A Better World, A New Friend

Arthur finds Wildlife Art Exhibition notices in Valentine that ask hunters to send perfect animal carcasses to Ms. L. Hobbs. He tracks down the animals named in each request and mails the required specimens from Post Offices. As the requests continue, Hobbs sends payment and issues further lists for her exhibition.

The final request becomes available during the epilogue, after control passes to John Marston. John gathers and posts the remaining perfect carcasses, then receives Hobbs's last payment with a letter inviting him to her Taxidermist House near Strawberry. He goes to the house, where Hobbs lets him view the animal displays she has assembled from the specimens.

Hobbs's taxidermy places animals in human scenes throughout the house. John is unsettled by the displays and tries to leave, but Hobbs gives him a Squirrel Statue before he goes. The stuffed squirrel is dressed in an outfit resembling John's own.

After the epilogue, John sets the Squirrel Statue on the fireplace mantel at Beecher's Hope. It later vanishes, and he finds it in his and Abigail's bedroom chest, their chimney, Uncle's chest, the sheep pen wheelbarrow, and the barn chest. Each time, he returns it to the fireplace. When it disappears again, John retrieves it from Mount Shann and brings it back to Beecher's Hope.