The forest... (( One male needed, PM me to join. ))

[fallenupright]

The forest... ((Closed for myself and wehstar. ))

The forest was usually quiet. Not many dared venture in, to follow the faded paths that the animals made. The rumours were that the forest was haunted. The trees were very old, and creaked and groaned in their quiet conversation. The animals were big and not accustomed to the sound of horses hooves, or the voices of humans. Some were shy - others bold. This deep in the forest there were entire generations of animals who knew not of arrow or knife. They had not been hunted.

A thousand years ago, when the forest was new... she had vowed to protect the forest. And she had. Those who dared to pass through best did so quietly - and staying to the outskirts. Going in to deep meant certain death. It had been many years since she had heard any sound but the calls of the animals, the whisper of the babbling brook or the long conversation of the trees. She'd all but fogotten about humans, their scent their sounds. She'd been awoken by whistling. It was not one of her birds, she knew all their songs. This was a human song, a human whistle... she recognized it, a foggy sound from the distant past.

She leapt to her feet, bare feet quiet on the dead leaves she ran on. She followed the sound, stopping as she came to view the human. She stayed hidden behind a tree, crouching down. She was almost impossible to see - the tree seemed to bend to hide her form. A branch lowered imperceptibly, blocking her entirely.

She watched him walk, a smile coming to her lips. It had been a long time since she had something new to play with. He stepped carefully, paying attention to where he placed his feet. He was good to be cautious in this forest, the trees had minds of their own. Playing with him would be fun, indeed... she decided.

 

[wehstar]

Airon Smickel finished his meal at the tavern he had happened across on his journey. The bartender and locals were friendly, maybe a little too interested in his business, but he was used to that - it comes with having a different accent. They had advised he went around the forest, it was dangerous, some said even haunted. Leaving the tavern, he subtly checked that the scroll was still concealed in his cloak as he bid farewell to his passing acquaintances.

Mounted on his horse, he entered the forest. But Surefoot would go no further, something had spooked his trusty friend. Several times the horse's intuition had saved his life, maybe he would be wise to go around after all. But even on foot, the fastest way is through the forest, and he could buy another horse the other side. His task was imperative, it was bigger than him. Even though he knew not what was written on the sealed scroll, it must be delivered to his beloved queen, time was of the essence.

Almost a day had passed as he walked through the forest. He was comfortable around nature. Steady with each step he purposefully strode through the woods, whistling the melodies of his distant homeland as he made his way through the centre of the forest.

 

[fallenupright]

She whispered something to the tree. It was barely a sound on the wind, but she knew the tree heard her. She watched the human approach. She herself didn't look much different from a human - save for the pointed ears and inhuman grace and speed. From a distance she might be mistaken for one. A young one. Of course, she was far from young. Even by her own kinds standards, she wasn't young. She wasn't old either, for she would never get old. She had been born as she was this day - it was the way of the forest nymph. They were born with the forest, able to tend it.

A thousand years was a long time to a human, but to her, it was just time. She was nothing if not patient. She waited for the human to reach the tree. He passed by, and then she whispered again. As he carefully stepped, a root came from the ground under his foot. It was perfect timing - the ground was rather uneven, and it was the top of the hill.

The perfect combination for a fall. Like a child, she was always amused by a good joke. Afterall, this was the first human plaything she'd had in a great many years.

 

[wehstar]

Casually strolling through the forest, suddenly he fell. He had caught his leg on something, though as he tried to adjust his balance it seemed to wrap itself around his ankle, like a python. He had not time to look what it was as he started to roll down a mound. Scrambling down he tried to steady himself, at least slow his descent as he clawed into the soil, which only broke away in his hand. He tried to grab a branch, but just could not reach; it almost seemed to move at the decisive moment.

Airon landed at the bottom of the slope with a thud. It had hurt, but only a few bumps and grazes. He had scattered some of his possessions in the fall. "The scroll!" he exclaimed with a shrill, alarmed, tone. His hand moved to the familiar place in his cloak. A relieved sigh, it was still there, he had fastened it well. Lay on his front he began to collect some coins he had dropped. No time to investigate what happened, he had to collect his things and continue his journey without delay.

 

[fallenupright]

She held back a giggle as she watched him fall. It was too easy. He became very alarmed when his possesions scattered and called out "the scroll!", but calmed down after searching himself for it. She wondered what the scroll was, and if it was the business that brought him to her forest. But, a patient creature at heart... she let him move along. It was several miles down the path when suddenly, with no warning... the path dissapeared. Thick trees and shrubs blocked all access. There didn't seem to be any way through.

Of course, the path was there... things had just been manipulated. When he went to change his course, he wandered for a few miles... only to find a cliff blocking his path. Every path he tried ended in an obstacle - until after trying all directions, he was turned around and lost, with night setting in.

The nymph laughed, the sound carrying on the wind like the tinkling of a bell. She'd had fun frustrating the human all day - it had been a wonderful game. And the games were just beginning. In darkness she would continue to play.

 

[wehstar]

Everywhere he turned Airon came unstuck. He was an experienced messenger, in fact his family formed a rich tradition of messengers that had served his country's monarchy for generations. His grandfather had told tales of all kinds of difficulties in lands far and wide when he was younger, as had his father during his formative years. There are many strange entities and powers in the world, and it seemed that he was embroiled in something of this nature now. He could not say he was not warned, the locals in the tavern, and Surefoot's stubborn will that would not break. He began to feel as though the forest was against him; had the trees attacked him earlier on?

He had a good sense of direction, but he was glad when the stars came out. It was difficult to make out through the thickness of the bush, but he found Virgo, and that pointed the way home. He carried on in his travels for a bit, but in the dark it was even more difficult to find a way through the thick bush. Airon e knew he had to get through as fast as he could, but it was a long journey and he remembered his grandfather's tale about the sure and steady tortoise that beat the hare. He managed to find his way back towards the cliff that had blocked his path. Perhaps he would have to climb it tomorrow after all, a daunting thought, and there was no way he could afford any broken limbs. His decisions now would have repercussions of much more grave concern than one man's broken bones.

He set a fire. Fire was good, it sometimes kept animals and demonic spirits away, and found some shelter against the cliff. Tommorrow he had to find a solution, one way or the other. He sipped from his flask and began to toast some of his bread.