The night sky stretched forever, two moons watching the world like curious gods. The stars twinkled lazily as if they had all the time in the world.
Flat on his back in the middle of the pasture, Cooper stared up at them, hands tucked behind his head. His blonde hair was a mess—like he'd been wrestling with a sheep all day (which, knowing his life, he probably had). The grass was cool against his skin, the scent of earth and wool filling the air.
He let out a deep breath.
"Man… is this really it?"
Was this his whole life? Watching sheep, fixing fences, waiting for something exciting to happen? It made his chest feel tight just thinking about it. There had to be more out there. More adventure, more danger, more mystery!
He was pretty sure he wanted to leave.
Pretty sure.
Then—SLURP.
A big, wet tongue dragged across his cheek.
"GAH—LILY, WHAT THE HECK!" Cooper sat up, wiping his face, while the sheepdog wagged her tail like she'd done him a favor.
She barked.
Cooper groaned, rubbing his face dry with his sleeve. "You are the worst."
Lily barked again.
Okay, maybe he'd miss this place—a little.
Before he could think too hard, a voice called from up the hill.
"Coop! Dinner's ready!"
Cooper dusted himself off and grinned. "Alright, girl. Let's eat!"
He took off running, Lily bounding after him.
The farmhouse came into view—small, sturdy, and alive with the warm glow of candlelight. Ivy climbed up its stone walls, fruit trees swayed gently in the breeze, and beyond them, the sheep slept peacefully, unaware that their caretaker was planning to abandon them for a life of adventure.
Inside, the house smelled amazing.
The scent of rich, meaty stew filled the air, wrapping around Cooper like a warm hug. The wooden beams overhead were dark with age, and shelves lined with books, trinkets, and old maps made the space feel like a tiny treasure trove.
At the dining table, Cooper's uncle—a round-bellied man with tiny glasses—was buried in a copy of the "Wonderworld Times." His aunt stood at the stove, ladling stew into bowls.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Cooper glanced at the paper.
"LEGISLATOR ASSASSINATED BY MAN WITH GEMS FOR TEETH."
He barely blinked. Yeah, he needed to see this world for himself.
"Put that paper down. It's time to eat," Cooper's aunt said, giving her husband a pointed look.
The older man grunted but reluctantly folded the paper.
She plopped a steaming pot onto the table. "Dinner is served."
"Mutton hotpot?!" Uncle Gus's face lit up. "My favorite!"
His aunt chuckled. "Well, we live on a sheep farm."
His uncle smirked. "And we're all the better for it."
They dug in.
Or, at least, they did.
Cooper just sat there, stirring his stew, pushing chunks of meat and potatoes around his bowl. His stomach felt weird—not from hunger, but from the heavy words on his tongue.
Finally, he just said it.
"I think I'm leaving."
Silence.
His aunt and uncle exchanged a glance.
"Leaving?" his aunt repeated, setting her spoon down.
"Yeah."
His uncle leaned back in his chair. "Where to, Coop?"
"I don't know. Just… somewhere. There's a lot to see."
His uncle hummed, flipping open the Wonderworld Times again. "Well, he's got that right."
His aunt frowned. "You can't just leave. You've got school."
"We don't even do anything in school."
"You learn how to read."
"I already know how to read."
His uncle burst out laughing, belly shaking like a sack of flour.
His aunt shot him a look before turning back to Cooper. "And what about us? You tired of us already?"
"No, it's not that," Cooper said quickly, shaking his head. "You guys took me in after Mom and Dad died. You didn't have to, but you did. And I love you both for that. But I just… I can't stay here forever. I don't think I'm meant to."
His uncle sighed, rubbing his chin. His aunt just sat there, expression unreadable.
Then, finally, she spoke.
"You've got so much of your father in you."
Cooper blinked. "I do?"
She nodded. "He was the same way. Always looking past the hills and wondering what was out there. He left home young, too. And he saw things most folks can't even imagine."
His uncle smirked. "And he always had a knack for getting into trouble."
Cooper grinned. "Maybe I do too."
His aunt studied him for a long moment. Then she sighed. "I won't stop you. I'd be a hypocrite if I did. But…" She gave him a sharp look. "You're not leaving without provisions. And you better write to us. Regularly."
Cooper blinked.
Wait. That was it? No big argument? No angry shouting? Just… support?
"I will. I promise."
His uncle clapped a big hand on his shoulder, squeezing tight. "Then I say—go see the world, Coop."
Cooper looked between them, heart pounding.
This was really happening.
He was leaving.
And for the first time in his life, the world felt wide open.
Cooper barely got a wink of sleep. He was too excited! But eventually, exhaustion and the warmth of the stew knocked him out.
That night, he dreamed.
A room.
Walls like polished bone. A hole in the ceiling. A beam of light.
An apple.
Red. Glossy. Perfect.
Cooper bit into it—
Rot.
Black ooze spilled down his chin. A squirming worm with human eyes peered from the core.
Cooper woke gasping, Lily's paws on his chest.
"What the heck was that?!"
But no time to think about weird dreams. He had things to do!
By sunrise, his bag was packed—light but filled with essentials. His aunt and uncle sent him off with a map and a final hug.
Lily, however, was not happy.
She followed him to the fence, staring him down like he was committing the ultimate betrayal.
"You stay here, girl," he murmured, scratching behind her ears.
She whined.
Oh, come on. Not the whine.
Cooper sighed. "You're making this hard, Lily."
One last head pat.
One last look.
Then, he climbed over the fence.
His boots hit the dirt road, and just like that—
He was off.
The farmhouse shrank behind him. The morning air was crisp. His pack was light.
Cooper took a deep breath.
"Alright, world. Bring it on!"
