《An Ent-Like Existence》 Chapter 1 - A Fallen Seed Chapter 1 - A Fallen Seed The wind whipped the treetops back and forth, thunder crashing as lighting blazed across the sky. Creatures scurried for cover in burrows or beneath the old trees in the forest, former rivalries and marked territory forgotten in the face of true power. Predator and prey alike ran for shelter, avoiding the groaning trees and blasted winds. Lightning struck, a wailing rip was heard, as an old oak split in two and toppled over. The storm became subdued for a brief moment as if in mourning of this former symbol of strength. ¡°You have nowhere left to flee Dragon, I am your enemy today, as well as your doom!¡± A voice boomed across the forest, bouncing back from the mountains, returning to their source, a glowing blue wand. The wand was clutched in the hands of a middle-aged man, with specks of grey in his hair, and a plain brown robe. The wild wind buffeted against his brown robe, outlining his body, and billowing behind him. The Wizard stood high above the forest''s chaos, suspended by blue, almost black, wings. Once more he called out. ¡°Dragon, I know you''re here, there is no use in furthering this farce, come and die with what little dignity you have left!¡± His voice cracked down upon the large valley, silencing the storm for a moment. Then a mighty gust of wind blew, and the clouds parted for a brief second. ¡°Fool, you may have injured me with that ancient artifact, but I know it took a toll upon you as well. What point is there in this battle except to give our enemies'' a greater opportunity?" The Wizard quickly muttered something under his breath, and the wand began to glow brighter almost imperceptibly. ¡°Your crimes are too great to ignore this time. You will be destroyed." Anger and hate dripping from the Wizards ice cold voice. His face contorted by the force of his emotions. A blue orb shot into the center of the stormclouds, fading out of sight. Suddenly the clouds within a mile of the wizard disappeared with a visceral wrench. The large form of the Dragon was revealed coiled up, more than several miles in length. Its dark amber eyes hid a wrathful temper, and sharp claws and fangs spoke to danger and death. "You are but a child to me, my power is beyond your feeble mind, human." The Dragon''s voice hissing like acid poured on flesh, with haughty and prideful eyes. His tail whipped towards the Wizard, uncoiling its body in the process. This revealed a long gash running up half of its side, and deep into its body. He snarled at the pain as droplets of purple blood fell. It fell, sizzling through the forest canopy, killing many beasts, and dyeing the earth a strange color. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.The tail struck, creating a shockwave that blew the nearby trees away leaving a circle of dirt. A hexagonal shield flashed into existence around the Wizard, protecting him from all elements and attacks. The tail bent around the shell, unable to harm or move him from his position. The wand dimmed as it released a blast of light towards the Dragon. The blue light slammed into the Dragons side. A physical force then blew the wound open wide, scattering scales and blood below. The Dragon let out a shrill wail, before diving towards the Wizard. Scratching and biting the barrier frantically, the Wizard''s face whitened and hunched over. The toll of maintaining his shield against the Dragon''s fury was immense. Despite the apparent strain, the Wizard was quickly able to activate a jade bracelet on his arm, shifting to the right, and out of the Dragons reach. Just as the bracelet was activated, the shield broke into glimmers of fading blue light, squeezed into nothingness. The Dragon''s mouth snapped shut, catching the Wizard''s arm below the elbow, as the shield pushed him out of harm''s way. Grunting as he emerged from his spell, quickly reorienting himself. His robe bound itself around the stump of his arm, cutting off the profuse bleeding. He flew backward, hoping to buy more time, dismissing the wings in favor of a simple flight spell. ¡°You think this will stop me!? I will never stop! And once the kingdom''s troops arrive, You too will suffer unending pain!¡± ¡°Help isn¡¯t coming Wizard, my brethren are already in position to ambush your so-called allies. Let''s see how willing they are to help you once they see the might of the Dragons!¡± Slightly hysterical now, the Wizard activated an amulet hanging around his neck, sending a bird of pure blue mana back whence he came. Screaming, he withdrew a short dagger from within his robes. Slicing his hand with the burnished copper dagger, he pointed it towards the Dragon and began chanting. Aware of the danger, and afraid, the Dragon retreated and coiled its tail around itself to protect against the attack. Then began to glow a burnt orange, light leaking from within its coils. Suddenly the Dragon struck like a viper, flinging its fangs towards the Wizard, a ball of Fire held within its throat. The Wizards wand was burnt first, disintegrating into dust, all that remained was a small jewel falling towards the forest below. As he saw death approaching, he resolutely thrust the dagger into his heart. A blue light shot out of the hilt of the dagger, fueled by the last remaining life of the Wizard. It cut nearly all the way through the neck of the dragon, leaving its head hanging, eyes glazed. Spinal fluid and blood infused with the vital energies and essence of the beast fell to join the Wizards remains. Suddenly the body of the Dragon shook, suspended in the air it began to decompose. Until a serpentine creature emerged from within the corpse, a gash nearly severing its back half was visible. The creature exuded exhaustion, looking disdainfully at the resting place of the Wizard before it slowly flew away. Pools of the Dragon''s blood and flesh were left all around the valley. Combining with the remnant mana from the Wizard to change the flora and fauna in mysterious ways. The last of the storm had faded away, leaving the destroyed forest damp. A remnant wind tossed about the forest, seemingly reluctant to leave. One of the former forest giants laid crumpled over. The wind wandered closer, intrigued, lifting and tearing off a loose branch. It fell, one seed left hanging on, the branch struck the ground, sticking upright. The lone seed was buried beneath the purple-blue soil, an act of fate. Chapter 2 - Sprouting Anew Chapter 2 - Sprouting Anew The forest was devastated by the battle, even the aftershocks were enough to destroy most of the trees and underbrush within a mile of the battle site. Despite the damage, this battle would allow the forest to grow, akin to the benefits of a cleansing fire. A gentle rain swept through the area calming the trees and animals beneath, freshening the air rich with mana. Already the creatures of the forest were feasting and exploring the new environment. However, all was not so bright. The remnant mana that was left behind, began to twist some of the forest animals, along with the Dragon''s flesh and blood. An imbalance in the food chain was created that would have to be settled with battle and death. Undisturbed in one corner of the forest, a tree stood - tall, wide, and covered with luminescent bark. If you looked closely you could see the trunk slightly widening, and the branches growing denser. If you had happened to glance up you would also see that the tree was growing taller at a visible rate. The leaves stretched out towards the sunlight, and roots burrowed deep underground to seek out mana, nutrients, and dragon''s blood, the three most important materials for a newly born tree. Though at this point it could hardly be called a mere tree. The unusual circumstances of its creation only a day and a half before proved that. ----------- Several days after the battle, a caravan of flying ships appeared on the horizon. The slowly approached the valley, whether that was out of caution or due to extensive battle damage was unclear. the ship in front let out a wave of mana that passed through all the trees and creatures within 5 miles before returning to the ship. This happened many times over the next few hours. The caravan had paused outside the entrance to the valley, while the first ship went to scout, and map the valley. The scouting ship was the least damaged of the caravan, much smaller and lighter