Dusk Harvest

Chapter One

Shizi Farm is a land of eternal autumn meaning the season is autumn all year round. There are three houses that farm the land. Due to the season being autumn, all the crops grown here are autumn crops such as lettuce, carrots, radish, beets, and cabbage. Scattered throughout the farmland are persimmon trees. The northern part of the farmland is a river that flows to the western side of the farm. Stella, Harold, Lyla, and Bruno enter from the southeast.

It was easy to know where Shizi Farm is located. This is because there is a large sign that reads Shizi Farm.

"This must be Shizi Farm. They made it really obvious, huh." Harold said as he nodded towards the large sign.

It is dusk right now. The sun is about to set.

Stella looks worried as she looks at the farm in front of her. "Hmmm… Harold? Where do we sleep?"

Lyla and Bruno were confused by the question. Typically, when people travel and need a place to sleep, they would spend the night at a local inn. Bruno looks at the farm and immediately knows why Stella asked the question.

"What do you mean, Lily?" Lyla asked.

"I only see three buildings. I think they're people's homes." Stella explained. "Well? What do we do?"

"You're right, Lily. I thought it was a farming village, but it's a farm with three homes." Harold said as he put his left hand on his chin. "Bruno and I brought tents in case we had to camp outside. We need to assume that the jade-eyes guy told lies about us to the residents here. With that being the case, we need to find someplace no one can see us."

"Worse case, me or Harold can take turns keeping watch while you guys sleep." Bruno said.

"Oh! We get to go camping!" Stella said excitedly.

Lyla frowns. "I don't think this is a vacation, Lily…"

Stella gives a smile. "Yeah, but since we're here, we might as well make the best of it."

"Let's go around the farm and see what's behind it." Harold suggested.

"It's getting dark and it's kind of chilly now." Lyla said, shivering slightly.

"Me, too." Stella said, also shivering slightly.

"Really? I don't feel anything." Bruno said.

"Of course not! You're a Bear! You have fur to keep yourself warm." Lyla said.

"Oh, right." Bruno said and Lyla rolled her eyes.

The group walks north for a few minutes. In front of the group is a river flowing from the northeast to southwest.

"Ah, I see," Harold said. "This river must be where the farmers get their water supply. Let's camp here. We only need to watch one side. This way, only one of us has to stay up and keep watch. If anyone approaches from the river, we'll hear them."

"Hey! We can fish and cook. I'm hungry!" Stella said.

"Good idea, Lily!" Harold said. "You and Lyla stay here with Bruno while he sets up the tents and starts a campfire. I'll go to the river to catch some fish."

Before stepping into the river, Harold breaks a branch from a nearby persimmon tree and sharpens it. With the sharpened branch, he goes into the cold river and quietly watches the fish. Using his heightened senses, he feels that someone or something is watching him from another nearby tree. It is the tree to his right side.

Harold begins to walk towards the tree. Out of the bushes next to the trees, a Dog with white fur jumps at him and prepares to bite him, but Harold holds up left arm to block, but the Dog bites down and sinks its fangs into Harold's left arm.

Blood starts to spore out of Harold's left arm. Harold is left-handed so it was instinct that he held it up to block an attack. The Dog coats its fangs with Earth Midrash the color of white soil. Now that its fangs are coated in Midrash energy, the Dog bites down harder. This move is called Earth Fang. More blood starts to spill out of Harold's left arm.

Harold uses his right hand to punch the Dog in its stomach. The Dog does not flinch. Instead, it just bites down harder. Using his Construct, Harold transforms into a Wolf.

In his Wolf form, Harold is able to break free of the Dog's bite due to the increased strength provided by the Construct.

Harold and the Dog are now face to face. The Dog on all four paws, and Harold on three of the four paws. His front left paw is damaged and has two holes in it. Within a few seconds, the Dog lunges forward at Harold. With his two right paws, the front right and back right, Harold shuffles to the right to dodge the attack.

Due to his damaged front left paw, Harold has to rely on his fangs to do the fighting. He coats with Wood Midrash and bites down on the Dog's rib area. This move is called Wood Fang. The Dog howls out in pain and tries to jerk around to get Harold to let go of the bite, but Harold only bites down harder. Blood is gushing out from the Dog's left rib. Harold then lets go of the bite, the Dog is struggling to stand on all four paws, but its left paw gives in. Harold, in his Wolf form, spits a Wood Spellbomb at the Dog. The Spellbomb hits the Dog on its left side, and explodes into green leaf particles.

Harold watches as the Spellbomb knocks the Dog into the river. The Dog is unconscious, and the river carries the Dog with its southwest current.

The Wolf transforms back into Harold and proceeds to spear some fish with the sharpened branch. At this time, the holes from the Dog's Earth Fang have started to recover.

Bruno had already set up two tents and started a campfire using nearby stones and twigs.

"It's been a while," Bruno said. "I wonder what's taking Harold so long."

Lyla smirks. "Hungry?"

"Yeah! I should have gone with him, so it'll be faster."

"Oh, there he is!" Stella pointed.

Harold returns to the campsite holding two large catfish. "I'm back!"

Bruno walks up to him and grabs the two fish. Before he was able to go sit down, Harold whispers into his ear. "I gotta tell you something, but we'll wait until the girls sleep first."

Bruno sees the bloodstain on his cousin's left arm. "Then you might want to wipe that off first."