Dedrick was five when he first met the old man in the woods. Told to stay away from him by his parents, naturally he disobeyed. He wondered why he should stay away from the local legend of the village and just wanted to get a look as to why he should do so.
One day, the same like many others when he had crossed the line that marked the edge of the village and the beginning of the forest. Something changed in the wind.
Basking in the verdant green that seemed to extend forever was a favorite thing for him to do.As such things were not found in the dark wooden huts and cabins everyone lived in. He felt at peace in the woods with such green surrounding him.
“The woods may be safe but best not to test it.” Was a common saying of his mother whenever she caught him out by the tree line. He simply could not understand why such a beautiful place could be dangerous.
There he walked then, past the tree line and into the woods again like every other day he had done so. Deeper into the green until he saw something he had not seen before. A cloak of brown and green was hanging on a tree.
Walking over to it he placed his hand on it and looked around not seeing anyone so he chose to inspect it. Feeling the rough contours of the cloak, it was muddied and frayed with time. A rich green marred by the brown of the earth that seemed to have soaked into the cloak. A faded pattern he could not discern traced its entirety. Running his hands along the cloth he was startled by a voice.
“Not good manners to touch things that are not yours.”
Startled Dedrick fell back from the cloak as an old withered face appeared from a bush close by. Too shocked to move he lay still as an old man emerged from the bush holding some severed roots.
“So, anything to say for yourself boy? Should you not be in your home and not wandering the woods alone?”
The old man said to the still immobile boy.
“Sorry sir.”
Sun glistened through the treetops over the boy as he scrambled to stand. The old man fully visible now walked over to the stubby branch that held the cloak. Taking it off the branch and throwing it around his shoulders, Dedrick got a better look at him. An aged face crossed with many wrinkles sported dull blue eyes. Grey hair spilled down the sides of his face with lines of brown still visible in the strands. He wore a plain brown tattered shirt and pants only broken up by a worn but well taken care of belt and bag on his waist.
“Forest can be dangerous boy, as can touching things that don’t belong to you. What brings you to the woods?”
“I like the green.”
The boy in question replied now getting his wits about him. Thoughts in the corner of his mind finally being known. There was an old man in the woods and he was told to stay away from him. Repeating in his mind as he did not think he would see the subject of his mothers’ warnings as he had gone into the woods many times and not seen him before.
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“So, you do, so you do. And the feeling of property that is not yours?”
Feeling abashed he looked down before puffing up. Remembering that he saw no one around and a strange cloak with no owner apparent.
“No one was around and there are lines on it under the colors.”
“Can’t fault the young for being curious, I guess. It’s called embroidery, young one and is quite faded. Made that cloak decades ago for myself and time has done its due on it, no matter the care I have put into it.”
Withered fingers ghosted over the hem of the cloak, tracing lines on what Dedrik could now make out faintly as leaves. Knowing what to look for now he could see them crossing the full extent of the cloak. Some more faded than others but now standing out to his eyes.
“I like the leaves.”
The sentence seeming to startle the old man out of his ministrations on the cloak. His eyes took on a sharper look as he looked the boy up and down. Thinking of how to respond next, he straightened, seeming to have made a decision.
“I like them too lad, now let’s get you home and give you some instruction on manners. One might put things down they care about if they are doing things that might ruin them. I recommend becoming more vocal the next time you come along a belonging in the middle of the woods with no owner.”
“Ok, I’m sorry mister. Are you the old man in the woods? My mom told me not to bother you but I wanted to see you for myself.”
A grin split the old man's face as he led the boy in the direction of the village through the trees.
“I am as you say the “Old man in the woods” though I much prefer the term Druid. You though boy can just call me Old Man. Now what is your name, young one?”
“I’m Dedrik old man and I really like your woods!”
A chuckle escaped the withered face as they walked.
“I like them too; you are welcome to return any time and would be happy to teach you more about them.”
“That sounds fun, though I should tell my mom. What is a druid by the way?”
A pondering look crossed the old man's face as they passed more trees and stepped over roots. After a short pause he began to explain.
“A Druid can be many things; it is most often a title given to the keepers of the wilds and the many shapes they may take. To protect the land from both others and itself while learning all we can about it as we care for it and reap its bounty in ways that will not harm it.”
Eyes were trained on the old man as they broke the tree line and approached the edge of the village. He patted the boy on the back as he stopped just past the shrubbery surrounding the moderate collection of hovels and log houses.
“But a druid can be much more as the forest has a bit of magic for those who treat it right.”
The darker blue eyes of the boy widened as the old man produced a seed from his bag. Holding it out to the hand of the young lad who graced his forest. Shell opening as a bracelet of green and color flowered into something that would fit around a young boy’s wrist.
New bracelet slowly slipped into the hands of an awestruck boy. The old man patted him on his gold touched brown locks of hair.
“Seek me at the edge of the trees if the forest still calls for you in five years young one. You will not find me until then. Do not make your mother worry any more as it is hard on parents when the youth have more curiosity than sense.”
With his peace said the old man walked back into the woods as others going about their work near their houses noticed the commotion near the woods.
“Thank you old man!”
Was said as the wrinkled figure clad in cloak vanished into the green and the boy was ushered by neighbors that knew him back home. As he was walked back home with concerned stares constantly on him, he slipped the bracelet onto his wrist marveling at the flowers that seemed to hug the green vines they grew from. He did not know what magic was but he would ask. As there was wonder in the world and he would seek it out in five years.