Into The Woods

Chapter 1

The walls were tall, imposing. Smooth white rock harnessed from deep within the earth, carefully looked after so that not a scratch could appear, enchanted so not a gouge could be made.

Arcaleus turned his back on them, on the iron gates silently closing behind him, casting him out from the world within. Fear washed over him as he realised this was the wrong side.

Arcaleus Aligoar, you are hereby banished from the kingdom of Ilstrid for treason against the crown.

Trees towered before him, dark and terrifying - their true terrors hidden amongst the shadows, biding its time.

They hide in the woods, waiting for you to wander by.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he stepped forward. One step. Then another. And another. His pace was slow, cautious - scared.

If you go into the woods today, you're in for a big surprise.

He could feel them watching him, their stares filled with an ugly mixture of joy and disgust, hoping, waiting for him to enter the forest, for him to disappear.

We're not supposed to go into the woods! Enfior!

Leaves rustled and twigs snapped. The smell of rotting flesh surrounded him. Shadows danced just out of sight.

He froze. His heart beat heavily against his chest, his breath short and sharp, sticking in his throat. He waited.

Nothing.

There was nothing.

They can smell you, you know. The fear, staining your flesh. They know you're there.

Arcaleus continued on, one hand on the dagger's handle that rested at his hip, the other gripping the tattered bag strap tightly.

You're a bit smaller than them Arc, but it doesn't mean you can't win. You just switch tactics. They're big and slow, you're small and fast. Remember that.

"I'm so fucked," he whispered. He knew the stories, knew they were more than stories, much more.

He'd seen what they can do.

They like the young ones, like you. The ones that haven't accessed their magic yet.

The trees stood close together, their branches entwining, blocking the sun from casting its rays down upon him.

I wanna go home. Please Enfior, can we go home already?

There was movement, the bushes on the side of his invisible path, coming closer and closer.

It stopped.

They mess with you. That's what they do. Play games until you're ripe with fear and your magic threatens to burst from your skin.

Breaking through the trees, Arcaleus stumbled into a clearing. Sunlight streamed down from between the leaves, tinting the world green. Soft moss covered the ground, inviting him to lay down and sleep, whilst ferns separated it from the forest, making it a world of its own. Patches of colour in pink foxgloves, and blue spring stars, and yellow daffodils broke up the green, as sprigs of sage and lavender lined the base of the stone cottage standing in the centre, filling the air with a calming aroma. Vines crawled up its walls, clinging to the crevices, whilst moss hung to the wooden slats making the roof, peppered with white flowers.