Work in Progress

The Forest is Alive at Night

The forest reveals at night what daylight never sees. It is cooler to travel at night, and I fear nothing in the forest; it is the city of men where true danger lies. At night the birds are quiet, nestled snugly from the day's effort, and I can revel in my thoughts. Night is the time for snakes, owls, and raccoons. I had one follow me for half a mile looking for a handout. I threw a stick at him. At night trees form different shapes, the leaves are softly luminescent, the shadows are deeper and formless, even the dirt shows a richer texture, like fresh ground coffee.

Freed from the sun’s harsh hand, the night brings out the moist fragrance of the forest. It fills my lungs with the same vital scents as my ancestors a thousand years ago. I would have been the same a thousand years ago as I am now, but she could never understand. I can’t change the way I am, a wandering soul at home everywhere and nowhere, restless to touch every spot on the map. A thousand years ago I would have been a crusader, five hundred years ago a bard, and two hundred years ago a frontiersman. Today I am just a tramp. But I am free to follow my chosen path.

(More to come.)

[Not sure where to go from here. Started this when I was staying in a cabin in the woods. I like the forest vibe but what is the story? What is the conflict? Why is he not afraid and why is he traveling at night? He could be some time traveler or he could be the villain. What is it that the forest reveals? I need another character to increase ambiguity.]