A Rustling in the Thick

Having grow up in large cities all of my life, I was instantly intrigued by the natural backdrop that surrounded the school's campus grounds.

Pebble Beach is know to have some of the most beautiful golf courses. The Spyglass HIll Golf course laid right off the campus grounds allowing me to watch golfers play, in the early morning hours, while often accompanied by wild deer grazing on the course, as if not threatened by the presence of humans. 

The remainder of the campus was surrounded by woodland area. 

One evening, when feeling adventurous I thought I'd venture, alone, into the wilderness. I snuck out a secluded side entrance, of my two story dormitory, a little before dusk. I headed for a clearing that eventually thicken into a wooded area. As I entered the wooded area I made a mental note to remember the path I was taking, so that I would be able to safely return to campus grounds. As I continued to wonder deeper into the woods, I lost track of time, only realizing this when I was forced to squint to see the terrain that laid in front of me. The sun had since set and it was now dark. A rustling in the thick brought me out of the almost trance like state induced by the majesty of the natural environment that surrounded me. Threatened, I stood perfectly still trying desperately to analyze, with my now limited visual acuity from the lack of daylight, the situation. Seconds later there was another rustling, relatively close in proximity to the first heard. Not knowing what to do I began to swiftly head in the direction opposite of the one I was facing, trying frantically to retrace the steps I had taken. The sound of cracking branches and dried plants were heard in my haste to return to campus grounds. Though as the sounds, that were made under my feet, increased in amplitude so did the rustling in the thick. Frightened, I began to sprint. But once again, the rustling matched my amplitude and tempo. It appeared that something was running along side me. My imagination ran wild, convincing me that a pack of wild wolves had surrounded me, slowly closing in on their prey. Just when I thought I was done for, the rustling stopped and in the foreground I saw the unmistakable clearing framing the secluded side entrance to my two story dormitory.