Deep within the forest’s embrace, a natural hollow beckons—a perfect cradle for sanctuary. Choosing a dry spot beneath overarching roots, I anchor sturdy forked stakes into the earth. A thick ridgepole bridges them, angled towards the hollow’s slope. Leaning wrist-thick branches against it forms the ribcage of my refuge. Armfuls of fragrant pine boughs, layered shingle-style from the ground up, weave a thick, wind-shedding hide. Inside, a deep bed of dry ferns and leaves insulates from the cold earth. The hollow’s curve hugs the structure, muffling wind and sound, while the green roof blends seamlessly with the surroundings—a truly cozy, hidden bastion against the wild.
