Ways Of Reality - The Untouched Scenes

A Desperate Man (Fantasy!AU)

AN EXTREMELY LATE CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR THE ONE AND ONLY Rhoux_ CAUSE YEAH I LOVE THEM A LOT AND THIS IS A SCENE FROM OUR FANTASY!AU THANKS BYE

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Thomas was tempted to whistle, fill the silence some, but that didn't feel right. The night was dark, and the only light was from a waning crescent moon, which could barely soft through the foliage of the first anyway.

You see, the problem that got Thomas wandering around the woods was his wife, Martha. No, she wasn't mean, she hadn't driven him away or anything of the sort. The issue was that she had fallen ill, and it didn't look good...

They were a wealthier family, not anything spectacular- not royalty, but they had enough money to get medical help. And the help still didn't make her any better... It was inevitable for her to- to die at this point, and Thomas couldn't accept that.

Now, you may be thinking, why doesn't he get the help of any healers? Healers could help, Thomas! Go find a healer! Well, healers were his next thought after any medical help, but Martha refused. It wasn't because healers were more costly, it was because there was a temporary negative toll on the healer when helping someone, and Martha couldn't have that. No matter how much he begged Martha to reconsider, she always refused. She was too kind of a soul to let someone else be hurt to try and help herself.

This may have been the end of the story for normal families, woman dies, family has no choice but to move on...

But Thomas wasn't ready to let go. Not yet.

Their village was on one of the many routes to the Palace, a larger city there where all the official things and festivities happened... But on their path, among many actually, was a giant forest that sprawled on forever. They hated feeling cut off from everything in that direction, but no one was too keen to go and find the other side of it.

Why is that? Along with all the creatures of the woods that no-one would like to interfere with, there was said to be a witch that lived there. Many people thought that was ridiculous, but all who walked in never came back.

This came with an exception, as most stories do. There was a Giant Warrior who came back and went there repeatedly, yet also refused to speak of anything during her time there. Odd...

But here Thomas was, another fool to walk into the woods in exchange for something.

It was said that the witch could grant any request, given you've brought enough money with you. There were many stories, many variations, but Thomas would try anything if it meant his wife would be healthy and happy again.

There was no path, not where Thomas was. He'd have to venture for what he wanted. Would fight until he couldn't and then some more, but maybe it was just the adrenaline talking... The adrenaline was better than the fear, anyways.

The cold breeze sweeping by every now and then to remind him not to get too comfy, the rustling of plant life from what he could only assume to be smaller critters running around, the noises that he couldn't quite place to anything around, and the sight- it wasn't that it was bad, it was that he could see too far. If he saw anything glaring after him, he knew he wouldn't be able to run off quick enough before it could catch him. The fear of being so helpless, so vulnerable even though he was trying so hard, would get to him before anything else could.

And god, he has been stumbling for what felt like hours, and there was always a certain spot that he'd walk through, only not to recognize where he was at all! It certainly wasn't where he just took a step... Was he stuck? Did he lose all his bravery now? Left as nothing but lost hope and sorrow in the woods, a beacon for all around to experience? Was there anyone around to experience...?