A Native named Circling Hawk.

His face was old and leathery, with an expression of pure exhaustion firmly affixed to it. His clothes were composed of hide that had been dyed or stained to distort his figure, and did so so well, that even though he was standing right in front of me, it was difficult for me to get an estimate of his size. "I had heard that Morris had invited a writer of sorts," he said, pushing away his dark hair that was not being held back by a red band, to study me through narrow eyes. "But I had not heard that his guest was a pervert."

"And who are you, Sir, to be making such accusations?" I returned through clenched teeth and a stone-like face, my anger held back behind closed fists.

"Circling Hawk. Trapper, hunter, and guide for these woods," he answered.

"Well then, Mr. Hawk, what business is it of yours that you are in the woods?" I snapped, fixing my jacket.

"I'm a trapper, hunter, and guide," he replied coolly, blinking slowly.

I blame my anger for that slip. "Yes. Well... I do not take kindly to be being called a pervert sir!"

He blinked at me once more. "Were you or were you not hiding in the bushes, watching a young couple do as the rabbits do?" I could do nothing but tighten my jaw and frown at him. But he merely waved it away. "Then again, the people here do all kinds of things. Maybe this is what you need." I was about to counter yet again, when his head turned sharply to the side as if he had heard something. I did not, and opened my mouth to speak, when his hand shot up, demanding I stop. I closed it, and opened my ears, for whatever creature had caught his attention.

I do not know if any such creature existed, but it seemed like an hour passed in absolute silence. Moving slowly, Mr. Hawk pointed in a direction behind him and whispered, "Walk 150 paces that way, and you'll find a boulder in the shape of a fox, with an arrow carved onto it. Go that way for 5 minutes and you'll hear a river. It's the same river where you were peeping." Without even looking to see if I had been paying attention, he took a handful of steps and vanished into the foliage.

Suddenly alone, a fear creeped up my spine. "Mr. Hawk? Mr. Hawk?" I gasped, straining my eyes and ears. Hearing nothing but silence again, I began moving in the direction he indicated.

I hoped.