Shannon in Middle Earth        

         I must have dozed again. At one point I noticed how bright the night was—I could even see the clouds. I thought it must be dawn approaching. But several hours later I had to concede that it was just a bright night. I had no idea of the time, but I was longing for the dawn and praying for an uneventful night.

            The second half of the night got a bit colder, even though it was no longer raining or blowing. Sean and I both were able to keep warm the first half of the night, but struggled keeping warm the second half. The kids slept mostly well, I think. I heard steady breathing most of the night, and most of them never heard the coyotes at all. Evan and Justin were both scared at different times in the night, however.

            The second half of the night got a bit colder, even though it was no longer raining or blowing. Sean and I both were able to keep warm the first half of the night, but struggled keeping warm the second half. The kids slept mostly well, I think. I heard steady breathing most of the night, and most of them never heard the coyotes at all. Evan and Justin were both scared at different times in the night, however.

            The second time the coyotes howled, I could tell they were farther away. Remembering what Sean had said, I didn’t even stir. I was cozy, facing inward, cuddling with Justin. Again the cries died down pretty quickly.

            The night lasted for ten years. After forever, I finally started hearing the morning birds, and it seemed that the bright night was becoming slightly brighter. By now I was exhausted and was dozing fitfully. I had my head covered so the brightening sky didn’t wake me.

            I put off getting up, because it was so cold. But I finally did, and found my body was tired and achy from lying on the hard ground and ready for a stretch. Once I got up and was moving around, it didn’t feel so cold—I didn’t even need my cloak. So I started gathering dry firewood and pine needle branches to start our morning fire. The rain clouds had all left, but it took quite a while for the sun to reach up over the hills and give us some real warmth.

Justin in Middle Earth