Lost in the Woods

“I’m not sure where we are, Dagoon,” said Aelfa.

The Gelf had decided to visit the Old One’s shrine deep within the ancient forest. Her mother advised her to wait until spring when dark ones slept. Travel now might risk their wrath during the high autumn moon.

“Mother was right. The dark ones are playing their tricks on us. They are trying to get us lost so we die during the night’s cold,” said the girl.

Aelfa felt she was overdue in paying her respects to the ancestors. She was a woman now and would soon leave the forest to live with her betrothed’s family.

“Do you see the light over there?” Aelfa asked her dog.

Dagoon sniffed the air, then barked so Aelfa would know it was okay to continue.

“I wish I had brought something to eat, my stomach is howling,” the Gelf remarked as they walked the path.

Another hour passed, and still no sign of the exit. Aelfa had now become scared for the first time on the journey.

“I wish I were home eating grandma’s garlic sausages with potato dumplings,” Aelfa told the dog.

Then, as if her grandmother had heard her wish, the smell of garlic floated across the air. Dagoon barked and pointed his head in the direction the odor was coming from.

Veering off the path, the travelers followed the smell. In no time at all, they found themselves at the forest’s edge.

“We’re out, boy!” cried Aelfa.

The two raced toward the cottage and burst through the door, causing everyone to jump out of their seats.

“Child, what on earth are you doing, bursting in like that?” scolded her mother.

Aelfa noticed the table was set. Her grandmother was placing a steaming hot plate of sausage and dumplings at its center.

“I smelt the food and we were hungry from our travels,” said Aelfa.

Aelfa explained they had been lost, but the sausages’ wonderful smell led them home.

“Funny thing about those sausages,” said her grandmother. “I was napping, and I heard you call from outside. You told me to make sausages for dinner.”

No one said a word. In the ancient forest, the ancestors helped lost travelers when the need was urgent.

Aelfa thanked them in a prayer. She then stuffed another link into her mouth and gave one to Dagoon for good measure.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/folksburywoods/

Folksburywoods Story Blog: https://folksburywoods.com/