The air was crisp and cool. The stars glittered in the sky like small jewels; twinkling merely and innocently. Nocturnal animals started to creep from their hideout. Owls hooted while the woodpeckers quieted down. Mosquitoes buzzed nearby, but kept their distance from the campfire. I was able to hear snippets of the sounds of footsteps crunching through the dead leaves. After listening and being relaxed for a few moments, I grabbed my backpack and started toward the woods for a nightly journey through the park.