He hummed the lyrics as he moved toward the reeds, repeating every word he remembered.
"Walk the path where the reeds grow high,
Where dragonflies and minnows lie.
Past the tree with the twisted back,
Follow the river, stay on track.
When water bends and stones run thin,
The shed will wait, just tucked within."
He stepped through the tall reeds, each movement a slow struggle as the damp mud sucked at his feet with every pace.
The soft earth soaked into his footwear, clinging to the soles and squelching between his toes until his entire foot felt slimy, chilled, and uncomfortably slick.
The reeds swayed and rustled around him, brushing against his legs like cold fingers as he forced himself forward, one mucky step at a time.
"Where dragonflies and minnows lie," he hummed the next line of the tune under his breath, low and steady, the melody keeping him company as he pushed deeper into the swaying reeds.
