My Ax in Hand

My ax in hand I snuck away from my modest cabin seeking my fortune. While the lush greenery that stood before me could render a fortune, the best and brightest of this woods are picked over. No, I need my own claim, my own forest and I have found one, one that is not on any map. Miles from my home, I will venture deep and with my ax in hand, the my fortune I will make.

"Here comes another one" says the tree. "Here comes another big burly man who seeks riches. " "Here comes another fool to the slaughter" says the bush. "I enjoy the look in their eyes, the arrogant glimmer that slowly recedes into terror as we strike" says the vine. "Knowing that he has no idea what's about to happen excites me" says the second tree.

"Must we kill?" says the flower. "Certainly this man's ax won't be able to penetrate your mighty bark, Tree." She continues "And bush, your berries are abundant and would no doubt grow back if picked." "As for me, my time on Earth is limited, must I spend that time covered in the blood those who are merely trying to survive for themselves?"

"I'm sorry flower" says the tree, "There is no other way but death." "Without the warning way of a violent end for trespassers, the next man may come with a heavier ax, or something worse." "No, the sentence for trespass must be death, the more violent and vicious the better." "Violence is our tool, the loudest and most vociferous available to us."

The Ax Man's gate betrayed his excitement. The abundance of large trees and berry bushes before him had him dreaming of untold riches. Beneath the excitement however, was a growing anxiety. A question hung heavy in his mind no matter how hard he tried to wave it away; why hadn't anyone harvested in this forest before?

Trees this large and strong would make incredible cabins and provide abundant firewood. Bushes with non-poisonous berries such as these would be endlessly picked and turned into pies and snacks sold in town squares for miles around. And yet, it was clear from his previous scouting of the area that this portion of forest was untouched. But how?

As the Ax Man entered further into the forest whispers began t0 chill his bones. An icy hand seemed to grip his spine the closer he came to his prized valley. The whispers grow louder as he approaches but his avaristic greed blinds him to the warning. The chill in his chest is quelled by the powerful feeling of the ax in his hands.

"Ready yourselves friends" says the tree. "I will raise a root and drop him to the ground." "Flower, prepare your paralyzing scent." "Vines will drop and we will wrap and coil his body, squeezing every last bit of blood from his body." "Yes, his blood will make a lovely fertilizer" says the Vine. "His snapping bones are like music."

"Turn back!" "Turn back!" The voice in his mind screamed but his ax kept him moving forward. Forward until the ground beneath his feet began to shift. That tree root wasn't there before. "I'm falling!" Smashing to the ground, the Ax Man sees a beautiful flower and is momentarily calmed. The lovely scent is captivating.

As he enjoys this unearthly aroma however, the vines get to their work. Snaking around the Ax Man's body, the vines slowly engulf the now pliant and placated man. The scent assures that there will be no struggle, and for the flower, there is a minor comfort in being able to alleviate pain for the victim. The vines constrict further and further and the life begins to leave the Ax man, his gulping breaths the only sign of his struggle.

Blood drips and bones crack as the ground begins to rumble and open, a grave forms below the prone victim. The dirt accepts the offering as the vines absorb the blood and marrow once inside the now former human. It's almost peaceful in it's gruesome way, no screams, no angry bargaining. The ground is fed, the flower, once bright white in the sun, now shaded a deep red, sinks slightly but still stands.