Sounds from the Woods

We live in a very quiet area, so we're able to hear nature's soft sounds from quite a distance away. A thunderstorm can be heard coming from miles off. A songbird half a mile into the woods can be listened to, when there's little wind to mask it. Sometimes it's almost ghostly quiet when no animal or wind can be heard... almost like I've lost my hearing. But every now and then the silence can waft a disturbing sound my way, that is a little unnerving.

I'm sitting in the hot tub. As dusk comes on and the light level drops, the woods visually close in, while my ears can still reach deep into the gloom. I am drifting in reverie when I hear a slight rustling in the leaves, coming from somewhere back in the inky woods. I can tell it is not a little critter, like a mouse or squirrel. Maybe a deer? The leaves rustle for a moment and then go silent for a little while, as if the critter is pausing to check out its next move.

The sound is slowly moving my way. No, now I'm sure it's not a deer, since they move more quietly. It's coming closer, unnervingly noisy. I am very aware of my vulnerability—sitting naked, out there by the creek. Any determined critter could jump me before I could make it to the safety of the house.

I'm confident that a cautious animal like a deer or squirrel would stop when it spots me. But how about this critter that's approaching? Lordy, maybe it's a big ol' raccoon! Sometimes when a 'coon spots you, it'll keep advancing. All I have to defend myself is to launch a few cups of water in its direction. That might just piss him off and cause him to charge the tub.

I feel my once putty-soft body stiffen a little. I wish it wasn't so dark in those woods. Is it friend or foe? Timid or fearless? As it comes closer I begin to realize what I'm hearing is not something rustling in the leaves, but the sound of raindrops periodically falling on the carpet of leaves on the forest floor. Hmmm... how can that be? Now I remember that it sprinkled rain a little while ago. Maybe something is shaking the raindrops off the trees?

Yes, I decide it's some critter moving through the trees, dislodging drops of water and sounding like it's far larger than it probably is. I'm now thinking it's a small animal jumping from tree to tree. A squirrel, I hope? Please? In another few moments I can see a patch of nearby tree branches bouncing and then—finally to my relief—a squirrel emerges from the shadows.

Mystery solved. My heartbeat can again drop to a crawl. I contentedly watch the acrobatics of the squirrel. Beautiful!