than the others. It appeared to have a regular hull of a sea ship, but no sail or rudder was visible. Instead, protrusions visible on either side of the ship burnt mana to create winds that moved the ship, and an array carved into the bottom of the ship supported it. The deck of the ship was empty, though the presence of a thin mana shield suggested it was possible to stand there during flight. Hallways ran throughout the entire ship, with hardwood floors lit by orb''s of light, and blank walls. A figure dashed down a corridor, headed towards the center of the ship, he carried a small blue orb with him. Two guards stood dressed in full plate armor, reflecting light off of their armor''s shined surface. They stood in front of a nearly invisible door seamlessly integrated into the wall. As the messenger approached, the guard stepped forward and called out. "Halt, the Magus is not to be disturbed!" "I-I have an urgent message from the King''s ship, it must be seen by the Magus" Gasping for air the young messenger held out the blue orb, a face was barely visible in it, warped by the orbs curvature. The face in the orb was replaced for a brief moment by a ring covered in runes with the image of a boar being speared through. "Show me to the Magus immediately" The Magistrate''s voice lashed imperiously at the two guardsmen. Upon seeing his insignia, the two guardsmen nodded and carefully took the orb, placing it against the door. The solid wood melted and engulfed the orb like a living organism, and the guards took up their positions once more, content in knowing that any further decisions were out of their control.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The young man, his breathing back to normal now, stared with fascination at the wall which had gone back to being solid wood. Shooed away by the guards, the apprentice cook turned messenger began his walk back towards his position in the front of the ship. After all, even when in a war zone, men still had to eat and errands still had to be run. ----------- The chamber was silent, empty aside from the woman sitting in the center of the room. Her hair fell down to the floor neatly, despite its grey color it seemed to shine. The Magus opened her eyes, dark brown shot through with streaks of blue, causing the ship to shudder to a halt. Ignoring this, she reached out into the wood floor and drew out the blue orb. The face of the Magistrate instantly became more respectful as he caught sight of her. "Magus, we just received this message from Narid, it came from the Capitol. It was sent using the Amulet of Beginnings" - he slightly paused at this - "It must have been damaged and blown off course instead of meeting us as we were traveling, it traveled back to the capitol''s beacon. There was a recording of Narid''s battle, and a message." "Read me the message, I want the recording sent to me immediately" "Yes, Magus, I will begin now, ''This is my final battle, My mana is almost gone, and if what the Dragon says is true, you will not arrive in time to save me this time Mistress. Retreat before it is too late, a Weyr of Dragons are waiting to ambush you. If you make it back to the Capitol, protect my brother''s family, they have already suffered too much because of my weakness. I know what you had intended for me Mistress, I would have had it done on my terms, you are family to me. Alas, I fear that this is the end for both of us, huh Vexxa, Farewell.'' That is it, Magus, return to the group so you may see the recording." The Magistrate cut the connection, tone subdued after reading the pain and sorrow in the Wizard''s words. The orb went blank and crumbled, leaving dust behind. "Dammit! NO! What the hell - aaaaahhhh!" Vexxa raged around her chamber, letting out a scream. Not a Grandmaster Wizard at the moment, just an old woman full of regret. The air around her became charged with anger and pain as she unconsciously released her mana. The guards outside her door became agitated, unsure why their emotions were going out of control they wisely backed away from the door, moving out of the Magus''s range. Several minutes passed, the aura surrounding the control chamber slowly disappeared and the guards moved back to their post like nothing happened. After all their job was just to stand here, not ask questions. Inside, the wood that was scarred and bent in places was quickly recovering to its former warm and pristine condition. The Magus sat amongst the flowing wood, coughing, her life force was weak, and the recent fit hadn''t helped anything. Calm now, the Magus, adjusted her robe before standing and reaching into the wall. She withdrew a shimmering black gown and several pieces of jewelry, changing and fixing her appearance with a small spell. Sitting down again, this time into an elegant high backed chair, she controlled the scout ship back towards the others. ----------- A black shadow flashed across the landscape, several beasts looked up to see a wooden hull engraved with thousands of runes flash by, before going back to searching for food. The ship''s path took it across the valley, a large forest cut through by a small river fed by snowmelt and springs from the mountains that surrounded the valley on 3 sides. The green forest was in the middle of sprouting anew as the harsh winter had ended several weeks prior, leaving new plants sprouting, icy water rushing through the river, and animals awakening to make and feed their young. In one area of the forest was a large burnt circle, and in several areas around it were swathes of destroyed trees. Next to the circle, to close for the forest creatures to approach, was a ginormous tree, easily over 100 feet high, towering over other nearby trees by several dozen feet. Its trunk was as wide around as several dozen strong men holding hands. The valleys in the tree''s bark were lined with a tinge of purple, and its leaves were run through by blue veins. The aura given off by the tree was immense, suppressing the nearby flora into giving way. Unlike the Magus''s aura, which was concentrated and tinged with her emotions, the tree''s aura seemed to exist just barely on the edge of detection. Only perceptible as a faint sense of impatience for the future, and new life. Chapter 3 - Complexities of Growth Chapter 3 - Complexities of Growth The scout ship slid to a stop next to the largest ship in the fleet. A walkway was created from the living wood of both ships, bridging the gap between them. The Magus walked through the hallways of her ship, flanked by her two guards. Passing by several common rooms and a cafeteria, all with several guards or servants in them. Reaching the pros of the ship and end of the hallway, the Magus waved her hand, moving the wood to create a stairway to the deck. The deck was still, and quiet even though winds outside the ship¡¯s shell were quite high. Majestically the Magus slowly walked across the walkway, greeted by a small selection including the Magistrate and a tall man with salt and pepper hair in regal dress. ¡°Good evening, Vexxa, We were all distressed by the news of your apprentice¡¯s death, it is any consolation he acquitted himself well in battle.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern my liege, may I view the battle for myself now?¡± Noting Vexxa¡¯s sharp tone, the Magistrate frowned and glanced at the king. An imperceptible shake of his head calmed the loyal advisor. ¡°Of course Magus, follow me please¡± Saying this the Magistrate turned and swept his hand sideways, activating a ring as he did so. The deck opened up slowly and formed a stairwell leading into the depths of the royal ship. The delegation returned to a large ornate meeting room, but now with two new guards and the Magus. The King, Magistrate, and Magus, along with several other advisors, sat at a large u-shaped table. The rest of the guards and servants were dismissed except for an Apprentice Wizard. Who upon the King''s signal, activated a screen, which began showing the events of Narad¡¯s battle. Several minutes passed, the room silent, everyone intently watching the screen. The view was from over a mile away, only the clear eyesight of the familiar used to record the event allowed for such detail. Finally, the recording reached the final clash between the two powerhouses, as Narid burnt, he cast a final glance to the watching familiar. The King turned to Vexxa.