Part 1
It was nice in the forest and a warm day, with sunlight sprinkling through the rich green leaves overhead.
A pleasant walk and time for bare feet, as the grass was green and soft underfoot, and ever so delightful between the toes
Lizzie was very aware of how nice it was to be walking in just a sun dress, feeling the breeze caress her as it flowed by. So easy to skip a few steps just in response to feeling so good about just being here and now.
It was while she walked she heard crying, almost a sobbing noise. This caused Lizzie to stop and check for direction. Where was such an unusual sound coming from? To her right, it was definitely from there, so she turned and moved forward.
The sounds intensified and rounding a large moss covered fallen tree there was a bear. But not just any bear, but a bear that had to be Faerie, with his foot firmly trapped and entangled in tree roots.
Holding his lower leg, the bear was sobbing, his ankle swollen and obviously caught fast.
The bear jumped when Lizzie rounded the fallen tree. He tried to scramble away, but then howled in pain and froze, his eyes wide and mouth open in anguish. Then he collapsed back and just trembled, trying to be calm.
Lizzie lost her heart in those few seconds.
"Oh please Bear, don't be afraid I'm here to help as best I can."
"I see your foot is caught, and you are needing help. I am no threat to you, nor will I tell another of meeting a Faery Bear in these woods."
Bear relaxed. Lizzie saw the tension flow out of him as he accepted both her presence and needing help. His large brown eyes captivated her, and it was almost like she swam in their depths. Feeling warm, comforted and secure.
A shiver ran through her as she pulled her gaze away to look at Bear's ankle.
It was angry red and quite swollen.
"You are quite trapped, aren't you, Bear?"
And Lizzie would swear Bear nodded and shrugged in response to her words.
Lizzie loved animals and the feeling of being needed flowed over her like warm syrup, leaving her almost short of breath as she luxuriated in the sheer pleasure of the energy that surrounded her. Thankfulness and gratitude seemed to permeate these feelings somehow, binding into her every breath.
"Oh my goodness, that feels so good," she just had to say as she looked up at Bear. She was close to panting as she tried to accept the tumult of emotions swirling around and within her.
"Are you saying thank you, Bear?"
This was just an obvious statement to make. A quick intake of breath was her stunned response to a slow, silky "Yesss," that formed in her mind. Somehow, dancing with gratitude and thankfulness that caressed within her.
Lizzie laughed.