The air was crisp, my breath leaving puffs of silver smoke drifting skywards. Beneath my feet fallen leaves rustled and crunched, coated with sugary hoar frost...a very satifying sound I thought. As I wended my way down the leaf strewn path, my mind wandered...the scent of moist, peaty earth strong in my nostrils.

Suddenly I heard a loud crack above my head. Startled I looked up, peered through the branches to see him...busily opening hazelnuts, stuffing them in his little mouth like they were going out of fashion.

"No need to stare" he remarked testily, "there's a big demand for cobs at this time of year."

I laughed...he looked so comical...his fur bristled.

"I thought you guys hid your nuts" I replied, trying not to giggle.

"Well I would if only SOMEONE didn't keep finding them and pinching them."

Broken cob shells showered down upon my head. I waited him to elucidate...

"Who is SOMEONE?" I asked with interest.

He stared at me with bright beady eyes..."That GOBLIN!"

Suddenly I was enlightened..."Oh, you mean Wicket....I'm sure he would be affronted at you calling him a goblin," I replied...my mirth bubbling out of my lips like a spring.

The little creature just shrugged and bounced away..."Whatever" he called back over his shoulder as he went.

I scuffed and kicked at the crisp autumn leaves...a lush carpet of russet, red, gold and green.