Age of Darkness

Chapter 2: I Get Stuck With A Bunch Of Angry Trees

We crossed the creek from the field in behind our destroyed house and entered the forest. We took no breaks and walked constantly. Little was said in the morning. While pondering my thoughts, I remembered a local legend about the Old Forest.

It was said that the trees lived. That they, to this day, try to trap wanderers in a maze of trees. That they are bitter and angry at men and try to make them lost for the rest of their days. Anyway, it was said that long ago, they had tried to advance into the Village. Men, wanting to keep their homes, burned down the trees. The fire spread for miles. Many trees died, but many got away, or grew back. All that remains of the burnt area is the Old Forest Path, the path we took now. It was where the fire began and originally spread, and the trees fear to return there. But the Old Forest grew back, thicker than ever, but the trees no longer try to advance. True, on occasions a branch may fall on a traveller. Willows will whip at you in the thicker parts of the forest. But nothing dangerous. It had been many a year since someone had not returned and many forgot the old stories of the forest.

''Grandfather, do you believe in the legend of the Old Forest?'' I asked.

''Of course!''

''Really?''

''The world is a stranger place than you believe, Nicholas. What's happening now, is minor compared to what you might face.''

''So... the trees could kill us?''

''Or make us wander here till the end of our days.'' That's my grandfather. Always the positive one!

''Then why the heck are we here?!''

''Because we need a place to get away. And it's a shortcut to our destination.''

''Destination?...''

''Wait until tonight...''

''Ok, then...'' We walked on. It was kind of awkward.

''So, you come here often?'' I asked. I needed to start some kind of conversation.

''Excuse me?''

''Oh, nothing,'' I smiled for the first time this afternoon. Things went pretty well after that. Just silent walking. Then, around mid-afternoon, my grandfather stopped.

''This looks familiar...''

''Oh goddess, no... is it-''

''Yes. I believe so.''

''Crap.''

''Indeed.''

''So, what do we do?''

''We keep on walking, I guess. Hope nothing happens. If it does, umm, we'll figure something out then!''

''Absolutely brilliant.'' I sighed. We walked on. A large branch crashed down in front of us, narrowly missing my head.

''We seem to be entering some of the deepest parts of the forest. This is not good,'' said my grandfather.

''You just realized that?'' I said sarcastically. Finally we came to a small, crystal clear river.

''Now we're at the center.'' I sighed. Those trees did it. They sent us to the middle, the most dangerous part.

''Your'e a genius, you know that?''

''Don't worry. I've got some tricks up my sleeve. I'm not an old fool!'' We walked along the shore.

''Don't touch the water,'' said my oh so brilliant grandfather. ''It's magic and may... kill you... or worse.'' It amazed me how he could make a joke and seem happy even at the present time.

''There's things worse than death?''

''Oh yes. Believe me.'' He drifted back into thought, it seemed. And yet again, we walked on. The bush was thicker. We had lost the path.

''You trees! What's wrong with you?!'' I yelled in frustration, pounding on a tree.

''That won't help, in fact, it may make them angry.''

''And they're not already?''

''It's a test, Nicholas. Everything's a test. Do not worry. You must learn to calm yourself.''

''Alrighty then!'' I tried to keep calm. I mean, how could my grandfather be so happy if it was so bad. I managed to keep calm and cool... until I got whipped again by a willow tree. Then my calmness kind of crumbled.

''ARG!!!'' I grabbed my sword and cut the willow branch off. Grandfather chuckled.

'' They're messing with you,'' he said.

''It's working.''

''Shh.''

''What?''

''I hear something.'' I listened. Yes, I did hear something. It was... a girl?