Alex looked up from carving a small X into a tree. He could hear voices, but the wind was whipping and howling that he couldn’t tell how far or how close they were to him.  When he finished cutting the X, he looked behind him. Every other tree he past he carved an X into the bark, but somehow he felt as those this might not help. Then again, he also hopped if there was anyone else in the forest; the X’s would help them get through. 

A squirrel jumped from the branch above him, causing the snow to fall right on top of him. Some of it went down the back of his shirt and he screamed, “Cool, that’s cool!” he jumped around trying to get the snow out of his shirt. He stopped and shivered as he felt the cold go down his back. Alex sighed and continued on his way, not wanting to stop. [i]I wonder how long until I make it to the castle? Maybe when I find it I’ll go back and leave some clues for anyone else who’s in the forest. Better to help then let anyone in here freeze to death[/i]. Alex thought