Sketchbook drawing of the creek at Pilgrim Park, by Jacqueline Perry, 2012

At sunrise, I hiked the steep hill to a favorite spot in Pilgrim Park (near Princeton, Illinois). In the past, I would always find deer there; but, no deer this time.

I sat on a crude camp bench to watch the sun come up through a line of bare trees.

POP POP POP…POP POP POP, the sound echoed loudly from the next hill. Hunting season, I remembered. Was I wearing any orange?

Examining my brown coat with the fake fur, I decided to head back, down the hill to walk the labyrinth instead.