Understanding Gregory

Chapter 4

The forest was light, it pretty it was mossy, it was perfect. It was everything of the fairytale forest. Yet, without even merest prickle to frighten or scare Gregory away it had a way of saying

    "No trespassing."

It was the way the trees were packet tighter together near the path. Any idiot could read that. But Gregory had been walking miles and was in desperate need of a rest. He had yet to find someone, anyone on this godless path. The gregory walked past one spot, where the trees opened just a tiny bit, and she could she the perfect tree, a little clearing where grass was short and moss soft. Not far from path, maybe just two meters. So Gregory entered. She was going to stay long she just needed a short rest and sitting between the roots of the tree on the comfy moss, with her rucksack beside her, seemed the best option available.

It took maybe 35 seconds before Gregory got the consequences. How unfair.

    "What, are you doing in my forest?" Her words where like fire on frozen oil.

Gregory glared up an eye "well I'm pooped so I'm taking a tiny tiny rest." In such a short time, and so worn Gregory had almost falling asleep, the ache shooting through her feet and thighs. The spirit looked angry.

    "Sorry, sorry please, please may I take a moment to harmlessly rest."

    "No."

    "Please?" Gregory asked.

    "Not in my forest" she said.

    "I'm - I'm just so tired" Gregory said tears welling her eyes "please take a pity on me I mean no harm at all. My feet are swollen with blister please, please."

    "Where are your guardians?" The spirit asked angrily.

    "I don't -" and Gregory thought looking as sad as she could "they're dead. I'm an orphan." The spirit took a while thoughtfully, she turned and looked around for any company Gregory may have. Content there was none she turned back to her.

    "Well. Just this once" the spirit said. Gregory nodded, relieve flowing through her, as she lent back in to the soft moss. The red head spirit, with long hair, and clothes made from leaves took a while to think "what is your name?"

    "Gregory" she said her eyes barely open.

    "Gregory? Well, my names Forest Rose."

    "Oh" Gregory said thoughtfully then said "so are you a forest spirit, or a rose spirit?"

    "Both" Forest said "I started as a rose, and then I became a forest."

    "How did you become a forest then" she asked her eyes barely focused.

    "I just did" the spirit said confused "In my younger years you wouldn't make way through my forest without seeing a rose bush. But I have since become one with all, as do all spirits."

    "Oh" Gregory said opening her eyes slightly "I thought forest spirits started off as... forest spirits. Sorry but then I don't know much."

"Well" Forest said thoughtfully "do you know your people enslaved us? Murdered us and nearly wiped us out."

    "I had heard... something of it" Gregory said pitifully turning away and trying to get back to sleep.

    "Bless Chaos, and those that destroyed the king. Rest the souls of those who died with him."

    "That was like five hundred years ago" Gregory mumbled despite knowing she should keep quiet.

    "Well next your going to say that racism has no real context in modern day talk."