{Chapter 4}

I was beginning to regret not changing before I left. Despite the suns warming rays, and the heavy coat I had taken from the hanger, the flimsy pyjamas I had chosen to wear to bed that night were having a hard time of containing my body heat.

I pulled my jacket tighter around me and folded my arms across my chest. I wasn't completely used to my surroundings yet, and in the darkness everything seemed completely different. The familiar path I was travelling along now that led to the village seemed to reach towards me, confining my movements to the center of the path and allowing me no space to stretch out. Of course I knew this wasn't the case, but the thick wall of trees on both sides of me loomed over me and I felt tiny in comparison - a 5"4 girl could hardly compare to an army of 15" trees.

It was comforting to know that just above me the sun was watching, making an effort for its warmth to reach me even in the depth I had found myself. By now I had been outside for at least fifteen minutes, so the end of the path was beginning to reveal itself. I could see the square, and the fountain in its very center. The sun had no difficulty reaching there, so soon enough I would be out of any danger that I might find myself between such mighty armies.
The thought of escaping these confines encouraged me to pick up my pace. I would reach the village soon enough, within a few more minutes, and even that didn't seem soon enough. Not only was I regretting not changing, but I was regretting leaving this early. In fact, I had no idea what time it actually was. So for a split second I was tempted to turn around, and walk back home, only to come out when the sun was shining strongly and not just waking up. That thought was, however, completely eradicated by the fact that to do that I would have to endure another ten minutes or so in the darkness, when I could leave it completely and return when it was lighter. It couldn't be that late in the morning, when I had left the sun wasn't even completely above the horizon.

I broke from my thoughts of turning back round about the same time I broke from the trees. I made my way straight for the fountain, because it was from there I had the best view of everything around me. I couldn't help but blink as I noticed just how brightly the sun was shining by looking in the water. If the heat carried on throughout the day, the water that poured continuously and repeatadly from the same place would end up just plain cold and not freezing as it was at that moment. Although, it was a nice kind of freezing, because I was able to run my fingers through it as I watched the leaves dancing in the wind.