Dangerous Forests {Lace, Autumn, Marcuss}

[Ceron]

With the last rays of the sun leaving the horizon the forest took a darker tone to it. The thick canopy of trees up above blocked the faint light of the crescent moon fading slowly to the new moon. A mere sliver of light remained but that was even slowly fading past. The stars seemed to distant to offer much light as well making it hard for the two girls to even see eachother let alone the ground and surroundings of the forest around them.

Tonight the first night of the new moon after a twenty year absence the transition of ownership of the forest would happen. A treaty set between the light fairies and the dark Fae that on the new moon of the twentieth year ownership would change. As this had been going on for eons, the forest had earned a dark rep and it stuck even in the years that the good fae ruled and tended the forest. To the ears of the females the sounds seemed to change as the shadows seemed to hold more meaning.

 

[AutumnDreaming]

Layla and her family lived outside the village, their quaint house built about a mile within the entrance of the forest. Unlike the elders of the village, her family held no beliefs in the "legends" of the forest. They were comfortable in their home, though they knew well that mischief could appear anywhere. Perhaps it was the total darkness that surrounded the thick groves that made people eerie of it. Either way, the locals ignorantly viewed Layla's family as being prone to evil because of their choice to not be within the community, though it was a completely bogus assumption.

Her mother and father allowed her to play in the woods, never fearing for her safety. She giggled melodiously as she sprinted through the trees, taking every opportunity possible to balance herself on fallen logs whenever she encountered them. She sang herself a pleasant tune, something about love wickedness. Perhaps her mannerisms only helped in giving her family a bad reputation, but they were loving and carefree.

Strawberry blond ringlets were gathered into a secured bun at the base of her neck, errant tendrils bouncing as she moved energetically through the forest. Her amber eyes sparkled, flecks of gold dancing from the sunlight's fading rays.

Suddenly, the forest became unnaturally dark, as if something had completely shut off the sun. Eyes tilted to the sky to the sliver of moonlight that barely pressed through the thick groves of towering trees. Though she couldn't see much, she noticed a change in the wide sky: a new moon. She knew well the stories of the woods. Legend said that the change in the moon signified a shift in power between the fairies of good and evil, but she didn't believe it.

 

[leatherandlace]

Lace being lace liked to wonder the woods alone and at night, she always felt more at ease and at peace with nature. It soothed something in that forever restless spirit of hers, in help quite that tumbling of thoughts that ever persisted in her mind. She would walk along, easy strides taking her. Humming softly to herself as on hand extended out words from the heavy velvet folds of her cloak, to brush along tree branches. She would play hide and seek with the moon through the thick canopy, as she had done a million times before. The cool wind playing at soft jet ringlets, making it brush across that strange ivory face. Aqua cat like eyes would peer out from raven lashes, fluttering across high cheek bones. This creature what ever she was, was strange indeed, a mix of something and primal lurking behind the shadows that lingered to clearly in canny vision.
But something bothered her this day, for some reasons the woods seemed different, seemed less welcoming and darker. She faltered in her steps, shapely brows creasing as she looked around unsure and quietly, perhaps worry lingering in her features. She knew the woods well enough, this wasent right. But why ? What was the change? A subtle energy shift? Unhappy gremlins? Perhaps someone recently died a unfortunate death in these woods…all this she wondered that fateful night as she lingered at the border of the woods. Not daring go in, but not willing to give up her walks either. She could feel her skin buzzing with whatever it was…she nibbled on the inside of her full pouting lip, growing frustrated at her situation.She would huff slightly as she ran her slender digits through that thick mass of hair, deciding what ever it is that had so tainted her forest would not be likely to bother her. She would just keep her eyes and ears open and be on the look out for anything strange. Hopefully she could slip through unnoticed and un obtrusive. Still as soon as her feet past into the wooden forest a chill went up her spine, she would mutter something to herself in the way of “ Its probably nothing, just giving the shadows life, tiss not but my imagination” she would force herself further inward, that normal playful skip in her step gone, the soft melody that so often rang from her lips would not be uttered this night.

 

[Ceron]

As the girls passed into the depths of the forest and wandered deeper in , the sounds of leaves rustling around them filled the air and yet no sound of wind or breeze could be felt. The trails they followed were small barely wide enough to follow and yet nothing larger seemed to offer its path to them. Like they were being herded, they both would come to a clearing at about the same instance.

