Chapter Thirty-Eight: Into The Woods
There was still no sign of Kessy. Cora had noticed her mother’s rocketship a few weeks prior and she’d wanted to have a few words with her. She’d waited patiently at home, pacing her room and almost tearing a hole through the floor to the basement. Time wasn’t something she had on her hands so she packed her bags for a weekend alone in Granite Falls.
The towering trees covered most of the sky so she had no idea if that blasted rocketship was around but she looked up anyway. Nothing but a spotless blue canvas.
Her task for the day was to gather more of the wild plants she hadn’t identified on her last trip. At any other time Cora would’ve loved to explore the woods further, take pictures of the unusual looking plants she later found were Poison Fireleaf or trap some poor creature into a jar. Bees and Dragon Dragonflies were proving to be difficult in tracking down. Soon, even the gathering of wild plants and chewing them became a menial task.
It was as evening drew that she came across an interesting looking hole that had been covered up in a lazy fashion by someone who had no idea how to disguise such an opening.
This is it, she thought. Kessy had told her time and time again how to reach the Hermit’s Hut and find the true Morel Mushrooms – the last plant to tick off her list. Her mother might not have any reservations about crawling through a mysterious hole but Cora was doubtful. She could just wait for the Hermit to make one of her visits, maybe camp beside the entrance and they’d go through together?
Nope, I need to be more adventurous. She ran towards the entrance.
Up close it didn’t look so scary. There were no thorns so she parted the branches aside and stepped into the black hole.
She experienced the same thing her mother had so many years ago: grooves along the walls – she wondered which were Kessy’s, the smell of earth and the unfortunate demise of a worm she’d squished – her shoes needed a proper clean once she was home.
Something blue and fluttery danced past her. A moment of madness – or curiosity – compelled her to run after it. Hands reached out to catch it at one point and she stumbled. Once she’d dusted herself off the dancing light swirled around her and the chase continued. Something about that reminded her of a little girl and a rabbit hole, the end of the tunnel however did not reveal a nonsensical world but just another wood. Cora caught up with the little bug that had been her guide and trapped it in her palms, blue light streamed through her fingers – a will-o’-the-wisp. It was no Dragon Dragonfly but it was pretty, it could serve as a night light in her bedroom.
Using the will-o’-the-wisp as a lantern she navigated her way through the dark forest and found several night time bugs. Cora greedily raided a rock garden with harvestable vegetables and fruits and looked over her shoulder when she felt eyes on her. She called out several times in hopes it was the Hermit.
With her pockets full she wondered what to do next. A dirt track wound around some trees before disappearing through a rock path. She followed it and there in front of her was a cute little cottage. It was as if a little red barn had plopped itself down in a clearing by magic. Pretty flowers lined the path, flower boxes accompanied every window and she felt like she was walking through the perfume section in a shop but these were real smells and much more pleasant.
The lights were on and a roaring fire kept the little cottage toasty. There was no sign of the Hermit though. She felt welcomed anyway and made herself at home. It was so clean and tidy she felt like an intruder. Like Goldilocks.
Cora’s rumbling tummy demanded food and she started on pancakes, she made extras in case the Hermit came back. She was extra grateful for the baking station and wished she could have one at home.
The pancakes were devoured in record timing.
They came out extra delicious, Cora thought,
because of the baking station.
She warmed herself by the fire and sat waiting for the Hermit. It was only when she was fast asleep on the floor, dangerously close to the fire, that the Hermit walked in.
