Maple chuckled and tossed the broken arrow to the ground. “Mendax ex.” He then revealed his quiver and slid an arrow out from within it. Gently he placed it upon the bow he had been holding in his left hand and strung the arrow back. Then, as I turned away, he breathed out the translation, “you are a liar,” and released the arrow from its niche. Instantly the arrow flew at me, gliding a sliver above my dirty golden locks, and pierced an oak in the distance.

“You could have killed me!” I yelped as I stumbled forwards and sharply looked over my shoulder at him.

“And you could have spoken the truth.” He chuckled. “I aimed to miss you, but you aimed to deceive. Re-think your criticism.”

“You’re so irritating.” I grumbled as I left the clearing we had been in. I continued to seek out the mountain where the boy was assumed to reside and did not worry that Maple would follow me. Maple, as concerned as he was with my lies, had no interest in prying into other’s privacy to the point of stalking. He knew when enough was enough. Sadly, piercing an arrow directly above someone’s head did not qualify as enough.

As the sun found a position high in the sky I neared the outer rim of the mountain. Inaudibly I let out an exhausted sigh for I had spent hours wandering towards the mountain, which I had never been to before. Had this been why? Because the boy hid himself within the depths of the mountain as we attempted to be re-born in the new world.

In attempts to rid myself of my deluded thoughts, I stared up at the grand mountain that filled itself with caves, crooks, and creavases. The boy could be hidden anywhere within the great scheme of the mountain and I felt my stomach turn at this thought.

Thankfully, the mountain had been adapted for casual strolling, rather than heavy duty rock climbing. Due to this, I was able to follow a gentle trail up the side of the mountain to reach the first level. As I approached the end of the incline I peered out towards the wilderness to see the clearings my community lived in from a new perspective. Our lives appeared so small from this view. Yet, I knew the four years I spent in the wilderness I felt as if my life meant so much more than a clearing in the wilderness.

Softly I shook my head to snap myself out of the trance and resume my journey searching for the boy. I began by approaching the first canvas I found and peeking into it. “Hello?” I called out into it. However, the boy did not respond.

After moving along, I decided to follow the perimeter of the mountain first before venturing to the upper level. I felt satisfied with this decision because, after peering into a third opening, I found a few unique pieces of evidence that proved the boy spent much time in the mountain. When I entered the opening I kneeled to the ground and analyzed the collection of objects. First I found myself grasping at a rustic polaroid camera. My eyes scanned the object, looking for answers as to who the boy really was; however, without the photographs the camera had taken I was left without answers. Due to this, I placed the polaroid back onto the mountain’s floor and grabbed the next object. This object was a golden watch; or at least, a watch that appeared gold. The time appeared to be correct, noting that the sun appeared to be in roughly a noon position at this point, meaning the watch was up to date. The boy had to have taken care of watch because it appeared to be much older than its battery. Again, though, without answers I gently dropped the watch to the ground and sought out another object. On the ground resided two seemingly overdue library books. The first, bound in a burgundy frame, read Psychology on the front; however, the words inside appeared foreign. The second book, more subtle in a tan frame, had two bold words on its cover: Child Abduction.