The path they were on dipped down and he almost fell as the ground dropped away from him. The rocks surrounding the path were much smaller here and he had a clear view of the mountain side and the surrounding forest. He also had a clear view of the night sky. His waning mother was sinking to the west. Have we really been traveling all night, already? The passing of the night had completely eluded him while he was concentrating on his footing. Now he could relax a little bit. The shallow walls allowed more light onto his path and he could see that where they walk now was much more worn by travel. The path tilted downward in front of him. The Mountains surrounding them formed themselves into a bowl shape that made up a small valley, covered with dense trees. The path that the wolf was leading him on led straight into the deep protected woodland.
Seeing the valley was a relief. It was like coming home. The green of the trees themselves was a welcome change to the tans and stone of the boulders and rock that he had been traveling on. The forest looked like a soft green carpet, and he scrunched his toes against the hard cold rock in anticipation of having the feeling of warm dirt under them again instead of cold as death stone.
He glanced up into the waning night sky to thank his Lunar Mother for this paradise. The moon was setting in the western portion of the sky and as he was looking after her the smile he was wearing slid from his face and was replaced with shock and disbelief. As he looked west, he saw a bright light in the sky. Much too low to be a star it was moving fast, and it was moving in their direction. He knew at once that it was the helicopter that had been pursuing them for the last few days. The wolf gripped the legs of his skins and pulled him down the path. The sudden movement tore his eyes away from the helicopter and he followed the wolf down the path.
The path was much smoother than what he had been walking on so far and he was able to jog. The path dipped down. He found himself more hopping down the path than walking. He turned his body sideways and skipped down the path using the broadside of his feet to brake with. The wolf was also hopping and bounding down the path. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought she was having fun.
The surrounding rocks gave way to trees. The trees were sparse, but no boulders intruded this far onto the steep valley wall. The path was now more dirt and pine needles than anything. He could now almost run with the black wolf that bounced off the dirt floor in front of him. The trail became steeper as they worked their way deeper into the valley. Instead of rocks and boulders, the path was now flanked by massive redwood trees. He almost stubbed his bare foot on a root that arched over the path in front of him.
Once they had made it down into the valley proper the soft dirt and pine needle covered floor of it met his feet and he felt more relaxed. He could move with a little more freedom no more scooting his feet out in front of him like some blind cripple, hobbling along on his way. Not that had anything against cripples, but when one was running from federal/military agents hobbling was not the best way to keep ahead of said agents.
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The wolf took off at a run and he followed close behind. The change in terrain left his hunger momentarily forgotten. The trees of the forest were tall but sparse so near to the valley wall. The dense woodland that he had seen from the boulder path was a way off and they had to get there as soon as possible. Grass was able to grow in patches here and there away from the redwoods and the thick long blades massaged his feet. After scooting along with strict muscle discipline for so long he was grateful for the chance to open himself up and run. The wind was still very cool, but the working of his body got his blood moving and he was beginning to get warm again.
The sky was still black and strong with nights influence. The sun would not rise for another hour or so by that time they would have reached the trees. Before they entered the forest the wolf stopped running and sat down outside the natural boundary of the woods. He stopped as well and looked at her. What is she doing now? She sat there for a long time not moving, then, without warning or a backwards glance, she entered into the forest, walking.
He walked after her and felt a strange warmth wash over him as he walked amongst the trees. He felt like he was being watched. The trees themselves had a very odd sense surrounding them and he made a point of staying very close to his guide and companion. He thought he understood why she had waited outside of this forest. There was something wrong here, something that made his skin crawl and she had probably been debating on whether she should even come into these woods. He was pretty sure that had he not seen the helicopter she might have led him around the woods. But with pursuit so dangerously close they needed shelter and the only shelter to be had was this strange forest. The unnatural warmth made him feel somewhat nauseous and it played havoc with his already unhappy stomach.
They walked through the woods. He found himself looking around himself more and more. His heightened sense of awareness was screaming at him to run away. His eyes were looking and darting all around him. He started seeing shadows dance and move from tree to tree. He would have sworn he saw eyes and faces leering at him. He knew he was being stupid but the sense of panic and fear that had gripped him in the tunnel earlier that night returned with a vengeance.
He looked down at the wolf by his side. She was walking with her back straight and head held proud and high. She must have been feeling the same thing he was, that they were being watched, but she kept her eyes and ears locked, pointed forward. Her ears didn’t so much as twitch to either side of her as she walked in a straight line through the woods.
He was wide eyed as the shadows seemed to be moving closer. He thought he saw them smiling at him. His stomach rumbled and he knew he heard a laugh barked out from somewhere. The wolf didn’t respond to the sound.