The town of Willoughby had never encountered such fierce winds as this particular day. A few thunderstorms now and again, but never winds this fearsome. To the people in Leaves of Green Park that day, it felt as if something foreboding was about to occur.

As Mr. Brown slowly ambled his way through the park’s winding path, a woman wearing a dark cloak was making her way towards him. At first, Mr. Brown paid her no mind. But it wasn’t long before she caught his eye.

The dark cloak swirled around the woman’s small form but the hood of her cloak remained firmly covering her eyes. Slung across one arm was a large satchel that was bulging with mysterious items. Even with her strange clothing, the woman's most odd aspect was her shoes. They were dark purple heels with what appeared to be small wings sprouting out of the tops.

She seemed the only person in the park who was completely oblivious to the winds raging around her.

What an odd woman, Mr. Brown thought as she drew nearer. She must be in sales considering that satchel of hers. Oh, I do hope she doesn’t try to sell me anything!

The closer she came the more Mr. Brown started to panic. Should he try to avoid her? Cross the grass to the path on the other side? No that would ruin his perfectly nice shoes.

But before he could make a decision it was too late. The woman threw back her hood and looked around the park with a large grin on her face.

Miraculously, the wind stopped.

It wasn’t long before the woman spotted the old man and hailed him cheerfully.

“Hello, my good man!”

She wore no makeup and was of average height compared to Mr. Brown’s height of six feet. The woman was middle-aged but her face was so bright and shining she appeared much younger. She had short red hair and eyes that looked golden in color when they caught the light.

As the old man mumbled a quick greeting and began to walk past her, she caught him by the arm.

“Oh, wait, wait! If you don’t mind, kind sir, I’ve only just arrived and need someone to help me find my way.”

Mr. Brown forced a grin — that looked more like a grimace — in return. The woman had a strange accent that Mr. Brown couldn’t quite place. Was she Irish? Or perhaps Welsh?

“I’m sorry but I’m really not the person to—”

“Oh nonsense,” the woman interrupted. “Aren’t you Mr. Brown?”

Mr. Brown blinked in astonishment.

“How do you know who I am?”

The woman gave a loud bark of a laugh.

“Do you not frequent this park every day sir?”

The old man’s eyes bulged. How could she possibly know a thing like that? Especially when she had only just arrived in this town. Was this woman a mind reader?

“I beg your pardon madam, but didn’t you say a moment ago that you just arrived in this town?”

The woman’s eyes twinkled.

“I suppose I did, didn’t I?”

The woman chuckled and took Mr. Brown by the arm, leading him back down the path he had previously come from.

“My name is Anouk Bradigan.”

Ahh nuke. . . isn’t that a French name? Mr. Brown thought to himself. This woman gets odder by the second.

“I’m a world traveler,” Anouk continued. “I go from town to town, wherever the wind decides to take me.”

Mr. Brown furrowed his brow.

“Why on earth would you want to do that?”

Anouk stopped them both and looked Mr. Brown in the eye.

“Why to help people of course.”

There was a pause while Mr. Brown waited for Anouk to elaborate, but she didn’t. As the silence stretched on, Mr. Brown began to feel uncomfortable so he broke it first.

“I can’t think of anything more unappealing than constant travel. And how could you possibly know my name and where I spend my time every day? We only just met.”

The twinkle reemerged in Anouk’s eyes as she led him back down the path from which he had just come.

“All in good time my dear friend. Now which way to the old Miller’s cottage?”

Mr. Brown pointed to one of the paths through the park that veered into the woods. As the two made their way towards the old Miller’s cottage, Mr. Brown started to wonder how he got himself in this predicament in the first place. Although despite his better judgment he was curious about this mysterious woman.