The voice that he heard this time was distinctly feminine, something that he'd never quite heard or felt before.  Not heard with his ears, but in his mind all the same.  It was almost like someone was whispering directly into his ear... but there was no one there.  But instead of stopping to listen, his steps hurried as he moved off the path.  He knew the direction now, his legs taking him back uphill along the foot of the mountain.  Into the forest he rushed, taking care not to trip or fall if he could.  The bad thing was that his cell phone was nearly useless out here, barely getting any signal as he checked it once and then stuffed it back into his pocket again.<em>Who or what are you?  I know I'm not hearing my own voice.</em>he couldn't help but to ask.  He wouldn't even call himself by name in his own dreams or thoughts.  He was half a mile away from the willow that she sat beneath, but between them was a rocky incline and many trees.<br/><br/>There was no path from here, save for the one that he was creating with each step taken.  Arik shivered, stepping in a bit of mud that nearly caused him to slip.  His jeans were relaxed, flowing with his legs as he reached up to unzip his jacket slightly, body heat that once was trapped now escaping as he breathed a little quicker.  He was in good shape, but he rarely had to do any climbing or rush along trails and uneven terrain such as this.  Still, the mute would arrive at the location he was being summoned towards soon enough...