Welcome friend” he said with a friendly voice.

Sebastian was hesitant but didn’t want fear to come into his voice as he made his greeting to the silhouette of figures standing just beyond the light of his camp fire.

There was no immediate response as seconds passed.

“I say… you are welcome.” Was his second, but slightly louder invitation. Trepidation forming on his face, he was glad it was dark, so perhaps, the shadows would not see the fear in his eyes.

“We mean no harm, friend.” Was the response from the darkness.

Slowly, the silhouettes became three figures winding their way through the heavy underbrush of the trees that shrouded the small camp site.

“We are hunting.” Came the same voice.

“Forgive me for pointing this out, but it’s a bit late for hunting.” Sebastian chided them as he stood up and stepped closer to the fire light with a warm smile. He could see now that the two men and one young boy had rifles slung over their shoulders.

“Yes, well, right you are sir. My name is Thomas, we apologize for the late intrusion.” Said the same voice.

“It’s nice to meet you Thomas, I am Sebastian, You gentlemen find yourself far from the things a man here next to my fire, are you lost Thomas?”

“NO! We are NOT lost!” Snarled the other man with a surly continuance.

“Pete! … Be polite, we are guest at Sebastian’s camp.” Thomas shot a quick warning glance at Pete. The effect was immediate and Pete altered his surly attitude, but just slightly.

“This discontented and ill natured one, is my brother-in-law, Pete.” With that Thomas stuck his hand out to Sebastian, who returned the gesture. Pete followed suit and politely shook Sebastian’s hand.

This quiet one, come up here Samual. This is Samual, my son.”

Samual stepped out from behind his father and also took Sebastian’s hand. Then retreated again.

Well it’s chilly, sit down by the fire and make yourself at home. I wish I had a few chairs but logs are all I have by my fire.

“Your hospitality is much appreciated at this late hour Sir. Contrary to my dear Brother-in-law… we find we are out of sorts in regard to our exact location, as it were.” Thomas wryly side-glanced at Pete, who looked offended again.

“Where do you think you are?” Asked Sebastian.

“Well, we tramped farther than we planned, we were carried away by the chase. I am sure we are heading in the right direction but the distance has lead us to run out of daylight.” He cleared his throat and continued. “Pete, took charge of our navigation but he dropped the compass out of his satchel sometime ago.”

“I know were we are, we are almost to the road were we parked the truck!” Growled Pete, who was almost standing upright and clinching his fist in anger.

“Simmer down Pete. I am not accusing you of anything, I was just a little frustrated earlier. Would you please forgive me?”

Pete sat back down and in a barely audible voice, he said. “I suppose…but it was an accident.”

A long uncomfortable pause came over the small group, then Samual broke his silence and spoke up.

“Father, I am hungry, could you ask…” he nodded a sideways nod at Sebastian. “Mr. Sebastian, if he has any food?”

Thomas looked at his son with mortification, then anger, and then embarrassment, in less than a fraction of a moment. Quickly turning his head back at Sebastian’s friendly gaze. “I,… I,… must apologize for my son’s impropriety and…” looking back to Samual’s quickly downturned face, “bad manners.” “As you can obviously see, we have had a bad set of circumstances over the past twelve hours or so. ”With even more embarrassment creasing his features. “In addition to our lost sense of direction, we have lost our provisions, as meager as they were for a long days outing. We stopped by a rushing steam for a short break, and the back-pack with our food and other previsions, toppled off the boulder and into the stream. We watched it bobbing around the corner and lost beyond our recovery.” “That was my fault, it seems to have started our troubles, and they just kept getting worse as the day went on, along with our tempers and bad behavior.”

Sebastian, with a consoling tone, “The day is not lost, when you have your health, your family safe and come into the company of a new friend that has the resources to make amends to bad circumstances. Wouldn’t you agree Thomas?”.

All three of the downtrodden faces, turned to face Sebastian and started to beam another embarrassed smile, along with relief, filled those travel weary faces. “You would be correct Sebastian, thank you for understanding and reminding me how blessed we are.”

Sebastian stood up, “Samual, I have food aplenty. I have a pantry full in my cabin, it’s just around the bend in the trail behind me. Pete you are also correct, the road is about a quarter of a mile from the cabin in that same direction. Let’s fix something to eat, get out my map and find out where you entered the Forrest, I am sure your truck must be there. I also have a cellphone and you may want to call your worried family?Smiling from ear to ear at the flabbergasted responses.