The Forest Spirit

1

The Forest was here first. Long before the people. She was here first.

Then came the people. And with them came the greed. The Forest needed protection, so she created the forest creatures. They were supposed to remind the people that if they wanted something from the Forest, they needed to give something back in return.

"What do the forest creatures look like?" Hyunjin asked his mother.

"They are human, and animal alike." His mother answered.

"Then how can I tell them apart from the humans?" Hyunjin asked again.

"Since they were animals once, as humans they will still have their animal features." She told him.

"And what can they do, mother?"

"Well since the Forest doesn't know violence, she created them to help people with small tasks. Like helping with the fruits and vegetables, which serve as sources of food for the people. But if you plant more flowers and trees, she will help you more." She explained.

It was a warm sunny day, and Hyunjin and his mother were in the palace garden.

She was a queen, but still wanted to teach her beloved child that he needed to take care of the Forest if he wanted to receive back from her. The future King needed to be kind.

"Will planting flowers make the Forest happy?" Hyunjin asked his mother.

"Yes, sweet child." She answered smiling warmly to her beloved child.

------------------------------

"People are getting greedier with the passing years. They are forgetting that they can't keep taking forever. They need to give back in return. So Young One, your duty is to remind them that. The children still believe in us, in the Forest. They will still want your presence when they are planting little flowers, so you must be present when they call for you, Young One." The oldest forest spirit was lecturing Jeongin.

"People will plant trees, and in return they will want the fruits from them. Because as long as there are trees, there will be a Forest." The old spirit told him.

"What about the greedy people? Will we help them?" Asked Jeongin.

"Remember Young One. To receive, first you have to give. We go to the people who need us. Those who don't believe in magic, will never find it. You will not hear their wishes Young One." He told him.

"But lately, there aren't many wishes.." Jeongin said with a sad voice.

"Yes Young One, there aren't. But there are few Kingdoms who still believe in the Forest. And that's what matters – to still make them believe in us."

Indeed there were only few Kingdoms who still were planting trees, so they could have forests in their land. The Forest took great care of them. No fruit trees were fruitless. No man was left hungry. But not all of the people wanted to give back. They wanted only to take. And what happens when the greed is huge? Destruction! The Forest needed more protection. Not only simple wishes. She needed something powerful to protect her.

Few years later...

"Can you hear it?" Someone asked.

They all hear the screams, feel the sorrow and the pain.

"A forest is dying" Said the oldest spirit.

"A wish has been made. They are calling for you, Young One!" The elder stated.

"Yes... but... what do they want? I can't hear them clearly." Jeongin said.

"There is no time Young One. You must go now."

It took Jeongin only a second to go to the source of the wish. He found himself in the South Kingdom. In the middle of a fire. No... an Inferno. The Kingdom was on fire. Everything around him was burning. He heard the screams of the recent past around him, like a ghost hanging in the air. The people, the spirits refusing to leave the burning forest. They were so loud, he couldn't hear the wish he was called for. The screams were overwhelming him. No one was left there, but he couldn't make them stop. He placed his hands over his ears, hoping he could make the screams stop, but to no avail. He felt the world around him started to spin. Suddenly he felt weak and fell to the ground. The screams were too much to bear until Jeongin himself started screaming. ''Why was he called here'', he thought. When no one was here... Only the flames. Without him realizing he started to scream even louder. The flames around him looked like they will never stop burning.

"Why did you call for me?" He screamed... No answer...

"There is nothing I could do... nothing." Jeongin whispered. He never felt so helpless.

He couldn't leave until he answered the wish he was summoned for. But he couldn't hear that wish.

"Why me?" He whispered again looking at the night sky.

It was late at night. Cloudless sky filled with stars. Jeongin was staring at the sky. He didn't realize the wetness on his cheeks. There were no clouds, then why were his cheeks wet? Then the realization came. He was crying. And with that he started to cry more and more. He buried his face in the dirt of the ground crying and screaming even louder.

Until a miracle happened.

One drop, then another and another. Out of nowhere it started raining. In seconds the rain was so strong that there was a chance for it to overtake the fire. Jeongin was wet to the bones in almost instantly. He stood up and looked around. The rain was so strong it was hard to see. But he could sense the fire getting weaker and weaker. With that, the screams were getting more distant, until they were gone along with the fire. The rain stopped the way it started, out of nowhere. Jeongin looked up at the sky, his eyes widening. There was no trace of clouds in the sky. Like the storm never existed to begin with. And then... he heard it. The wish. He looked around. Was he too late? Panic took over him and he started running.

"Please... I hope I'm not late" He wished while running.