woman lost in forest wants to go home. Befriended by the tree spirits who live there.

Brown twists of hair flew behind me as I fell from my glider and into a tree.

The weather had turned suddenly from a strong yet placid breeze and into a vicious wind.

Now stuck, I had to abandon my little air craft, or risk staying in the tree. Getting down and onto the ground was my next problem.

Dangling from the straps that held me in the pilot’s seat, I undid them so that I could, swing my legs.

Having navigated my way out of the glider, I was able to now scale down the trunk of the tree.

Landing with a thump on the ground, I realised I was totally and completely lost. And with no water to drink, or even an apple, I knew I just had to get home before dark.

Looking up, I was glad for the shelter of the trees, as they protected me from the worst of the weather.

I walked for a bit, not sure where to start my journey home. I couldn’t see the sun, for the shadows underneath the trees were too dark.

Before too long, my worst fears were realised as all the shadows melted into one. I knew night had fallen.
.
Now, being of a scientific mind, at first, I thought it was a trick of the eye.

A shadow seemed to wink at me.

I stared.

It winked again.

Then, out of the tree in front of me, a twig sneezed.

I started to run, pushing twigs out of my face, and catching my hair until it was filled with small burs and tangles.

Plunging face first over a log, I came down into a puddle of mud.

Strong, gentle hands lifted me up.

” Found you.”

With mud in my eyes, my hair now plastered to my cheeks, and it being night, I couldn’t see.

I was guided by the hands into a sitting position. It was the log I was now perched on.A cup that smelt like peppermint tea was thrust into my palms, and the mud was wiped out of my eyes.

A fire danced upon a pile of animal manure illuminating the shadows.

Before me stood a person shaped tree.

“Would you like some help with your glider?” it asked.

I nodded numbly.

“Right then. You better stay with me until we get it fixed.”