If you go down to the woods today...

'Ah come on Gil, let's go down this path, please? Pretty please?'

'Ruthie, no! I've told you I just don't fancy it!'

'And why would that be Mr Grumpy? Seriously, convince me,' she said, crossing her arms in an I won't move until you tell me way. Gilbert, ever moved by Ruth's ability to get him to do almost anything decided a valiant effort of explanation was required. He walked up to her, kissed her warm neck, stepped back and peered in her set eyes, and said,

'Look, the path has clearly not been walked upon by anyone for like a zillion years, I mean Ruthie, just look at it will you!'

'Gil, we haven't seen anyone on the path we are on for at least an hour. What the hell is the difference!'

Round 1 to Ruth.

'OK, fair point, but we don't want to get lost do we. There is zilch phone signal here so getting lost in the depths of a forest is perhaps best avoided ?'

Ruth looked at him and simply tutted.

'Come on Ruthie,' she started doing an over the top exaggeration of her boyfriends voice, 'let's go on an exciting walk,' you said and yet what you really meant was a slightly less normal walk than normal.

Round 2 to Ruth.

'and besides,' Ruth added whilst looking Gilbert up and down provocatively, 'would we not be better off away from the beaten track if you want to get into my panties?'

Game, set and match to Ruth. Within half an hour they had walked down through the difficult terrain and found a stunning clearing that opened out with a small heavenly brook and a break in the thick set and ancient trees that allowed the sun to send its streams of glory into the depths of the woods.

'Who was right?' asked Ruth, rich smells and colours intoxicating them as Gilbert made a space for them on the clearing floor.

'You were right my love!' Gilbert happily declared, beckoning his girl over to him as they fell happily on to their love bed.

Much later, sex, food and wine all being consumed with lustful intent, Ruth awoke to a dusk evening and no boy in her arms. For a moment she lay there, her nakedness causing her no concern as the two of then were well versed in outdoor activities in secret places. However after a few minutes as her head began to awake to the sounds of an oncoming night she sat up, automatically looking for her clothes and finding them easily to hand putting them on quickly. As she did do she called Gilbert's name but there was no response. She paused for a moment trying to consider the options. A toilet visit had been the obvious choice but now, well now she was beginning to feel fear. She noted his trainers and jeans were gone but his top still lay by her side. He had left quickly but he had definitely done so to come straight back so where the hell was he?

She stood, unsteadily at first, and called for her man again, louder this time and with more urgency.

'Gil, Gil, where are you?' and as she shouted she moved back towards where she thought they had first come from, and it was then that she heard a cry. She stopped dead in her tracks, her ears trying desperately to discern exactly what she had just heard. She strained hard, her sensors on overdrive. There, a sound again but this was different. Some kind of strange bird crying out into the night sky. Then, and as clear as anything she had ever heard before, she heard his sickening scream. Terror struck her through the heart as she ran as quickly as she could towards him.


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