THEY TRAVELED THAT day without much stress or difficulty as most of the terrain was on relatively even ground. Just when Melony started feeling that this hiking business was a piece of cake, she remembered his statement earlier in the morning saying the first day would be smooth traveling since the mountainous region was that far away. Her spirits then plummeted, wondering what was in store for them come tomorrow.
They kept going until the evening deepened into a dusky blue haze. Hunter informed her that this was as dark as it would get, a kind of twilight. For the most part Melony enjoyed every turn and passing mile and was wide awake to the beauty surrounding them on all sides. Her eyes devoured the magnificence of this place. From time to time, a fish darted above the rippling waves of
