What strange and wonderful animal is this that has stepped out of the twilight of the woods and is standing still and alert on the trail looking back at me. I have no name for it but I seem to have a memory of having glimpsed it before. I instinctively reach toward it and it naturally moves away. When I move to follow it returns to the darkness of the forest. I dive in behind with a determination not to let this thing escape me. It moves invisibly through the trees as I pursue blindly with increasing fervor although I can't shake the disorienting impression that I am actually the one being followed and so closely and silently that it's feet land in my own footprints as I step out of them. This creature is maddening! Lost, torn, and exhausted I finally have to give up the chase, stop where I am, and collapse in the ferns at my feet. This hunt is hopeless, I'm stopping here. But I wonder where here is. I have no idea how I came or how to get back. Too tired to care for the moment, I lean my back against a tree and close my eyes. Anyway this place is fine, in fact quite nice, and so utterly quiet now with just the sound of my own breathing slowly winding down...

How much time goes by before, without opening my eyes, I suddenly notice with amazement that I can feel the magical creature I've been chasing curled up in my lap?! I feel it's living heart beating under my fingers, it's soft fur quivering with aliveness, it's warm breath on my skin, and I am flooded with love!