¡°At least he killed the Dra-¡±His sentence was interrupted halfway through by the gasp of an advisor still watching the screen. ¡°What is th-this thing?¡± The screen was showing a creature emerging from the Dragon¡¯s body. Vexxa stood up suddenly, her face white. ¡°A creature that I thought long destroyed¡­¡± she paused, as past events flashed through her mind, a hint of fear in her eyes. ¡°We retreat now, back to the Capitol, call back all troops and send this recording to the nearby kingdoms, and request that the ancient pact of Daphis be enacted." Saying this, the Magus quickly reached and condensed over a dozen mana orbs, each containing a recording of the battle. One of the advisors hearing this grew red in the face and stood to oppose her. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "No! We must not allow this scene to be disseminated beyond those of us here, our position is already weak in the kingdoms, and that''s without the loss of our most promising Grandmaster Wizard. If it was to get out that our most valuable treasure was stolen and we couldn''t do anything? We would be invaded and destroyed immediately." Slightly panting after his diatribe*, The man stood still, a small dagger floating and pricking his throat. A drop of blood seeped from a small cut, and was absorbed by the dagger, it shivered in excitement, pressing slightly further into the man''s neck. "Dare to speak to me in that tone without proper cause again, and a little bloodloss will be by far the least of your worries. The terror caused by that creature is unmatched, I saw records of it''s supposed destruction from long ago, and even for the mages of old, it took many Grandmasters to even fight it to a draw. Only an Archmage was able to destroy it, just barely, and at the expense of their lifeforce. Do as I say." Withdrawing her dagger from the throat of the now pale and shaking man, Vexxa''s cold voice containing a hint of panic swept around the room. All of the King''s cabinet looked towards him, reluctant to accept this decision. A hand rubbing his chin, the King was leaning forward onto the table, deep in thought. "If we go after this creature now, can we kill it, and will we gain something from it?" "Our kingdom alone is no match for the creature, it has been greatly weakened, but without several Grandmaster Wizards, we wouldn''t last a chance. Our only hope for survival is to gain the help of the other kingdoms. We are not fighting it for rare materials, we must fight it because if we don''t it will soon use the stolen artifact to evolve, at which point it will be on the level of a god!" The Magus stepped forward as she tried to convince the King to make the correct decision, her voice becoming a tad louder. "Alright, You haven''t led us wrong before. We do need an edge now that Narid is dead, and those trade treaties we''ve been forced into won''t allow us to grow back without his power. Set a course for the Capitol immediately, and send a message to the Ambassador''s guild, their services will be required. Also, send word to the Historian, I want all the information about this pact, and our copy if there is one, available when we return." Several advisors left the room to make arrangements, the rest began to discuss their plans or leave to contact their houses and clans in the Capitol. Ignoring them, the King made a gesture and left the room with the Magus and Magistrate behind him. They walked for several minutes, the hallways growing emptier of bowing servants the further they walked. Until they stood outside a small chamber. The King placed his insignia against the door and chanted a quick spell. Opening the door into a lavish room, complete with rugs, paintings, several ornate plush chairs, and a small bar. The King and Magus sat, as the Magistrate poured drinks for them. "Damn, I needed that" - said the King sipping from a glass of a dark amber liquid - "Now, We were able to alter the direction the creature was shown to be traveling in the recording. Now its heading west towards the Saudau, their spies will be frantic after seeing its power." - Darkly chuckling into his glass - "Even more importantly, while all the others kingdoms are off searching for that creature for its materials, we will be exploiting this region. From the scans, you completed of the valley, this area was altered by the mana and Dragon essence let off during the battle. The only area that comes close is the land surrounding the Mana-sink in the Deadlands. There is one spot in particular that I am interested in." The King got up and conjured a still frame of the battle, showing the area after the Dragon''s tail landed. Comparing it to an image from earlier that day, a large tree was seen to have appeared. The King pointed it out. "This is one of our targets, I don''t know how it grew to be so large, but the magic contained within must be immense, next I want you to take charge of finding out what beasts or plants are worth anything, you will have whatever you need." The Magus nodded, already thinking of how she could discover the secrets contained within them. The Magistrate silent before this raised his head. "This all sounds good, but is that creature a threat?" Glancing at the other two, The magistrate appeared worried. "No, while the creature is every bit as dangerous as I said, it will need time to recover, and then time to evolve, which will take hundreds of years. We will all be long gone and buried by that point." "So this whole charade was to draw the other kingdoms focus away?" "Not just that, but also to see how many of the so-called ''advisor'' were spies, or only working for their own benefit with no real loyalty to the crown" Saying this the King, put down his glass, presenting two rings to the others, explaining their use as private communication devices from the royal treasury. Everyone chatted for a while longer about the specifics of their responsibilities, before leaving. The Magus boarded the scout ship and took off ahead the rest of the ships, hoping to reach the Capitol and organize things for an expedition back to the forest. Chapter 4 - Spring of Life Chapter 4 - Spring of Life The forest was cheerful, several weeks have passed since the event and only the wisest of creatures remembered it and they were off hooting and doing who knows what. The strange tree that towered above the rest, had begun to lose it''s leaves, carpeting the ground around it in greenish-blue foliage. The decomposing foliage created a blue miasma warding of any curious creatures. The purple cracks in between its bark grew slowly to become more prevalent than the bark itself. In some places, the bark had completely fallen off, leaving purple streaks on pale blue, almost white, wood. This process was slow, already having gone on for several days. It could be extrapolated that it would take more than a month for the rest of the leaves and bark to fall. The hierarchy for the new forest was decided. In the east, near the entrance to the valley and the plains beyond several packs of wolves had united under a mighty Dragon-blood Alpha. To the North on both sides of the river, in the rocky mountain crags, flocks of birds had joined together. Although both Mana-touched and Dragon-blood avians still fought for supremacy, the sky was much less empty than before. Where the mountain streams joined together into the river, Bears lumbered alone or in small sleuths, hunting the weaker creatures and fishing from the river. Throughout the woods smaller creatures wandered alone, hunting and adjusting to their new power. A small number of mountain lions crept through the green dark. Herds of deer guarded by bucks with glistening antlers, newly sharpened and ready for battle, leapt amongst the trees. All the while the trees and bushes and grass and vines and flowers exploded into growth. The mana-rich air and earth thrumming with the addition of the Dragon¡¯s essence fueled evolution among the greenery. Creating vibrant new colors, potent poisons, and new kinds of edible fruits that were filled with life. The entire forest blooming with life began to resemble a jungle instead of the former cold pine forest. Formerly constrained in the valley by environmental factors and the persistent logging of small nearby villages. The reborn forest began to spread seeds and sprout seedlings beyond the valley¡¯s entrance, and intrude upon the human¡¯s