The older man let out a breath, the cold air causing it to mist in front of him. The Icelandic forested hills were quiet, and cold. To those terms, he certainty could relate.
His early birthday present was one Sindri truly wished could be returned. Having his wife pass away unexpectedly a few months prior… No, those thoughts had come and gone many times. She had given him moments of true contentedness.
The closest he had ever come to being happy.
A regretful sigh flitted from his lips. The first wife? Not so much. It had been pleasant at first, and then…well, he didn’t blame her for the divorce. She being married to someone who couldn’t find genuine joy in much took its toll. No, that was for the best.
His latest wife’s death however, was not.

Slowly walking down the moisture-slicked stone steps that led into a small, more densely forested outcropping, the man shifted the pack on his shoulders. A home-knit and well-worn red and white knit beanie stood out from his otherwise drab appearance. A slight fluff of knit tassels stood up on his head; his late wife having wanted to give him a bit of… ‘pizzazz’. Well, it had worked at least in looks.

Setting down his tan traveling pack next to a steaming hot thermal pool, Sindri put his aching feet in the steaming water gingerly. With a sigh, he leaned back against the pack. He’d get in fully tomorrow for certain.
As it was, he was tired enough; and Sindri still needed to figure out how best to sleep. The hike was supposed to be just a few hours, but a few wrong turns later, and he was in a more forested and rocky area than he out to have been.

Sindri wasn’t totally lost, only mostly. He knew the general way out, and would figure it out tomorrow. For now, he’d get things set for bed.

He had always dreamed of coming here, to Iceland, and doing exactly this, aside from the ‘lost’ aspect at least. Hiking to a remote area, setting up his supplies, and dipping his sore feet in a thermal pool. It was…fulfilling. That much was a nice sense of accomplishment.
And yet, he still wasn’t happy.

To his right, a small cave had thankfully been formed, likely by the same volcanic forces that created the vents. After putting his shoes back on, Sindri put his simple sleeping pad inside, as to be sheltered from any surprise showers. A simple meal from his few supplies, and then the man dozed off to sleep.

His deep slumber was rudely interrupted by a flash; lightning perhaps? There was no rain thunder however.
“S-sir….” A weak voice whispered, and Sindri quickly pulled on a coat and slid out of the cave. To his astonishment, at the bottom of the stone steps near the pool was an elderly woman, clad in nothing but rags and worn shoes. What was she doing out here?!

Without a second thought, he took off his coat and helped the woman up, wrapping the garment around her.
“Let’s sit you down over here, alright?” He suggested gently, leading to where his supplies were located. She was shivering; no doubt due to the frigid temperatures at this hour. Perhaps she had gotten lost? Wandered away?
…but this far from any town?

Not that it mattered of course. Sindri quickly fired up his camping stove, cooking up the last of a warm soup from his rations.
“Are you hungry? Or just something warm?” He asked, receiving a simple nod from the woman.
After downing the entire bowl of soup, the woman finally looked up at him with stunning green eyes, a sharp contrast from her lengthy snow-white hair.
“Thank you, young man, for your kindness.”
“Young? I don’t know about that, but you are quite welcome. I couldn’t just leave you there.”

“Yes, you could have. And I think many would have. For that….you deserve that which you have never had.” She cryptically replied.
“…I don’t know what that would be, but thank you.” He added with another shrug. Nice, but a bit tipsy.

“I, young man, am a Shaman. One from the ancient communities in this area. That said, I am able to bestow this gift on you for your unusual generosity. I give you the gift of youth. As long as you continue to travel to new places, you will remain young.”

Sindri waved a hand as he leaned back against his pack. Best to just humor her after all.
“Thank you, I’ll…be sure to keep that in mind. As for right now, I’m fine here, so you can use my sleeping pad.”
The woman looked rather smug, but still grateful as she lay down.
“Thank you again.” She stated, quickly dropping off to sleep. Sindri soon followed suit.

In the early morning, Sindri roused as he always did. Just as the sun was creeping through the trees, he got up and stretched. Looking over and expecting to see the elderly woman, he was astonished to see she was gone. His bedding and coat was folded up, and there was no sign that she had ever been there.
“Odd…” He muttered to himself, eyes then widening.
His voice.
His joints that no longer ached…
Staggering over to the pool, Sindri stared at the young reflection that looked back at him.

He was easily forty years younger; in his prime.
A splash of water on the face, and the reflection remained.And then he remembered the Shaman’s gift.
“So. This is real. This… miracle?”
“What was it. Joviality? I’ll be happy, and young, as long as I travel?”

Still in shock, the young man packed up his things, tightening his clothes as they now were ill-fitting. At first he slowly climbed the steps, then a bit faster, then two at a time, energy surging in his frame. The flickering, dying flame of a man had entered that forested place, but a young man had left, burning bright as ever.

- - - - - - -

Sindri’s breath froze as it left his lips, the young man viewing the beautiful puffy white fields below. He was so high on the mountain. This was the fifth peak he had climbed this past year. He had of course overpaid the guide to lead him here; generosity is what had given him this gift after all. Generosity, and that strange elderly Shaman….

As he stood on the mountain, looking at the vast ocean of clouds below, a realization fluttered through his heart. Much like the wind that breezed through the worn red and white beanie on his head, it swirled around his awareness before finally settling.
Despite living without many possessions, not having a house in the suburbs, or any of those ‘normal’ things….
At this moment, on top of the world, Sindri was finally happy.

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writing by Hound
art by Marisa
profile by Johnny_673

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