This is my first response to a prompt made by @bumblvee
They made a very creative writing competition and I decided to participate
"Daddy... why do trees lose their leaves?"
A father-daughter duo walked through a park. They tilted their heads up together, watching the scintillating glow of the autumn afternoon sun peek through a colorful canopy of trees. They bathed in a kaleidoscope of falling hues, reminiscent of the precious stones of ruby, amber, and citrine.
A young girl clutched her father's shoulders as they walked, wrapping her arms and legs around him as he carried her on her back. She carefully lifted one arm as she brushed midnight black hair from her face before gesturing to the scene around them.
"Look, Daddy. The leaves fall, and then they're gone. But then they come back. So why do they go away in the first place?" She laughed, voice bright and grin huge, quite pleased with her question.
Her father smiled, admiring his daughter's constant curiosity and ebullient insouciance. "Well, everything in life comes and goes. I'll tell you a story so you can understand how the leaves come and go."
The girl nodded quickly, eager to hear her father's tale.
"The leaves are born on the branches of trees," the father began. "When a tree begins to grow from a little sprout, with it comes the leaves. They grow and multiply in the warmer months. They dance in the wind and under the sun."
As he spoke, a cool breeze blew throughout the empty park, causing the pair to shiver and their similar dark hair to whip around their faces.
The father continued, "The leaves live a good life. They can admire the world from the tops of the trees. Though the forces of nature may threaten them, they will usually stay strong. They reach towards the sun in ways human can not, and with the rays and the water being soaked from the roots of trees, the leaves flourish and survive."
Unable to keep herself from cutting into the story, the girl exclaims, "I'm jealous of the leaves! They must be so happy under the sun, and always with hundreds of leaf family members!"
Her father chuckled. "Yes, the leaves are very fortunate. Of course, just like us, they grow old and frail. However, while we turn wrinkled and gray, they transform into what I believe is nature's most precious beauty. All the colors you see around you from the leaves are a gift from mother nature herself. It's unfortunate few people appreciate this wonder."
"Well I love it, Daddy. The leaves are so pretty!"
"They truly are. It's a little sad when the colorful leaves signify their approaching fall, however. They fall because they're old, but that means we should appreciate them even more. What's good is they come back. After the winter months, they are reborn."
The girl's eyes widened. "Wow! I wish I could be reborn like the leaves."
Her father nodded. They neared the end of the stone path they walked on. "I believe you can. If you live a good life, just like the leaves, you will return to the world as a new person. I think that everything that falls or dies will return. So even when I'm gone..." He paused. Something warm slid down his cheek. "Even when I'm gone, I'll come back."
The girl panicked. "Daddy, why are you crying? Don't be sad! Are you sad?"
Gently, her father bent down and let her slide off his back. Still on his knees, he gave her a tight hug.
"I'm so sorry, Erin. I love you so much, okay?" He managed a smile. "No matter what happens, do not forget that I will be back, just like the leaves."
Erin began to cry also, though mostly because of confusion. "Daddy, what is happening?" she sobbed.
A shadowy figure in black armor suddenly appeared, a harsh contrast to the colorful park. He grabbed the father by the arm and dragged him across the path. The father stood allowed himself to be pulled, following the man. The stone path ended, and little Erin realized with bewilderment that beyond the trees, only darkness remained, despite the shining sun every way.
"No! Go away! Don't take my Daddy away!" Erin shouted, pulling his arm with desperate and futile attempts as the mysterious man dragged him towards the dark. "Daddy, where are you going?"
"It doesn't matter. What matters is I'll be back. I promise you, I'll be back."
Tears streamed down both their faces. Erin, only six years old, struggled as much as possible, but another armored man appeared and lifted her away. She hit, kicked, and cried as she watched her father disappear into the dark. The second man placed her down, and she collapsed as he disappeared.
She sat on the stony ground surrounded by falling leaves, shocked and suddenly doleful. She curled up on the ground for what felt like hours, completely unsure of what to do.
A young woman tapped her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. "Shh, darling. What happened?"
Erin's voice broke as she hyperventilated. "They took my Daddy away to the dark!" Erin pounded at the stone. "My Mommy is gone, and now Daddy is too!" Her face was red as she sobbed.
"It's okay. It will be okay," the woman whispered. "The people who took your dad away are very bad. But your father is very good."
Erin managed to wipe a few tears away. "Who are you?"
The woman smiled. "I know you may not trust me, but I'm your dad's sister. Your aunt. I'm here to take care of you, okay, darling? I just need you to remember that no matter what, your dad will be back."
I hope you enjoyed! I know the twist was a little random and the whole story in general is confusing, but I wanted to do a quick 900 ish word response. To clarify some stuff, this is a backstory for another story I've had in my mind. It takes place in a world where a mysterious darkness is consuming all life, and apparently being controlled by an anonymous group of armored beings working for some higher force. This short story takes place right at the beginning of this takeover. A group of agents, including Erin's father, were trying to prevent this, but of course, he was taken and this is the beginning of the spread of darkness. Erin is raised by her aunt and the main story takes place 18 years later, when she is 24.
