a small, solar quest
We went looking for the sun today.
We started early and packed a lunch of fresh baked bread and cheese and apple cakes with honey.
We each brought a thermos full of mint tea.
We wore cloaks of proper colors to alert the wolves that we were only on a temporary errand through their woods and meant them no harm.
We sang songs as we walked and sometimes the birds added layered harmonies. We stopped several times to clear the path of fallen branches and once to give a piece of cake to a squirrel who gave us hazelnuts in exchange.
We saw no evidence that we were on the right path. No hints of warmth or tell-tale light playing over the trees.
Late in the day, the wolves brought us mittens and we shared our tea with them, but they couldn’t offer us any advice.
We were about to give up and go home when we found the sign.
About flax-golden tales. Photo by Carey Farrell. Text by Erin Morgenstern.