#3 - The Cookie Trail

Once upon a time, on a farm that looked like it was straight out of a postcard, there lived a boy named Oliver. He had wild brown hair that seemed to have a mind of its own—seriously, it could probably win a race against him—and a smattering of freckles that made him look like he was constantly covered in tiny chocolate chips.

Now, Oliver had a sidekick—Flick, a dog with green eyes full of mischief. If there was trouble or some shiny thing to chase, Flick was already one paw in it.

One sunny day, Oliver and Flick decided that playing the same old games was boring. So, with all the ambition of kids who’d just watched a superhero movie, they set off to explore a part of the farm they’d never seen before.

They stumbled upon a hidden paddock that practically screamed: “Magical!” It had sparkles in the air, or maybe that was just the dust from the farm. Either way, it was unusual, and in the centre stood a deer that would make anyone do a double-take. It had a coat as shiny as grandma’s best silverware and antlers that looked like they belonged to an elegant chandelier.

Excited and completely caught up in the moment, they saw the deer move as if to say, “Follow me.” Oliver and Flick looked at each other with excitement in their eyes. They had already come so far, so they thought, why not? Let's see where the deer is going to take us.

The deer led them through the paddock and into the forest in front of them. The wind swept through the trees as if it were whispering something, and the sound of their footsteps on the leaves echoed quietly through the woods.

The deer was leading them deeper into the forest; it was getting darker and cooler. Oliver and Flick had no idea where they were or how long they had been walking, and they were starting to get worried that they were lost.

As they began to think about how they'd get back home, the deer suddenly disappeared, leaping over some fallen trees. Oliver turned to Flick and said, “I have no idea where we are and how we’re going to get home in time before it gets dark?” All of a sudden, Flick's nose went up in the air, sniffing.

He could smell something. As he started to walk towards it, he stepped over a fallen tree and found himself looking at a small clearing. Sitting in the middle of the field was a girl eating cookies and painting in a happy daze.

Oliver and Flick walked slowly towards her. She heard the rustle and turned to see them standing there. With a smile, she asked, “Are you lost? I haven't seen you here before.” Then she introduced herself. “My name is Abby,” she said. “You look hungry. Would you like some of my cookies?”

Oliver nodded, and Flick licked his lips. They both devoured the cookies as if it had been weeks since they’d had a snack. “Wow! These cookies are amazing!” Oliver exclaimed, crumbs dotting his freckled cheeks. Flick nodded, his eyes sparkling. “I think I might have fallen in love with your baking,” he said cheekily, earning a giggle from Abby.

Oliver looked at Flick. “You can talk?” “Yes,” said Flick. “I could always talk. The forest must have magic in it that helps you understand me.”

Oliver turned to Abby, brushing the crumbs from his shirt. “We got lost while following a shimmering deer. Can you help us find our way back?”

“Of course!” Abby replied, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “I know the forest like the back of my hand—well, sort of. I often come here to paint and eat cookies, but I can definitely help you both get back home!”

Abby led the way, her paintbrush tucked behind her ear and her cookie basket swinging from her arm as Oliver and Flick followed closely behind. The forest was alive with wonder—the sun peeked through the leaves, casting dancing shadows along their path, and strange, colourful flowers swayed as if they were part of some secret dance.

As they walked, they chatted, swapping stories about their adventures. Flick told Abby tales of his daring escapades on the farm, while Oliver shared his dreams of becoming a superhero. Abby laughed and said, “Well, you’re all basically heroes in my book for braving the woods!”

Just as they were telling their stories and feeling calm, a thick fog rolled in, covering them in a mist that made it hard to see. “Oh no,” Oliver yelled, “We can’t see anything! What do we do now?” Even Abby looked unsure of where they were—everything looked so different in the fog.

"I have an idea," Flick said, his clever green eyes gleaming. “We have to stick together. Remember, we still have Abby’s cookies!”

“Of course!” Abby cried out enthusiastically. “Let’s leave a cookie trail so we know where we’ve come from.”

Oliver, Flick, and Abby pressed on through the fog. They took careful steps, focusing on the sounds around them, listening to the whispering wind that seemed to guide them. After some time, the forest opened up to a clearing. It just so happened to be the exact same clearing they had found Abby daintily painting! “You’ve got to be kidding me,” whined Oliver, crushing his sweaty forehead into his palm.

But then, they heard a strange rustling sound behind them—what could it be?

Suddenly, a band of woodland creatures peeked out! There were rabbits, squirrels, and even a couple of wise old owls who had been watching the trio. “Lost travellers, are we?” one of the owls hooted, cookie crumbs falling from his beak.

Abby silently looked at Oliver; Oliver looked at Flick, and Flick walked between the two in sheer annoyance. “Hold me back!” he ordered, eyes squinting, pushing into the calves of Oliver and Abby, as if they needed to stop him from making a delicious owl pie for dinner.

“The fog can be a tricky thing,” the owl remarked, nudging the remaining crumbs under his claw. “But together, we can help you find a way through!”

With the help of their new woodland friends, Oliver, Flick, and Abby followed the path made by the animals as they guided them with soft hoots and gentle nudges. After what felt like the most epic adventure ever, they finally emerged from the fog into the familiar open fields of the farm!

“We did it!” Oliver shouted, waving his arms in triumph. Flick jumped in circles, barking happily, while Abby laughed, tossing more cookie crumbs into the air as a celebration. Oliver looked at Flick with a sad expression, noticing that he had lost the magic from the forest. Flick looked back and gave him a small smile as if to say, “Everything will be okay.”

They sat down together as the sun began to set in brilliant colours of orange and pink. Together, on a grassy hill, they shared stories of their adventure. Oliver and Flick thanked Abby for her help and her cookies, promising to bake with her next time.

As they said their goodbyes, Oliver realised something important. He turned to Flick and said, “No matter how lost we get, having a friend—or two—makes everything better. And we can always find our way back together."