The Night Walk

I lay there under a blanket of stars, and on a bed of grass. Thoughts flood my mind as wind washes over me. I stare up into the sky, and make pictures out of the stars. Out of nowhere, a sickening crack sounds out.

My grandmother had always warned me about the creatures the woods. That’s why I had always observed it from that field near it. Close enough to see past the first few lines of trees, but far enough to stay safe.

A second crack rang out. At that moment curiosity out ruled the warning. I sat up to look into the woods, but nothing was there. I stood up and paced over to the first tree. I saw a caterpillar munching on a leaf, and an ant that was on its way home. I heard a mosquito near my hear hungry for a drop of blood. A force was pulling me into the woods. Was it curiosity? Was it destiny? Whatever it was, it was nagging me to advance farther.

As I walked, the trees grew thicker and thicker. Soon I wouldn’t even be able to see the stars through the leaves. My eyes adjusted to the darkness as the trees blocked out more and more light. I had walked a good long while, but it only felt like five minutes. I came across a tree that was as thick as I was tall, and I knew that I had reached the oldest part of the woods.

A rustle had come from a bush behind me making me jump. Quickly, I hid behind the thick tree. I hoped that whatever was out there wouldn’t smell my fear. My heart was pounding in my ears. This wasn’t good. The rustling grew more violent. Then silence. The rustling stopped and nothing made a noise. Not even the little cricket bug. Suddenly something small and furry appeared from behind the bush. It was much like a paw. Or maybe even a claw. At that moment, I couldn’t tell if anything was making noise because my heart was pound so loud in my ears. It slowly crept farther and farther out from behind the bush. Soon, I could see a young wolf cub with grey fur and amber eyes was emerging. I dropped down to my hands and knees. The cub came cautiously closer. It was starting to sniff my hand when a howl rode on the wind toward us. The cub perked up its ears and looked in the direction in which it came. Then bolted off into the forest. I climbed to my feet, and bolted the way I came for fear of the cubs’ mother.

I passed the edge of the woods, but did not stop till I was home. The experience didn’t keep me away from the woods. It attracted me to it even more. Over the next few years, I had explored almost every inch of that place. It had become my home away from home.