Jumping over the fence, he entered the woods, knowing that he was close to the end of his journey. Owls hooted in the nearby branches of the trees. Never before had he felt so tired, so drained of energy, but he kept on moving. Looking into the night sky, he saw little of the moon, which was blocked by the massive branches of the forest. Only a small wisp of smoke from the north kept him going in the right direction. Very quickly he increased his pace. Every step was torturous, as his legs pained with ache and tiredness. Slowly he crept out of the forest, onto a hill, which overlooked a small village. Many years he was gone, away from his friends, his family and his wife. Every night he hoped to be able to make it back; tonight he was successful. Longingly to hold his wife in his arms, he made his way down the hill, towards a small hut with smoke coming out of the chimney.


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