One: Three

"Late for what?"

A breeze stirred the branches of the willow and I thought I heard the sound of soft laughter in its leaves. The old woman said nothing, but only looked at me impassively, as if sizing me up. I picked up the sack at my feet and tried to guess what might be inside.

"What is this?", I asked.

"Well it's a big, slimy snake that will eat you up, isn't it?", she said with a gleam in her eye.

I shook the sack but nothing seemed to be moving within, so I emptied it on the ground. There before me lay a small loaf of bread, a cloth-wrapped cheese, and an apple. I remembered suddenly how hungry I was and spent awhile tearing into the bread and taking bites of cheese between mouthfuls of the soft loaf. I pocketed the apple for later. When I had finished my simple meal I drank from the pool and sat back to watch the old woman.

"Thank you", I said.

"A small thing, lad. You have a long journey ahead of you."

"Do you know me?"

"I know that I had to be here now to give you what you needed. And now I will go. The light is fading and these old bones have to rest."

With that she rose from the roots of the willow and turned to go.

"Wait! Where am I going? I don't even know who I am! Can't you help me?"

The old woman turned back toward me slowly. She looked up into the high trees and pointed toward the green canopy above.

"The birds know. When you need answers you can always ask them."

She smiled slightly at this and shuffled slowly into the ferns, the sound of her footsteps gone as she vanished.