world. --------------- ¡®Thwack¡¯ ¡®Thwack¡¯ ¡®Thwack¡¯ With a mighty groan, the large pine fell over, crushing branches and smashing the tall grass underneath. ¡®Phew¡¯ Wiping the sweat from his brow with a large dirty hand, the forester ignored the new streaks of dirt joining many others, walking over to the long tree whistling a jolly tune. A large straight pine like this was a good find it had taken several days of wandering around the outskirts of the forest to find one tall enough, but it would all be worth it. A prime pine like this one was worth several dozen silver, enough to feed his family for over a month and buy some tools to begin teaching his son the trade. Smiling at the thought of his son, a burly lad who just turned 14, big enough to learn about his trade now. The woodsman reminisced about how his own father had taught him this trade and looked forward to seeing his son grow and fell his first tree. Beginning the laborious process of stripping the tree of the smaller branches. Then using a small cantrip to mark several places on the trunk with his tag, in case another forester stumbled across his tree, while he went to get help for moving the forest giant. Separating a long piece of the radius of the trunk, to show and brag about the many rings it had, the forester whistled while he began the long walk home.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. An hour had passed and the forester was almost home. Twenty more minutes of brisk hiking and he would be able to rest beside the fireplace, eat some nice home cooked food. All while awaiting the arrival of his customer to receive payment, before delivering the log with several friends. Thinking happy thoughts, the forester almost didn¡¯t notice movement in the bushes around him. Only instinct allowed him to roll to the side, beneath an attack that would have assuredly taken his head. Sharp claws scraped through dead foliage, leaving deep tracks marks on the ground and arresting the large wolf''s momentum. Cursing, the forester''s smile instantly disappeared, and slowly dropped his leather pack, filled with several plants and small tools. The forester drew his ax and straightened up. Previous encounters with wildlife had taught the man that defeating them was difficult without the right weapon, which he definitely did not have. The only plan he had was to intimidate the wolf into retreating, an easy task with his 6-foot tall burly frame. However, he also knew that if this lone wolf was truly desperate for a meal, he wouldn''t be able to escape without a fight. Mumbling a quick prayer to the gods, he stepped forward and began shouting. "Get back you mangy mutt! Go on git! There''s no food for ya here! Come on! Go!" Swinging his ax a couple times, the forester advanced, confidence growing as the wolf seemed to shrink back and retreat. With a little less panic in his heart, he was starting to notice how weird the wolf looked. For one, it was quite a bit larger than a normal wolf, and the usually shaggy grey coat was tinged purple-red. Despite the wolfs appearance, it was retreating the same as every other wolf he had run into, though to be honest that number was quite low. It had been less than two minutes since the wolf had jumped out at him, and already it seemed ready to retreat. Relaxing a small bit, the forester gave one last push and charged towards the wolf causing it to whine and dart away. His guard still up, but much more relaxed than before, still watching to the wolf to make sure it left, before picking his pack back up, putting it on. Suddenly an even larger wolf burst from the bushes to his left, taking him by surprise. Unable to react his arms still caught in the motion of securing his pack.Eyes widening in fright and face paling, the man saw death in the wolf''s mouth before it snapped shut around his throat, and ripped back and forth. Breaking his spine, and showering the surrounding trees with bright arterial blood. The man''s last thought was of his family, and especially his son, who might never become a forester now. The wolf turned and let out a howl, soon joined by hundreds more. The resounding clamor declaring to every living thing in the area that this was their territory. Less than a mile away, in the formerly happy village strode a gigantic wolf, easily taller than two grown men one on top of the other. its coat was pristine despite the nature of the surrounding town. Sounds of ripping and tearing echoed among the empty gravel streets, the wolf pack gorging themselves after a decisive victory. The Alpha wolf gazed curiously around at the dismembered bodies lying in rivulets* of blood. The only wolf that seemed to remember the short time ago when these corpses would hunt them. Finished contemplating life, and noticing that the wolves seemed to be full, the Alpha gave out a long howl. Head back and nose stretched high, summoning his pack to him. Several minutes later the large pack rushed out of the hamlet, leaving a small broken palisade, and bits of the villagers that defended it in their wake. The sun slowly fell, shooting streaks of orange and pink light to glimmer on the river. Carp leaped above the surface and swam below, dodging predators, and searching for food. The still surface was disturbed, a shiny object and a wriggling worm floating down, suspended only by a piece of cork. Some fish swam closer, nibbling but not taking a bite. Suddenly a large blue bass pushed aside the others, startling them with its sharp teeth, and slowly swaggering up to the worm, it confidently bit down and swallowed. Chapter 5 - Twisted Branches Chapter 5 - Twisted Branches A tall tower sat in the center of the city, the crystal windows reflecting countless amounts of torchlight from the Capitol below. The top window was occupied by the silhouette of the Magus looking down upon the twisted streets and tangled alleyways. All the result of many years of inelegant planning and capitalist greed for prime land, with no thought to the consequences now facing the city. Many of the streets led to nowhere, congestion strangled small businesses, the slums had slowly grown, the once orderly and bright city had fallen to a state of disorder and chaos. Pushing aside her melancholy for the city she had helped grow for many years, Vexxa woke herself from her reverie and returned to work. Objects springing up from their resting place on her desk, they began to dance around according to her will. Several quills and rolls of parchment began working together to draft letters to craftsmen and fellow wizards, or to request equipment and old scrolls from the Royal Archives and Treasury. Just some of the people and resources required for a proper expedition into such a mana-rich area. Especially with the news, they had received nearly a week after their return. ---------- Five days after the Royal ships had returned to the Capitol, a messenger, more of a boy, from the outlying villages near the forest had shown up. Clearly exhausted and distraught, he had apparently been traveling for more than three days, fleeing just two days after they had left. He introduced himself as the son of a local forester, an out of luck farmer who looked for prime wood to sell back to the rich through merchants. He told his story, of how he had been hidden while hunting his scent disguised. how he had seen his village be butchered by packs of giant wolves without fear and human-like intelligence. How he had been unable to help and lain terrified in his foxhole, only several fields away from the monsters. He spoke of how when he finally crept back into the hamlet everyone he knew was butchered and eaten. As well as how, mere hours after he had buried what was left of his family, seeds from the nearby forest, which had fed him and his family for generations. Blew out on the wind, and landing in his home instantly began sprouting and growing. To the point that by the time he left the crude houses looked as if they were ruins, dozens of years old, overgrown with ivy, and broken by tree roots. Ending his plea for help, the boy-no, young man, stood quietly in the Great Hall, numb. The hall was silent for several moments, the officials and the King taking in everything they had heard. "We have a solution to this problem, as we speak the Magus is in the process of creating an expedition to curb back the forest and to find and destroy the cause." The young man seemed slightly less depressed before he was led away by servants to receive a meal. "Wait! I want to go on this expedition and take back my home!" The young man stood tall with fiery passion and anger in his eyes, fists clenched. A Minister by the side of the king spoke out.