Rows and rows of tall trees surrounded a village that was currently bustling with the distant chatter of people talking and calling out to each other. The trees towered over a figure who might as well had been a small bug compared to the bordering conifer.
The elf-like creature was sat in a patch of the forest, not right by the village, but close enough to it to where he could hear the far-off sounds from it. On a large stone perched Kai Bennett; his long, fluffy hair that was matched in color with the sky above him promptly smacked him in the eyes as he glanced up from a sketch he had been working on for a while.
He lifted a hand that was partially stained silver with pencil lead and pushed it to the side, gazing around at the woodland surrounding him before returning to his drawing, adding small details to it, occasionally pausing to compare them to the plant life in front of him. It reminded him of a picture book he had read when he was younger, elementary school, he assumed. Puzzling out the words on the pages mainly just to please his teacher whenever she walked past to check on him, but it was really the images that he fixated on.
Lengthy, barbed plants that resembled fire and could injure someone with a single scratch, to short, stocky yellow flowers that were capable of healing. The variety of life and abilities that a simple piece of vegetation could hold intrigued him, so he spent most of his time where he currently sat, neighbored by greenery, sketching out what his gaze took in.
He was so focused on the art, the world around him tuned out, that he didn't notice the figure that came up from the forest behind him, their footsteps lighter than the most achieved criminal. The figure seemed to hesitate for a moment, watching Kai start shading the drawing, before briskly stalking forward and placing a single rose on the stone beside him, then stepped back, and disappeared, the appearance of their tall form fading into the background of the woodland.
The scene grew quiet again, as it was supposed to be, as Kai wished it could stay. Him, art supplies, and the earth around him that wouldn't try to do him any harm, or scream at him, just sit in the whispering breeze alongside him.
The blue haired boy took a deep breath, shifting his hand to take a break from drawing, and his palm brushed against the velvety crimson petals. Kai blinked, puzzled, and turned to look at it. His momentary peace taken over by his curiosity, as it usually was. He studied the rose a moment longer before picking it up, stroking one of the petals gently.
"Hmm," he murmured quietly, different thoughts filled his head as he stared at the flower. They all seemed to dissolve as a sound filled his ears, making him drop the floret and cover his ears with a wince.
It was the sound of panicked screaming.
YOU ARE READING
Crimson Thorns
FantasyKai Bennett has a simple life. Wake up, go to school, come home, maybe some extra events, but overall, simple. The only struggle Kai has is having to play the role of his parent's daughter, rather than their son, but he doesn't mind. Well, not that...
