STROY: LOST AND FOUND

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When I hike, I feel like I am truly myself again. I am able to take a moment for myself and live fully in it. I have the choice to think or to not think.

Standing in the middle of a hilly clearing, I sucked in the fresh air like I was about to dive to the bottom of a lake. I stood there for a moment let the beauty of the view sink into my veins, powering the day’s journey. I took another breath and closed my eyes, relishing the moment. Something cold and wet nudged my hand and I opened my eyes. My dog Wilson looked up at me and then out at the forest. He enjoyed these hikes almost as much as I did and was eager to continue.

“Alright, alright, let’s go.” I said to him, scratching behind his ear. He bounded off down the steep slope, turning occasionally to make sure I was still following.

The ground crunched slightly under my heavy boots. There was a soft breeze that made the forest feel like it was breathing. The trees swayed slightly and creaked in resistance. The small animals clambered up and down the trees scampering about the forest like a group of children playing tag. Wilson would occasionally dart into a bush or behind a fallen tree trunk to chase one if they caught his eye.

Wilson stopped suddenly almost causing me to trip on him and fall over his stiffened mass. Realizing that he sensed something that I couldn’t, I slowly reached for bow and readied it silently with an arrow. Wilson’s growl was low and his hair stood up on his back.

“What is it, bud?” I whispered to him. My eyes were straining to see what it was. I took a step forward and a small movement in the bushes caught my eye. The hem of a muddied white dress with pink embroidered flowers was glowing in the sunlight. It looked familiar, it resembled a pattern on one of my sister’s dresses when they were young. Could it be…? No, I shook my head dismissing the thought.

“Hello?” he called softly, not wanting to scare whoever it was. “It’s alright, I won’t hurt you.” He said this time a little louder. He lowered his bow and slung it back over his shoulder.

Wilson looked up at me as if he was asking for permission. I nodded my head at the bush and he cautiously made his way to the other side of the bush. Laying down on his stomach, he inched towards the tiny figure with his ears back and his tail wagging. I followed my dog and saw that it was a girl. She was older than I expected of someone wearing a dress fit for a child. She must be no more than a few years younger than he was.

Wilson had nudged the arm of the girl with his nose so that he could snuggle closer and scratch him. Her body relaxed slightly and she stroked his soft fur. She froze again when she heard me step closer.

“I won’t hurt you,” I repeated, holding out my empty hands, “I promise.”

Her eyes finally met mine. Her eyes held some fear like that of a small bunny, frozen in terror of being mauled by its predator. They softened slightly when she looked down at Wilson who licked her hand, prompting her to continue scratching his favorite spot.

“His name is Wilson,” I said, dropping down on their level.

“Wilson?” she said, her voice shaky and unsure. His head lolled backwards with his tongue hanging out the side.

The girl giggled at this and then looked shyly back at me.

“I… I don’t have a name.” she said softly, her voice no more than a murmur. “Who are you?” she asked, her voice much steadier than before.

“My name’s Hunter.” I said with a smile trying to hide the confusion I felt. She smiled back awkwardly as if she didn’t remember how to.

A thought came to me suddenly and I asked, “How long have you been out here?”

She looked confused at this and shook her head.

“I don’t know.” She said eyebrows pulled together in thought.

“Would you like to come back to my home with me? Ma’s making a pot pie for supper.” I told her, hoping that she would say yes.

“Pot pie?” she repeated, sounding confused.

I nodded my head and said, “Yes, it is a pie but full of meat and vegetables. It is delicious.”

At my description her stomach growled and she tried to muffle the noise with her arms.

“Alright. I will go with you,” she said, eyes still wary.

***


When we made it back to my parent’s house, the smell of the pot pie filled my nose and made my mouth water with anticipation. I swung the door open and led the girl inside.

“Hi, Ma!” I said, loud enough for her to hear over the noise of the house.

When she turned to great me, her eyes fell on the girl beside me. The bowl she was holding slipped from her hands and shattered on the ground. My dad ran to my mother and then he too saw the girl standing beside me.

“Holy hell,” he whispered.

“Lilly? Is that you, my child?” my mother said softly as a few tears slid down her cheeks.







Author’s Note: This story was originally about a girl who was abducted when she was out for a walk in the forest by some evil creature. It kept her in its cottage far away in the forest. The hunter and his dog chased after the creature and ended up killing it. That was when he found the missing girl. She was in the same clothing she was kidnapped in three years prior. They were torn and too small for her. Although he did not recognize her, and she didn’t remember who she was before she was kidnapped, he took her back to the village and found her parents. Her parents recognized her immediately and rewarded the hunter by offering her as her wife. I kept mostly everything in this story besides the idea that she was kidnapped and I made it so that the hunter was her long lost brother. I made the story in the hunter’s perspective to switch up my usual story where I write from a woman’s perspective. It was a little different trying to write from the perspective of a man but hopefully I didn’t butcher it too badly. I am a dog person so it was fun being able to incorporate a pup into my story. Wilson was the name of my childhood dog. So, if you want to picture the dog as a big goofy yellow lab who is also very protective feel free. Hope you liked the story!

Bibliography: Russian Fairy Tales by W. R. S. Ralston (1887)