Steve ducked under a fallen tree trunk, putting his hands down on the moist, mossy ground as he slipped under the thick wood. The smell of cedar filled his senses, and he wanted to just stop and inhale the aroma. As he moved further away, the smell faded and the earthy dampness he’d come to associate with the wooded areas returned. He stopped and marked the tree, as he had every hundred paces or so, so that he didn’t get lost and end up not finding his way back to the cabin. His booted feet barely made a sound on the soft ground, and the sound of insects and birds accompanied him during his walk.
Peace surrounded him, warming him like a blanket. For the last four days, he’d walked in all directions of the little cabin. Every once in a while, he came across another home, but for the most p
