The Chest of the Lost

Chapter 2: Griffin

When I awoke, daylight was streaming in through breaks in the leaves and branches above me. I sat up, my damp hair sticking to my face as I looked around, forgetting for a moment where I was; then I remembered. The events of yesterday flashed through my mind, only making me want to cry more. My face was still wet and cold from the tears, or perhaps from the rain, so I pulled the bottom of my shirt up to dry it while taking in my surroundings. I hadn't noticed how far into the forest I had run until now, and I realized I had to be more than a mile away from my house or any other kind of civilization. The problem was, I didn't remember which way I had come. I stood up, wondering if I could somehow recognize any trees or rocks I had passed while running— I couldn't.

Groaning, I pulled my hair band off my wrist and gathered my long, matted hair into a high ponytail. I decided to try my luck with going what I thought was North, though it was hard to tell. I started off, looking at each tree I passed to see if I could somehow recognize anything, but my vision had been so blurred the night before that I didn't see anything familiar.

After walking for about an hour, switching directions at least six times, I found myself at a forked trail. I took the right one, certain the trail meant that I was close to some sort of humanity. I had been following the trail for a couple minutes, completely blind to where I was going, when I heard what I thought was a voice.

"Hello?" I called back. 

Nothing. 

I tried again, "Hello? Is someone there?"

I listened, trying to pick out any noise that could possibly belong to a human being. Still nothing.

I thought I might be delusional, so I kept moving, eager to get out of the wet and muddy forest. I shivered and wrapped my arms tightly around myself. My clothes were still dripping wet from the rain and I was sure the wet log hadn't helped either.

I came to the end of the trail, which stopped abruptly in the middle of the forest. I let out a groan, and turned around, realizing I was only walking deeper into the forest. Leaning against the trunk of a tall oak tree, I sank to the damp forest floor, then brought my knees up to my chin with my arms wrapped tightly around them. I didn't know how I was ever going to find my way out of the forest, but I figured if someone was looking for me, then wandering deeper into the forest wasn't helping.

"You know, it's not very often a person comes this deep into the forest, especially without a map or something."

The voice I heard sounded amused and I looked up. "What?" I peered around but saw no one. "Who said that?"

"I did." I heard rustling from above me and I glanced up toward the top of a huge tree, shielding my eyes from the blazing sun. Standing on one of the branches of the tree across from where I was sitting was a boy, not two years older than me. His hair was a shaggy, light brown color and his clothes were dark and soaked. He was thin, but he had broad shoulders and muscular arms. His face was dirty and he was wearing a small backpack over his shoulders. I stood up.

"Who are you?" I asked as he descended down the tree, gracefully jumping from branch to branch, then landing with a thump on his feet.

"Excuse my lack of manners," he apologized. "I'm Griffin." He held his hand out to shake and I shook it.

"Cyndi," I replied, still confused by his abrupt appearance.

"Sorry for asking," he started, brushing the leaves and dirt off his pants, "but what are you even doing out here? Isn't this, like, far from home for you?"

"I got lost," I said. "And besides, aren't you a little far from home as well?"

"Uh...actually, I...I live out here." He looked over his shoulder and gestured to the green forest around him.

His statement caught me off guard. "You what?" I asked.

"I live here," Griffin repeated. He patted the trunk of the tree that stood beside him and glanced around at our green surroundings. I wondered how someone could survive out here; it just seemed so isolated. Just then, a small lizard-like animal crawled over his shoulder and perched closed to his neck. It was green, with rough, scaly skin and big eyes, a little smaller than dimes.

"Oh, you got a little something on your shoulder there." I gestured to his shoulder where the animal sat.

"Oh, don't mind him. He's a friend," he replied absentmindedly, not even looking down at the creature. 

"You mean, that?" I nodded my head toward the small lizard.

He nodded. "Yep, Birch and I have lived out here for about about a year and a half, just the two of us." He reached up to pet the small animal.

"Its name is Birch? Like, after the tree?" 

"Yeah, why not? We live in the forest don't we?" He paused and his expression changed to a look of analysis. I could tell he was trying to figure out what I was doing out here, in the middle of the nowhere. "So, what are you doing out here?"

"Oh, I...got lost," I answered vaguely, not exactly eager to get into details.

"How?"

"Long story," I sighed. Not only that, I just didn't really feel like telling my story to a complete stranger.

"I got time." He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against a tree, crossing his ankles.

"Well, I don't. I have to get home." I turned and started off in the opposite direction.

"You're going the wrong way," he said and I stopped. "Unless you are trying to get eaten by bears." I turned back toward him and noticed his amused expression.

"Okay, if you know your way around the forest so well, then which way is it to my house?" I asked. 

He thought for a moment. "Well, there's a neighborhood that way." He pointed to his right. "I can take you there if you want. It's not like I have anything better to do." He chuckled at himself.

"I think I've got it, thanks," I rejected sourly, though not entirely sure I did have it.

I began to walk in the direction in which he pointed, but he stopped me again. "Are you sure? I know the way better than you do, and I—"

I turned back toward him, cutting him off. "I'm fine," I said impatiently, then continued walking, immediately regretting not accepting his help. Who knew how long it would take me to get home and if I would even be able to find it.

"Okay, whatever you say..." he trailed off. I rolled my eyes and kept going in the direction he had pointed. I didn't know how long it would take me to get home and till I did, I realized that I would only have my thoughts to keep me company. I hoped it wouldn't take me too long.

A shiver ran down my spine as a blast of wind hit my face, leaves blowing into my hair. I looked up as rain began pouring through the leaves above me, thunder echoing across the sky. I began walking faster, hoping that I might be able to make it home before the storm got too bad. I jumped over a large rock and ducked under a low-hanging branch, dodging trees as I wound my way through the forest.

All of a sudden, a bolt of lightning struck the tree directly in front of me. It cracked, and the top half of the tree began falling toward me. I ducked and put my hands over my head, when suddenly a strong force traveling at what had to be almost 100 miles per hour, hit me from the side, knocking the wind out of me. I flew back and hit a tree, falling unconscious.

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Okay, so you've met Griffin! What do you think! Fun Fact: I actually got a few of my characters names from people I know in real life! Reason: I feel like it helps bring the characters to life a little! So...

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