Call of the Mysterious Forest
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The forest was a place that I had never been to before. It was dark and mysterious, with trees towering above me on every side. The ground beneath my feet felt soft like moss or grass but it wasn’t either one because there were no flowers here to make them grow. There weren’t any animals in sight either except for birds flying overhead.
They looked so small from where they soared through the sky as if they didn’t have anything to fear at all. But then again, maybe I should be afraid too; what would happen if some animal decided to attack? What could I do against something this big? My body is weak compared to theirs! If only I knew how strong I really am…
I took another step forward into the darkness, trying not to think about what might lie ahead of me. This was just an ordinary forest after all – nothing more than a bunch of trees standing around waiting to get cut down by lumberjacks. Right? That’s why nobody ever goes out here anyway…
“Hello?” A voice called out behind me, breaking my train of thought. “Is someone there?!”
I turned around quickly and saw a man running towards me. He wore black clothes made from leather and he carried a sword on his back. His hair was long and silver-grey and tied up neatly under a red bandana. As soon as he reached me, he stopped short, staring at me intently.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Yes…” I replied hesitantly. “Why are you asking?”
He smiled warmly at me. “You look lost.”
“Well, yes…” I said sheepishly. “But I’m okay now!”
His smile disappeared immediately. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” I lied. “Just got scared when I heard voices coming from inside those bushes over there.”
“That’s strange,” he muttered. “There shouldn’t be anyone else out here right now. Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, sure.” I nodded. “Everything’s fine!”
“Good.” He gave me a reassuring nod and started walking away. “Then let’s go home. You can tell me your story once we’re safe and sound indoors.”
We walked along together silently until we came across a large oak tree. It stood tall and proud among its smaller neighbors and was covered in leaves that glowed brightly green. We sat underneath it, leaning against each other while I told him my story.
It seemed that I had somehow ended up here, deep within the woods, without even knowing what I was doing there. All I remembered was being chased by a wolf who wanted to eat me for dinner. Then suddenly I found myself lying on the ground surrounded by blood and guts.
After that, things went blank. When I woke up, I was alone in the middle of nowhere with no idea how I’d gotten there. So far, I hadn’t seen a single person since entering the forest. And yet, there must have been people living nearby, otherwise, there wouldn’t be any food for me to find.
Maybe I’ll ask the next person I see if they know where I am. That way, I won’t end up wandering aimlessly forever.
As I continued telling my story, I became aware of a rustling noise coming from somewhere close by. I looked around nervously, wondering what creature could possibly be making such a loud sound. Suddenly, a shadow appeared from behind the trunk of the nearest tree.
“Whoa!” I gasped in surprise. It was a deer! She ran straight past us, bounding off into the distance. A moment later she reappeared again, stopping dead in her tracks as she stared directly at me. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Was there something wrong with me? Did I smell bad or something? Why did she keep looking at me like that?!
“Hey, there!” The man beside me shouted loudly enough to scare the deer away. “Don’t worry, you don’t need to be afraid of humans anymore! Just stay calm and follow me. Everything will be alright.”
She hesitated briefly before taking a few steps backward. At last, she turned around and followed him back to our hiding spot. Once she was gone, I breathed a sigh of relief. Now that the danger was gone, I could relax. For a second there, I thought I was going to die. Or worse still, turn into a monster like the ones I’d seen earlier.
“Thank goodness,” I whispered quietly. “Now I can finally rest.”
My companion chuckled softly. “Not quite yet. We’ve got a lot of traveling left to do today.”
“Traveling?” I repeated. “Where exactly are we heading?”
“To the village,” he answered. “If you want to make friends, you should probably start by introducing yourself properly.”
***
The following day, I awoke early and set off with my new friend through the dense woodland. My head hurt slightly but I didn’t feel too ill. In fact, apart from the headache, I felt perfectly healthy. What’s more, I wasn’t hungry at all. Not only that, but I couldn’t remember eating anything yesterday either. How odd is that? I wondered.
After about half an hour, we arrived at a small clearing filled with grass and trees. There were several houses scattered around it, built from wood and decorated with colorful flowers. They reminded me very much of the wooden huts I used to live in when I first moved to this world.
Only these ones weren’t made from mud and straw. Instead, they were constructed using sturdy planks of timber and painted in bright colors. Their roofs also sported thick layers of mossy green tiles, giving them the appearance of a fairy tale cottage.
I watched curiously as the man led me toward one of the buildings. As we approached, I noticed that the door was open. Inside, I saw many people sitting around the table playing cards. Most of them wore simple clothes, consisting mainly of dark brown trousers and shirts.
