Scenarios

The Legend of West Forest

It's cool out tonight. The breeze that ruffles the dying leaves of the trees brings a shiver to me. The night is bright, lit by a full moon. I walk through the dark forest west of town. I'm on my way to a party that a friend is throwing. She lives a few miles into the forest. It's not a long walk for me, though. I wouldn't normally go to a party like this, as I'm not much of a party person, but I got word that a certain guest will be attending, a girl who I've been pining after ever since I laid eyes on her. Her name is Polly, one of the gorgon sisters that Protector Joey is close with. So I've made it my goal to meet her here at the party and ask her on a proper date, perhaps even get her phone number. I shudder again, but not from the cold. As I walk deeper into the forest, the trees start to block out the light of the moon. Inky shadows seem to writhe and twist around me. There's a legend about these woods, a legend that a dangerous dryad lives somewhere out here and takes young men to do unspeakable things to. An ancient creature that has eluded even Protector Joey's attempt to capture her. They say she only comes out on full moons, though. Men who venture into this area of the forest on a night like this are often never heard from again. I very much realize that I may be the dryad's next victim, but I have to try and make it to this party. For Polly. The wind blows again, causing dry leaves to chase each other across the ground. If it weren't for the danger of being abducted and possibly killed, this would have been quite a peaceful walk. The forest is nice this time of year. The surrounding smells and sounds are so calming: the crickets chirping their songs, an owl curiously hooting at an invader to its territory, leaves crunching underfoot, the smell of fertile soil, healthy plants flourishing, and that slight tinge of rot at the edge of everything. Nothing beats it. As I open my senses to the night I feel calm, less scared. That's when I notice that all sounds have stopped. I stop walking to have a closer listen. The wind has stopped blowing, the bugs have stopped buzzing, and the owl has silently flown off into the night. The only sound I can hear is the seemingly deafening beat of my own racing heart. A twig snaps to my left and my head whirls to look. I see nothing beyond the darkness. Another twig breaks, and I turn to look for the culprit. "H-h-hello?" I stammer, my voice shaking with fear. "Wh-wh-who's there?" I spot a form moving in the shadows. I gasp and take a step back watching as it approaches until I can see it clearly. It's a woman. Not a normal woman, however. Her skin is the color of an oak tree, and her hair is white as snow. She wears a dress made of twigs, with no shoes. She's tall and beautiful, yet menacing at the same time. "Don't you know the stories they tell of this place?" She asks worriedly. "You are in danger. You should come with me to safety." She beckons me to come closer. I take another step back and shake my head. "I-I have a place to b-b-be," I say. She frowns. "Don't you want to come with me? I can keep you safe. Maybe we can even have some fun?" She smiles and winks. I shake my head again. I notice that my hands are shaking as well. "I can't. I really must be going," I say. She groans. "Come here right now, boy, or you'll regret not coming willingly," She growls. I immediately turn and bolt into the woods, and an ear-piercing shriek follows. I can sense her right behind me. I have no chance of escaping, no chance of outrunning a dryad in a forest. I'm doomed. I chance a look back and see her quickly gaining. I dive to the left, right before she grabs me. I feel her shoot past in a gust of wind. I get up and keep running away from her. If I can just make it to the party, Protector Joey will save me. I know he's there because the host is a close friend of his. The dryad shrieks once more and turns around to begin chasing me again. I glimpse a sliver of yellow light in the forest ahead. It's a porch light! The light of the party. I speed up with renewed hope. The dryad keeps behind me, almost completely caught up now. Only about a hundred more yards and I'm safe. The trees stop passing by as we enter the clearing surrounding the house. I can hear the music inside. I almost believe I might make it. But then I trip on a log. I go sprawling onto the ground, my face kicking up dirt. That's that. I'm finished. I hear the dryad cackle as she grabs my ankle and starts dragging me to my doom. I don't even fight, I know I have no chance. I watch the light of the house fade, as the dryad drags me back to her lair.

"I'd count this as cannon. It's not exactly a tidbit, and I wanted to put the name of the story, so that's why it's labeled the way it is. I'm proud of this one because of the detail I put into his surroundings, so I wanted to post it. It's originally an English assignment. I was supposed to write something similar to the Legends of Sleepy Hollow (is that what it's called?)." -Tiny