The room is a single room cabin. The walls are log on the outide and milled on the inside. The walls are clean and varnished with a honey color. The ceiling is cathedral with exposed beams. There is a single window, large and clear. I can see the deep snow outside. Adjacent left of the window is the door. It is wooden and sturdy and does not creak. In front of the door is a worn sofa. The sofa is very comfortable. On the sofa are indian blankets. The sofa faces a fireplace, which occupies the wall opposite the door, slightly larger than 2 log width. The fireplace is made of grey field stone. On the mantle is a long thin piece of wood used for lighting a pipe from the fire. Also on the mantle is a small wooden chest, made of cherry, stained dark, and polished. In the chest is a bottle of ink, a quill, and sheafs of parchment; all nestled in a red felt lining. The andirons and firepoker are made of black iron. There is a fire burning and crackling in the fireplace. The flames are large enough to light the room while throwing dancing shadows about. There is one small table next to the sofa. On it is an oil lamp and a very large well worn leather bound history book. There is a book mark in the history book about one third into the book. The table also has a drawer. In the drawer is a pair of glasses and a Bible. One arm on the glasses is folded and the other is out. The Bible is in excellent shape even though it is slightly curled from being held open for reading. The wall opposite the window is covered in darkness. I can see shadows that are unidentifiable and random glints of light reflected off of things metallic. The floor is wooden and has a little dirt from people walking in the room. On the floor, between the sofa and fireplace is a dark soft fur rug. It is partly on the floor and partly on the hearth. The room is just warm enough that one would want to snuggle into one of the indian blankets on the sofa and be cozy warm.
The forest is dark; dark like an overcast day. The air is misty and quiet save for the occasional bird call. The trees are very tall and most are conifers. There are lots of large white pines and fur trees. Here and there there are some massive ancient oaks. These oaks dwarf all other trees in the forest. It is fall and the leaves of the oaks are beginning to turn. The forest floor is covered mostly with bright orange pine needles.
The path before me winds through the trees and somehow passes under every oak. The path is about six feet wide. The path used to be wider, but it is rarely used now. At one time it may have been an old stage coach road, but now it has fallen to disuse. It is covered completely by bright orange pine needles with the occasional smooth flat stone just poking through. The path has no major obstacles, but from time to time it gets rocky, usually on hills where the rain has washed it out. The path is not marked, but it is easy to follow. Here and there are the tracks of different animals, the only other commuters to use this path now.
Following the path, I come to a river. The river is very wide; I can barely see the opposite bank. The surface of the water boils and ripples making it apparent the water is moving with force if not great speed. It is the currents under the surface that are to be more formidable, for they can sweep a person away. The water itself is clean and clear, having a dark look because the river is deep and flows over dark silt.
As I reach the far side of the water I find a cup half submerged in the ground on the bank. I wash the cup in the water. Once it is clean, I can see that the cup is that of an ordinary coffee cup. It is off white in color. Sturdy in build. A strong firmly attached handle that is a closed loop. I cannot understand why the cup has been discarded. It is perfect for taking a drink from the water. It is a well made cup.
I find a key simply lying in the pine needles on the path. Picking up the key I can see that it is an old skeleton key. The key is about a hand length and made of bronze. The end that would be inserted in the lock has a single tooth. The opposite end is done in fancy scroll work and inset with three small rubies. I believe the key will unlock a large iron bound gate.