Outside the tent

Something was just outside the tent. I didn't know what. I had some idea. I mean everybody knew what was in these woods.

More than that, everybody knew what wasn't in these woods.

I resolved to wait until morning to see if I could find some tracks or what not.

Pots rattled around out on the table. It's a good thing that I had cleaned everything up.

The food that we had was pulled up into a tree.

Hopefully whatever was out there wouldn't get into it.

I just had to wait for daybreak.

The hours dragged by.

I heard the occasional chitter.

Right at dawn I heard whatever it was moving out.

I waited about another half hour before peeking out. Nothing there.

I made my way around to the back of the tent where I had heard all the noise during the night and didn't see anything.

Then I saw tracks around the table - coon tracks.

Trash pandas. What a relief.