Yuji recognized them instantly. Goat droppings. Fantastic. He almost ate grass covered in goat droppings. The thought alone made his stomach turn. The smell was overwhelming, and he had to pull back. He remembered reading somewhere that adult goats sometimes rubbed urine on themselves to smell more "goatly," thinking it would help attract females. Unbelievable. Even in a fantasy world, goats are still up to the same nonsense.

He wandered a bit, searching for better grass, but everywhere he went, it was the same—pee and droppings. Just how many are there? he thought, frustrated. My previous spot was better than this. At least under the tree's shade, there hadn't been any grass—just dead roots and nothing to eat—but at least it didn't smell like this.

What should I do now? Yuji wondered. He glanced at the remaining time. Nearly an hour had passed by now. Most importantly, he felt his body grow heavier, exhaustion rising to a new level. Worst of all, he was getting sleepy, and his legs didn't want to budge anymore.

I don't have enough time, he told himself. If things keep going like this, I definitely won't make it. He looked toward the pan again—it wasn't far, and he could see goats moving around, lots of them. He could even make out the vague outline of buildings outside the farm, probably belonging to the shepherds.

Shifting his gaze, he looked back toward where he'd come from. It was far away now and looked desolate. It wasn't that goats weren't eating the grass, but for him, it was just too hard to eat something that reeked of pee.

"Fuck it," Yuji cursed under his breath as he tried to figure out what to do next. Should he go closer to the pan or stay where he was? For now, he decided to take a break. His small body couldn't handle this much exhaustion. Besides, a sharp pain throbbed in his abdomen. He tried to figure out if it was from yesterday's beating or just hunger. Either way, it doesn't matter now. I need to rest. Without a break, I won't be able to think straight.

With that, Yuji started moving. Even though trees crowded all around, he still took his time—couldn't just flop down anywhere, not with the pain gnawing at his side. Gotta pick my spot. Somewhere, I can see trouble coming. Or at least somewhere soft. He wandered for a bit, eyes flicking between shadows, until he finally found a small grove tucked away from the main path.

As he walked, the pain grew sharper, every step a new complaint. Maybe after some rest, I'll feel better. Or maybe I'll just feel like a goat with a limp. Either way, better keep my eyes and ears open, he thought, glancing around, ears swiveling at every crackle of leaves.

He'd just started to settle in when a voice barked from behind, sharp as a snapped twig.

"Hey, you there—stop!"

Yuji's heart leapt straight into his throat. Shit. Just my luck. I knew someone would come looking. And here they are, right on cue. He turned slowly, not wanting to spook whoever it was—or himself. Two adult goats stood there, sizing him up like he was a suspicious patch of weeds. One tall and lean, with a perpetually annoyed look, the other shorter, stockier, and already frowning like he'd lost a bet.

Do I run? Nah, no point. No way I'm outrunning two adults, not with this pain. Might as well see what they want. He stood his ground, trying to look harmless.

The tall one spoke first, voice clipped. "Have you seen a kid about your size come through here?" His eyes narrowed, scanning Yuji like he was sizing up a suspect at a police lineup.

The stocky one, whose ears twitched with every word, nudged his companion. "Ease up, Bram. You're scaring the poor kid. He looks like he's about to bolt."

Bram snorted, not taking his eyes off Yuji. "That's the point, Taro. If he bolts, we know he's hiding something."

Taro rolled his eyes. "Or maybe he's just tired and wants a nap. Not every goat's a criminal, Bram."

Yuji let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. So they're not after me? Phew. That's a stroke of luck for once. He almost smiled, but caught himself. No need to tempt fate.

He stayed quiet, but the adult goat's patience snapped. "Why are you silent? Answer my question!" The goat's face twisted into a scowl, voice rising with frustration.

Yuji swallowed, his mind racing. Great. Just what I needed. Maybe if I play it cool, they'll move on. Or maybe they'll decide I look guilty and drag me off anyway. Story of my life, huh?

"Uh, no, I haven't seen anyone," he managed, voice barely above a whisper.

Bram's nostrils flared. "You sure? You look like you've been running."

Taro butted in, voice softer. "Ignore him. He thinks every shadow's a thief. You hungry? We've got some clover stashed back at the clearing."

Yuji blinked, caught off guard by the offer. Is this a trap? Or is Taro just…nice? He hesitated, glancing between them.

Bram huffed. "Don't coddle him, Taro. We're not running a daycare."

Taro grinned, unbothered. "Maybe not, but a little kindness never hurt anyone. Besides, you could use the practice."

Yuji almost smiled. The tension in his chest eased, just a bit. Maybe these two aren't so bad. Or maybe I'm just desperate for a friendly face.

Bram stepped closer, looming. "So, last chance. You see a kid or not?"

Yuji shook his head. "No, really. I haven't seen anyone."

Taro nudged Bram again. "Let's go, Bram. If he says he hasn't seen anyone, he hasn't. Come on, you know you're just itching for a snack."

Bram grumbled but turned away, shooting Yuji one last suspicious look. "Fine, you may go, but if I find out you're lying…" Bram finally said, waving a hoof dismissively.

Yuji didn't hesitate for a single second. He turned and started walking, every heartbeat stretching into an eternity. Just keep moving. Don't look back. If I'm lucky, they'll forget I exist by lunchtime.

For a split second, though, a weird thought popped into his head: Maybe if I did get attacked, I could see how strong my recovery skill really is. Nah, I'm way too weak for that. Let's not get creative with my own doom.

He kept his head down, focusing on putting one hoof in front of the other. But then, just as he thought he was in the clear, another voice rang out—this time, softer but somehow even more dangerous. "Hey, you—wait there."