Journey of a Thousand Miles

Previously

…He didn't sleep again. He sat with his back to the wall, the knife in his hand, watching the door until the first gray light of dawn seeped through the windows. When morning came, he extinguished the fire, gathered his meager supplies, and stepped outside. The forest was quiet, the air cool and damp. He looked up at the sky. It was clear, blue, innocent. But he didn't trust it anymore. He unfolded the map and oriented himself. East lay through the dense woods, following the path that would eventually lead to the swamp. He took a deep breath and began to walk. The journey of a thousand miles had only just begun.