The sun had only just set and the heat of the day now drifted up from the red clay and stones that Dogtrot was made of. The smell of damp grass and lichen and bark filled the air like a fog and there was sound. Spring had began in earnest and the pine woods were full of peeping frogs and the sawing songs of crickets. And mosquitoes.

Dear sweet Jesus were there mosquitoes. Luckily for one of the two folks picking their way through the tall grass and fallen branches, he didn't really attract them since he gave off no heat.

Maurice stepped high in his rubber boots. The vampire wore his fishing hat right and proper and a canvas backpack that rattled. A pair of fishing poles bobbed over one shoulder (because he didn't trust Heather not to whap him with the thing as they walked) and he swung a camping lantern back and forth in his free hand. The path they sluggishly zig zagged down hadn't been taken in...quite some time. Not this path.

"Did I ever tell you about the time I got caught in a bear trap out here? Almost broke my damn leg!"