The Campfire

The night was beautiful and full of peace. The stars sparkled above her head as they never would in the city and the crickets filled the forest with song. Dyani sat on her mat and stared down at the open locket in her hand. A small picture showed her mother was slightly in front of her father looking up while his arms were around her and his head tilted down toward her. Even with the small picture, she saw the warmth in her mother’s eyes and the sparkle of joy in her father’s.

She took in a deep breath, it had been a long time since she had last been here. The air was filled with the smell of the campfire and mixed with the smell of the summer flowers that spread across the forest floor. The flowers gave this spot the most amazing smell. Dyani remembered the first time she had spent a night here. She had been ten years old and her father had been so excited to show her this place. With another deep breath, she put the locket back around her neck, closed her eyes, and focused on the scent. She let it take her back.

***

“Dyani! Come on little one we are almost there.” Her dad looked back at her with his dark brown eyes. Today was the monthly daddy-daughter date, but normally he took her to the movies. They had been walking for forever, but dad still seemed so sure as he led the way through the trees.

Even though she was tired, Dyani just giggled and responded, “But you said that 10 minutes ago!” He simply winked and turned back down the invisible path. These woods were beautiful, all around them were millions of colorful flowers. The warm sunlight glinted off their radiant petals through the tall trees. With every breath, the sweet scent filled Dyani’s lungs.

Up ahead, her father slowed and stopped just short of a soft curtain of green. He looked back with sparkling eyes and a massive grin, “You ready Dyani?” Her mouth instantly grew into a smile as she approached him and eagerly nodded, the long journey completely forgotten.

Her father continued to watch her as he grabbed the moss and parted the curtain. Dyani couldn’t contain the gasp that left her mouth as her eyes fell on a beautiful clearing filled with grass and little yellow flowers. As if in a trance, Dyani’s legs carried her into the clearing as she turned in a slow circle taking it all in. Her legs brushed against the soft grass, causing the blades to dance.

She finished her second turn and her eyes landed on her father grinning like someone who had just won the lottery. Instantly, her little legs propelled herself back through the grass and she launched herself into his arms. He easily caught her and laughed as he spun around once before settling her back down. Dyani hugged his knees and exclaimed, “Daddy, this is magical! Are there fairies here?”

His laugh filled the air and he shook his head, “This is a magical spot filled with peace and love. I have a story to tell you little one, so come.” Dyani instantly grabbed his extended hand and followed him through the clearing. She couldn’t help but reach out and brush her hand across the grass and flowers as they passed. Her brown eyes gazed around wide with wonder.

In the middle of the clearing was a large flat rock which had a circle of small rocks in its center. Her father swung the bag off his shoulder and onto the rock before lifting Dyani up. She stood up and moved toward the center as she looked around. From here, she could look over the whole clearing. She could practically see the little fairies that would dance through the trees and all the other creatures she read about hidden in the woods. The clearing seemed to cast a spell of peace onto any who stepped into it.

Her father was unrolling some mats onto the ground and Dyani moved to help her father set up their little beds. Their laughter filled the quiet area as they joked and goofed off a bit while her father showed her how to build the fire within the rocks. Soon they were sitting next to each other eating hotdogs. Then the marshmallows were taken out.

“Alright, Dyani. I owe you a story.” She looked up to see what seemed to be fairy dust in her father’s eyes; his voice filled the night, “Many years ago, just before you were born I decided to go on a hike. I thought I had planned everything right, but I ended up getting lost. The sun was going down and I still hadn’t reached the spot I was supposed to set up camp and I was getting scared.

“Eventually, I stumbled onto this clearing. I felt a strange peace the second I entered and I set up this fire ring. I knew that once the sun rose, I would be able to figure out which way was North and head that way. This clearing seemed to be a blessing from nature.

“As I laid down that night, I remembered the stories my father used to tell me of our ancestors. Stories of people who would disappear in the woods and be guided out in some way. Stories that I found myself hoping were actually possible.

“The next morning I woke up to a strange sound and right over there,” father pointed to the path we had entered from, “I saw a deer. At first, I just watched her as she watched me. The sun was up though, so I had to get up and slowly started to put my things away. I was shocked when she didn’t run away. She stayed still until I was packed and then the deer turned and moved to the edge of the trees only to look back at me and wait.

“I wasn’t sure, but I took the chance and decided to follow her into the woods. I kept thinking back to the stories my father told. Not too long after I started to follow her, the woods ended and I found the parking lot where my car was waiting.” Her father chuckled slightly and commented, “ I hadn’t even realized that I was that close.

“If the deer hadn’t led me to safety, who knows where I would have ended up. I wanted to thank the deer, but when I turned back to where the deer had been, she was gone. I hadn’t heard the leaves rustle or anything, but she was gone.

“I whispered, ‘thank you’ anyway and went to my car. I drove home and told your mom the story. She was shocked but still believed me. I wanted to do more to thank the deer. So we decided to name you Dyani, which means deer, and I have also returned to this clearing a few times. I always hoped to catch sight of her, but I have not seen her again.”

He turned his gaze back to Dyani. The fairy dust still dancing in his eyes, he softly said, “Dyani, this is where your name comes from.”

Dyani looked up at her father in awe, she had never heard the story before. She had known her name meant deer, but now she knew why. That deer brought her father back to her and her mom. Dyani looked around the clearing in awe. This place truly was magical. It wasn’t long after that the food was put away and they fell asleep.

***

She opened her eyes to take in the night. Every year her father had taken her back to this place, even after she had graduated and left for university. They had never missed a year, not until 5 years ago. She looked around the clearing as a tear slipped down her cheek as she found herself alone in this special place.

The sudden loss of not just her father, but her mother had broken her heart and this was the first time in five years she had the courage to come. It was the first time that she has ever come on her own. Tears continued to slip out of her eyes as she remembered the laughter that had once filled this clearing.

A sound of movement drew Dyani’s eyes over to the entrance to the clearing. She froze as a large buck entered the clearing, its legs brushing through the soft grass. Dyani met his dark brown eyes which seemed to be filled with fairy dust.

A few seconds later a doe left the trees and moved next to the buck. The doe’s eyes were warm and she tilted her head up to rub against the buck, who instantly responded by leaning his head down. After a few moments, they pulled away and looked back at Dyani. She found herself reaching up to the locket and smiling softly. This place truly was magical.