The Forest of Good & Evil

Long ago in Summer’s Breeze, the forest was magical. Everything was abundant, and anyone with access to the land was beautiful. Then, one nightmarish day, its grounds were cursed with bloodshed, and there were no leaves or fruit on trees anymore. A place that was once where children grew, wives blithely picked fresh produce, and teenagers explored the mystical secrets of the forest was no more.

The greedy northerners from Frosted Creek wanted what the remarkable land could offer them. They were willing to battle the southerners for what they had, and they did. Their army was no match for the people of Summer’s Breeze. However, they didn’t quite know exactly what they won.

When the innocent townspeople were massacred, the liveliness in the forest died along with them. Nothing grew on the trees for years. Until, one special woman’s tears fell from her eyes and into the soil, as she sat behind the oldest tree in the forest. This woman had no idea where she was. She had runaway from her home without paying attention to which direction she went. All she knew was that she had been on the run for many days. When she arrived in the forest, she thought it would be a good place to rest. She was confident that her Aunt wouldn’t be able to find her.

To relieve some stress, she wept with her head towards the night sky and pled to the heavens for protection. She had never spent the night outside before and was very afraid. For a moment, she panicked and questioned whether she should flee, but she soon came to her senses and stayed. There was no way she could return to where she came from.

She decided she would rather starve out in the forest than go back. Although, her stomach was growling heavily, and it had been at least three days since she had a snack or something to drink. The poor woman didn’t have enough food left in her bag to eat. Even if she wanted to, she was too weak and without resources to turn back.

“Don’t cry. You have made it to sacred ground. You’re safe here.” The gentlest voice the young woman had ever heard echoed calmly and loudly throughout the forest.

Startled, she stood up with her back against the tree. She looked around anxiously for where the voice had came from, but she couldn’t see anyone or anything. It was too dark; she could hardly see her own hand.

The woman held her breath and mentally prepared for the worst. She accepted that this might be her final destination. Then, suddenly, the night transformed to day. An eerily, quiet forest with no life became filled with songs from birds and endless fruits and vegetables overnight. The freshest water appeared in the form of a river to her right.

Something about this place was familiar to her, and it felt like home. It was unbelievable; a real dream come true. The woman had no idea how to react. The gentle, comforting voice spoke again, “Summer, you’re not under attack. It’s ok to follow the sound of my voice.”

Summer said aloud in reply, “How do you know my real name? No one has called me that since I was a little girl.”

She began to chase the voice fearlessly until she reached a tree with a human-like face. It was strange yet beautiful with leaves as hair.

Covering her mouth with her hands, Summer screamed! However, she wasn’t in fear. She was shocked to learn that what she thought was a dream wasn’t actually a dream at all. The very place that her Aunt said wasn’t real was right here in front of her. She convinced Summer that Summer’s Breeze was nothing more than childish imagination. She even told her that her name was April and to stop the nonsense and grow up.

The magical tree with the most stunning smile broke the silence, “Summer, have you forgotten who you are? I’ve been sending you messages through your dreams since you were a little girl, but that evil woman who captured you has been trying to block them for years. Do you remember when I asked if you wanted to play a game, and I told you to hide underneath of my pile of fallen leaves? That wasn’t a game. I was trying to save your life, and it worked.”

“What do you mean captured?” Summer asked firmly.

The tree’s eyes watered as she answered, “That woman you call your Aunt is a liar. There’s no blood relation between you two. She’s just an old, widowed kidnapper who lost her husband during the battle on the very spot that you’re standing. Her husband was the leader of the army that slayed your friends and family. I don’t know what she’s been telling you all of this time, but it’s not the truth. You’re the daughter of Aaron and Lilac Forester. You’re the Princess of this land. This is your home. She found you in my leaves asleep, and she took you far away after she saw her husband was dead. Those slaughterers thought this land could be stolen, but they were mistaken. Every fruit and vegetable in Summer’s Breeze became poisonous. Her husband ate from an apple tree and never woke again. Since you were gone, our magic wasn’t as strong, and our resources could not be used by those who are not good. Only the bloodline of a Forester can turn this land into fertile ground.”

“April!” The Aunt yells as she charges at Summer violently.

“You’re hallucinating again! You must get home immediately. I’ll get you to the doctor, and he can get you your medicine.”

“Back away from the Princess!” The trees of the forest said in unison. The power in their voices pushed the Aunt into the river, and the current carried her away.

“Princess, are you going to stay or leave?” The tree with the leaves for hair said kindly.

Summer watched as her Aunt disappeared from sight, but she felt absolutely no empathy. She sat down softly, grabbed an apple that was on the ground and bit into it. She laughed hysterically and responded to the tree, “Only if you promise not to turn the fruit into poison!”

The End.