They met in the summer.
Well, in reality he first saw her in the summer. The days were warm, hazy and close and he had sought the shelter of the forest to escape the heat.
His tall, lithe form made easy work of the forest floor and as he walked, the cams that dangled from his climbing harness jingled around noisily.
Climbing had always been a passion for Chris, the sheer concentration, the beads of sweat that occurred as you knew each movement breached the line between life and death, was inviting to him. For many, escapism lay in books, or films. For Chris, it was reaching the top of a solo climb with your life intact that helped him find his Zen.
Today was no exception, and he'd chosen to travel to a new location, deep in the forest. Somewhere that was yet to be climbed was too great a challenge to pass up. It offered him the chance to name and claim the new climb as his own. At the same time, Chris decided it would be good to camp out in the open. Take a few days aware from the bustling suburban life.
That night, after he had climbed the first section of rock a few times, he lay down beside a roaring fire. The temperature had dropped, the first of the late summer leaves had begun to fall from the trees around him. Warmed by the fire, and the foraged meal he had just ate he tucked his hands behind his head and stared up at the stars. They were interspersed with the boughs of the trees that stretched far above him. Somewhere far off a wolf howled and Chris sighed in content.
Sometime later a noise not far off startled him. He woke up, groggy and confused; checking his watch which told him it was a little after 11pm.
'I must have dropped off' he said aloud to no one in particular.
Rising slowly to his feet he stretched out his stiff muscles, spending the day climbing and falling asleep on the hard ground had taken their toll. Before he had time to think too deeply about it though he heard another noise, a twig snapping and then another very distinct sound. Someone was shushing themselves; he could tell it was only one person as he could hear only one set of footsteps. They came close to his camp, but then moved away again in the other direction.
Chris presumed that they were heading to the nearby river.
Waiting a few moments, he started to follow, sticking far enough away to remain out of earshot but close enough to be able to follow the person's bobbing lantern. After a short walk he could hear the rushing of the wide stream fed by a lake a little further up-steam from his location.
At the bank he reached down and cupped his hand into the cold running water, taking a few deep mouthfuls, careful to keep watch on the lantern as it floated up-stream. The refreshing water removed the last of his sleepiness and spurred him on, once again following the mysterious figure into the dark forest.