It wasnât the way his five-year-old crawled into his lap, hands steadying against his sunken shoulders as he scooted close enough to smell the carrot soup youâd made for lunch, the scent still clinging to his hair, that made Daryl want to take their little trek through the woods.
It was the sticky patch against his boyâs cheek as he stared wide-eyed at his dad, head tilted back against Darylâs arm, hands pressed into Darylâs knee like he was holding himself still while the widest grin spread from ear to ear.
âDaddy,â he started, âwhat do we do outside?â
Daryl thought about it for a second. âI find people,â he said. âBring âem home.â
âSometimes even animals,â Daryl added with a small shrug.
The little boy gasped like heâd just been told the moon was a planet, his face lighting up with pride.
âReally. Really,â Daryl said with a small nod, wrapping his arm around his son.
âHome like we home?â he asked again, and his father nodded once more.
âHome like in yer belly,â Daryl teased, pinching at his sonâs sides. The little boy giggled, little hands pushing at Darylâs arm as he rocked back and forth, howling with laughter.
The giggles filled the afternoon air. Daryl tickled him until he was nearly red in the face, his skin warmed by the sound of it.
So here the Dixon boys stood, walking sticks in hand, backpacks full, and eyes set in determination. Daryl held the hand of his youngest, partly because he wanted to, and partly because the kid looked ready to take off into the wild like a rocket to space.
The eldest fixed both hands on the stick that hovered over him like a shadow, tilting it in a circle and smacking the ends against the earth with little psh, psh sound effects.
âAll right,â Daryl grunted, letting the kid finish his âsecret fighting moves,â as he liked to call them. He watched him step back in line when his brother reached for his hand.
âWhat now?â the little boy asked, looking up at his big brother and then at his dad.
Daryl nodded toward the trees. âNow we hunt.â
They moved deeper into the woods, the crunch of leaves and snap of twigs underfoot setting a rhythm that was easy to follow. The younger boyâs eyes darted from tree trunk to tree trunk, catching glimpses of birds, squirrels, and the occasional flash of sunlight between the leaves. His older brother, stick held like a staff, followed more carefully, balancing the stick while keeping an eye on the ground for anything interesting.
âRule number one,â Daryl said, crouching so he was level with the boys. âNever go too far. These woods got ways of lettinâ folks wander off.â He placed a steady hand on the younger boyâs shoulder, letting him feel the firm guidance without stifling curiosity. âStay close. Yer eyes. Yer ears. Theyâll tell ya whatâs out there.â
The little boy nodded seriously, gripping his stick like it was a sword. He crouched low, squinting at a patch of dirt with a small pile of scattered leaves.
âLook!â he whispered. âTracks!â
Daryl knelt beside him, squinting down. âAinât deer. Maybe a raccoon. See the shape? Round, little toe prints. You can tell whoâs been here by the pattern. Thatâs trackinâ.â He tapped the ground with his finger. âFollow the patterns, but donât touch âem. Just watch.â
The younger boyâs eyes were wide as he carefully traced the path with his finger a few inches above the dirt, barely daring to brush it. His older brother tried to mimic him, lifting his foot carefully over a small patch of mud, pretending not to step in it.
âGood,â Daryl said with a small nod. âSeeinâ tracks is just as much part of huntinâ as catchinâ anything. You notice the world around you first.â
A sudden rustle in the trees ahead made the younger boy freeze. His hand gripped Darylâs arm, eyes wide.
âDaddy⊠look!â He pointed toward a small clearing where a deer grazed quietly, ears twitching at every sound.
Daryl squatted low, letting the boys get a better view. âNow,â he said softly, âwe donât touch it. We donât chase it. Sometimes the woods just let ya watch. Admire it. Learn from it.â He let the boys stay quiet for a few long breaths, just watching the animal nibble at grass, sunlight catching the white spots on its back.
