I had been hiking for hours in the mountains, feeling the cold wind on my face and the weight of my axe on my shoulder. A dependable tool was all I needed for survival. I had been a woodcutter my whole life. I loved my job, but I loved something even more: the solitude and the beauty of nature.

Whenever I was between my jobs, I would hike to this mountain to build my dream home. It was to be my escape from the crazy world.

After years of effort, I was finally done. All I needed was a brand-new, sturdy axe to be set for life. And my newly-bought precious comfortably rested on my shoulders as I made my way to the rest of my existence.

Sure, throughout my life, I did get a bit lonely, always doing things solo. By deciding to live in the woods, I was only cementing my solitary fate. No girl in her right mind would be willing to go live in the middle of nowhere with me.

I would still love to share my life with someone, of course, but that was just a wish that would have to go unfulfilled. The life of solitude that awaited me might have not been perfect, but it was good enough.

A stream that crossed the path indicated that my journey was coming to an end. Fresh water was essential for survival. That’s why I had built my log cabin nearby.

Still, the hike was long and I needed a break. I decided to take a sip of crystal fresh liquid.

As I approached the stream, I heard a soft splashing sound. I looked off the path and saw a busty girl washing herself by the water. She had long pink hair that reached down to her waist, and fair, smooth skin that contrasted with her pink, curly dress. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes on.

What surprised me the most was that she didn’t look scared or lost. With a basket beside her, she looked like she had come straight out of a fairy tale.

She didn’t notice me at first, so I just stood there, staring at her in awe. She had a slender figure and delicate features, and she looked like a princess. She was humming a tune that I didn’t recognize, but it sounded sweet and soothing.

I wanted to talk to her, to find out who she was and where she came from. But I didn’t know how to start a conversation. Talking to people is hard. I was shy and awkward, and I had not spoken to many girls before.

After lots of hesitation, I cleared my throat and waved at her with my free hand, hoping to catch her attention.

She turned her head and saw me. She gasped and quickly covered herself with both hands. She looked at me with wide eyes and a blush on her cheeks. She was so cute that I felt my heart skip a beat.

“Hello,” I said, trying to sound friendly.

She yelped.

“I was just passing by, and I heard you sing a hum. You have a lovely voice, you know? I’m sorry if I scared you.”

She didn’t say anything, but she looked at me as if I was the stranger in the picture.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I assured her. “I’m a woodcutter, and I live in that cabin over there.” I pointed at my home, which was barely visible through the trees. “What’s your name?”

“Eee…” she softly squeaked then shook her head, as if she didn’t want to tell me. She looked nervous and scared as if I had taken her away from her element.

“Are you lost?” I asked. “Do you need help?”

She shook her head again then looked to the ground as she palmed one hand with the other.

“Please, don’t be afraid of me,” I said, taking a step closer. “I’m a good person, I promise. I can help you if you let me.”

She looked at me with a mix of hope and doubt. She bit her lip and then shook her head again.

I smiled and reached out with my hand.

With a squeak, she suddenly grabbed her basket and ran off.

I wanted to run after her, but I’d already scared her plenty. I turned my head to the side and sighed at my hefty axe. “This is your fault. Why’d you scare her like that?”

That was enough excitement for the day. I was looking forward to returning to my cozy cabin in the woods as soon as possible. After a sip of water, I filled my empty canister with fresh water from the stream. As I did so, seemingly out of nowhere, rain started to pour down, soaking my clothes.

I knew that I had everything set up for a nice fire in the cabin. All I had to do was get there.

With long steps, I approached my cabin, and there I saw her again. The beautiful girl.

She was standing on the porch under the roof. She too was soaked to the bone by the sudden rain. I could see her perky breasts through the translucent fabric.

I awkwardly waved to her again.

She just palmed her hand and looked to the ground.

This time around, I lay my axe by the wood chopping block before approaching the delicate girl.

With slow steps, I walked to my cabin and spoke to the damsel, “The sun is setting. It’s going to get very cold soon. The wind is also picking up.” I tried to point at the wind and immediately realized how silly that was.

A silent giggle escaped her.

I knew that if I kept talking, I’d only dig myself deeper. I was a man of action, not words. I took a big breath then extended an open palm toward her. “Come. I’ll make us some tea to warm us up.”

