The old man had been on the farm longer than anyone. Even longer than John. Though old was sort of a relative term, as most humans didn't live to see his age. How he'd lasted this long was as big a mystery as where he'd come from. Some speculated he just didn't taste very good, but the Wolfes kept him around anyway since they had spent money on him and didn't want to waste it.
Whatever the case, the old man spent his time entertaining the younger humans with his stories. Some he had just made up, others he claimed were true. One day, he and a group of children sat in a corner of the barn, as he enthralled them with his tales.
One of them, a boy of ten by the name of Reese, asked "Mr. Winston, how do you know all these stories? I mean, where did you come from?"
At this the old man smiled. "I'll let you little ones in on a secret. I come from a far away place, where there are no werewolves or vampires, only humans living together in peace."
Some of the children looked confused at the thought that such a place could exist. "This place has no formal name, but to it's residents, it is known as Sanctuary. It's an island where I was born and raised there, and spent many long and happy years of my life among it's lush fields and glistening springs. You won't find it on any map, as it is hidden well by the magic those born there wield to keep it safe. "
"Then why are you here?" One of the children asked, and Winston suddenly frowned. "Alas, I was banished from my home and my magic abilities cut short. You all are far too young to understand why. Perhaps I will tell you another time."
Reese, a well as his his friends Jona and Katrina, found themselves unable to push the thought of this Sanctuary from their heads. The next day, the three of them were playing in the pasture, discussing Winston's story.
"Do you think he was telling the truth?" Jona asked "He must be." Said Reese "How else would he have lived so long? Can you imagine it? A paradise where humans can live without fear of being devoured?It must be wonderful!"
"Well then, let's find it!"
"But how?" Katrina said "The nearest ocean must be hundreds of miles away at least. Not to mention we're trapped on this farm!"
Just then, Reese had an idea. Later hat afternoon, John, the herd's protector and the Wolfe's sheepdog, was allowed to lead the younger livestock off the property into the nearby woods. This was so he could teach them survival skills in case they were ever stolen and managed to escape and find their way back.
As John lectured the children on how to identify mushrooms and berries that were safe to eat, Reese and company set their plan in motion. Katrina distracted John with a question, while Reese and Jona went around the group and came up behind him. Reese kicked John's walking stick out from under him, causing him to cry out in surprise as he fell to the ground.
Jona grabbed the stick and tossed it a good few yards or so away. "Everyone who wants to escape to Sanctuary with us, now's your chance!"
About a dozen of the other children fled into the woods together as John crawled to reach his walking stick. He knew he'd never catch them with his injured leg. All he could do was report back to Robert, and take it from there.
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