But in his aging eyes, he had a passion for his literature, something that Mila warmed too. On top of everything else, the literature was like a doorw...y, into a bigger world. This included sex, as she became aware that there was so much more passion than the clumsy fucks and vanilla trysts she had had to date.Mila has always had a strong sexual appetite, but in those early days, this was hidden from view. But the texts she was reading and the ones the professor suggested off the list, all. He planned to have one burn through the night to discourage any night raiders, the four legged kind as well as the two.He came across a small stone altar at the far side of the copse. Behind the altar, planted within a ring of stones, was an ancient looking cream colored tree, bereft of its canopy. There was not a single leaf to be found on the tree, an unusual sight for midsummer. The tree did not look dead or diseased, just barren, as if it was waiting to bloom; waiting for what, Mann did not. We’ve lived next door all our lives, and she spent much more time in our house than in hers. And then there was Katy, Sara and Lily’s best friend. She was a year older than my sister and cousin, and had moved to our neighborhood when they were all still in primary school.The weather had been hot enough that the three teens had largely abandoned their outdoorsy plans, and spent most of the summer in our house. Watching television, playing games, be it electronic or card or board, I got used to. There a root. In less than an hour, he had gathered enough useful flora to push the limits of what his knapsack would hold. Though most assuredly a city-dweller, Darkni found the walk through the wood pleasant and continued on as much for the peaceful surroundings as for locating further tools of his chosen trade.The birds were chirping and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves of the trees as he followed the well-worn path. He had no idea who regularly trod it, but for the moment, he had it to.