Some of them had long blonde hair tied up in braids while others had short black hairstyles. One woman was wearing a white dress with red trimming, another had a blue scarf wrapped around her neck and a third had pink ribbons woven into her jet-black locks.
Each of their faces was different too; some had round noses, whereas others had pointed chins. No two people looked alike. Yet despite the differences between them, everyone seemed happy and friendly.
At the center of the room, seated on a chair, was a young girl. She was dressed in a yellow tunic with a matching skirt. Her pale skin shone brightly under the sunlight streaming through the windows above her head, and she was grinning happily as she played a game of solitaire.
“Hello there!” she called out cheerfully, spotting us approaching. “Are you lost, little boy?”
Her voice was sweet and melodious, almost musical. It sounded nothing like the harsh voices I’d heard so far. And judging by the way she spoke, she must have been a human being rather than a monster. That meant she might even be able to help me find my parents. If anyone knew where they were, it would be her.
“Yes, we’re lost,” said the man next to me. He smiled warmly at the girl. “We were hoping you could tell us how to get to the village.”
“Oh, sure thing!” replied the girl. She stood up from her seat and walked over to us. “Follow me then, please.”
She led us outside and along the path leading deeper into the forest. Soon we reached a large lake surrounded by tall reeds. On its surface, dozens of swans glided gracefully across the water. From here, we could see the village spread out below us.
Dozens of houses lined the banks of the river, each one similar to the one we were standing in front of. A stone bridge spanned the wide expanse of water connecting the opposite bank to the settlement. Beyond the bridge, I spotted a handful of other buildings, including a church and a schoolhouse.
There was also a town hall with a bell tower attached to it. All of the structures were made from grey bricks and covered in colorful flowers.
As we drew closer, I realized that most of the villagers were busy working in their gardens. The women tended to rows of vegetables while the men chopped down saplings for firewood. Children ran around chasing butterflies or playing tag with each other. Everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves.
“This is your home?” asked the man who’d spoken to the girl. “It looks really nice.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t it?” agreed on the girl. “Come inside though, if you don’t mind.”
With that, she beckoned us forward and gestured towards the house behind hers. Then she turned back to face us.
“Well, what shall we call you?” she inquired. “You can’t just walk into someone else’s home without saying hello. You need to introduce yourself properly before they’ll let you stay.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Say something,” ordered the man. “Anything will do.”
“Um…” I began hesitantly, unsure whether to speak in my own language or not. “Hi! I’m… uhm… I’m new here. My name is…”
The words came tumbling out of my mouth in a rush. Once I started talking, I couldn’t stop myself. But thankfully, the girl didn’t seem bothered by my strange behavior. In fact, she laughed heartily once I finished speaking.
“That’s fine,” she told me. “Everyone calls me Alice. What about you? Do you want to be called anything special?”
“No, I suppose not,” mumbled the man beside me.
Alice took his hand in hers and grinned. “Okay then, I guess you can just call me Alice. Now come inside and meet my family. They’re all very excited to finally have guests.”
***
Inside the house, I found myself in a small living room filled with wooden furniture. Several bookshelves lined the walls, displaying several volumes written in English. Next to these shelves sat an old television set, which was currently showing a children’s cartoon. Two girls – both younger than me by a few years – were watching intently as the characters danced around on screen.
I looked around the rest of the house. Most of the rooms seemed empty. Only the kitchen was occupied. This area had a table and chairs, as well as a sink and stove. It wasn’t much different from the ones I’d seen in London. Except this one was larger and more modern looking.
“So, are you hungry?” asked Alice after a moment. “My dad makes the best pancakes ever.”
Before I could answer, the door opened again and two people entered the room. One of them was a woman wearing a white dress, while the other was a young man dressed in black trousers and a shirt. Both of them were carrying plates piled high with food.
“Welcome to our humble abode,” announced the man. “Allow me to present my wife, Mary, and daughter, Molly.”
He placed the dishes onto the table and bowed politely. His smile was kind but reserved; he clearly didn’t know how to deal with strangers yet. Meanwhile, the woman introduced herself as Mrs. Jones. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and her eyes shone brightly beneath round spectacles.
“Please help yourselves to some food,” she added kindly. “But first, why don’t you take off those shoes so we can clean them for you?”
Mary nodded vigorously. “Of course, dear. We wouldn’t want dirty feet ruining the carpet now would we?”
Molly giggled and clapped her hands together. Then she dashed away to fetch a pair of slippers for me to wear instead. She returned shortly afterward with a pair of furry boots made of thick brown fur.
