So there I was, backpacking through Europe like every other early twenty-something, when lo-and-behold I got myself lost. That's pretty normal for me. Ever since I was a kid, I got easily distracted by the most mundane things in the world, and got quite comfortable asking retail workers to help me find my parents. Even in my own backyard I'd end up chasing a butterfly or squirrel into another neighborhood if I wasn't careful. I just love examining the little things in life, the details everybody else seems to gloss over.
While this was an annoyance to me and an inconvenience to my parents, I never really got into any trouble because of my wanderlust. Not until today. When I left town earlier that morning, one of the locals told me there was a cool castle that was about a day's hike through the forest. He said that not many tourists visit because there's no road and no professional guides to assist in a hike. According to him, many had gotten lost in the woods leading to the castle, and some were never found.
It sounded like a flashy way to drum up tourism to me. I was a very experienced hiker and had a good supply of gear with me so even if I didn't make it to the castle that day I most certainly would the next. Unfortunately, I did not take into account my distracted wandering, which you'd think at my age I'd have a much healthier respect for. When I didn't find the castle that first night, I made camp and thought nothing of it. When I failed to find it for another three days, I started to worry.
Night closed in on my fourth night out in the woods. When I originally told myself I had plenty of gear, it was under the assumption I wouldn't be out for more than a day or two. I ate my last bit of food the previous night and was forced to refill my water at a stream I found along the way. I took the time to filter it before I put it in my canteen, but as far away from civilization as I was, the water was pretty darn clean anyway. My energy levels were low. Hiking all day with a backpack full of equipment and no food will do that to you.
In theory, I could eat some of the local flora, but I didn't want to risk it. I kept telling myself that either the castle or some form of civilization was just ahead. It wasn't. Right when I was about to make camp for the night and possibly resign myself to a cold and lonely death, I saw a light flicker between the trees. That had to mean that someone smart enough to bring a flashlight was in the same woods I was, and with any luck they could help me.
I ran as fast as my tired legs would carry me and shouted as loud as my lungs allowed. "Hey! Hey, over here! I'm lost, please help me!" I shouted, waving my arms for what good it would do in the dark. The light froze in the distance, as if searching for me. "Over here! Please, I'm lost and ran out of food!" I yelled, still running. I probably sounded and looked like a crazy person. Oh well, I was desperate. I didn't want to die out in the woods and get picked apart by wolves or something.
The light stayed still. I felt light-headed, and wobbled on my feet. If I didn't slow down, I would pass out. My lungs protested my excitement by forcing a hacking cough out of me. Great, now I looked like a weirdo in a zombie movie. "Please, help me," I coughed. The light hung in the air, bobbing slightly but otherwise immobile. Then it grew larger.
I squinted into the darkness and expected to see the shape of a human behind the light. There was none. I figured I must be hallucinating as the light flew closer to me, way faster than I would have expected. A primal fear arose in my chest. Whatever this was, my brain couldn't wrap itself around it. It was nothing I could explain. Light doesn't
do
that. I didn't know what else to do, so I turned around and ran.
"Hey, where are you going?" a female voice said. The light caught up to me without any effort and flew along next to my ear. "I thought you wanted help!"
"Gyahaaahhah!" I screamed, turning from it and sprinting away at a ninety-degree angle. My foot caught on a root and send me face-first into the dirt.
"You're not very grateful," the voice said. I rolled on to my back and it, whatever it was, was directly in front of my nose. A teeny tiny woman in a sheer, flowing dress stared back at me with iridescent wings fluttering faster than I could see. Though it was dark out, she glowed with an ethereal light and I could see her features in great detail. She was thin and svelte, like a dancer. Her hair tumbled passed her shoulders and was a golden blonde, her eyes a bright blue.
"AHHH!" I put together so eloquently.
"Don't you speak English?" the little woman asked.
"What the hell are you?!" I stammered.
"Isn't it obvious?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Oh man, what the hell is going on," I said, staring at the little woman in front of me.
"I'm a fairy, you oaf!" she said with a swift upturning of her nose.
"A... a fairy?"
"Duh, what else would I be?"
"I am so confused right now."
"What is there to be confused about? You asked for help, and here I am."
"How did you get here?"
"I live here. How did
you
get here?"
"I'm lost."
"You said that earlier. Do you want my help or not?"
I shook my head and blinked my eyes, trying to clear my vision of the tiny glowing woman in front of me. Was this real? She looked real. She sounded real. There was even a pleasant floral scent coming from her that seemed all too real. I lifted a finger to poke her, and she quickly slapped it. "Rude!" she said, zipping forward faster than I could comprehend. Suddenly my nose hurt, like someone had punched me.
"Ow!" I said.
"Serves you right!" the tiny woman said, folding her arms and stomping her foot with such force I expected it to make a sound. Then I remembered she was flying.
"I'm sorry, I just... I'm having a hard time comprehending this."
"And humans wonder why we don't show ourselves," she said, shaking her head. "My name is Glacia, and I'm offering you assistance if you need it." I stared at her a moment longer. My finger slowly rose to try to poke her again. She flitted forward and pain exploded from my nose.
"Gah!"
