Lukas struggled to wrap his teenage mind around the abrupt turn his life had taken. One explosive argument with his mother, and suddenly he was being exiled to the countryside - a world away from the bustling city life he knew and loved. At fifteen, the thought of being shipped off to a place filled with nothing but endless plains, farm animals, and God knows what manner of creepy crawlies, filled him with a sense of dread and revulsion.

Lukas sat in his new room, surveying the boxes of his belongings with a sense of trepidation. He had made sure to pack his best clothes, hoping that dressing well would somehow make this exile more bearable. He had also been prudent enough to bring an ample supply of bug spray, knowing that he would need all the protection he could get against the inevitable onslaught of insects.

The sound of his grandmother, Camilla, working in the kitchen drifted into his room, the aroma of freshly baked pastries wafting through the air. Normally, the scent would have been enticing, but Lukas was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to appreciate his grandmother's culinary efforts.

Rising from his bed, Lukas made his way out of his room, his footsteps echoing in the unfamiliar hallway. He found his grandmother in the kitchen, her hands dusted with flour as she shaped the dough into delicate pastries.

"I'm gonna go for a walk," Lukas announced, his tone a mix of defiance and boredom.

Camilla turned to him, her eyes soft with understanding. "Alright, don't get lost or be out long," she replied, her voice gentle yet firm.

Lukas resisted the urge to roll his eyes, feeling the weight of his grandmother's expectations bearing down upon him. He wasn't a child anymore, and yet, he was being treated like one. It was infuriating, but he knew better than to argue.

With a grunt of acknowledgment, Lukas turned and made his way out of the house, his mind already drifting to thoughts of the boy he had seen riding horses with his younger brother. There was something about him...