The forest

Entreating, entrancing, enchanting, the forest beckoned all who passed by. Signs new and old warned travelers to stay away but still, some ignored those warnings. The villagers could only stop and shake their heads as the latest foolhardy traveler passed by them, loud and condescending in their ignorance. Many thought the village was full of superstitious old fools and ignored the long list of missing people who had gone in and never came out. Even the villagers weren't sure what really happened to those who entered.

Their stories from centuries of oral traditions only spoke of the sudden change that had come over the forest one night. A streak of green light had fallen from the sky landing in the forest, from what the storytellers told the villagers never heard the crash of something landing but felt a vibration through the earth and the sound of birds and creatures running. A herd of deer had fled the forest almost trampling the village elder who sat near the central campfire.

The village had stood sentinel for centuries to warn any they could to not enter. Since that night nothing living could be seen in the forest birds had left, predator and prey were gone. With all the creatures gone the forest should have been silent, bereft of life, but that was not so. Many stories and now personal memories of strange noises being heard from the forest were told to others. Standing close to the tree line some swore they could hear sounds of laughter whispering on the wind. Others told of whispers that enticed them to lean closer to try and hear the words. Music could be heard in the wind but nothing that was usual for their land. The strange music became more sinister the further you walked away from the forest's edge but the closer you went the more enticing it became. Lulling you closer until it was too late.

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“Oh you all are a silly lot, superstitious nonsense I say. This land is ripe for the picking and you must be hiding something. The duke is tired of your nonsense. If you don't send him more wood as tribute for the pleasure of staying on his lands he will send his army to take care of you,” a whiny voice sounded behind them as the children sat listening to the village storyteller speak of their history and the reason they never entered the forrest. Turning to look at the foppish intruder the children wrinkled their noses at the interruption. They knew this mans interruption meant their story would be cut short and they grumbled.

“All right you lot go home we will finish this story tomorrow,” the elder woman spoke voice gruff with her own annoyance at the interruption.

“Yes elder,”

The children glared at the man as they passed and the elder woman's smirk made the dukes man lift his nose higher in the air.

“We have already sent the amount the duke reqwusted in wood we must be careful to not tax the local fores-”

“Nonsense you have a large perfectly fine forest right there that you lot refuse to work,”

“We will not enter that forest no matter the threat,” the elder woman growled before turning her back and hobbling to her home, leaving the foppish man to his own devices.

The children had not returned home but stood hidden watching as the man spoke to himself as the elder left him.

“Stupid ignorant villiagers, their silly suppertstions will not stand even if i have to prove it myself,” the man sniffed before turning and leaving the fire pit.

Silent the children followed as the man pulled a torch from a sconce along the wall and left the village walls. They watched as the foolish man walked towards the warning signs along the edge of the forest. Following silentlhy they listened as the forest began to whisper and sing to its victim.

“What's that sound? I knew it, they must be hiding something why would they be so obstinate to never go into the forest and leave so many warnings otherwise?”

Shaking their heads at the man's misconceptions, the children wanted to speak out and warn him just one last time but something made the words stop. Something new was happening in the forest and they stood silent. A green glow from deep within could be seen and like the light of an angler fish its prey grew closer.

“What's that? Who goes there?” the man yelled, walking closer. The light moved, growing softer, fading.

“Wait, answer me!”

The man took his last step into the forest almost disappearing immediately, the children could hear his fading steps before they too stopped. Turning to look at each other they turned and ran back home. Not thinking to tell the elder or their parents of what they had seen. There was no help for the man anyway for those who enter the forest will never return.