Chapter 2: Leaving Home
Reddy will never forget that first night out on his own. During the day, he traveled far from his home in the gorge — the low part of the Beaver River that flowed downstream from a giant waterfall.
Following the river, Reddy climbed the tall vertical limestone wall until finally reaching level ground. He followed the river in the opposite direction his mom and dad always traveled. Reddy was headed upriver; he went against the current.
I’m done with that big ditch, Reddy thought. Now, I have no shadow hanging over me.
As Reddy ran along the river shoreline, he went around trees and ran through bushes.
Being out in the open in the forest is not such a great idea, Reddy thought. All alone in the forest is scary. Reddy looked up and around.
The sun was about to say “good night”; a beautiful orange, yellow and reddish-pink sunset was setting over the horizon.
Oh, Reddy thought. I need to find a home, a place to stay undercover for the night.