ONE

The warm, balmy breeze pushed the palm fronds to and fro gently, adding to the idyllic setting. Big, white puffy clouds floated high, slowly traversing the baby blue sky. A light mixture of gardenia and lilac permeated the air. The chirping of birds and a soft buzz from insects, coupled with the sultry radiance of sunlight, colored the tropical garden a paradise.

“Adam?”

His back up against a strong cleft of branches, Adam looked for his mate and, upon finding her walking toward him, smiled warmly.

“Yes, my love?”

Eve looked up and spotted her mate resting comfortably in the large oak tree.

“Would you like to go for a walk to the water?” she asked, her voice almost music to his ears. She returned the smile.

Adam thought back to yesterday when he and Eve went for a walk to the water and remembered the beauty of the landscape, the warmth of the water, and the pleasure they shared. He felt his staff start to stiffen.

“Yes, I would!” and with that, he leaped from the tree bough and landed softly on the thick, green grass below, holding out his hand.

Eve noticed his stiffening staff and smiled wider, then offered her hand and away then went.

Neither of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed humans noticed the dark-haired, swarthy man skulking behind a group of dogwood. But he did notice them and then followed at a discrete distance.