Fantasy Comp 1.
Username: Galra Keith Kogane
Word Count: 546
Entry:
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the gaps between the trunks of the tall oaks. It perforated the sullen gloom that shrouded the forest in a never ending night. Slowly, ferns began to unroll, reaching out towards the gleaming ball in the sky, this gift from above that they so rarely got to experience, for the foliage on the trees was thick, and the warm rays could not penetrate them. Only for a few hours in the morning and in the afternoon could these warmth-starved plants find relief from the cold embrace of the still air. A gust of wind, like a breathy whisper, flew through the undergrowth, rustling leaves and shaking branches. But there was no scurry of tiny paws, no bustle of cloven hooves. The silence in the forest was almost deafening. The animals that had once dwelt in these woods had long since abandoned it. They fled from the darkness, the shadows that reached out from the roots and the branches of the trees, the shadows that came seeping out from the ground and slinking out of caves. These shadows could not be dissipated by light, could not be dispelled by a little sun. A dark and powerful enchantment lay upon the forest, and the land had both come alive and died because of it. None dared venture near this place, for, although not a soul could even begin to guess what was wrong, exactly, any creature that stepped beyond the tree line never returned. Perhaps they lost their way and were doomed to wander forever, looking for the way out, calling for their loved ones. Some believed they were eaten by monsters or creatures that took up residence in the abundant caverns, while others say that they just vanished into thin air. Whatever the case, the missing could not be ignored. Young children were taught never to go near Nightshade Forest, or it would take you away. Animals were kept tethered at all times, lest they stray into danger. Come nightfall, windows were closed and doors were locked. Despite this, the disappearances continued. It would be a little girl who suddenly wasn’t there anymore, or an empty cow pen. People whispered that they saw a dark figure walking outside their homes at midnight. They said that on cloudy nights, they could hear someone whistling. Each night, doors that were locked would unlock, and gates that were shut would open. Then, one day, the forest began to move.
It wasn’t noticeable from outside, but those that were standing inside Nightshade could’ve told you that the wind, a constant presence in this otherwise motionless landscape, died down. The cool whooshing that was the closest you’d come to a friend in Nightshade was there one second, and then suddenly it was gone. It became eerily quiet. The ferns, when the afternoon sunning hour rolled around, didn’t unfurl. Not a leaf budged. Not a stem stirred. The silence was overwhelming, and a heavy, stifling weight seemed to coat the forest. People began to look towards the woods as they noticed that the constant rustling which emanated from it had stopped. The shadows stretching from the tree trunks were too long and too dark. They seemed almost solid. And then suddenly they were. The shadows stood up.
Other: Whelp, that got out of hand. It is 10:31 where i am and i am now scared to go to sleep. It was originally going to be a cute forest filled with cute animals and cute plants and asdfghjkl curse my hyperactive imagination! NOW I CAN'T SLEEP!AAARRRGGGHHHH!!