The soft crunch of my boots on the dry leaves that covered the ground as I made my way through the seemingly dead forest. The cool fall wind licked my cheeks, reminding me of the cold winter gales yet to come, and I pulled my hood closer around my face, the bright red standing out against the brown leaves. I had longs since strayed from my familiar path and now wandered aimlessly through the quickly darkening woods.

As darkness fell I quickened my pace, hoping to find shelter before nightfall. My mind wandered to tales of children lost in the dark woods, never to be seen again. Suddenly, I tripped over an unseen branch, and I hit my head on a sharp rock. Then the darkness closed in, and I fell into its welcoming arms.