So it was they ate their fill and when a long pause settled over the group the old man smiled placing his napkin over his empty plate and with a warm twinkle in his eyes he looked over at Leah and Charles and said "Now, have you had enough, are you ready for a long nap?" he laughed a little.
"Oh, yes!" Leah said as the warmth of the early morning sun kissed her face.
"Good, your body and mind are prepared for our first steps on our journey together, now come, follow me." John said getting up from his chair and walking over to a small wooden spiral staircase; which led the trio down to a veranda underneath the balcony. "So, we will not be taking naps, instead we shall take a long walk through the woods to work off our heavy meal, as this is what is best for us at this time." he smiled again grabbing a long walking stick with the head of a bear carved into the top of it. Charles and Leah followed him down a long cold trail in the deep forest of trees. "Here now, observe." John said pointing up "We have tied white ribbons up on the limbs of the trees every few feet, so if you get lost on the trail follow the white ribbons and if you want to go to the top of the mountain ridge follow the red ribbons. We do not want anyone to get lost." he smiled again walking briskly ahead of them. They walked about a mile and came to a little clearing by a small creek in the woods. There was a long thick log that had fallen many years ago providing a perfect place to stop and rest. They sat themselves down saying nothing as John bade them to remain silent and listen to the sounds of the forest creatures stirring awake.
Birds chirping, the water flowing in the creek, squirrels scurrying up in the trees, rabbits rustling through the ferns, the screech of an owl off in the distance. "Listen..," John spoke in a hushed voice "The animals want to speak to you."
"Oh, yes!" Leah said as the warmth of the early morning sun kissed her face.
"Good, your body and mind are prepared for our first steps on our journey together, now come, follow me." John said getting up from his chair and walking over to a small wooden spiral staircase; which led the trio down to a veranda underneath the balcony. "So, we will not be taking naps, instead we shall take a long walk through the woods to work off our heavy meal, as this is what is best for us at this time." he smiled again grabbing a long walking stick with the head of a bear carved into the top of it. Charles and Leah followed him down a long cold trail in the deep forest of trees. "Here now, observe." John said pointing up "We have tied white ribbons up on the limbs of the trees every few feet, so if you get lost on the trail follow the white ribbons and if you want to go to the top of the mountain ridge follow the red ribbons. We do not want anyone to get lost." he smiled again walking briskly ahead of them. They walked about a mile and came to a little clearing by a small creek in the woods. There was a long thick log that had fallen many years ago providing a perfect place to stop and rest. They sat themselves down saying nothing as John bade them to remain silent and listen to the sounds of the forest creatures stirring awake.
Birds chirping, the water flowing in the creek, squirrels scurrying up in the trees, rabbits rustling through the ferns, the screech of an owl off in the distance. "Listen..," John spoke in a hushed voice "The animals want to speak to you."
