Hi everyone, ever since the day I left Bearvolia to go out into the big wide world I have loved adventure, mysteries and magical happenings. I hope you enjoy this adventure I had when on my travels.
It was a misty, dark early morning with the moon still riding high, when Captain Horvarth’s ship docked for repairs in Tirana, Albania. I decided to get some exercise off the ship. After walking for an hour or so I found myself on the edge of a dark forest. The air had a musty smell of fallen, rotting leaves. The sound of snapping twigs underfoot broke into the eerie silence as I walked through the forest. The Sun shone through the high tree tops sending shards of multi coloured rays before me. Small animals scurried from my path as I ventured deeper into the forest where old tree trunks lay. I clambered over a large trunk slipping on the mossy peat forest floor beneath me.
As I got my footing back I looked up and to my left there was a small opening in the thick foliage. Beyond this opening smaller trees and bushes intertwined with each other making further progress difficult.
Looking through I saw what appeared to be a hidden trail. I broke a branch from a small tree and began beating down the interwoven tentacle like bushes. Suddenly a trail hidden underneath by fallen leaves and twigs, was revealed to me. With the sunlight now behind me I walked on. As I moved forward I heard a sound I am used to. It was animal sounds, but it was not an animal, it was someone weeping.
I looked ahead; could see nothing so I carried on, walking and slipping on the muddy peat floor of the forest. I went deeper into the trail, and although scared I could not go back, though I remembered to mark my trail to make sure of the way back. I wanted to find out what lay ahead so struggled on beating down more bushes to clear the way, their thorns and sharp tiny branches scraping at my fur. Again I heard the sound, someone weeping, crying. I stood still for a moment and turned to make sure my tracks were visible for my return.
Moving further along the trail the bushes thinned out and bright sunlight shone through the leaves. I shielded my eyes against the bright midday rays and as I looked ahead there, in the clearing, stood the remains of a home. At first it looked as though it had been demolished, but as I drew closer there appeared the blackened remains of a burnt house.
Rain, frost and snow had taken its toll on the ruins. The only remaining feature defiantly pointing skyward was the chimney stack.
As the afternoon drew near, the sunlight grew weaker. As I moved to come away I noticed something shining in the wall of the chimney stack. Moving closer, I noticed a tiny opening in the wall of the stack. There wedged into the opening was a small box. Treasure, I thought, and my heart quickened as I reached in and tried to bring the box out. It was stuck fast. I picked up a small stick from the grate, poked around until the box became loose and came away.
My efforts revealed a wooden handmade cask with an engraved lid. Excited by my find I lost my footing and dropped the box onto the hearth. The lid flew open and a small piece of delicate parchment of paper fell to the floor. I carried it to a patch of smooth grass, and opened the paper out, its edges crumbling to dust as I did so.
It was a poem about a man called Jeremiah.
There was a man named Jeremiah
Who sat all day beside his fire
With hair of silver and cheeks so red
Very often tears were shed
With no home comforts in his house
No sister, brother, cousin or spouse
No family, friends, no one to care
Not even a dog or cat was there
When it came his time to sleep
Up the stairs he would slowly creep
In his bedroom dark and cold
He always felt so frail, so old
When the light one morning came
To the fire he went again
As the flames soared higher and higher
There were no more tears for Jeremiah.
Who was Jeremiah? Did he live in this house? Had he written this sad poem? Had someone been here after the fire? Or was someone here before the fire? And who was weeping, crying? It was a mystery for sure. I carefully folded the paper and placing it my bag made my way back to the edge of the forest.
Thank you for reading. For more information on me and my adventure, please visit my website here.
Padistan