Well, technically, it was behind the waterfall, but who cares. They say water is the staff of life, and Qtre had never been in need, so it must be true. The waterfall was constantly in his life, its ever-changing yet always familiar sound of water falling from the rock ledge above to the pool below. His home, such as it was, covered in moss and constantly damp, was also never too cold in winter or too warm in summer. Qtre never knew any other life, so he didn’t know if he was missing something. He was content and never thought about what might have been.
Today, as he did every day, Qtre sat on the big, smooth rock at the left fringe of the waterfall. The stone, worn over the eons by the water, now shaped like a chair perfectly fitting his body. Looking through the waterfall, its interplay of light and color provided by the sun and the world beyond created new beauty each day. He never felt the desire to step through the waterfall and explore the world beyond the beauty he experienced as he sat there. He could not imagine anything more alluring than the view greeting him daily.
His food grew untended in the patches of dirt around his home and between the rocks. Once in a while, the waterfall would bring him a special treat. The waterfall provided for his every need and desire, yet it asked for nothing in return. Qtre and the waterfall lived together in complete peace and tranquility.
His long tongue flashed out and caught a savory bug, ah life.