Deadlands

Chapter 8 - Forest of Mir

It was colder than I expected outside. I took a sweater out of the pack and put it on under my given coat. The men began walking down the street and I followed behind. This walk was freezing, and it was affecting the men as well. I decided to ask the men, two of similar height (about a foot above me), but one was shorter than me (about half a foot shorter), of their names. They replied, one by one. One, the tallest but slim, was named Benson Groggerts. The middle ranged, strong man was named Daniel "Dan" Bales. And the short man went by the name of Colin, he had a big, red, shiny nose, didn't talk much.
     So Benson, Dan, Colin, and I continued our way down the long, straight, Main Road, and headed east. It was a long street, passing by dark houses, and other stone and wooden buildings. It was hard to see much of anything, really. Since it was early in the day. No light, at all, except from the parted clouds in the starlight sky. The moon was too new to shine too well. But we kept on path, until a fourteenth crossing between Main Road and what they mumbled as Debbings Road. We made a left turn and went down the road that quickly turned more of a farm-land's road. There were ploughed plains, as what I could see in the dark, the crops looked like they've already been taken out.

     The clouds were now behind us and we were headed towards a hilled plain, which led to the beginnings of another forest. I did not like the looks of it.
"We're close. There's a cave that dwells under the forest inside, that's where the place is. It's quite nice actually." Said Dan. The men seemed more optimistic than I did about the forest. I shuddered at the fact of going in one again. They began to walk in but I didn't move. Even though it wasn't as dark as the Lost Woods, it still seemed.., well, spooky.
     Colin noticed I wasn't there so he came back and grabbed me. To my suppose he was stronger than I thought.
"It's only the woods of Mir!" He laughed. I look behind me, seeing the sun waking up again, but feeling it will be the last time I see it. Colin notices my hesitations and shoves me inside. It was more open than the Lost Woods. I shouldn't keep such thoughts in my mind, it'll make me ill as this forest is better than the other.

     The Woods of Mir were more open, like I shared before, but it seemed more thicker at the top, even without the leaves, making it dark below. I walked cautiously on the leaf covered, log ridden, not trodden, forest floor. The smell of decaying leaves were in the thick cold air. I followed the men within, passing the surprisingly thick trees mixed in with other slimmer ones. It was kind of peaceful. Until we got lost.

     "I swear! The Creed's Dwelling was this way!" Dan belted in dismay of his dilemma.
     "As I said, when we walked in to the Mir Woods, we should make a left turn at the birch circle. But now, we are far to long ahead to turn back!" Argued Benson.
     "Then why didn't you say something!?" Dan snapped at Benson. The forest seemed to get darker. As if the sun went back down.., but with the sound of wood bending and twisting. I look up to see the trees branches moving together to block the light around us. The men stopped bickering and looked up as well. "Now look what you've done! Mir is angry now!"
     "Me? All I did was share my part of this. And by the way, I did say something!" Benson defended
     "Quiet both of you," Colin interrupted queerly, "The more you shout and anger Mir, the more we suffer, becoming mad ourselves.."

     The two went silent.
     "Who is Mir.., the forest?" I asked curiously.
     "Mir," Dan began, "was once a beautiful lady. Her hair shone with gold and her skin was fine as silk. She loved nature.., many say she could speak to it. And to it I mean animals, plants, anything natural, save humans. She would spend most of her time in the forests, as she found herself 'real' in there. Anytime she was in her state, she'd smile, and the sun would smile back, unlike when her parents would always bicker and argue, same with her friends. She kept things on track for the better, but only when she was out there, walking with nature.. Sadly, one day she mysteriously grew ill and couldn't make sure that the forests and plains and life all around was alright. She knew she was reaching her final lengths..
       "She escaped her bedroom in which she was locked into and went to a forest nearby. She found her peace most inside this forest, and there she knew what to do. It was calling for her. She went there to rest herself finally, ending the troubles of poor weather, weather control itself, and to set a resolution for the future. She sacrificed herself to save The Deadlands."