The man, his head bowed and hidden beneath a long gray cloak, emerged from the
morning fog walking with purpose through the tall amber grasses moist from the
thickness of the fog, along a path that was almost obscured from view by the
wisps of fog that was slowly ebbing around him.  His cloak like the robe he wore
underneath was tattered and torn from where it had rubbed against rock and
brambles during the countless miles of wanderings.  From one shoulder hung a
small leather pouch, also tattered and patched from years of use and in one hand
he held a wooden staff of gnarled dark wood that he used to steady himself as he
proceeded.  Occasionally his pace would slow and he would glance up and gaze at
an immense and dark forest that loomed before him, then without hesitation he
would once again bow his head and plod onward along the path towards the forest.
 
A slight breeze blew from the north bringing a chill on the wind and rustling
the nearby grasses sending ripples along them as a pebble does when dropped into
a pond, as he walked he pondered that, here amidst the fog and upon the plains
he was a pebble sending ripples through the grass.  The forest was closer now,
the tall canopies from it¢s leafy branches reached out over the edges of the
grassy plains and with no signs of hesitation and almost as if he was unaware of
his surroundings, the man plunged into the darkness of the forest.
 
As he walked deeper into the forest his feet traveled along a well used path,
skirting outcroppings of rock or clusters of dense trees.  Along each side ferns
grew thick in the dampness and filtered sunlight while behind them stood dense
groups of oaks, beeches, maples and walnut trees that fought for space and
stretched high overhead.  Within their branches flew birds of various kinds
along with chipmunks and squirrels each aware of his presence below.  In the
distance the trees thinned and he could hear the sounds of a brook, its contents
washing over rocks and fallen tree trunks as it meandered through the forest. 
As he drew nearer the sounds became almost musical, inviting, soothing and he
stopped along it¢s banks to reflect amid the serenity of the forest on the
journey ahead.
 
Sitting along a fallen tree trunk it¢s bark covered in patches of moss he drew
back the hood of his robe to reveal a mane of thick silver gray hair that
cascaded down to his shoulders, he was human, not elf kind or dwarf and his face
was that of a youth, yet his eyes belied years of wisdom behind them.  A short,
soft beard of similar color to his hair covered his face and as he slowly
savored a bit of dried jerky that he had taken from his pouch, he closed his
eyes and listened to the quietness of the forest.
 
~ Riverwind






 




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