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "You have no skills, no use for this expedition, and not enough time to train you, even if you were worth the expense." A short wave of the King''s hand cut of the Minister "Very well boy, you may join the servants on the ships." "Thank you, my lord, thank you" The young man has led away, now to the servants quarters to receive his assignment and uniform. "This is the fourth report of an attack in the past week, why has the army not been sent to quell these beasts?" One of the Ministers asked once the boy had left. "Because, we need to show strength, and that means keeping the army ready to respond to any attack. The Magus has assured me that an expedition led by her is more than enough to finish these creatures. Do you doubt the Magus?" "No, no, I wouldn''t dare, please forgive me." Nodding his head, the King watched as the next topic was brought up, what the expected crop yields were for the coming months. ---------- It was the day the ships had returned to the Capitol. They all came down to land in a special landing field outside the city. Chains fell down from ports in the hull, quickly caught and tied down by laborers. Several minutes passed, the ships slowly lowering. Finally, they all made landfall, servants rushing out to make preparations for travel back into the city. They were soon followed by groups of officials, not including the King or Magus, both of whom had special landing areas inside the Capitol. One of the groups of officials split up, each going their own way. One individual, in particular, caught the eye. A short man hunched over in thick robes with gold jewelry, hurrying across the field to a horse-drawn carriage. Opening it the balding man, told the driver to head for his mansion, and sent a burst of mana into a small array on the ceiling, effectively removing all chance of eavesdroppers. Quickly reaching into a small compartment, the man withdrew a small amulet, intricately carved with runes and shining symbols. Activating it, the man began speaking. "This is #134, I have received important information for the Emperor. A creature has appeared in the Avasiud Kingdom, it took the form of a dragon but was revealed to be a strange creature, later the Magus said it was something called a Dreadworm. It was heavily wounded by Narid with the use of an artifact but managed to steal an important material from the Royal Treasury. The Magus listed it as extremely dangerous and seemed to be extremely afraid. The creatures last bearing was towards the Empire." Cutting off the recording, the official threw the amulet out of the carriage, watching as it disappeared with a small pop. Relaxing noticeably, the official leaned back and waited for the journey to his house to be over. ------- The Magus turned from her work as a sharp knock sounded on her door. A small twitch of her hands opened the door, allowing a messenger dressed in the palace livery* to come in. "Sorry to disturb you, my lady, the King sends word that he and other members of his court are leaving for the meeting place of Daphis. he also wished to convey that the expedition is of utmost importance and that all resources are at your disposal even while he is gone." "Very well, you may go now" The servant left, Vexxa stood from her chair behind a large mahogany desk, walking over to a window overlooking the palace. Just in time to see several ships painted in the royal colors, lift off, and begin heading south-west. ------ Several weeks passed. Preparations for the expedition were complete, hundreds of researchers, wizards, craftsmen, and soldiers were gathered beneath several hulking cargo ships. Most of the combat ships having left with the King, only 4 were able to be spared to protect the cargo ships. The ships lifted off, everything needed for the expedition into the forest. Over the last several weeks, the forest had advanced several dozen miles, watched by a scouting ship that had been torn down by flocks of giant bird-like creatures several days ago. Due to this, the expedition had to alter their plans, and now would going to advance on foot to reach their objective.It took only two days now to reach the edge of the forest. The soldiers, as per their orders, set up a camp, before beginning to light fires and burn the forest back, assisted by the foresters. Departing from the ship, Vexxa led the other researchers and wizards to collect samples and begin running tests. -------- The tree stood, alone, the top swaying in the wind above the canopy. Nearly all of the bark was gone at this point, the few last remaining stubborn pieces hanging on, as if reluctant to leave the old form of a tree behind. Its roots had spread through most of the forest, far below the rest, and far more special. The roots actively sought out new sources of energy, slithering like giant rough worms, forcing their way through the dirt and rocks, all to fuel the tree''s unprecedented evolution. Chapter 6 - Thunderclouds On the Horizon Chapter 6 - Stormclouds On the Horizon It was sunrise, that peaceful moment of the day before the birds start chirping, and the rest of life awakens. Complete silence. The silence was broken. Broken by the swift arrival of several ships, each adorned differently. Their wooden hulls bumped down onto the dewy grass. Still slick from a light rain the night before that had wet the hill, and the ancient stone shrine that lay atop it. Solemnly, several men disembarked from each ship. Dressed in ceremonial apparel, and equipped with marks of their status. The three most impressive met at the center of the shrine, leaving their companions to stand at the bottom of the small hill. "I hereby call this meeting of the Avasuid, Saudau, and Kappalar kingdoms together to discuss the resigning of the Treaty of Daphis. Once used to unite our kingdoms against a great evil, it is again needed for our continued survival." The King of the Avasiud Kingdom, who had brought them all together for this purpose, brought out a crystal globe and placed it into a divet in the stone altar. A resounding crack traveled out from the globe, now attached to the stone. Slivers of golden light wormed their way through the globe, replacing the dim morning light surrounding the monarchs with a soft yellow glow. The monarchs expressions didn''t waver, simply waiting for the effects to fade. Moments later, the glow receded back into the globe, signaling the start of the meeting. ----- Clouds of thick black smoke drifted up from the burning forest, taking with it the countless lives of those who lived inside. Men draped with crashing armor worked beside loosely garbed foot soldiers and foresters with thick and sturdy clothes. All with the purpose of cutting back the forest to gain insight into its mysteries. Nearly half a mile away, the rest of the group waited, some were busy building opulent tents for their masters, others made food or brought water. Near the center of the growing camp was Vexxa, surrounded by several wizards and nobles she had brought.