Morning Rituals: The Tree Stand

On this night, as I move up to the creek and into the clearing that edges it, I feel that familiar awareness build. The wind is mostly blocked in this corridor and the ambient noise has died down to a whisper. The moon is illuminating me at the edge of the trees. I turn west and point myself into the wind before setting off cautiously toward my stand. I move 80 yards west along the creek and I am about to turn into the woods to make the final move into the stand when I hear it. A snort wheeze cutting through the dark morning air.