Chapter One: Home Again
Tanner continued down the trail, pushing away the briers which over the years had attempted to take over the open space which the path provided. There were also parts of trees which had died since his last passing that lay across the narrow corridor. At times he had to stop and break or drag the old limbs out of his way, in order to get to where he was going. And after a few minutes of clearing the path once again, he was staring at his goal. Finally, his eyes caught sight of the one thing which brought him back on this quest. Sitting upon the outstretched branches of a huge red oak, were the remnants of what he remembered as the one place where his dreams came alive: The old tree house.
Time had taken it’s toll on the once mighty fortress. Bits and pieces of boards, all of which he had carried to this place were strewn upon the ground below, poking out of the years of leaves which tried to hide and reclaim the now moss covered and rotting lumber. Tanner walked up to the great tree, and to his surprise the old wooden slats that he had nailed as steps were still there, although covered with the same lichen which was on the boards lying on the ground. He placed his hand upon the third step from the ground, and remembered the last time he had climbed up the old tree.
