Herbert the Hermit

            Elijah was knee deep in a stream hidden in the woods surrounding his home. Wading unsteadily against the current, he kept his eyes peeled for the thing that had caught his attention. So far, all he could see was his honey colored hair and golden eyes reflected back at him. As he was searching, a small silver fish swam up and circled his ankles in a figure eight. Elijah giggled at the fins tickling his bare feet. He grabbed at the fish, but it darted between his fingers. Forgetting all about his quest, Elijah chased after it. He didn’t have far to follow, because the fish was suddenly swimming in circles again. Elijah crept closer and saw, to his surprise, that the fish was circling a small object reflecting sunlight through the water. He scooped it up: It was a compass! A very strange compass. Instead of symbols for directions, it had one single symbol: an anatomical heart encircled by silver cords. The needle spun around twice before coming to a stop, quivering slightly. Elijah tapped on the glass, curiously.

   A sudden chittering sound drew Elijah’s attention from the compass. He looked around and saw a squirrel perched at the edge of the water, watching him. It held his gaze for a beat, then scurried off, leaping onto a rock and looking back at Elijah. 

Elijah looked back down at the compass. Surely it was a coincidence that the squirrel was moving in the same direction the needle pointed. He climbed out of the stream and, holding the compass out, followed the squirrel deeper into the woods. 

“Where are you taking me?” Elijah asked when he could no longer hear the stream. The squirrel chittered again in response. 

            When they stepped off the path, Elijah slowed to a stop, wondering how he would find his way back home. The squirrel stopped too, silently waiting.

“I’m sorry, little fella, but I gotta go back home now,” he said.

The squirrel hopped up and down a few times, then ran up to Elijah, squeaking frantically. When he didn’t move, it sat back on its little legs and let out a horrible shriek. 

A few seconds later, two hummingbirds buzzed into sight, circling Elijah’s head. A fox emerged from a nearby bush and approached him as well. 

Elijah couldn’t believe his eyes. The fox trotted right up to him and stood on its hind legs, placing both front paws on his chest. It squeaked once at Elijah, then dropped down and walked off, side by side with the squirrel. They both looked back at him expectantly. The birds buzzing around his ears were beginning to make him dizzy. 

“Alright!” He said, waving a hand at them. “Just a little more.”

He raised the compass again. The needle was still pointing the same direction that the animals were traveling. 

Apparently, “just a little more” was all they needed. Elijah stepped around a particularly broad tree and into a clearing. At the center of the clearing was a small cottage with a straw roof. The door and windows were all open, and several low tables littered the yard. 

The hummingbirds flew around the cottage and out of sight. On Elijah’s compass, the needle had come to a rest over the heart.

The fox squeaked again, and Elijah followed it and the squirrel around the cottage as well, where he was met with a strange sight. 

There were more tables back here, and perched atop one was a very wobbly fawn. Next to the table was an old man on a stool, wrapping a bandage around the deer’s leg. Behind him stood a lovely doe, pawing nervously at the dirt. 

The two hummingbirds had settled onto the next table over and the old man appeared to be speaking with them. 

“What are you talking about?”

His voice was gravelly, like he’d swallowed sand paper. Elijah supposed that it must be almost used up, and wondered if his voice would be the same when he grew old. 

The fox hopped onto the table next to the birds, looking sheepish. 

“What?” The old man said, leaning closer to the fox. Then his face grew somber. “Oh. ...When?”

Elijah slowly and carefully backed away, thinking that perhaps this man wasn’t in his right mind, but he was too slow.

“Boy!”

Elijah flinched. 

“Y-yes?”

“You sure?” The old man asked the fox, then nodded grimly. “No use wallowin’. What’s your name, boy?”

“Elijah.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m ten.”

The old man ran a hand through his hair, turning back to the fox with a pained expression. 

“This one?” He said. “He’s so small.” 

The squirrel hopped up and down again, squeaking. 

“Alright, fine,” the old man huffed. “Well Elijah, you’re going to learn how to take care of the forest.” 

“Me?” Elijah said. “But I don’t know anything about trees!”

“The forest is more than just trees, son,” the old man said. “Now listen up!”

Elijah straightened his back, trying to look serious. 

“For the last thirty years, I have cared for this forest. I have greeted new souls, and I have comforted the souls leaving. I have healed the ill and nursed the injured. I have calmed tempers and settled fights. I have planted trees and flowers, dug out streams, built dams. I have provided shelter in storms, repaired the damages after, and sought out new shelter when the damage was too great. I am the guardian of this forest, the father of these souls. They rely on me to thrive, and I work tirelessly to ensure that they do. Now, what say you, boy?”

Elijah looked up at the old man, chin jutted out proudly, then at the fawn, now standing next to its mother. Behind them, he could see into the cottage. An owl wearing a sling was sat on a perch, hooting gently. The fox, settled at the old man’s feet, was watching him with unblinking eyes. 

Suddenly, Elijah remembered something his mother had said about an old man, deep in the woods, claiming he could talk to animals. 

“Wait! I know who you are! You’re Herbert the Hermit!” He said excitedly. He’d never met a hermit before. 

