It was on a Tuesday when Sam was sitting in the small clearing on his daily walk that he found the creature. Sam took his walks every morning after studying for his afternoon classes. The path started behind his dormitory and meandered through an old section of woods. A humble patch of nature in the center of urban decay.
Leaves, needles and moss had made the footpath as soft as a shag carpet, adding to the serenity of the walk. A peace that was of great need. Times had not been easy for Sam. He struggled financially and mentally through seminary, but he had the calling. In one thing he was fortunate; he lived his life with little distraction of temptation. Girls were never an issue thanks to a significant lack of self-confidence. But the commitment was enormous. A life dedicated to God. No wife, no children, just the Church. But he had the calling.
He padded along the footpath until he reached the midpoint of the walk; the clearing was his favorite. An ovate boulder made for the perfect resting spot. Sam sat upon it and caught his breath. Light danced through shimmering leaves and the calls of birds sounded more symphonic to him than any chorus.
After a few minutes, Sam noticed that the birdsong had silenced. Peering around the clearing, Sam heard nothing but the rustle of the leaves, and then a subdued splash. In the center of the clearing was a small pond. Sam saw a rippling in the water, and a small creature emerged. It sat upon a slick stone and glared at him.
Sam stood and took a few steps back. It was no bigger than a cantaloupe, and had the head the size and shape of a tangerine. It had large, saucer eyes, grey skin and two minute horns. It had a short tail, and spindly wings sprouted from its back. Its feet resembled those of a chicken, and tiny arms pawed at the rock. It blinked at Sam.
“What…” Sam stuttered, “What are you?”
The creature chirped at him.
Sam stepped forward and knelt in front of it. He knew he should be frightened of it, but for some reason wasn’t. Sam had occupied his lonely childhood days with his nose stuffed in fantasy novels, and this was something right out of one. Perhaps this was a dream; if so, he had nothing to fear.
“What’s your name?”
The creature chirped at him and blinked. Huge eyes took him in, and it cocked its head to one side.
Sam looked around, as though someone else may take the thing before he could. He reached out a hand and the creature climbed into his palm.
The tiny nails on its feet pricked his palm, but Sam paid no attention. Sam had never been special, never stood out. But here was this creature. This would help him stand out. This was his.
“It seems,” Sam said, “I was meant to find you.”
The creature chirped and turned to leap from his palm, but Sam grasped it with both hands. “Oh no, little guy, you’re mine.”
With that, Sam began his walk back. He had an old terrarium that would suit the creature just fine.
The creature glanced up and slithered a smile at the man’s pure spirit. Although he didn’t know it, Sam’s soul was now and would forever be the creature’s.