Forests
By Pamu Samarasekara
These forests are primordial. Centuries-old trees with eerie sprawling limbs guarding the
darkness, blotting out all light. Their bark mottled and splotched, as if bubbled soup had
been frozen in time on its surface. Clumpy combs of wet moss dangled from their rotten
boughs. Underneath the moss, lethal larkspur peppered the mulchy floor. In the dense
shadows, spiders wove their snare-strings. Their webs shimmering like meshed steel dipped
in silver. A pungent tang oozes from every sentient being. These are forests to be avoided.
I hate taking this path but it’s the quickest route home.
Branches whip around in the non-existent wind guiding me towards a glowing, moonlit
clearing as I absentmindedly follow, carelessly, silently. My hair flows limply in the gentle
breeze as I gaze coolly through the dense thicket of the woods into the unseen.
A small glint of light catches my eye as I turn to see an aureate sword gleaming under the
thick, dark mud. I let out a loud yell of alarm as I trip and fall into freezing, thick sludge on
the side of the path. Coughing and wiping the slime off my body in disgust while shivering,
I grab its glittering handle and wrench it from the unwilling mire’s grasp.
I inspect the magnificent sword curiously. Touching the gold ornate cross-guard spreading
out like a leaf and a stunning Lapis Lazuli embedded in the centre, I run my fingers across
the mysterious runes filling the blade. I have no idea what they mean but I can feel my
fingers tingling with magic as I trace the intricate lines. The balance of the weapon is
impeccable, it seems to get lighter as I hold it!
“Imagine how much this would sell for!” I chortle.
Soft whispers glide across the forest ground before sharp vines shot from the murky depths
and curl around my ankles before pulling me away from the marked trail.
Thick mud blurs my vision and blocks my airways, lungs stinging with the need for oxygen
I try to cut the vines with the sword as I get pulled through the darkness into the murky,
unknown depths of the forests.
“Help!!!” I cry, stopping when a deep rumble echoes through the foliage. A monstrous
worm slowly squirms out and approaches me from a dark hole in the side of a clearing.
Terrified, I turn and run with the sword, my heart pounding and fear enveloping me,
making this creature speed up after me.
“HELP!!!” I sob hopelessly.
A low hissing voice fills my head piercingly, cutting through the thin air and thick trees.
Panting I stumble through bushes in this never-ending forest, my ankles bleeding and
clothes torn.
I clamber onto a sarsen and stab the sword at the growing blackness of the worm
pathetically. It draws back before attacking again, this time one of its sharp fangs slicing
through my arm successfully. Sharp pain shoots through my body and I scream in anguish,
tears welling up before it slams me maliciously into the hard ground, blood welling up
around the fresh deep cut in the arm.
Bleeding and sobbing in agony, I can’t do anything as the behemoth starts surrounding me,
the only thing I can do is grip the sword tightly in my unhurt arm. Darkness slowly
encompasses me and dulls the pain as spinning razor sharp fangs draw closer.
Soft, gentle whispers start floating through the thick air and cuts through the cruel darkness.
A soft cry escapes my bloodied lips as the glowing sword sparks warmly in my hand
making the worm cower and back away.
The runes start glowing a rich golden colour and illuminating the entire cavern, a warm
rush goes through my body and start running up my arms through my body. Ancient runes
start vibrating with my heartbeat along my arms, strength coursing through me and my hair
turns into a golden starlight colour with the sword.
The mysterious soft whispers echo powerfully as I run at the worm unwaveringly.
I drive the radiating sword into the heart of the blackness. The monster let out a squeal and
disintegrated into ashes. A massive surge of power of light against darkness pushed me out
of the dark clearing. The sword dissolves, leaving one rune etched onto my skin before a
bright light shines through the darkness of the lake blindingly.
I collapse, any trace of me going into the clearing lost except for a tiny rune embedded into
my wrist still glowing lightly. My eyes catch a tiny pitch-black worm wiggling into the bark.
I calmly crush it underneath my shoe mercilessly.
“Never again” I murmur. A sliver of light shines through the branches and a glimpse of
home sneaks through making me run towards the dim glow.