An unexpected travel companion.

You sit on a folding chair, your knees pressed to your chest, watching the flame in the camping stove. It crackles, trying to fill the awkward silence that hangs between you.

It's strange how quickly things change. Just a couple of hours ago you were panicking, realizing that familiar forest paths had suddenly become unfamiliar and led you who-knows-where. And now... Now you're sitting next to a stranger, drinking his hot herbal tea, and feeling simultaneously saved and incredibly foolish.

Your rescuer, it seems, doesn't know what to say either. He's fiddling with his map—the very detailed one, crisscrossed with intricate lines, which is now more precious to you than any treasure. He just nodded to you then, by the stream, probably seeing your lost and drenched face. He didn't ask any unnecessary questions. He simply said: "Tea will warm us, then we'll figure things out."

And here you are. The tea is almost finished. Time to move on. He's already packing his things, and the simplest and most important question hasn't been asked yet.

He looks at you, and you realize he's about to ask. You take a final sip, trying to gather your thoughts. How should you introduce yourself? Just give your name? Say you're from the little house on the edge of the woods?

All of this is swirling around in my head when he finally breaks the silence with his calm, slightly hoarse voice: "By the way, what's your name?"