On Our Side of the Forest (Short Story Compilation)

Forest Guardian

Forest Guardian

I often think of a time when my father was around. I rummaged through my treehouse high above the ground for my staff and bow. My father helped me learn how to fend for myself if I ever needed to. I wiped all three of my eyes as they burned with tears. It's not fun being alone all the time up here.

I finally found my weapons and set out for my hunt for food today! I figured I could hunt a couple of rabbits and find some herbs and veggies to make a nice stew! The weather outside had begun to get colder as the winter season crept around the corner. The sky was a gorgeous shade of blue, the birds chirped around me. I jumped to the nearest branch nimbly. My eyes scanned the area for any signs or tracks of nearby scurrying. The forest was full of footprints. The paths were marked by the boots and hooves of the travelers who cut through this land. I leaped from tree to tree, carefully listening to my surroundings. I aged to become a graceful hunter.

"Stop!" A faint scream in the distance interrupted my hunt, "I don't have anything extra to spare!" I quietly headed in that direction, ducking into a bush to watch as a nobleman and his company harassed a woman and child. The carriage he rode in was stocked with all sorts of foods and luxuries.

"We require a road tax, ma'am! I would hate for you to put up a fight in front of your child," He smirked this sinister smile.

"There has never been a tax on this path before! You noblemen always want to swindle us poor out of our money! I gave my last bit of gold to get this grocery for the week after paying your filthy land tax! You sit in your houses and fatten up on our hard work then harass us!" He slapped her across the face, making the poor woman fall to the ground.

"You do not ever speak to someone superior to you like that! Since you do not have the gold, I will take the groceries to 'fatten up on' and you remember this tax while your children starve," He started laughing. I had seen enough, I jumped from the bush to the tree above me, taking aim and pinning his pals to the ground with an arrow to the foot. They screamed in agony while their beloved friend took off running, dropping the woman's food. I jumped down and chased after him. My tail flowed behind me, I dropped to all fours to run faster before snapping my tail to catch him by the ankles. I drugged him to me and observed him.

"Why are you harassing people when you have all the riches you could want?" He shook and shivered, his company still struggling behind him.

"Are you going to eat me?" He looked as if he was going to wet himself right in front of me. I laughed at his question. I laughed harder than maybe I should have, but it was a delight.

"No, I do not eat humans, but I will kill you if I ever catch you doing this again. There will be peace among these trees! I hear and see everything! Now go, take your friends and leave," I stood up and walked back to the woman. She held her child on the ground as he cried from the commotion. I picked up her bags and food from the ground, filling them with some of the items from his carriage she could use. I was not a thief, that gave people a bad reputation, but I did help those in need. He was deserving of what he got in life. He chose to be the monster to attack an innocent woman and child. She gets a settlement for that I feel. I gave her a coin pouch I found in there too, and she went off on her way in peace. I took some of the fruits he had loaded up! A whole crate of apples and oranges! There were some fruits I had never seen before! I guess today was pretty cool though, I made an amazing stew and I got to help someone in need. Taking the role of Forest Guardian may be just the cure for loneliness I needed!