Appledew watches the human child stumble into her grove. She doesn’t want to kill it, but the decision won’t be hers to make.
The child’s overcoat is dirty and torn, the garments underneath spotted with rust-colored stains. It’s unshod, allowing Appledew to see a human’s feet for the first time, which she thinks are misshapen and ugly.
How do humans move wearing so much? Appledew thinks. She flutters her opalescent wings, giving herself a quick burst of speed and floats to a closer branch.
Suddenly the child falls to its knees before the great trunk of the Elmoar Tree and begins to wail. Its pain is raw and terrible to behold.
“Why?” It cries. “They never hurt anyone!”
Appledew frowns as it collapses onto its arms, shaking in anguish. Never hurt anyone? Humans hurt everything. They trample beautiful flowers, steal food from hardworking bees, and worst of all, cut down the great trees.
Humans live in carcasses that had once given life to the world. They aren’t trustworthy, but Appledew can’t help feeling sad. Whatever its people’s flaws; this one had not yet caused harm to nature.
The child freezes as sudden barks fill the air far behind, its eyes terror filled. A moan escapes its lips as it struggles to its feet.
Dogs! Appledew’s mouth twists in disgust. Animals submitting to humans. Worse than horses, who at least had to be broken.
“Gods above, please, help me!” It steps forward and leans on the Elmoar, sobbing.
Wind whispers through the Elmoar’s leaves, tickling Appledew’s ears. She stares in bewilderment at the great tree, hardly believing what she’s being asked.
To question the Elmoar’s will is foolish at best, so Appledew does something she never imagined. She hops off her branch, floats down and lands gently on the child’s shoulder. Focusing her will, she merges her mind with it, sees with its eyes.
The child’s recent memories become Appledew’s. Her heart breaks. She’s hiding behind a cluster of bushes, watching as evil men use sharp metal weapons to murder her father. A beautiful crown of woven branches and flowers falls from his head. They’ve already done the same to her mother and brothers.
They are coming for her next. Choking back sobs, she flees to the forest. Perhaps she can hide there.
Another memory surfaces. A beautiful rose garden. A grove of cherry trees tended with love, far away from here. A bright, tender face lined with age.
Appledew separates her mind from the child’s, eyes brimming with unshed tears. She whispers a few words. The air nearby shimmers and coalesces, forming a connection.
The child looks through the rift and gasps. The cherry trees are full and ripened.
The wind whispers again. “Go,” Appledew says.
The child passes through. The connection fades. Appledew turns toward the human party growing closer to her home.
The wind surges, the Elmoar groans. Appledew’s eyes glow green with purpose. Those, she must kill.
About the Creator
Kenny Penn
Thanks for reading! I enjoy writing in various genres, my favorites being horror/thriller and dark/epic fantasies. I'll also occasionally drop a poem or two.
For a list of all my work, and to connect with me, go to www.kennypenn.com
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Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
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Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
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The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (26)
Brilliantly written! Well deserved win and top story!
I can see why this was a finalist, bravo!
let's engage with each other’s content
Ooh, she seemed so Swiss at first, a neutral observer, but...
Congratulations on your Top Story🎉
Excellent Creation-😉📝✌️💚
very good
Kenny, I was initially drawn in by the striking title page you chose but then stayed for this wonderfully written story! Appledew is such a unique name for your main character and I actually really appreciate the creativity behind it. I like the way you constructed this character and how you are able to give us bits and pieces of her while still progressing the story. The ability for her to meld her mind with the child was in interesting add, unexpected but a great touch! I like the perspective you chose and how you use their narrative voice to push the story along, while giving us insights into this world you have created. I also appreciated the personification of both the forest around the child and the wind, beautiful done! I would be interested to see if you write a part 2/ chapter 2 and to see where this goes! Great work Kenny and congratulations on Top Story!
Ooo I loved this! Thank you!
Crystalline beauty, love that. Very moving. Congratulations on Top Story!
Good, always nice to see tossers get their comeuppance
Impressive & creative!!! Congratulations on Top Story!!!❤️❤️💕
Loved this! I wish there was more.
nice
That was brilliant! Conflict within Applewood, and the care shown by the deific tree to the child are amazing. This was a great piece of fantasy fiction with a wonderful bit of silent menace as we don't know what Applewood is but know that those hunters are in for a world of hurt. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on top story :) well deserved
The innocence is sublime. Your story is beautifully crafted. 👏
So delicately written-Stunning! I am in love with the world ' opalescent'. I have never heard it before so thank you! Congrats on top story! 🤍
Awesome! You took me to that world and held onto me until the end. Loved the message of greedy thoughtless humans inserted. Congrats on your top story!!! Happily subscribed!
Very well done!
Congratulations. A truly worthy Top Story.
Truly fantastic reminds me of Pan’s Labyrinth
Great twists and a fantastic piece <3
Read it twice! Holy wow. So much to praise here, and so much I missed the first time. I adore Appledew’s arc, going from simple idealism to nuanced empathy. And the role of Elmoar, breaking the rules to give that to the faerie and to save the child…wow. I am sensing a much deeper role that the tree has in this world, a god-like role over life and death perhaps. I wonder—had there not been memories of the cherry tree grove, would Elmoar have saved the child? Im assuming that Appledew sends the child back in time, though it could be just back to that place, which still exists. Grandparents, maybe? I am craving a novel! I hope we get to see more from this world. You wrote this so so well.
That took a turn quickly. Great pacing. Yes- more, please.
Always leave them wanting more :) I enjoyed this one ❤