“Wow!” exclaimed Alice. “They look great on you. Don’t worry, they won’t bite.”
She reached over and stroked my foot through the fabric. As soon as I felt her touch, I jumped backward in surprise.
“Sorry,” apologized Alice quickly. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Oh no, it’s okay,” I replied hastily. “It’s just that I’ve never been tickled like that before.”
“Tickling isn’t allowed in our house,” explained Mrs. Jones sternly. “Only teasing.”
“Yes, mum,” said Molly cheerfully. “We must always tease him gently.”
“Good girl.”
Mrs. Jones smiled warmly at her daughter. And then she walked over to where I stood. She knelt down and brushed aside the fur lining. Beneath it, I saw a layer of soft cotton cloth.
“These are brand-new,” she explained proudly. “Made especially for you.”
Then she pulled back the top part of the boot until my bare toes were exposed. With a quick tug, she removed the shoe completely. When she did, I gasped in shock. The skin on my left foot was red and inflamed. There were tiny cuts all across its surface, and the sole of my foot was covered in blisters.
“Ow!” cried out Alice suddenly. “Look at your poor little toe. Are you sure it’s alright?”
“Yeah, it’s fine,” I assured her. “Just a bit sore.”
“Well, let’s get rid of those nasty burns right away,” suggested Mrs. Jones. “Come along, Mr. Smith. Let’s go into the bathroom and see what we can find there.”
As she spoke, the woman led us through a doorway opposite where the girls were sitting. At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than another ordinary bedroom. However, when I stepped inside, I realized that this room held many secrets.
The walls were painted a pale blue color, and they glistened softly under the light. On the floor lay a large rug woven from grasses and flowers. Here and there, I noticed small figurines fashioned from clay or wood. Some of them depicted animals, while others showed human figures. All of them were carefully crafted and beautifully detailed.
Next to these sculptures was a cabinet containing various bottles and jars. These contained herbs and spices, most of which I didn’t recognize. But Mrs. Jones knew exactly what each one was used for.
“This is lavender oil,” she told me. “And here are some ointments made from rosemary and thyme.”
“You’re very clever,” I complimented her. “How long have you been learning about medicine?”
“Since I was five years old,” she answered proudly. “When my father died, I wanted to learn everything I could to make sure his memory lived on forever.”
“That’s wonderful,” I said sincerely. “What does your mother think about all of this? Does she approve?”
“I’m afraid not,” admitted Mrs. Jones sadly. “My parents had different ideas when it came to education. My father thought it was important to keep things simple, whereas my mother believed in teaching us how to use our minds to their full potential. So, although I love my family dearly, I wish they’d understood me better.”
“Is that why you decided to leave home?” I asked curiously. “To study medicine properly?”
“Not really,” she laughed. “In fact, I only went to university because my sister insisted upon it. It wasn’t until I started studying that I discovered my true passion. Before that, I simply enjoyed reading books and helping people whenever I could. Now, though, I feel as if I finally understand myself.”
“So, do you still live with your family?”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “After my graduation ceremony last year, I moved out of London altogether.”
“Why did you move to Cornwall?”
“Because it reminded me so much of Wales,” she explained. “Both places are beautiful and wild. They also share similar cultures – both Celtic and British. That’s something else I loved about them. In London, everyone wants to fit in. Not here. People embrace who they truly are.”
“Sounds perfect,” I agreed. “But tell me, what happened to your sister?”
“Jenny has gone abroad,” explained Mrs. Jones. “She’s living in Australia now. We don’t talk anymore. I suppose she thinks I’m too strict. After all, I won’t allow any of my children to wear makeup or dye their hair. Nor will I permit them to date boys or attend parties. And they certainly aren’t allowed to play video games. Jenny is the rebellious one, but even she knows better than to argue with me.”
“Do you miss her?” I asked. “Your other siblings, I mean.”
“Of course,” she sighed sadly. “They were always close to me, just like my husband and son. But then, that’s life, isn’t it? You never know when someone might die. Or when you’ll lose touch with friends and relatives. As sad as it sounds, death is an inevitable part of growing up.”
“Yes, I guess it is,” I replied. “Well, thank you for taking such good care of my daughters today.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” she assured me. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind waiting outside whilst I finish cleaning their wounds?”
“Certainly,” I nodded. “Are you going to need help?”
“I’ve got plenty of time,” smiled Mrs. Jones. “Besides, I prefer doing this kind of work by hand. There’s something special about using natural ingredients rather than chemicals. Besides, it keeps my hands strong and healthy.”
The End