Heros, Monsters and Knights in rusted armor

The Misty woods

(This story is a tall tale told by the folk in a small village by a radiation infested forest. They tell stories of horrendous monsters to scare the children away from, and discourage them from entering the forest, and dying a swift and painful death by radiation poisoning)

Listen well, dear children. I have a tale to tell. This story might just save your life, so listen closely. I imagine you have seen them, those woods over there? With the trees that look like they have sharp, spiky fingers and the strange green fog? Listen close now, to maw maw O'Harrah this story is why you should never, ever under any circumstances, go into those woods.

Long ago, when maw maw o'harrah was knee high to a musk rat, they always told me to stay away from the foggy woods, that bad creatures lived there. Things that will rip off your skin and eat the marrow in your bones! but oh, me, I was just too stubborn for my own good..you see, maw maw O'Harrah didn't believe the stories, She thought she could handle just a few spiky branches and a little glowing fog...so off I went home, put on my trusty ol' radiation suit, told my parents I was gonna go scavenge some sunflowers for the seeds, and off I trotted to the woods.

Now I confess, I Hesitated a bit when I was at the gaping maw of the forest with my little basket, but the first few steps in were the toughest. after awhile of walking and wandering, dodging the sharp clawlike branches from the trees and stepping over sawgrass brambles, I came across a lightly misted clearing. as I stepped inside, through the fog there were things I aint never seen before! old metal boxes with old torn up wheels, a little hut that had mostly fallen over, and a big ol hole in the ground that glowed almost as bright as the sun. everything around it looked burnt and rotten. I took a couple steps forward when I heard a great noise from within the hole, like cracking twigs, but much larger. suddenly, out of nowhere, a great clawed hand burst up from the hole,then a head with glowing green eyes, which then focused its gaze on me. It made a breathy gasping sound, almost like laughing. and with a sharp, toothy and ragged grin, he lunged at me!

When I tell you, dear children that I ran, I mean I ran like the devil was at my heels. although, to my knowledge he very well was. I ran and ran, tearing apart my radiation suit as I went, scratching my very flesh as I went. the light to the exit of the forest was just over the horizon, and I still hear the trampling of brush and trees behind me. when I got to the exit, I tell you, I dove for my life, fearing at every second the thing, whatever it would was gonna grab my ankle and drag me back into the woods, to my doom. but as I peered back, there was nothing, save for a path where the great beast had chased me, and a slinking tail headed back into the woods.

That, dear children, is why I tell you, stay away from those woods, lest you get gobbled up by the great monster that lives in the mist.