Path to the Hallow

I watch my mother put freshly baked bread and pastries, salted meats, and sugary nuts, packing the basket for me to take to Nanas. I try to hurry her, wanting to start my own adventure. Since this would be the first time my parents have let me walk alone to her house. "Come on! Hurry! I want to get there before I'm Nana's age." My mother only laughs, knowing how excited I've been. "I'm trying! Rushing isn't gonna make me go any faster, you know?" I don't listen and start handing her items that go into the basket, trying to make her move faster, but she can't keep up. "Now, now, just stay calm. You'll be off before you know it." I throw the rest of the food onto the top, grabbing the basket, and rush to the door. "Bye, Ma!" But she gets to the door before me, blocking my way. "You remember how to get there, right?" I start to squeeze through her arm and the door. "Yeah. Just go through the forest," She tries to hold me back. "Where do you turn at the fork?" "left..?" She nods and smiles, "Right!" Giving me a pat on the head before I get past her. "Right! Got it!" I start running onto the path that goes to the forest. "No, no, I mean, that's right! Go left!" I barely hear her call out before I enter the woods.

Starting my adventure into the forest, I run along the path we've always taken, the lush green forest surrounding me as I look around. I start naming the plants around me to pass the time playing the game my father always played with me. I get to the fork in the road, looking both left and right. The left path looked smaller, but I was sure she was right. Right is… right, isn't it?" I head down the right path like my mother had told me. From here, it's just a straight path to Nana's house! I again begin naming the plants as I walk by them several paces later I look at a big tree. "Huh, I don't remember you." Da must have told me about this one, but I forgot. I looked back and, to my horror, where I had come from, the path was covered by trees and bushes like it was never there. I had to have taken the wrong path, right? We never went this way, and when I asked, I was always told to follow ours. My mother said this was the right one, didn't she? Did she say something else to me after saying goodbyes? I should have stayed to listen, but I have no choice but to keep going. I continue to follow the path, thinking it would lead to a town and I could ask for help. I start to feel like I'm being watched as I turn around a bend in the road, and in front of me, the path goes under a hollowed-out tree to continue the path. So people would have to come this way. Who else would have created a hollowed-out tree like that? I walk towards it and see a ring of beautiful mushrooms and flowers I've never seen before. I step over them, and goosebumps form on my arm as I pass.

I see nothing as the sun climbs higher into the sky; looking up through trees, I see the sun high in the sky. I should have made it to Nana's by now. My stomach growls, and I look at the basket. Nana wouldn't mind if I had lunch out of her food. I walk down the path until I see a log off the path by only a few steps. I shouldn't go off the path, but this was only a few steps I'd find my way back. I sit on the log, open the basket, pull out a few dried meats and slices of bread, and make myself a sandwich. I eat, looking around the forest for anything familiar. But my eyes lock onto a pair of yellow eyes from where I had come; I see a bright white coat on a wolf, something I'd never seen before. Its yellow eyes weren't hungry, just watchful, like it knew something I didn't. There's no movement between us as our eyes stay locked together. I was never taught about wolves since only foxes, bears, and maybe a few mountain cats would be the ones to trouble us. It must have been following me, so it hasn't attacked by now; perhaps if I ignore it, it'll leave me alone.

I go back to eating my sandwich, looking at the ground. When I'm done, I look back, and the wolf is nowhere to be seen. Signing with her relief, I pack my stuff back up. I start to think, then place some of the salted meats on the log I was sitting on. Hopefully, he'll eat that and not me. I walk towards the path, or where the path should have been, but nothing is there. I walk a little further, and it's not here either. The path is gone like it's never been here before. I feel like I'm losing my mind looking around; it has to be here somewhere. I walked the way. I thought I was heading earlier, but nothing was around until I spotted a cave. I looked into the cave to ensure nothing was living inside. When I saw nothing, I decided to sit and stay there. Maybe Nana will tell my parents I never made it, and they'll come looking for me. I sit at the entrance as the day grows darker, and no one comes or sounds in the forest to even get my hopes up. The feeling of being lost in the vast forest is overwhelming, and I can't shake off the sense of disorientation.

I began to cry, wishing I listened to my parents more so maybe I wouldn't be here. I didn't notice it had gotten dark until I heard a twig snap right before me. I see the white wolf almost glowing in this light, staring back at me with his yellow eyes. "Sorry, I hope this isn't your cave." I wipe my eyes, hoping he'll leave me alone again, but he inclines his head towards the basket. I pull out more of the meat and hold it out for him. He slowly comes up, gently taking it out of my hands. "This is all I have left of the meat." he eats before staring up at me again and then walks into the forest. Before he disappears into the brush, he looks back at me like he is waiting for me. I gaze up at him, back at the cave, and then at him. He might lead me to someone. I follow a few steps behind.

As we walk through the forest, little golden bugs fly around, lighting up in yellows, blues, purples, and pinks. I've never seen any bugs like these. As they play around chasing each other, the plants start to glow with their lights, lighting the forest glowing with all different colors. Looking at the wolf leading me, blue markings running along its back and legs marking his white coat. The plants start to glow, and the forest soon becomes full of every color you can imagine. Some of the bugs circle around me, and I faintly see what looks like someone waving at me. I hold out my hand, and one lands on me. Looking at it for a second, I see a small body.

Before it's chased off by another to continue playing their games. It looked like the fairies in the books my parents read to me; I looked to the side, some iridescent mushrooms trudge along the side of us before they bury themselves in the ground.

Further and further into the woods, hanging cocoons are shining from the trees, water rushing with radiant blue fish. I glance behind us, wondering why I was even in the forest. Then I feel the basket in my hand and look at it. Yeah, it was to bring food to... To whom? I blink, clutching the basket tightens my stomach twists. I knew just a moment ago… didn't I? I continue walking with the wolf by my side now before an oversized castle comes into view. I see the doors open and a figure walking out. Oh, right, delivering to him. Who is he…? He stands there and opens his arms, seeing his pointed ears and sharp fangs as he smiles. That's not how people typically look, is it? "Welcome to the hollow, young child. I'll take that from you now. You did good." I hand him the basket. "And now it's time for you to stay," he says sweetly as the wolf sits beside me. Is this why I walked into the woods today?