Welcome, Traveler, to Willow Bend

the Path to Willow Bend

Chapter 1

On mornings when time and chores allowed, Mara settled into the little window seat beneath the round oak frame and wrapped herself in her favorite faded green quilt. A steaming cup of tea, usually peppermint, not far away.

It was early June, still not humid in the early mornings, and almost time to gather herbs from the kitchen garden and start them drying. Those from the woods could hopefully wait their harvesting until she felt more sure of what she was gathering. Despite her best intenions, her herbal lay unattended while her eyes wandered over and over to the view outside.

A narrow, hard trod path curled through trees until it disappeared into a gaussian blur of morning light. Beside it stood a weathered signpost, it's wooden arrows pointing in different direction.s

Fern Hollow, it seemed the path led there.

Sunlit Glade

and, at the top, the name that always lingered in her mind - Willow Bend

Every book on the shelves knew of it, but could tell her little about it. One weathered and beaten volume mentioned it only once, claiming "Those who seek Willow Bend must learn to see with inner eyes." Another read "No map will show the way, yet wandering hearts arrive anyway." None quenched her curiosity.

To Be Continued...