“Ah yes,” Herbert said. “A name I simply never tire of hearing. I am not a hermit, by the way,” he added. “But everyone just called me crazy. So I stopped trying to explain myself. People don’t care about the world anyway, only themselves.” Herbert drew himself to his full height. “So. Are you ready to get started?” 

“I don’t think I can help these animals,” Elijah said. “What am I supposed to do?”

“For now? Just learn. These animals are to be your family, and I can teach you how to love them. Will you let me?”

Elijah looked up at the sky: the sun was getting low. 

“I… I have to go home now. My mother will worry..”

“I understand,” Herbert said. “Ah. I see you found the compass.”

“Oh, it’s yours? Here, you can have it back,” Elijah said, holding it out. 

Herbert shook his head. 

“It’s yours now. Do you know what it’s for?”

“No,” Elijah said, tracing his finger along its edge.

“That’s alright. You’ve got time,” 

Herbert waved his arm, and a magnificent buck stepped out from the trees. “Benedict will take you home. And in the morning, he will bring you back here.” 

Elijah cautiously approached the buck, avoiding eye contact, and climbed onto its back. Herbert nodded, and it took off into the trees.

         *      *      *

Over the next weeks, Elijah stepped out his front door to meet Benedict each morning. Despite his initial apprehension, he found that he thoroughly enjoyed tending to the forest and its inhabitants. And the more time he spent with Herbert, the more convinced he became that Herbert really could talk to them.

Elijah’s mother noticed how much time he was spending away from home, and she asked him how he was filling his days. 

“Herbert is teaching me how to take care of the forest!” Elijah said enthusiastically. 

“The hermit? I’m not sure I want you around him.”

“Don’t be silly, mom. Oh- Benedict is here! Gotta go!”

Elijah darted out of the house and jumped onto Benedict’s back. He’d really bonded with the buck, and loved their morning rides. He could understand why deer ran everywhere: the wind felt amazing on his face. 

“Ah, good morning, Elijah,” Herbert said when Elijah arrived. He was carrying a bucket of water across his yard. 

“What are you doing?” Elijah asked, sliding off of Benedict and patting his neck before jogging to catch up.

“Lovey had her babies last night, and since it’s so late in the year, I’m worried they’ll freeze. I’ve been warming water all night for them. And they're gonna stay inside until the babies are big enough to withstand the cold.”

Elijah followed Herbert inside and helped him pour the water into a large pot hanging over the fire. 

“Don’t you worry, Lovey. I’ll get this water warmed up in a jiff,” Herbert said, leaning over a small box.

Elijah peered over the edge to take a look at Lovey and her babies. Lovey was a beige-colored rabbit who had had a difficult time finding a mate this year. This was her first pregnancy, and it had been hard on her, so Herbert brought her into his house to deliver. 

Lovey shifted restlessly, and her babies squeaked in complaint. 

“Hey, um, Herbert?” Elijah called uncertainly. 

“Hmm?” Herbert said, shaking out a blanket. 

“This one isn’t moving,” Elijah said, pointing. 

Herbert dropped the blanket and rushed over. He gently lifted the baby and held his ear against its little body. 

“Come on, little one,” he muttered, but then his face fell. He reached out his other hand and stroked Lovey’s ears. “I’m sorry. This one didn’t make it. But don’t you give up. You’ve still got three little ones fighting to stay with you.”

Herbert sighed heavily and stood up. 

“Hey kid,” he said. “You figured out that compass yet?”

Elijah had taken to wearing the compass as a necklace. He reached down the front of his shirt and pulled it out. 

“No,” he said pensively, tapping on the glass. 

“Well there’s still time. Come on.” 

“Where are we going?” Elijah asked. 

“It’s almost winter. I’m gonna show you how to build some shelter. But first,” Herbert said, stepping outside. “Delfigalo!”

The squirrel that led Elijah to the cottage ran down the side of a tree and up to Herbtert, who squatted down and handed over the baby. 

“Lovey lost one. Will you take care of it?”

Delfigalo wrapped his tiny arms around the baby and chirped up at the tree. Two more squirrels scurried down the side, and the three of them set off into the woods together. 

“What are they doing?” Elijah asked. 

“Burying it,” Herbert said. “It’s a tragedy, but its body will return to the soil and provide it with nutrients.”

Elijah gazed into the forest surrounding them, feeling a strange ache in his chest. 

“What’s wrong?” Herbert asked.

“I feel... really sad,” Elijah said. “You warned me that sometimes it’s hard to do this. But I didn’t know how hard.”

“This isn’t a life for someone with a weak heart, son. It’ll break you to pieces over and over, but you just gotta put yourself back together. Because they need you.”

“I don’t know if I can,” Elijah said, looking up at Herbert with teary eyes. “Maybe the animals picked the wrong person. I can't even talk to them like you can. And I’m still little.”

“They didn’t choose wrong, Elijah. You are right for this. You have the heart, you have the compass-“

“I didn’t even find the compass!” Elijah said, wiping his eyes. “A fish brought me to it.”

“Wanna know how I found the compass?” Herbert said. 

“How?”

