floriography [ stories five ]

elder tree || some mystical bullshit

[ elder tree - compassion, zealousness, end in the beginning, beginning in the end, fairy tree, witch's abode
song -

⚠️ - probably just language and some irrational fears, some smoking and mentions pills as in abusing prescription drugs

this is version one (part one) of this au, and there'll be a version with a role reversal as well bc i had ideas

yeet i can't sleep so uh here's like 800-ish words for this

stay safe!
lew. ]

——————

Lewis wasn't quite sure why he kept gravitating towards the strange clearing in the woods.

His grandparents owned a few acres of forest behind their house, and every time his family visited them, he begged his mom to take him into the woods. There was just something about it, something addicting.

"Remember, don't tell anyone out there what your name is. You're allowed to lie to them. And don't walk inside those circles of rocks and mushrooms and stuff," he remembered his mom telling him as she straightened his jacket for him. Letting a five year old explore the woods on his own wasn't a good idea, but Persephone had complete confidence in her youngest son.

He and his mom passed this clearing every time they wanted to head to the stream, and more than once, they'd seen a young boy within the circle. But this was the first time Lewis saw the boy by himself.

He looked like he should be the same age, sunkissed skin and bright honey eyes. Yet, there was something strange about him, something wild that almost scared Lewis.

"Excuse me, but... didn't your mama and dad tell you to stay away from these things?" He called out, earning himself a slow smile from the other boy.

"Didn't yours tell you not to go into the woods alone?" The boy countered, crossing his arms as he strolled closer to the edge.

Lewis shrunk back a few steps, but softly said, "My mama said I could. She trusts me, and my grandma and grandpa know these woods really well. I'm safe."

"Well..." The kid drew out, extending a hand just past the boundaries of the circle. "Can I get your name?"

It's just on the tip of his tongue when he remembers one of his mother's only rules. He shakes his head, says, "Mama said I'm not supposed to tell my name to strangers. You can call me... um..." He took a deep breath and glanced around, focusing on a tiny plant at his feet before finishing with: "Sorrel. You can call me Sorrel."

"Your mom is a smart lady," the boy nodded, lips curling to reveal abnormally sharp teeth. "You're safe out here as long as you listen to her."

"What's your name?" He asked curiously, hands gripping tightly to the straps of his bag. "I wanna know so I can tell my mama you're friendly."

"What do you think my name is?" He returned. "My parents said not to trust boys I meet in the woods either."

"Um... I dunno... Can I call you Sunshine? I think it fits."

"I guess so. Be careful out there, Sorrel," the strange boy- Sunshine, now- said, giving him a dismissing wave.

"Bye, Sunshine! I'll see you soon!"

——

The two of them shared multiple encounters over the years, but the next significant one happened around ten years later.

Sunshine, or Logan- his actual name, had been waiting within the same fairy ring. It was his gateway to the human world, rather than the land he actually resided in. He'd gotten in the habit of waiting around for the boy he knew as Sorrel, because hell, nothing really interesting ever happened and the guy was kinda cute, in a boyish way.

But this time, Sorrel almost stomped past the circle, fumbling with the zipper on his backpack. Logan called out, jarring him to a stop. "Hey, are you even gonna say hi?"

Sorrel sighed and sat down at the edge, finally unzipping his bag. "Hi, Sunshine."

Logan sat down as close as he could to the boy, peering curiously at the contents of the bag. "You seem annoyed. What's wrong?"

"I forgot my pills at home. I don't know anyone I can get more off of here," he replied, digging an almost empty water bottle and a pack of cigarettes out instead. "I really need something to get my mind off of shit because I've had the worst fuckin' day and I just wanna be home."

Logan just watched at Sorrel lit his cigarette, waiting until he was done and it was extinguished in the bottle to say anything. "Wanna talk about it?"

"My mom is making us move across the country. So unless you can find another fairy circle in goddamn Nevada or New Mexico or some shit, I won't be able to see you for a long time."

"You could give me your real name and then—"

"Dude, please don't be mad but I'm not that fuckin' stupid."

"It was worth a shot."

————

[ i meant to have more in this part but,,, i'm just rlly tired and sad bc i have to work on my birthday instead of taking that day off like i wanted to bc my mom was like "lol take friday off so we can go shopping and get food and stuff for the party you don't even rlly wanna have"

and if i keep getting lectured on how i should drink at my own party i'm just gonna get fucked up within the first few hours and go to bed and let everyone else have a good time jesus fuck (this is an exaggeration i don't wanna get fucked up at this thing i promise)