Metallica one shots and headcannons

Whispers of the forest💚(Jason Newsted one shot)

I had this silly fantasy idea, I hope you like it!

The village of Eldewood was dying. That was the only truth that seemed to matter anymore. People were falling ill with sickness, no herb, no potion, no prayer could cure. The air seemed thick with the weight of it all, and every passing day, more faces disappeared behind drawn curtains, never to be seen again.

I was the last healer left in Eldewood. The others had succumbed to the illness or had been too old to fight it. I couldn't sit idly by. So, despite the fears, despite the stories passed down from our ancestors, I ventured into the one place where hope lingered—beyond the edge of the village, into the heart of the forest.

The elders had warned me many times, their voices filled with dread, their eyes wide with fear. "The forest is no place for humans," they would say, as if the very trees were watching, waiting for a trespasser to make the fatal mistake of stepping into its depths.

But I was desperate. My people were dying, and the forest was rumored to house a rare herb, a healing plant that could stop the plague in its tracks. The legends spoke of it, a cure found only where the magic of the world was still alive, hidden deep among the ancient trees.

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon when I set out. My satchel was filled with healing supplies, and my heart was heavy with the weight of my mission. The forest loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, but I couldn't afford to hesitate.

Hours passed as I walked through the dense woods, the scent of earth and moss filling the air. The deeper I went, the quieter the forest became. It was as if the trees themselves were closing in, watching my every move. Despite the unsettling feeling in my gut, I pressed on.

I wasn't sure what I expected to find in the forest. It was said to be full of strange creatures, half-human, half-beast, ancient beings bound to the magic of the world. But I hadn't come for any creature—just the herb. That was my sole focus.

By midday, I still hadn't found what I was looking for. My body ached from the journey, and the sun above had shifted from a pale glow to a harsh, burning heat. I needed to stop and rest.

That's when I heard it.

A groan. A faint, pained sound coming from deeper in the forest.

My heart skipped a beat. I froze, straining my ears to listen. There was no one else here, at least, no one I had seen.

I followed the sound, each step more cautious than the last. The air was colder now, and the trees seemed to part just enough to allow me through. The groan became clearer, more distinct.

I rounded a bend, and then I saw him.

A man, lying on the forest floor, unconscious and bleeding. His clothes were torn, and an arrow was lodged in his side. He looked human, but there was something... off about him. His features were strikingly beautiful, almost too perfect, and his skin seemed to glow faintly, as though he wasn't entirely of this world.

My instincts took over. I dropped to my knees beside him, panic rushing through me. The arrow was deep, and he was losing blood fast. I had to act quickly.