Mini-story: Inhabited

The evening sky was as purple as the heather that stretched out before me, but it had bands of red and gold too. I’d hiked almost ten miles that day, in a long loop that would eventually bring me back to the car in another forty-five minutes or so. The light was fading, but I’d have more than enough time to make the trip safely. I’d even done plenty of night hikes before, though I’d never been so far north. The Cairngorms were far behind, and I was now well into the Highlands proper, moving between small towns and villages as the fancy took me, getting away from my real life and exploring the scenery. I’d last checked in with my family the previous day, when I’d found a pub with wi-fi. I had my one-man tent packed away on my back, and I’d already picked tonight’s camping spot, adjacent to where I’d parked. The headlights would help me when I was pitching my modest shelter later. For now, I breathed in the pleasantly brisk evening breeze, and pushed on. Before long, I saw a…