THE TRAIL CURVED THROUGH the tall trees for at least a mile. The air smelled alive with the scent of redwoods, eucalyptus, and damp air. Blue jays darted through the trees, chasing smaller birds with loud caws. I soaked in the freshness of the forest, feeling grounded by its simplicity. Exhilarated, I ran faster and Zander and I settled into a comfortable pace that allowed us to still chat. Occasionally, Zander ran backwards. My fast pace was barely a trot for him, but he didn't seem to mind.
As we jogged around a corner, the path straightened and Zander took the opportunity to turn around again, grinning. Before he could say anything, I gasped and pulled to a stop to stare at a tree off to my right. I could have sworn that it had moved, that the bark had bulged like something inside of i
