“He is my mirror”
Reka Krieg was trekking along Turkey’s famous Lycian Way, a trail known for its rugged terrain and breathtaking vistas, when she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She turned and was greeted by the sight of a big, fluffy dog trotting at her heels. His friendly face immediately melted her heart, but at first, she was unsure how to react.
“I didn’t want him to follow us because I didn’t want to have the responsibility of a dog following me,” Krieg later told The Dodo.
The terrain was rocky and steep, and Krieg was focused on safely making her way through. She wasn’t sure she could handle the extra pressure of caring for a dog in such challenging conditions. But no matter what she tried, the dog’s footsteps remained steady. He was persistent, quietly sneaking behind her, almost as if he had made it his mission to stay by her side.
“He’s so sneaky because he’s just hiding and secretly following me,” Krieg said in a video she recorded while hiking.
Eventually, the dog followed her all the way to her camping spot. There, he enjoyed a hearty dinner alongside Krieg and her fellow travelers. By the time night fell, she found herself used to having him around—and even feeling lonely when another group of people tried to chase him away. Watching him run after the strangers, she felt an unexpected emotional connection.
“If people chased him away, he wanted to follow them. That reminded me of my own behavior with people, my attachment issues,” Krieg explained. “And then I suddenly felt this really deep resonance, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, he is my mirror.’”
The realization hit her hard, flooding her with emotion. She found herself crying, thinking about the connection they had already formed in just a few hours. She missed him immediately, feeling a bond that went far beyond a casual encounter with a stray dog.
The next morning, Krieg continued her trek, assuming she would never see the dog again. But three days later, she was startled awake by a noise outside her tent. Peeking out, she saw a familiar figure—her dog, loyal and determined, had found her again. Ecstatic, she welcomed him back, naming him Lycian, after the trail they had met on.
Their journey together wasn’t always smooth. Lycian would often run off during the hike, causing Krieg to lose track of him at times. Yet the bond between them only grew stronger. When Krieg finished the trek, Lycian was momentarily out of sight—but fate intervened. Minutes after she hitched a motorcycle ride out of town, she unexpectedly saw him again. Lycian immediately recognized her and ran, refusing to give up until he caught up.
“When the motorcyclist stopped, I knew he was staying with me now, that the fate was sealed,” Krieg said. From that moment forward, Lycian never left her side again.
Taking Lycian home marked the beginning of a new chapter in Krieg’s life. More than just a companion for adventure, Lycian provided her with a sense of safety, comfort, and emotional stability. Before meeting him, Krieg had faced severe mental health challenges and lived largely as a social recluse. But Lycian’s presence gave her the courage and strength to reconnect with the world around her.
“Just being in his presence gave me the strength and the willingness to connect to other people again,” Krieg said. “I truly believe that Lycian gave me the resilience, the strength, the support, the love, the care, to take the courage to connect.”
What began as a chance encounter on a remote trail became a lifelong partnership. Reka Krieg and Lycian’s story is a testament to the unexpected ways in which animals can touch our lives, providing not only companionship but also emotional healing and unwavering loyalty. Their journey together is a reminder that sometimes, the friends who change our lives appear when we least expect them—and stay forever.