My Beloved Forrest

Chapter Two: Strange Encounter

Waking up the first thing noticed was that my head hurt, I mean really hurt. The second thing I noticed was that I wasn't in my tent. No, I was in a place I've never seen before, in my many years of searching threw the forest I was in a place I didn't now existed; and too be honest I didn't know that was possible.

I was in a cave with little light the sound of dripping water bouncing of the cold damp walls. Stalagmites and stalactites over beside a large pool of bright blue water where a small ray of light seeped down over it threw a small hole above.

All of a sudden a wave of fear hit me with a large impact. How did I get here? I wondered. And what happened to me? I remember hiking up a hill, Did I fall? Did someone help me? But why would they bring me here? There where so many question I don't have the answer to.

I slide myself up the cold damp wall I was up against. Taking in a deep breath and tried to calm my thoughts. I looked around one more time grabbed my bag, which sat beside me, then stood to my feet, my balance unsteady. I reach for the wall and put my hand to my head to try and ease the dizziness to notice a small leaf was stuck to my forehead over a rather large bump. Is it supposed to be a bandage? I must be, being stuck like it is on my head, so someone must have been trying to help me. Right?

The dizziness slowly died down so I walked around the perimeter of the cave to see if there was any place they could have gone but found nothing, to my utter disappointment. I took one more quick glance before I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled out.

"Hello!" I waited for a moment listening before shouting again.

"Is anyone in here?"

But all I hear is a large gust of wind the howling through the whole of the cave leaving me alone with nothing but wondering thoughts. With a sigh of disappointment I walk under the whole looking up at the distance, if I could hook a rope up there somehow I might be able to get myself out of here.

I bend down digging through my bag looking for a rope then I tied it so it would be able to hook on something. But before I could even throw it I hear something the scared so much I jumped.

"That's dangerous." The voice was deep and smooth definitely one that belong to a man. It echoed softly off the cave wall much like any noise that sounded here. I turned around slowly.

"Where... Where are you." I let myself pausing with nervousness. I looked around seeing no movement and hearing no reply. One minute ago I wanted to know where he was now the idea seemed like a bad one, what if this man wasn't sound of mind what if he hit me over the head and brought me here.

"I know your here now, you can't just ....pretend like you don't exist. " I spin around before I see him walk out from bending the stalagmites, his head down and in the shadows. But just seeing his profile I new he was strong his shoulders brood, his arms large and his legs long. This man was a beast and yet for some reason looking at him didn't scare me.

"I'm Lelia. Who are you? And how did I get here?" I step forward hoping that I'd be able to get a small glimpse of his face, something I might be a able to report to the police, then I would run. But with no luck his face still looks like a shadow.

"Are you avoiding me?" I say taking another step forward.

"Yes." I felt my brows fuse together in confusion.

"Well why? Did I do something wrong?" I say taking another step forward.

"No, but I did." He sighs softy "If you go throw the crack in the wall you woke up next to, and take a left, you'll find your way out of here." His voice sounded rushed yet calm as if he was threatening me not to come closer.

"Did you hit me over the head?" I say taking a small step back the urge to see him dimming with the thoughts that he still could be a threat even if I don't feel fear looking at his shadowed silhouette.

"No." He voice stayed calm and steady no signs of lying.

"Did you bring me hear?"

"Yes, now go." He voice sounded demanding and strong making me weak in the knees. Without know what to say I start to walk away turning around to take one last glance at the mysterious man.

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After I long while of walking around aimlessly, trying to clean my head, I decided that I wanted to go back home and see Justin. I had four days out with my forest already and though I never grow tired of my beautiful forest I still miss my brother and I'd kinda like someone to talk to about my strange encounter today.

Since I spend most of my time here I don't really have friends, it doesn't really bother me but sometimes I feel bad for my brother.He takes on so many rolls in my life. Not only has he taken on the roll of a father figure he also takes on the the roll of my best friend and that includes him listening to my girl problems. But no matter what he still jokes with me and brightens things up even when I know he's feeling awkward, that's one of the many things I admire about my brother, he always puts others first.

But somehow even with his most sincere kindness, he ends up with a evil step sister as his girlfriend. That seems to be how it always is, nice people with not so nice people. I rolled my eyes at the thought, just as came up next to the marker, or really I giant bolder I use to tell me that I'm close to home. It was a large almost marble looking rock that stood up to my waist and was wider than three of me.

I go forward and sit on it pulling my water bottle off the side of my bag and take large swigs of it. Being in the forest all the time I need to drink plenty of water and since I hike so far from home it not like I can go back and get it or carry it with me, so I have a small little creek I take my water from and no tap or bottled water can compare to the taste of the cold refreshing water. Nothing quite as satisfying as the first sip kneeling in the cool water running over your hot, worn legs and taking a large gulp, lips pressed to the water.

I walked for another half hour before I made my way through clearing to see my fenced in backyard. I smiled a little at the thought of seeing my brother and the welcome home I always receive when I get there.

I take my backpack off swing in a large circle before letting go and throwing it over the fence. The fence was tall at least 2 1/2 feet and it was that ugly green you see at school yards. The paint was beginning to chip and there was a hole at the bottom that I'm pretty sure a raccoon made. Though I'm not complaining, the fence may be in bad shape but they're the easiest types of fences to climb. So I made my way over and started to think of what my brother reaction will be to the strange man I meet to today. With a smile I made my way towards the house.