The path behind them closed up the faint light of the moon filtered down to them barely illuminating the forest floor and its surroundings. The forest itself seemed to grow silent for long moments, the seconds ticked by and the air seemed thicker as the shadows seemed to become more menacing as if darker things were in them. The feeling of being watch now grew and the rustling of leaves heard louder this time as well as some giggling. Past the heads were the sounds of buzzing then gone.

 

[AutumnDreaming]

Layla knew that mind over matter was an important role in keeping herself calm. She tried to maintain leisurely steps, though she couldn't shake the creepy feeling that settled over her. Heart began to race, a sheen of perspiration breaking out on her chilly skin. Legs began to move faster, eager to get her home to safety.

Though she knew well the layout of the forest, it seemed like the path was shifting. Every way she wanted to go seemed closed off and dark, the only small flicker of light carrying her into a clearing in which she was not familiar. Leaves rustled in the stillness as a sudden sound of vibrating and buzzing flew about her ears. She swatted at it, her hands flailing about in front of her face.

Layla turned around to face whatever she thought was behind her, taking deliberate steps backwards. She clashed hard into something, knocking herself on the ground. Screaming, she rolled over to see it another person, a girl perhaps around her age. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" She pulled herself to her feet, scrambling toward her. "If that was you making all that noise then I feel rather silly!"

 

[leatherandlace]

*her steps would be slow and deliberate, each step into the strangely dark woods making her more and more uneasy. She could feel the little hairs at the back of her neck stand on end, feel her body shudder and something it new better then she. She realized in that moment juts how jumpy she was feeling, every sound, made her eyes snap in its direction, she would stare into darkness expecting…well she wasent sure. She could feel her heart starting to race, beating against her rip cage in rising succession. Her breath coming quick and short from pursed and narrow lips. She couldn’t help her hand reaching down to pat the well hidden daggers, handle. This calmed her a bit, a false reassurance. Still she couldn’t help feeling like she was lost, she knew these woods well and this seemed nothing like her familiar path, it felt narrow and confined. Like the trees themselves where chocking her into a narrow conduit, filtering her this way and that. She had tried on a few occasions to crawl through he woods, find a different trail, to slip through the dense trees and venture a different way…but she always seemed to end up back on the same track. Maybe she was lost? Doubt started to filter into her mind, as she tried to figure out where she came from and what direction she was heading. She at one point stopped and spun around in a circle, grumbling something obscene, feeling a little small and very disoriented. She would cross her arms over her chest rubbing her arms with her palms feeling alone… well not alone. But watched. She would feel someone one suddenly run into her, her eyes growing wide, her hand slipping to the daggers hilt as she tried to gain her footing and spin around...her eyes falling on a pretty woman clambering to her feet. Confusion set in, as her eyes lingered over her form for maybe a few moments to long. Her words making her eyes narrow a bit, she would think for a moment, words fleeing from her lips like wine from a crystal decanter. * you too? Those noises aren’t from me… I don’t know if Im glad you hear it too, I thought I was cra…* she stopped mid sentence* but I think it’s a bad omen you feel it too… *she realized she was rambling and such talk was probably better in her head, she smiled a bit unsure. * are you ok? Not hurt are you? * she extend a hand* Im Lace by the way.

 

[Ceron]

The wind seemed to pick up or at least that is what it would seem as the trees around the clearing shook. The sounds of the leave and branches moved and any path that led or excited the place seemed to have completely disappeared. The only light was that of the moon offering just barely enough for the girls to see and greet the other. The night air just slightly chilly dropping a degree or two. The sounds of the giggling returned, buzzing quickly past the girls. High pitched sounds past their hair and the ears, they would swear that something just licked their ears.

It was then more buzzing sounds around them and the sound of fabric being sliced. The actions happening faster then the naked eye could capture and it would take only a few moments before the girls that had just met would find themselves getting a full eye's view of the other female. Once more the sounds of rustling is heard as opposite of the clearing several man sized treants began to waddle in. The tops of their heads were branches with leaves, Feet for roots and thick limbs for arms.

It was then that the girls would meet their assailants as they would feel light weights upon their shoulders. " So nice, our brethren left us gifts " They giggled once more as the tops of the treants shot out towards the girls, the tree limbs growing longer while the little faeries bounced excitedly upon the shoulders