Once upon a time, there lived a small, young, fragile skeleton. He wore a red cloak coloured like the crimson of blood, and with a heart like stone. His town was very poor and the people did not treat others well. Late at midnight, his magic began t...
Fall as the skeleton might carry him, saw a young boy. Almost like him but different. He took pity on the child and tried to help, but only met with the crawling fear of a monster who was hungry for food. A monstrous wolf sharp and keen on him.
I slowly chew my half of the bread as I try to process what just happened moments ago.
There was a giant wolf in front of me, sitting like a dog. It is wagging its tail and panting like it saw its owner. It would've been cute if the aura didn't put deadly chills down my spine. I can tell it was looking at me from that turquoise blue eye in one of its sockets, it jogged my memory that turquoise colour i saw in the trees. It must've been it watching me. I noticed the trail of dead grass and plants behind it too, does everything it touches dies? That's abnormal, to say the least.
I don't know what it wants from me but I don't want to die anymore, I don't know why I thought coming here was a good idea, I should've done the dust cemetery instead of this. It must be panting from the bread, every animal has hunger though it confuses me why such a seemingly large apex predator is wagging its tail at something so small as bread? Or even me!
I still have the broken piece I been gripping on to when that dog almost bites my hand off, if I throw it then it will give me enough time to escape, hopefully. I don't know, I can't think of other plans right now as it stares me down. I will have to hope for the worst I suppose.
"Y-you want this?" I hold the piece of bread up to the wolf. I saw it wagged its tail faster, "here! Go fetch!" I yelled and threw it into the woods, it turned around and ran for it.
This is enough time for me to grab my stuff and go. I quickly put my bread and blanket inside the basket and ran out of the area. I was huffing and puffing and coughing, why am I coughing?! The magic suppressors! The effects must be burning out, oh not in a time like this.
My legs were sore and my running became inefficient as I try to breathe through the coughs. I have no idea where to go, I've just been running a straight line. I tripped over myself.
"Oh dear, are you all right?" said a woman's voice. Wait, a voice?
I looked up to see a giant goat monster with a long sombre-evergreen dress that swirled her with detailed sewing, it really seemed like the vines covered her in an exquisite way that made her glow in a majestic light.
Finally, someone who is like me! I coughed more.
"Y-yes, I am fine." I stuttered, my voice had become hoarse. That must be from all the coughing while I ran.
"Oh dear, here, come to my place and rest up. You seemed like you been travelling far," she said wistfully. I don't know if I am hearing things but as the wind blows it felt like chimes trickle from the sky, was she wearing something that created such dream-like sound?
"O-of course." I sighed as a slipped over, I let myself fall. My vision blurred, my voice echoed.
I coughed as I sat straight up, what just happened? I fell asleep but I am in bed? Not just any bed but the most comfortable bed I have ever sat in, I feel like I am getting dragged back into it and fall into a long slumber. I tried to resist it but I just ended up flopping back down.
"Oh, you are awake!" a woman's voice called out again. "I was afraid if it was too late for you!" she said in worry. "But now as you are awake I have prepared a meal, please don't mind the mess. I haven't had any visitors come through this forest in a long time."
I heard her hum a song before the bed hardened into an unconformable mess and kicked me out of bed. "What the-"
"Oh sorry, the creatures here don't really like outsiders very much. You'll have to forgive them," she replied as she walked into the room. It really does seem like a fairytale when she walked in, she is beautiful, I'll give her that. "What did I tell you to kick people out? It is very rude to our guest!" she lectured the bed. And the bed, being like a bed, went back to be a bed.
I don't know if I should believe what I've seen but my butt is sore from landing on the hard wooden floor so should I suspect that this is even a dream? I am all in confusion. "Here, are you okay?" she said while reaching her hand out to me.
"Yes, sorry." I shortly replied looking down. I don't even know what I do in this situation, this is so bizarre.
"Oh, why are you sorry for? You are fine, it's just the residents here that suppose to say sorry," she said. I pulled myself up with her hand. "Thank you," I said quietly.
"Come, I have set the table so just take a seat," she said in joy, she sounds really exciting for me to eat. I followed her to a small table that can only fit 2 people, but I saw two slices of pie.
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"Wow this looks lovely, are you sure I can eat this?" in a surprised voice, is it the right thing to eat at a stranger's house? I mean it is good looking food and all but I am not wealthy enough to eat this, nonetheless anything else but bread.
"Of course! I originally made it for my friend, he just loves pastries! Any bread or sweets he would just devour." she laughs off. "but I'm sure he won't mind you eating some."
That makes me feel worse.
I question everything as I sat down to the table. I was surprised at the silverware that flew over to my side and nested themselves in my hand. It was a metal fork, rare nowadays and only the rich had these specially made. It looks unfinished though as it didn't have any interdict designs. I look at the pie, and looked up at her, she is looking at me like a hawk. I look back down.
I used the fork I picked up to pick a piece of pie up and eat it. I chewed it slowly and I just melted on the inside. It was sweet, but sour, the perfect mix. I tasted a lot of things that I never tasted before, it was a mix of strong, but soft, angry, but happy, harsh, but hot, the bread was doughy but crunchy. The more I chew the more confused but content I was. Whomever this friend was, has a good taste in food in my opinion.
"I like it." I swallowed, unable to express how really good it was. Not many make well-made dishes unless they are rich.
She giggled. "Thank you. I should introduce myself, I go by the name Life as many called me." Life? What an interesting name. Well, it is better than mine though.
"Well, I go by Geno Lady Life, it is a pleasure to meet you," I said, isn't my real name but it does derive from it.
She chuckles in humour, "please, just call me Life. lest not be so formal, we are not of royal blood."
"Of course, pardon my ignorance but where are we?" I questioned, I have yet to know where I just came from nonetheless where I did came from where I heard.
"Oh, we are in the central part of the forest where my little home is, right now we are in my house." she sighed. "That reminds me, why are you here in the forest anyway? Did you get lost?" she asked tentatively, her eyes telling me that it is looking out for some answers.
I hesitate for a moment, what should I say to her? That I came here to die? Well, I hope not, maybe I can tell a half-truth. "I wanted to find a pretty place and I found myself here," I said in a soft voice. I heard a soft chuckle.
"Well, you came to the right place!" she giggled, that made me feel safer around her for some reason.
A loud sound was heard behind me and I turned around in fear, my eyes widened to this new thing that was just behind me.
