Suddenly something big and dark flaps across my path startling me into shock and almost fear. I find that it is an owl, which now sits on a high branch, cooing loudly as if to warn others of my humble presence in this wilderness. It looks at me with its piercingly bright yellow eyes.
Ahead a small light glows, maybe this is a glimmer of hope in the forest that has consumed me! I head towards it, madly exited but I still have to be cautious as I do not know what is hidden within the leaves and deep foliage, maybe a wolf hungry for fresh flesh, rather than rotting meat of long dead animals and the occasional stray dog or cat.
As I get closer, I see that it is a little hut with an open fire roasting inside with a little chimney trailing smoke, I stumble and reach out for a tree to stop myself, the bark is rough and gnarled with age. Like the skin of an old man but harder and rougher, I can feel the age with my hands. I carry on towards the dwelling, I can almost smell the soup cooking over the fire. I get closer and closer to the hut, as I reach the gate to the overgrown garden I catch my first whiff of the soup, my stomach almost rears up at the smell, I realize now that I am ravenous and I hope that the cook is friendly.
I approach slowly, almost drooling as I knock on the door. A man opens it, he looks tired and has the look of a man who has spent much of his life outside, but with red cheeks and the stomach of a man who enjoys his food. The aroma of the soup makes my stomach audibly growl, the man had a quiet chuckle about this although it was rather embarrassing for me. He seems friendly enough and lets me into his hut warm-heartedly, the room is filled with tatty furniture, animal skins and a knitted blanket on an old bed. He invites me to sit on an old and very worn looking stool by the fire and the heat is wonderful after being out in the cold for so long. The soup arrives in an old, carved, wooden bowl that has seen many meals, I hold it for a second by my face and let the steam rise to my face, it warms me up and smells wonderful.
