Lost and Found

Movies and television always make everything look glamorous. They even make getting caught in a thunderstorm look good. The hero’s hair clings in all the right places, their makeup doesn’t run, and their wet clothes only hug the curves that they want to show off. This is anything but sensational. My hiking trip came to a halt when a thunderstorm rolled in. The woods got darker which made it hard to follow the trail. A clap of thunder reverberated through my bones. The sky lights up with lightning. I continue on what I thought was the path until I spot what looks like a tiny cave or alcove. There were roots, rocks, bushes, and branches around but, I'm sure that a couple people could fit but, probably uncomfortably.

The alcove is cozy and drier than expected. My clothes are heavy and soaked. I don’t want to bend my arms or legs because each little movement reminds me of how cold I am. I sit on the ground and hug my knees to my chest. I let out a shiver. Another clap of thunder shakes the ground. I’m lost in thought when I hear movement just outside among the leaves. I hope that whatever it is, I’m not invading its territory. It stops at the side of the opening and looks at me before running away. 

“Hello?”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. There's no way that creature was real. Either that or being out in the rain is causing me to hallucinate. The creature was mostly white with black feet. It had the head of a rabbit, the body and feet of a cat, and a short tail.

“What the hell are you?” I say to myself. I wanted to follow it, but at the same time, I didn’t want to move and feel my cold clothes rubbing against my skin again. Going back outside would be insane, but something about this creature made me want to follow it. Where was it going? A cabin, a safer place? Did it need a safe place to wait, but my presence scared it off?

“Can’t believe I’m doing this.” I get up and make my way back out into the storm. The creature was faster than I expected it to be. It leapt over downed trees and large rocks with ease. I must be getting deeper and deeper in the woods. The trees and brush have become denser, it’s much darker, and the rain isn’t hitting as hard anymore. The thunder still booms. In the distance, I saw a small cabin with a light on and smoke coming out of the chimney. The creature must have gone inside.

“Hello? Is anyone in there?” I call out, hoping that they could hear me. I walk past a large tree, and what looks like a small garden. A garden gnome with moss on its feet stands by as if it's greeting any visitors. The fact that this place is so out of the way makes me wonder if they even want visitors. I knock on the door and hope that they’re not the “shoot first, ask questions later” type.

“Just a moment,” says a muffled voice before opening the door. The woman looks as if she’s no older than 60, but her eyes say differently. She blinked a couple times as if she couldn’t believe that someone was standing at her door.

“I’m so sorry to bother you. I’m really lost but I saw a strange creature come here. You… didn’t happen to see it or know what it is do you?”

“Yes, it's… actually, why don’t you come inside? You’re all wet. We can talk where it’s warm and dry”

“I don’t want to impose”

“You’re not imposing. Please, come in. At least get out of the elements.”

The cabin is small but warm, clean, and dry. There’s a fireplace opposite the door with a rug and two sitting chairs. The shelves are filled with jars and bottles of powders, liquids, and rock-like substances. She points to my feet so I take my shoes off. It feels good to not be in wet shoes. The creature is sitting on a table in the kitchen. It turns its head to get a better look at me and settles down into a loaf position. 

“Can I interest you in some tea?”

“Please.”

“That’s Dreama. She’s sort of like a chimera. Normally, they live in groups but I found her when she was just a tiny kit alone and shivering.” 

She turns towards me and looks at me thoughtfully,

“Would you like to dry off? I’ll get you some towels. Just hand your clothes to me and I’ll get them wrung out.”

I’m taken aback by her words and actions. Why is this strange woman being so kind to me? How does she know if I was a thief or murderer or something? How do I know that she’s not going to kill me and harvest my organs?

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. I don’t get many visitors but when they do come through, I try to be as hospitable as I can. It’s easy to get lost if you don’t know your way around here.”

As I dry off in the tiny bedroom, she knocks and I wrap a blanket around me.

“I got your clothes, socks, and shoes clean and dry. And the water is boiling.”

“How did you—”

“I have my ways” she laughs. The clothes feel as if they’ve been freshly washed and dried. How did she do that? I haven’t been in here that long.

“Sit down, sit down. Here's the water for the tea. Tell me when to stop pouring.” I hold up my hand and she stops. I look at Dreama again. She blinks slowly at me. I look around the tiny cabin again. Things are moving. A spoon stirring a pot of food, clothes folding, a brush going across Dreama’s fur, and a blanket floats onto my lap.

“How is this happening?”

“How’s what happening? The housework? I’m a witch, dear. Any good witch worth her salt will let the magic do the work while she pays attention to more important things.” 

“I used to live here with my husband but he died a while ago. After he died, I found Dreama and we’ve been together ever since. Every once in a while a lost traveler asks for directions but none ever stay long enough for conversation.

“Where am I? I was hiking when a thunderstorm rolled in. The rain made it difficult to stay on the path and…”

“You found shelter, saw Dreama who, let’s be honest, found you, and followed her here to let an old woman help you.” She took a sip of tea.

As the evening went on, I warmed up and relaxed some more. She offered me some stew and I took it. Through conversation, I gathered that she was lonely and more than happy to talk about anything to anyone who would listen. I was always ready to bolt but instinct told me that she was safe. If she wanted me dead, I’d probably be just that by now. We talked and laughed, and Dreama eventually came over to sit by her feet. I almost forgot that I was supposed to be looking for a way back to my car.

“I’m really enjoying all of this but,”

“You need to get back home. I understand. Go past my garden, turn right at the large tree and you’ll see the parking lot.

“That doesn’t make any sense, when I was out there I saw—” I shook my head.

“Trust me.”

I leave out and do as she tells me. She was telling the truth. I don’t know what happened or if she did anything, but a few hundred feet ahead of me was my car sitting at the beginning of the trail. Never mind the fact that when I first got here, there was nothing but dense woods in all directions. I get to my car and I see that there’s a tiny scroll tied with a ribbon on the dashboard. It reads,

I owe you a favor.