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Currently, they were discussing their plan of attack, with ships flying along the edge of the forest outside the reach of the territorial birds, they were able to gain an idea of the current situation. Several minutes passed and one of the wizards stepped away from the group and shot balls of glowing light up into the air. Several hundred resting men stood and began to march towards the forest, coming to rest on its outskirts. Four wizards in blue robes stood near the front, still protected by ranks of armored soldiers. As one they chanted and cast a spell. Waves of blue light pulsed from their raised wands, pushing away any smoke from the burning fires, and warding off insects and small animals. The group appeared to be entering the maw of a giant beast, enclosed by piles of dark smoke, accentuated by bright flames. Briefly, the other men working to combat the forest turned and looked, before returning to their work. attempting to contain the spread of the forest from directly reaching the center of their kingdom. ---------- Lazily turning, brought back and forth by the breeze, swooping and soaring, aware of every inch of air. Clouds of burning and heat, pushing up and singeing the edges of already black feathers. Loud sounds, primal roars, Danger. Slicing talons, sharp beaks, flee. Far, far, far, away from green and food and high rocks and cold. Over bright colors, glancing metal, to empty skies. Gold, specks of brown, dirt with no worms, moving wood, far, far. blue, shimmering, crashing, Fish. More Danger, escape, far, tired, rest. Alone, brittle bark, waving in wind, Food. Eating, eating, full, leave. Gone, sun up, sun down, sun up, sun down, eating, flying. More gold rows, moving specks, dirt with no worms, moving wood. Stone, high, large, many smells, many moving specks, straight and twisted stones with many breaks, no place to nest. Leave, turn towards sun, last warmth, fly. Fewer specks, more tall stones, rows, long. Hole, big hole, large structure, crumbling, specks, noise, light, danger, run. sun up, sun down, sun up, sun down, sun up, sun down, sun up, mountain, birds, danger, pain, falling, pain, danger, screech, falling, pain, falling, impact, pain, darkness, darkness, pain. --------- The nervous men in armor trudged forward, tripping and avoiding the forest''s undergrowth. Their efforts were hampered as everything outside of the barrier was obscured from their sight. The men peering nervously forward began to hear the sounds of the camp be drowned out by silence and indistinct shrieks and roars. The smoke outside slowly cleared out to reveal the thriving forest. The stench of sweat and fear permeated throughout the enclosed space that protected and enclosed the soldiers within. Apparently deciding they were far enough away from the smoke, the Wizards cut the threads of mana connecting them to the shield. Startled the soldiers grasped their weapons, and steeled their nerves. One soldier looked up at a rustling in the branches, catching sight of a small bird being attacked by several other larger birds. A leopard dropped from above, slaying several men before magic and spears pushed it away bleeding. The arrival of the beast only heralded the start of dozens of other attacks that slowly depleted the troop''s men until they were forced to fall back lest they were wiped out. Chapter 7 - Fallen Rain Chapter 7 - Fallen Rain Night was falling over the camp, sunlight slowly fading and giving way to the moon and the burning fires. Flickering flames reached up dozens of feet, immolating what, before the strange mutations, would have been elders and guardians of the forest. Soldiers, watchmen for the night, patrolled a simple earthen berm circling the tents. Slowly, haggard men trickled back in, covered in dark grimy soot, switching places with those resting. Ensuring the constant battle against the forest was not lost. Large kitchen tents, with flame-resistant cloth, sat south of the soldier''s tents. Bustling servants ordered by cooks following the directions of a senior matron, quickly prepared hearty food for the exhausted men, soup and hard rations. Men sat around in groups of eight, crowding closer to their fires away from the shimmering dimness behind, waiting for food and discussing the day. "I heard the 2nd platoon was called to the east, only two full squads came back, what could take out nearly 50 men?" "I don''t know man, doesn''t concern us, all we have to do is burn that forest and eat this shitty food - the soldier gestures with a hard piece of bread - "Speaking of which, where the hell is that damn soup, I need something to soak this fuckin'' rock in" "Dude shut the fuck up, you don''t need shit, I saw what you were doing out there, who the hell pisses on a burning tree?" The soldiers of the 4th squad laughed, and continued joking among themselves waiting for their food and to rest. ----------- Small feet clad with only thin cloth slippers slipped their way through the cold. Leaving a new set of stuttering footprints, nearly invisible among many others in the muddy ground. A frail frame struggled under a large pot. Liquid splashing out every time the girl lost her balance, scalding her hands and arms, adding minuscule burns to dozens of others scarring the pale skin. Veins barely shimmering soft fluorescent colors through hard calluses and sleeves drawn long around skinny arms. Despite the weight, the small girl navigated her way through the dark avenues between tents, following a tall servant carrying piles of wood-hewn spoons and bowls. Reaching a campfire allowed the girl to relieve her burden for long enough to give lukewarm bowls of soup to rowdy soldiers. Quickly ordered on by the senior servant they progressed rapidly through the camp. Emptying the pot as it became even darker, leaving the dusk to venture into full night. Stumbling now, the girl slowed, almost dropping the nearly empty pot. Suddenly a form dashed around a tent ahead, all-out sprinting past the two servants. The tall servant stepped to the side out of the way, having perfectly hidden the girl behind him. Tired, she continued walking forwards with her head down. Surprise blanketed the young man''s face as he tried to stop. With a bang the two went down head over heels, the girl laid on the ground, shocked. The young man, more of a boy, coughed as he stood up, covered in the remaining dregs of soup. "What the fuck girl! you had one job, carry the damn soup! You are going to have to explain this to Emily, fucking damn you !" The tall servant kicked the prone girl before storming off. "What was that all about?" The boy angrily walked towards the girl, pausing as he saw her shivering and crying quietly.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Hey, hey, it''s all right, I am not gonna hurt you, tha- that person left" Glancing around worriedly, the boy took off and placed his jacket around the girl, and handed her a bar. "Here, eat this, its chocolate, from the capital - the boy paused as the girl calmed and slowly bit into the treat - What''s your name?" "I-I''m Luna" "Luna, that''s a pretty name, why are you here Luna? I am here to fight the forest and take my home back! - the boy''s voice rose in his fervor - Sorry... my name is Argent" "umm, I just work, I need to go back, thou" Luna broke down in tears once as she realized the soup was gone, and all over her new friend. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, your alright, you won''t get in trouble, here, let''s go, come on" Argent began pulling Luna along behind him, and stumbling they traveled behind tents hidden in the shadows. Shouts arose to the right of them as they traveled, fearing discovery they crouched down lower and sped up. Argent them through the tents until the reached one of the servants sleeping areas. He showed Luna to his bed before stripping the thin blankets and placing them underneath. "You can hide here for a while, I am going to go watch the cooks, once everything has calmed down I will come to get you, alright?" Luna nodded nervously before huddling underneath the bed on the cold ground. Argent ran off towards the cook tents. Suddenly screams and the howls of wild beasts tore through the night. Luna shivered, and pressed herself against the ground, hoping her new friend would come back. ---------- Argent squeezed himself between two tents, rustling the thin canvas walls. Startled by sudden loud sounds of battle nearby, he tripped and fell into the tent. Fighting to untangle himself, he shook as an audible thump sounded to the northwest, briefly overwhelming the screams of war. ---------- Torchlights shivered across the battlefield, men were slowly being pushed off the berm by creatures of nightmare. Giant glowing wolves with daggers for claws and leaping leopards massacred men, while swarms of twisted birds picked off the wounded and alone. Occasional spells would land and decimate the animals, only more poured from the forest. Cutting off the camp from the stranded bands of men outside, still alive despite the vehemence with which the animals attacked. --------- Untangled but still within the fallen tent, Argent trembled and moaned, memories of his village flashing through his mind. Crumpling the fabric in his hands, he covered his head, hoping the world would just go away. Screams and pained roars and shrieks sounded constantly, each one making him curl into a tighter ball. He suddenly stilled, uncurled slowly, and