The dark of night covered the land, crickets filling the frosty air with their raucous cacophony. The traveler had been lying bundled within the tattered remains of his cloak for warmth, watching the light breeze sway the branches of the trees overhead meditatively.
A twig snapped to his side, and he turned quickly to see what had approached him at this hour. A young buck appeared from the brush, with a muslin bag tied to its small rack.
Man and beast sized the other up, neither timid or afraid. The buck's eyes were pools of darkness under the moon's light, but the traveler suspected that they would reflect intelligence had they met under the sun's rays.
Slowly the buck then lowered its neck and tilted its head, allowing the stuffed bag to drop from its antlers. Then the deer turned and ran back into the cover of night.
The traveler pulled himself aright and then leaned forward, retrieving the sack. Untying the knotted ends, he peeled the corners back and saw.... a pile of blueberry muffins.
Grimy fingers picked the topmost one up carefully, then brought it to his nose for a sniff. They were freshly baked and soft - whoever had sent them most likely had prepared the batch with him in mind.
A small scrap of paper peeking out between muffins caught his eye. He withdrew the bit of parchment and saw that the only thing scrawled upon it was the likeness of a bear paw.
He chuffed under his breath. Bears. More bears.
