Day 8 - Found First Payout. 100 Followers.

Date: July 9 2017
Day 8 into my journey in the Forest of Content

A full week has now gone by since I entered these woods. Much has happened since. Some of the locals have begun to follow me wherever I go, studying my actions and discussing their merits. By my count there are about 100 of them now. I am unsure if they follow out of curiosity or some sense of caution towards my presence here. Perhaps it is a mixture of both. Perhaps there is another reason I fail to comprehend.

I woke up this morning to find a small fortune worth of jewels sitting in the center of my encampment. I asked the locals where they came from and they all responded with a single word. "Whale".

It's somewhat disheartening that I missed seeing this mysterious creature, but if I am to trust the locals this is some level of proof of their existence. It's feasible this could be a prank, but I'm not sure those around me have this much to give.

Of a less mysterious profit, I found what the locals are telling me is a payout. A few trinkets. Odds and ends that I may be able to sell when I get back home. The people here seem to respect it though. Now that I've been christened with this payout I seem to have slightly more influence in the area, though I still remain low in the pecking order.

I've found a great diversity in the people here. Wildly differing views, but they somehow manage to stay civil towards each other. A stark contrast to home, where I fear our differences may tear us apart.

Home. I wonder if I will ever return. I sometimes find myself wondering if I want to. For now, me and these wood seem to be in a sort of honeymoon phase. We will see how long it lasts.