whispered "Luna..." Lights flashed by, torch, tent, torch, tent, bounding over the taught lines holding the fabric over the light wooden frames. Adrenaline turning the world still, heavy gasps driven by terror filled lungs. Argent sprinted towards his bunk, filled with determination. Shrill shrieks sounded from above, heralding the intrusion of a twisted aviary above the camp. Unable to spare a glance upwards, Argent neared Luna''s hiding place, his eyes lightened a little at the prospect of escaping with her from this hell. Screams from ahead broke his thoughts and spurred him on at even greater speed. Pain spread across his side, an owl with a 3-meter wingspan sliced deep into his side and head with razor-sharp talons. Mewling he crawled forwards, blood flowing from his side and head. Continued to crawl forward, Argent was spared further attack as archers fired into the sky. Leaving a trail of blood across the ground, his body became covered in mud, sealing the wounds. Finally reaching his bunk, barely conscious, he grabbed Luna''s hand and began pulling her towards a fallen tent. "Here come on, almost there, they won''t find us under here, it''s good you were hiding under that bunk, those birds almost tore me apart! Don''t worry we''ll be fine, the soldiers are fighting, they will win, the Magus won''t let us die. Come on, start moving, we aren''t safe out here, those birds will be back." "Boy! Stand up and fight! We need every sword against these Twisted! Come on! Let''s go! - A bloody soldier grabbed Argent and pulled him up, handing him a sword from a nearby body. - No time to cry over the dead! Fight!" Argent blearily blinked his eyes, a hand grasped around the hilt leaving warm blood quickly cooling on his hand. Glancing down at Luna - "I-I don''t want to leave you, I''ll stay here and fight" - only then realizing, Luna''s blood was on his hands, and across the path which he had dragged her. Looking for the shy girl''s breath, and eyes to blink shut and open again, and for the gaping lips to close and turn softly upward. Argent found nothing staring at the macabre torn body of his only friend laid to rest in this place. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHhhh" He screamed, rage and despair fighting to be heard. Red covered his vision, blocking out his father, mother, siblings, friends, village, home, Luna, leaving only hate. Leaving his scream and the bodies behind him, Argent turned towards the battlefield to gain his revenge and collapsed. Fresh blood from not even scabbed wounds, mixed with the dark mud and blood of the dead. Chapter 8 - Dappled Sunlight Chapter 8 - Dappled Sunlight Tree leaves shimmered in the sun, reflecting waves of light up to the clear sky. Smudges of smoke on the horizon of the sea of trees were quickly dissipated by breezes and powerful updrafts, courtesy of the valley''s location beneath the mountains. One particular tree stood out amid the green growth, bare and cracked, without the protection of leaves or bark. Dead limbs littered the ground, surrounding a trunk split in two, a shell, empty of its fruit. The clearing surrounding this former symbol of power was losing ground to the encroaching forest and its inhabitants. Despite the area having been drained of all energy, the Dragon-Blood and Mana-Touched still flocked to this site in search of any power left here. Tracks leading from the now dead tree were quickly erased underneath the battles of various beasts desiring what roots were still had traces of power. The tracks were strange, often changing and shifting between paw, claw, hoof, or some other spoor. The path lead through the forest, never disturbing the trees or undergrowth, except in cases where splashes of blood and the corpses of various beasts were left torn on the ground, with tracks resembling their own leading away from their eternal resting place. Driving a straight course through the forest, It quickly reaching the blurry tree line that emptied out into the plains, far away from the raging fires and bleeding army. Pausing for a moment in the newfound emptiness, seemingly to take in the endless sky and waving grass. Taking the form of a stag at the moment, It continued its journey, no destination to reach with awkward bounds barely resembling the grace possible in Its form. Its form shifted subtly as it traveled, almost seeming hesitant to fixate on one form. Sinewy roots twisted their way around the rough bark covered form. Constantly applying the forces needed to move while protecting a center of green leaves and tender shoots that grew out of a dully beating heart of purple-blue. Coming upon a stream that had deepened in this small grove, feeding several small trees and bushes. It stilled, searching the area, and making a decision It stopped, extruding sheets of roots into the ground, many more coming from its body than should be possible. It opened Its shell, allowing the leaves and budding flowers to spring forth into the muggy air, and feel the light breeze. The Tree¡¯s heart, safely ensconced within hard bark, beat even slower, circulating new energy. The night was quiet, slow breezes sweeping over the plains, breaking over the forest and various obstacles like reefs in an ocean. The newly transplanted tree settled into its new home. Absorbing what it could of the meager soil and slow-moving water.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Flowing light seeped into the landscape, brought to earth by a glowing new moon. Glistening reflections of a crowded night sky rippled across the still water in the pond. Stars spilt across the heavens as if sparks from a fire had drifted up and become stuck, spitting glimmers of light against each other and the endless dark. The moon rose and fell. Night into day into night. The tree remained steadfastly planted by the stream. Waiting, growing. ---------- Dust rose up behind the caravan, the gaunt horse''s metal-clad hooves and wagon''s wooden wheels breaking the pale yellow grass into pieces. Despite the empty wagon beds, the exhausted men guiding the horses, and the harried women and children sitting in the slim shade told a story apart from success at a marketplace. The horses continued plodding on as the sun slowly set. Streams of colors cast out onto an unwilling sky by the giant of fire. The caravan rolled to a halt, axles squeaking as men and women came down from their perches to set up camp. Soon, firelight peeked out from within the circle of wagons. The large fire illuminated the several families eating hard bread and barely preserved rations. The sunrise announced itself with a ray of light reaching across the sky, rousing the caravan''s inhabitants to resume their travel. Slowly, the wagons continued making progress across the savanna. At midday, they paused, one of the horses had fallen. Several minutes of hurried discussion was followed by the quick reordering of the few possessions left, and one of the men approaching the horse with a short sword. Before an hour had passed, the caravan, down one wagon, continued away from a bloody stain with objects wrapped in coarse cloth. By the time the sun was beginning to set, the passengers were beginning to resign themselves for another night in the open. Suddenly a cry went up, one of the drivers pointed forward and yelled excitedly. They had spotted several trees, and lush bushes, and green grass, a sure sign of fresh water and good rest. The men sped the horses on, hoping to reach the waterway before dark. Their desperate efforts paid off, reaching the stream minutes before the sun slipped away over the horizon and the area was lit only by the moon. Jubilantly they worked, unloading food, fetching water and wood, and soon a roaring fire was lit. The horse meat was slowly roasted, and efforts were made to smoke and preserve what was left after the tax of their hungry bellies was paid. Quietly they rested, content and full, stress from weeks of travel away from their homes melting away. A wild wind whipped the grass into a frenzy. The long strands lashed the damp ground, and water, and each other leaving ripples carrying unfortunate stalks to wander down the small stream. A small ember flickered as the wind stole the last bit of energy from it. The campground fell into darkness, only the moon left to witness the empty wagons and pale bones lying in mockery to the families that thought this place a safe