Ren trembled under the cold air brushing against his skin, seated beneath a large tree. He had covered himself with the clothes he had brought, yet they weren't enough to shield him from the chill.
The sun shone brightly, but it did little to warm the forest. The greens swayed to the wind's tune, while orange and red leaves drifted to the ground. They circled him, tickling his hands resting on the grass, as if telling him to wake up.
Summer had ended; it was already fall.
He opened his eyes, vision blurry. Blinking rapidly, he waited until every shape sharpened. Picking up his bag, Ren rose to his feet.
His neck was stiff from resting against the tree trunk through the night. He tilted it side to side until he could move it comfortably, then bent down, shoving the clothes into the black sack with rushed, quick movements.
He pulled the map from his bag, searching for the road that led to the marked point on the parchment.
