While he's working on the farm

Jules was first up that morning, just about at daybreak, as usual. Ms. Delilah's farm wasn't the largest farm in the world, or even in the village, but being right next to the forest meant the soil was lush and fertile, letting even the small plot of land grow enough to get by. Ms. Delilah didn't mind the isolation, at least not outwardly; as for Jules, he was happy enough to be so close to the forest, the subject of many rumors and strange sightings Jules would hear tell of when he made his trips to the tavern.

As Jules went about his usual work of tending to the animals, watering the garden, checking the fences for damage, etc., he was interrupted by a call back from the house.

"Jules, hon, c'mere a second!" The young man turned and saw his benefactor standing at the door. Delilah was a fairly attractive woman, the sharp features of her face softened by a kindly demeanor and often half hidden behind her graying brown hair. She was no stranger to the farm work herself, not that one could see the muscles she'd developed under the modest dark blue dress she was currently wearing, and she had to duck slightly under the door frame to leave, the house not build for her tall, lanky frame. "I need to stop in town, today. Soon as you're done with the usual routine, go grab some kindling so we can have a decent meal tonight."

"Got it, Ms. Delilah." Gathering kindling meant picking up fallen branches out at the forest's edge, and any chance to poke around the forest was alright by Jules.

"Now I know that look," Delilah continued, "don't take too long out at there looking for ghosts or fairies or what not. If you're not back in time to eat because you're chasing stories, I'll go back in to town to eat, and you can help yourself to something cold."

"Alright, alright, I promise I'll get it done quick." Delilah gave her farmhand a nod and, grabbing her bag, started down the dirt road back to the rest of the village. Jules stretched, double-checked the gate to the chicken coop, and headed over to the woods, secretly still buzzing with excitement even after his boss's scolding. Even without the idea of strange, wonderful creatures hiding somewhere within, he loved being in the natural environment of the woods. The fresh air, the smell of wildflowers, the sounds of the birds and bugs; all of it just made him feel alive, for some reason.

Lost in his own head, as Jules would often get, he didn't notice that just a little further into the trees, there was something watching him, just as fascinated with him as he would have been if he'd known it was there.