Walking along alone in the woods gave Dani a chance to relax and think. It was so peaceful out here.

“No one around to tell her it was time to set the table or clean her room,” nine-year-old Dani thought to herself with a smile. She had slipped away from the house when no one was looking. It would be a while before she was missed she could not help thinking gleefully.

She casually strolled further down the path, enjoying the nice breeze that had sprung up on this sunny afternoon. She could hear the stream up ahead. The sound of the water as it flowed over the rocks seemed to amplify as she drew near, calling to her.

Sitting down, Dani leaned comfortably back against the old Oak tree, her favorite resting spot. She let her mind wander even as her eyes noted the small changes that had taken place since her last visit, a week ago.

Glancing directly above her, about half way up, Dani spotted the Robin’s nest. She could see three, dark feathered heads lift as the mother Robin swooped down and settled on the edge of the nest. It was dinnertime.

Dani yawned. She had not known how tired she was until she sat down. The quiet soothing sound of the stream as it went on its way was having an almost hypnotic affect on her. It was not long before Dani’s eyes began to droop; her head sagged as if weighing a ton as it settled solidly on her chest.

For a while, all was quiet as Dani slept. Then, something hit her face and she brushed it impatiently away, not bothering to open her eyes. A few minutes went by and again a wet substance struck her cheek rousing her. Sitting up, Dani shook the cobwebs from her sleepy head.

Gradually it dawned on her. Some time had passed since she had fallen asleep. Not only had a steady, light rain developed but also it was dark out!

Standing abruptly, Dani turned around in a circle. “Which direction do I go to reach the path, I wonder?” She peered out into the pitch-dark night and shivered as she wished she had remembered to bring her watch with the compass.

The steady rain was her only answer. No animals rummaged in the bushes for food and the birds were silent. Even the noisy frogs had grown quiet, as if waiting for something.