The man destined to become the Fox God

The Witch in the Forest

A woman that seemed to be in her late thirties came out of the bushes, she saw the terrified group and asked, “ Who yelled?” With a stern voice, the older brother spoke up and said, “ I did ma’am,” with a shaking voice. The woman replied, “ Keep in mind that if you yell, you will scare all the small animals, not to mention I was in the middle of something important when you had yelled,” The older brother quickly replied, “ Please forgive me ma’am, but we are lost, if you could help us meet the witch, then you would not be bothered by us again,” The woman gave off a heavy sigh as if she has been through this conversation already and said, “I know where she lives, but-,” She stopped talking and saw Guardian with the group, she then proceeded to speak, “ But I would need the fox for a moment when we arrive,” She crossed her arms meaning that, that was the only way they could meet the witch. Alan immediately asked, “Why would you need my fox?” The intriguing woman said, “ I like to keep my reasons to myself, don’t worry, I’m not going to use it as a coat.” Alan became furious but when he was about to argue with her, Guardian walked to Alan for attention and nodded yes, Alan then agreed to the woman's propose, she immediately said, “ Marvelous, follow me gentlemen before you hear the wolves howl, they love men who cry their eyes out in the forest, it gives a salty taste to their eyes.” Everyone began to regret their decision but they knew they had to meet the witch for the village to survive. The woman led them into a darker path of the forest, they started to hear the forest come alive from the direction they were heading, unknowing of what will happen, they marched with fire in their eyes, making sure to be able to meet the witch with no more setbacks. They finally found the creek that they had lost, the signs, and the cut trees with a strong humid presence showering them, they saw a bright light at their goal. They all became excited thinking that they would meet the witch, The woman stopped and pulled back a bush showing a home with animals nearby. She walked them to the home in the forest and let them inside, the younger brother asked, “ Where is the witch?” The woman stopped and looked at them, then bowed and said, “ My name is Marissa Millers, and I’m the witch you have been looking for.” Everyone was surprised, to be led by the witch herself to her own home, thinking the worst was to come. The older brother asked, “ How can someone so beautiful be so evil?” The witch replied, “ Thank you for the compliment,” Then she lifts her head up she says, “ But calling a witch evil is a wrong choice of words,” She stands tall and proud then walks to her kitchen, she pulls out a small box from her cabinet then opens it and sees a small orange gem inside it. She says, “ Please leave me and the fox alone for a few minutes, I’d like to show him something precious, you can all set up camp outside while you wait,” Alan knew he had to leave for the moment but hesitated, Guardian looked at Alan, reminding him to leave. Alan being hesitant, left with the men to set up camp, the witch began to speak to Guardian, “ I see you have done well so far with the boy, what was his name again?” Guardian spoke and said, “ His name is Alan, what do you want with him, Marissa? You shouldn’t have met us yet, we still have forty-eight days before everything comes together.” Marissa replies, “ The future changed, when the fiftieth day of your adventures comes everything won’t happen all together, he will have more adventures afterwards, with or without anyone.” Guardian looks at Marissa with fierce eyes and says,“ I will not leave the child, I will accompany him till death, ” Marissa says,“ Guardian, I’ve known you for years, we went to school together, we even fell in love, so I will be honest with you, I can’t see your life in the future any more.” Guardian froze and asked, “ What do you mean?” Marissa answers, “ The future changed, Alan will still become a god but at a cost, someone invaded our timeline so please watch over the child and make sure he lives no matter what, or else everything we prepared will be for nothing.” Guardian said with a stern voice, “ I am his guardian, handpicked from other guardians, it is my job.” Marissa sighs and says, “ go to your companions and tell them to sleep, I will help you tomorrow,” Guardian nodded but before leaving he turned and said, “ I see you still have that gem,” Marissa replies with, “ It would be a waste of something beautiful to be forgotten,” Guardian smiles with joy for a moment then leaves to the group, leaving Marissa inside. Marissa lifts the gem and looks straight into it and says, “ I long for our youth, maybe after everything is over, we can go back to how things were.” Alan sees Guardian walk out of the house, he runs to him and asks if he is ok, One of the men asked out loud, “ You are still speaking to the fox?” Guardian looks at the men and walks to them, then speaks, “ It would be appreciated if you would stop teasing Alan,“ Both men looked at guardian in awe, Guardian said, “ Sleep, the witch will help us tomorrow,“ Alan was surprised as well, he did not expect Guardian to speak to the men, the younger brother said, “He can speak...How?” The older brother said, “ We have not drank and we hear a fox talk,” they both realize that Alan was telling the truth and apologized to him, the older brother said, “ I’m sorry Alan, me and my brother did not think what you said would be true, ” Alan replies, “ It’s alright, we should sleep for tomorrow though, “ Both men nodded and slept thinking about their lives, Alan slept happily knowing he won the argument, but fox slept thinking of what would happen to him, as well as Alan.