She observed my hand and extended hers. Midway she stopped as if she was afraid to touch me. Then, she raised her teal eyes and put her palm in mine.

I gently embraced her wrist with my fingers and used my other hand to unlock the door.

I gulped as I opened the door for her. I felt a strange and wonderful feeling in my chest as if I had found something that I had been looking for all my life. I was in my perfect home, and with me was a beautiful girl. I didn’t know who she was, or where she came from, or why she was in the woods. But I knew that I wanted to know more about her and to protect her from the weather and the world. I knew that I wanted to be with her.

She obliged, smiling gratefully and stepped forth. Her big hips which seemed to have been made for childbearing swayed with her step.

Still holding her hand, I followed her inside.

Her palm slipped off mine. Then, she shook like a dog, spraying off the water from her silky, flower-patterned, white dress.

My mouth opened to comment, but nothing came out.

She slid her finger on the inner walls of my cabin. It wasn’t the most beautiful cabin in the world, but it was something. I built it with the intent of functionality more than design.

It was then that I awoke from her mesmerizing shape. I picked up a lantern from the shelf and lit it up with a lighter to illuminate my home. Then, there would be no need for her to feel her way around.

She smiled at me.

With a still-lit lighter, I moved to the stove and set the leaves inside on fire.

After some crackling, the fire spread and started to radiate heat.

Just as I set a pot, poured water in it from my canister and prepared some dried herbs for the tea, I felt something brush against me.

It was the girl. She slid under my arm and extended both hands above the stove to warm herself.

“I’m Jacob.” I facepalmed at my brashness. “I mean, what is your name?”

“Fluttershy,” she whispered.

“That’s a very beautiful name,” I said. “A nice name that rolls off the tongue.”

“Thank you for letting me in,” she said in a sweet voice. “I was on my way to visit a creature that I know of. I didn’t expect the rain.”

“A creature, you say?” I bit my tongue and nodded instead. I didn’t trust myself to speak.

“Mhm,” she said simply.

I was mesmerized by her beauty, and I felt a strange attraction to her. I wondered who she was, and where she came from. I pondered if she had a boyfriend or a husband. I hoped that she would stay with me through the night and not leave me as soon as the rain stopped.

While pondering, I automatically walked to the wardrobe and stripped off my wet clothes. I hung the clothes on its door and pulled out a blanket from within.

“Eee!” I heard a squeak behind me.

As I turned around, I saw Fluttershy, pressing her palms to her eyes. Her cheeks were bright red.

“Oh, err…” I scratched my neck. “I’m sorry. I’m just used to doing things solo.” I quickly wrapped the blanket around my naked body and pulled out another blanket from the wardrobe. “You can use the softer one.” I offered it to her.

She hesitantly picked it up. Her cheeks turned redder still. “Are you going to watch me too as I strip?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Wait, so you were watching me, after all?”

“Eee!” she squeaked and shoved her whole face into the blanket.

I shook my head, smiling to myself. She was even more awkward than I was.

“It’s okay.” I tapped her on the shoulder as I walked past her to the stove. “I don’t mind.”

I could hear her undressing as I threw the herbs into the boiling water.

The blanket brushed against me as Fluttershy hung her dress on the pole by the fireplace.

It was almost as if she made herself at home. I didn’t mind. Instead, I focused on the tea, mixing a spoonful of honey in it. With that, the hot beverage was prepared. The handle of the pot was hot, but my profession made my skin thick enough that I didn’t need any protection. I simply picked it up and carried it to the table by the stove. “Tea is ready.”

“My body is also ready.” She gasped. “I mean, I’m not in my wet clothes anymore because I’m naked. I mean...” She squeaked.

I looked at the blanket-covered girl. Her beautiful teal eyes drew me in every time.

She awkwardly smiled in turn.

I poured warm tea into a cup and set it on the table. “Come.”

“What do you mean? I can’t come on demand!”

I tapped at a seat beside me.

“Oh…” She sat close to me and used the blanket to cover her head.

I sighed. “Words are hard.” I proceeded to pour the tea into my own cup.

We calmly sat by the warm fire, listening to its crackling and the sounds of the pouring rain outside.

Author's Note

Gdoc