haven. --------- Slowly, creaking emitted from twisting branches of the tree. Roots were retracted, green shoots, placed inside, and the tree stood in its new form. The Tree strode from the stream, traveling east, its humanoid visage imprinted onto the rising sun. Chapter 9 - River Reeds Smoke trailed up the horizon, leaving the cobblestone chimneys of the small hamlet. Men worked in the fields surrounding the peaceful homes, planting grain to be harvested in the coming months. Small children ran around the small paths, always under the watchful eyes of busy mothers. Several women in well-worn clothing were gathered around the villages lone well, pumping water and talking gaily. A breeze played over the grass, lifting the heads of the working men who enjoyed for a brief moment the cool air. Several of them paused, spotting a tall figure far off in the distance moving slowly and with great care. Pausing in their work, several of the workers gathered at the edge of the fields. Unable to make out any details on the figure in the afternoon light, the men began to walk towards it. As they walked and the figure began to grow larger and larger in their sight the men began to become worried. The breeze had stopped, leaving their footsteps to sound loudly across the empty landscape. Several kilometers from the houses, the men crested a small hill and came to a stop now able to clearly see the figure. "By the gods..." The men froze, astonished and fearful of the creature that lay ahead. A giant of bark and branches, vines twisting around its form, down and up arms and legs, flowers and greenery sprouting from the back of the creature. Long legs taking impossibly long steps, gradually bringing the creature to some unknown destination. The creature turned its head towards the men, scarcely pausing its gait. The men quickly scrambled back down the slope and crouched to avoid its notice. Gasping for air, an old man spat out "It''s an Ent!" to the confused looks of the other farmers. "A what?" "An ancient myth I heard told once in the capital, by some drunk old bard, born from giant trees, supposedly peaceful creatures that wandered the wilds and gave life to nature." The men glanced at each other after this declaration. One of the men spoke up after several seconds of silence. "So, now what?" The old man who had spoken of the Ent was silent before peering above the grass they had hidden in, catching sight of the Ent approaching their position. Sitting back down among the other worried farmers he let out a sigh. "Well, it seems to be comin'' this way, so, how about, we run!" Taking a deep breath after saying this, the old man sprang up and began sprinting back towards the fields. The other men looked after him bewildered, then glancing around at each other, they began to follow at high speed. The scene was quite humorous, a dozen men in coarse beige clothing letting out whoops and hollers while running with arms and legs akimbo from a large slowly moving tree-person. The hilarity ceased once the first wooden spear burst from the dry ground into the slowest moving man''s gut, draining him of blood and life in two seconds flat.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The other men paused at the last wrenching scream of the now dead man, before putting their heads down and running like their daddy was after them with his belt. The Ent continued advancing slowly, now just past the edge of the plowed fields. Fleeing men continued to be impaled, their corpses creating a macabre trail of the path taken by the Ent. The hamlet was disturbed by the fading screams of the men. Women and children gathering around the house of the chief hoping for direction. A wizened old man had stepped out from within once the first scream had rung out, to seek the source and cause. From the stooping doorstep, the chief was able to watch as the last of the men running was flung into the air on the end of a spike jutting through his chest, the man''s head splayed back to stare at the hazy sun. Gasping, the startled old man stumbled back, then began yelling for the inhabitants under his charge to flee into the forest. The chief became incoherent over the sound of terrified mothers herding children, some of whom began to cry at the palpable fear on their protector''s faces. Minutes passed, each one punctuated by screams, each one cut off suddenly. Eventually, the surrounding forest became empty of terror, all the villagers dead, dying, or among the small few that had escaped. ---------- The houses were empty, utensils scattered about on floors joined by broken ornaments. The paths were empty, of the pitter patter of playing children, the purposeful strides of parents, the pondering steps of elders. Quiet, motionless. Slow and heavy steps set quietly between the cobbles. Wooden tendons, and coils of oaken flesh flexing to support the evolving Ent. Gone were the stubby spikes and misaligned joints, replaced by sleek, smooth bark like skin covering defined shoulder, hips, and the body of what could be mistaken for a human. its head was no longer a blank slate, now seemingly covered by a mask formed with grotesque features, themselves slowly shifting into something more recognizable. Now walking down the slim paths, the Ent began to glance around showing something akin to curiosity. And even though its hearing and sight were not based within its head, at a sudden noise within one of the buildings, its face swiveled around to point towards it. So it began to creep with muffled footsteps around to the front of the old wooden house, somewhat odd given its stature. Upon approaching the front of the house where the sound had originated from, the Ent walked through the doorway, smashing through the lintel above the door with the top of its head. The sudden crack of splintered wood drew a soft cry from a back room. As the Ent slowly walked forwards with deadly purpose, the cry was joined by another and both grew in intensity. Dust trails lit by the sun''s fading light were broken as the Ent passed through. Stepping on creaky floorboards underneath rough-hewn beams, the Ent gazed around the orderly room, a spark of something in its sightless eyes. Meanwhile, outside the small shack, in the surrounding forests and fields, an event long forgotten occurred. Every dead body, torn and mangled by the Ent, was beginning to glow with an ethereal light under the setting sun. For while the Ent had ended their lives, a small part of its essence had entered them. Dragon and Mage blood intermixed with that of the mortals, and chipped souls grew full and buoyant; the glint and glow of the villager''s simple white souls following the sun undetectable to one''s sight. Then the drifting cry of an infant rose up from the now distant village to reach the spirits. Most continued unabated, but one slowed and turned back, only to see the Ent standing over two wailing babies ensconced in soft blankets, lying in a simple wooden crib. Mortal emotion flooded the soul, and the spirit began to scream towards the Ent. Crashing into the Ents chest with near physical force forcing its movements to stop. The Ents purple-blue heart began to slowly spin in its chest. The spirit continued to fruitlessly beat back the Ent. The orb-like heart spun faster and faster, soon creating a high pitched hum and kicking up swirls of air. The spirit showed a hint of fear as white threads began to peel off her transparent body, shooting one last tender look at the two babies, the spirit turned and dove into the humming heart. An audible crack echoed out, the heart stopped spinning. The Ent paused, glimmers of white crossing over and through his heart pursued by streaks of purple and blue. Several minutes passed, the baby''s cries grew fainter, and the sun finally set, leaving the world with only a faint half-moon to light it. The heart finally calmed, the only evidence of any struggle was a faint grey line stretching across part of the orb. Waking from its stupor the Ent strode towards the children, raising a wooden spike above their small heads. As the spike swung down with deadly intent, the grey line flashed and shrunk a small amount. The spike stopped mid-air, hanging like a guillotine blade at an execution. Suddenly with smooth movements the Ent turned and left the children, exiting the house, and then the village. Continuing its journey, now wearing a shroud of pale moonlight.