The sparse trails that led through the forest were chocked with stones and exposed roots, making the footing difficult, but Padric and Rosheen traveled hard through the early morning. The sun could not penetrate the dense clouds, leaving the forest a dim, mist-laden place. Padric became drowsy listening to his muffled footfalls and the stuffy sound of his own breathing. He yawned deeply, forcing his eyes closed, his ears filling with a hot roar. A rock turned under his foot, throwing his weight harshly backward. He fell hard, his right elbow and hip slamming into the unforgiving trail. Rosheen hissed sympathetically, as he rose gingerly to his feet. The pain settled into his bones as a dull, pulsing ache, but he was more concerned about the damage to his pack than he was his own injuries. Slinging the basket off his back, he checked it over carefully, ensuring the wicker had not been irreparably crushed. Thankfully, his mother’s sturdy handiwork held true. Padric glanced up at Rosheen, feeling quite the fool.

“Want me to lead for awhile?” she asked.

Padric glared at her hovering an arm’s length from the ground. “I doubt that would help.”

“Well then…” She made a sweeping gesture towards him with both hands.

Padric chuckled darkly, rubbing his sore elbow. “Forgive me for holding you up.”

“Oh, you’re fine!” she exclaimed.

Padric gave her an indignant scrunch of his face. “I never said I was hurt!”

“I know,” Rosheen said lightly. “So…” The sweeping gesture came again.

Padric gave a defeated groan and headed off down the trail, slinging the pack over his shoulders as he went. The trail narrowed and deepened until it was little more than a ditch, with barely enough room for Padric’s feet. The trees crowded close on either side, making it impossible to climb up and travel outside of the tight furrow. The trail meandered in irregular turns, forcing them to follow an indirect path. Eventually, it led them gradually downhill, and then turned into a knee busting descent over natural steps of stone and earth. Padric chose his footing carefully, gripping the trunks of trees and low branches where he could to steady himself and slow his momentum. A break in the trees gave them a view of a grassy clearing below, nestled in the saddle of the hills. Padric took a moment to catch his breath and pointed down at the clearing.

“From there, the path is unknown to me. When I last came through here, I entered the clearing from the northeast and turned south for home. We will need to go west to reach Hog’s Wallow.” From this vantage it appeared their chosen path flattened out into rolling fields for a fair distance as it left the dell, before entering the forest once more. Thankfully, it did not appear to turn uphill again.