“Benedict’s grandfather.” Herbert sighed wistfully, looking at something Elijah couldn’t see. “Beautiful buck, you wouldn’t believe. ...I was hunting the day I met Augustus. He heard me, and he looked my arrow dead in the eye, walked right up to me, not a lick of fear. Something stayed my hand. I looked into his eyes, and I saw such intelligence. I lowered my bow, and he turned and walked away. I had to follow him. He moved just slow enough for me to keep up. I followed him for ages, but it was worth it. He stopped at one of the largest trees in this forest and there, twelve feet up, was the compass. Dangling from a branch. We looked at each other, and I just knew what to do. I climbed onto his back and he hoisted me up as far as he could, just high enough for me to reach the first branch. Once I’d retrieved the compass, he brought me here, to the cottage, where I met Eustace, my mentor. He was shouting at a badger like a madman, I turned myself right around and promptly knocked myself out on a low hanging branch.”

Herbert paused to laugh, and looked down at Elijah with a light in his eyes Elijah hadn’t seen before. 

“What happened next?” Elijah prompted. 

“I woke inside, on his bed. Had about fifteen squirrels crawlin’ all over me.” Herbert said. “After that, we carried on much like you and I are. He taught me how to care for the forest. And when he passed, I took his place. As you will do for me.”

“But I still can’t talk to animals,” Elijah complained. 

“You will. In time.” 

“What does that mean?”

“Just as I said,” Herbert said cryptically. “Now come on, we’re losing daylight.”

         *      *      *

It happened early in the spring the following year. Elijah had just delivered his first fawn. It was messier than he expected, but he’d never felt more love in his heart than when he watched that baby push itself unsteadily to its feet, trying to walk much too soon. He beamed up at Herbert, who was regarding him proudly. 

“Not bad, kid. How does it feel, bringing new life into the world?” Herbert asked. 

“There’s nothing like it,” Elijah said, eyes bright. 

Herbert stared at the fawn for a moment, then took in a deep breath. 

“Hey listen, kid. Let’s take a walk. There’s something we need to talk about.”

“Okay,” Elijah said. He took one last look at the new mother, then trotted off with Herbert. 

“You’re a fast learner, you know,” Herbert said, stepping over a root. “You’ve got a ways to go, but you’re off to a good start. And there’s so much these animals can teach you.”

“The animals can’t teach me. I can’t talk to them.”

Herbert stopped and smiled sadly. 

“It’s time,” he said. 

“Time for what?” Elijah asked, frowning. 

“I have to go now, Elijah.”

“Go where? When will you be back?” Elijah asked, alarmed. 

“I...won’t be coming back. My time has come.” Herbert said solemnly. “I’ve known for months. That’s why we’ve been working so hard. I wanted to prepare you as much as I could.”

“No,” Elijah said, backing away. “No, you can’t leave me. I’m not ready! I don’t know enough!”

“You know enough to get by. And you’ll continue learning every day. You care for the forest, and the forest will care for you. Tell me...have you figured out your compass yet?” Herbert asked. 

“No, I haven’t,” Elijah said. “See? I don’t even know what this stupid compass is for! You can’t go, you just can’t!”

Herbert reached down and gripped Elijah’s shoulder. 

“It’s your soul, Elijah. The compass can read your soul, and take you where you need to go so your soul can flourish. But it will only work for the right person. You are the right person, son. This forest needs you. You’re ready.”

“No I’m not!” Elijah said desperately. “I can’t even talk to the animals! How can I help them if I can’t talk to them?” 

“Ah,” Herbert said. “Let me explain: I will give you my gift.”

“What?” Elijah said, confused. 

“I couldn’t talk to the animals either,” Herbert said. “When Eustace left this world, he gave me his gift as his final act. I will do the same for you. And when your time comes, you will have to do the same for your successor.” 

“I don’t want it,” Elijah said angrily. “I don’t want it if it means I can’t be with you anymore.”

“I will always be a part of this forest,” Herbert said gently. “Now come here.”

He crouched down and placed a hand on either side of Elijah’s head. The world seemed to melt away around them and Elijah’s vision went white. 

Listen Herbert’s voice echoed inside his head. Listen

Leaves swirled around them as the wind picked up, carrying whispers along with it. The whispers grew louder and louder until they drowned out all other sounds. Elijah wanted to clamp his hands over his ears, but the whispers were inside his head. Just when he felt he would be consumed, the wind stopped and whispers dulled. 

Elijah opened his eyes slowly, afraid of what he was about to see, but there was nothing. Herbert was simply… gone. 

“Herbert?” He called out shakily. “H-Herbert?” His voice broke and tears spilled from his eyes. 

Elijah

A voice echoed in his mind. Elijah whipped around, and saw the fox sitting at the base of a tree. 

“Alistair?” He said. 

Is Herbert gone?

Elijah nodded, wiping his face. 

Very well, Alastair said. We should get going. We have a lot of work to do.

Elijah took a shaky breath and squared his shoulders. He pulled out his compass, gripping it tightly in a shaking hand. The needle was pointed toward the center of the forest. He tucked the compass back into his shirt and set off after Alistair, ready to start his journey.