The afternoon sun stretched warmly across the field as Buem happily wandered among the cows, humming to himself. The gentle animals grazed peacefully, their tails swaying lazily in the breeze. CUTIS stood nearby, keeping a watchful eye as always. While Buem enjoyed the moment, CUTIS sensed something felt… off.
From the edge of the field, a stranger slowly approached.
CUTIS narrowed his eyes. The man wasn’t from around here—that much was clear. He moved cautiously, glancing around as if he didn’t want to be noticed. Instantly, CUTIS stepped closer to Buem, his body tense and alert.
“Buem, stay close to me,” he whispered.
“Huh? Why?” Buem asked, confused.
“Just trust me.”
The stranger got closer, now eyeing the cows with unusual interest. CUTIS quickly thought of a plan. He knew he couldn’t confront the man directly—it might scare Buem or provoke trouble. Instead, he needed to act smart.
Suddenly, CUTIS clapped his hands loudly and shouted, “Hey! Mom said we need to bring the cows back NOW!”
Buem jumped. “But… she didn’t say—”
CUTIS gave him a quick look, silently telling him to play along.
“Oh! Right! Right!” Buem quickly nodded, catching on.
CUTIS began guiding the cows toward the gate, making as much noise as possible. He even waved his arms and called out loudly, “Come on! Hurry! Grandpa is waiting too!”
The stranger paused, clearly surprised. Seeing the sudden activity—and hearing that more adults might be nearby—he hesitated. CUTIS didn’t stop. He kept talking loudly, creating the impression that help was close.
After a moment, the stranger slowly backed away… then turned and left.
Only when he disappeared completely did CUTIS relax.
“CUTIS… what just happened?” Buem asked, wide-eyed.
“That man didn’t feel right,” CUTIS said quietly. “I didn’t want to take any chances.”
Buem looked at him with admiration. “Wow… that was really smart.”
CUTIS smiled, ruffling Buem’s hair. “We always look out for each other, okay?”
As the cows safely returned and the field grew calm again, Buem couldn’t stop smiling. His big brother hadn’t just been brave—he had been the smartest protector of all.