The older boy let out a tiny breath and whispered, âItâs⊠itâs so big.â
âBig, and fast, and smart,â Daryl said. âWe respect that. Thatâs part of rule number one too. Knowinâ whatâs safe to follow, whatâs safe to admire, and when to leave it be.â
After a few more steps, the boys noticed some bright red berries hanging low from a bush. The older boy pointed eagerly. âLook, Daddy! Berries!â
Daryl crouched beside him again. âRule number three,â he said, brushing a few leaves aside. âNever touch what you donât know. Could be safe, could be poison. You look, you donât touch unless I say so. Thatâs how the woods keep you alive.â He plucked a berry and showed it to them. âThese? Edible. But any other berries, leave âem. Always leave âem.â
The boys nodded seriously, their curiosity tempered by the lesson. The younger boy poked at a nearby stick, imagining it might magically turn into a berry-picking tool, while the older one carefully observed the bush, noting its leaves and branches.
They kept moving, stopping now and then to peer under logs or glance at the birds flying overhead. Daryl pointed out broken branches where squirrels had leapt, small holes in the dirt where mice had tunneled, and the faint, musky smell that told him a raccoon had passed by not long ago. The cool shade pressed against their skin, and the earthy smell of damp moss hung heavy in the air.
Finally, the sound of trickling water led them to a small creek, sunlight making the ripples shimmer like tiny stars trapped in glass. Daryl crouched beside the creek, letting the boys squat next to him.
âLast rule,â he said, voice soft but firm. âWater is life. Donât waste it. Fishinâ ainât just for eatinâ. Itâs payinâ attention. Watch the ripples, the bugs, the shadows. Patience.â
He handed the older boy a small stick with a line tied to it, a makeshift fishing pole, while the younger boy leaned over, toes skimming the cold water. âNow,â Daryl said, settling behind them, âletâs see what these woods got for lunch.â
The boys were silent for a long while, focusing on the water. Every ripple, every shadow, every splash of a fish made their eyes widen. Occasionally, the younger boy let out a small squeak when a fish jumped, and Daryl chuckled quietly, careful not to startle themâor the fish.
A few nibbles and patient tugs later, the older boy finally reeled in a small trout, eyes wide with excitement. âLook, Daddy! Look what I got!â
The younger boy clapped his hands, bouncing on the balls of his feet. âI wanna catch one too!â
âSlow and steady,â Daryl said, adjusting the line for him. âPatience. Thatâs the trick.â He let the boy dangle his line, humming quietly to the rhythm of the creek. Soon enough, the younger one felt a tug, and with Darylâs steady hands guiding him, he pulled in a small but wriggling fish.
âGood job, little man,â Daryl said, ruffling his hair. The boy beamed, holding up the fish like it was a trophy.
After a while, they packed up their small catch, placing the fish carefully in a makeshift pouch. Daryl lifted the youngest onto his shoulders, the older one balancing carefully beside him, both boys holding sticks like theyâd just completed a great adventure.
Back at the cabin, the smell of carrot soup still lingering in the air, Daryl set the boys down. âMomâs gonna wanna see what we got,â he said.
The boys ran ahead, bursting into the kitchen with shouts of excitement. âMom! Look! Look what we caught!â
You crouched down to their level, eyes widening as the boys showed off their catch. âWell, Iâll be,â you said, laughing. âYou two went on a proper hunt, huh?â
The older boy handed you his trout, chest puffed out. âWe learned all the rules, Mom! Daddy taught us!â
Daryl leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching them. âThey did good.â
The younger boy held up his fish proudly, a sticky grin on his face. âWe stayed close, we listened, we watched the water, we waited!â
You laughed, taking both fish carefully. âLooks like a feast is about to happen. You boys did good.â
Daryl ruffled the younger boyâs hair and nudged the older oneâs shoulder. âWoods teach you a lot, but nothinâ beats bringinâ it home.â
He lingered a moment, watching the laughter and chatter fill the cabin like sunlight spilling through the windows, feeling the weight of these little moments, how fast theyâd grow, how fleeting afternoons like this were. He tucked that thought quietly away as he smiled.