Shannon and Tristan left the rented cabin early that morning, eager to see more of the countryside. The air was crisp, the path narrow but lined with wildflowers still damp with dew.
They asked the cabin owner for suggestions on where to go next—somewhere quieter, maybe by a stream, with a small cabin or village nearby.
"If you follow the stream uphill," the old man said, pointing toward the trees, "you'll find a few old villages up that way. The trail is easy to miss, but keep to the sound of water. You'll know you're close when you smell the pine."
"Thank you," Tristan said, smiling.
"Just don't get lost," the man chuckled. "That stream forks twice. Keep to the right."
They followed the sound of running water through a narrow path that curved through rocks and moss. Shannon walked ahead, occasionally turning to steady Tristan when the ground grew uneven.
"Are you sure this is the right direction?" Tristan asked after an hour.
