden markers, spill a small bowl of water, and convince Scarlet that the garden needed a tiny wooden gate.

Scarlet was delighted.

Stella was less enthusiastic.

"He doesn’t need a gate," she said.

"Every garden deserves a gate."

"It’s a flower garden, not a village."

Sol looked between them.

"I like gates."

Scarlet immediately pointed toward him.

"See?"

Stella sighed.

"Fine. We can make a small one later."

Sol smiled.

It was the first time Jude’s companions had seen him smile so openly.

Scarlet looked pleased with herself.

"Now, young man, you must learn an important skill."

Sol looked at her.

"What skill?"

"Building things."

Stella shook her head.

"Don’t teach him your methods."

"My methods are excellent."

Sol glanced at the broken branch beside Scarlet.

"Are those excellent too?"

Scarlet looked down.

The branch was one she had brought earlier for the proposed garden table. It had split near the end.

She quickly moved it behind her.

"That’s a special example."

Sol giggled.

The sound surprised everyone.

It was light and genuine, and it made the others smile.

Lucy came running from the western path.

"Sol! Come and see something!"

He stood immediately.

"What?"

"We found a little animal near the woodpile."

Zoey followed her.

"It’s not a little animal. It’s a young forest hare."

Sol hurried after them.

Near the woodpile, a small brown hare was sitting beneath a wooden platform. It had large ears and a patch of pale fur on its chest.

Sol crouched several steps away.

"Hello."

The hare twitched its nose.

Lucy crouched beside him.

"Don’t get too close. It might run."

Sol remained still.

The hare looked at him.

Then it hopped forward.

Sol smiled.

"It’s not afraid."

"Perhaps it likes you," Zoey said.

The hare sniffed the ground near his feet before turning toward the bushes.

Sol watched it disappear.

"Can we give it food?"

"Not everything we eat is suitable for it," Zoey explained.

Sol nodded.

"Then we shouldn’t."

Lucy looked at him.

"You learn quickly."

Sol smiled again.

When Jude and Sophie returned, they found the village unusually lively.

Scarlet was trying to explain her idea for the garden gate. Stella was sketching a possible design. Grace was making clay pots, and Sol was sitting beside Lucy and Zoey, listening to a story about the time they had accidentally frightened a group of birds near the western stream.

Jude placed the timber beside the storehouse.

"How was everything?"

Scarlet answered immediately.

"Excellent. Sol has become a very useful member of the village."

Stella looked up.

"He planted a marker underground."

Sol raised his hand.

"Only one."

Jude laughed.

"That’s an improvement."

"And he helped me find a beetle," Stella added.

Sol looked pleased.

"It’s still in the garden."

"Good."

Jude crouched beside the boy.

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

Sol nodded.

"Yes."

"What was your favourite part?"

"The hare."

"Did you see it?"

"Yes. It came very close."

"That’s wonderful."

Sol looked at Jude for a moment.

"Can I stay here?"

Jude was slightly surprised by the question.

"Of course."

"Even tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow too."

"And the day after?"

Jude smiled.

"As long as you need."

Sol looked down at the wooden bird in his hands.

"Good."

Sophie watched the exchange with a gentle expression.

"We should make sure he has everything he needs," she said.

Grace approached.

"I’ve prepared another blanket for his cabin. And I can make him a small wooden shelf."

Stella nodded.

"I’ll make another toy."

Lucy raised her hand.

"I can show him the treehouses."

Zoey immediately objected.

"Not until the walkways are completely dry."

Sol looked at Jude.

"Can I climb the trees?"

"Eventually. We’ll go together when it’s safe."

The boy nodded.

Scarlet folded her arms.

"And I can teach him how to build a gate."

Stella sighed.

"Please don’t."

Sol looked at Scarlet.

"I want to learn."

Scarlet smiled triumphantly.

Jude laughed.

"Let’s start with something smaller."

The afternoon passed pleasantly.

Jude helped Susan and Rose inspect the storehouse roof. The damaged section needed several new panels, but the timber he and Sophie had collected would provide enough material for the repairs.

Natalie and Serena worked in the eastern garden, while Emma prepared food for the evening. Grace finished shaping the clay pots, and Stella began carving another wooden bird for Sol.