The Screaming Forest

 The Screaming Forest by Michael Peterson

In a land enveloped by darkness stands a forest that the people of the land stay far from. They say it was cursed by dark magics long ago. An army of twelve thousand soldiers, were commanded by King Rhinehart to invade the neighboring kingdom of Drask. The Draskan people heard of this invasion that was to come from Rhienhurst and sent their army of twelve thousand warriors to the defense. In the middle of this would be battlefield lived a man who was learned in the old ways, and his family. He longed for his solace and the happiness therein. He did not take kind to those who would happen upon him and his little family, especially those who would trespass and try to take from him. 

He would use his skills to help any who requested it of him, but at the end of the day, just wanted his little world to be undisturbed. His wife Lynn and his daughter Nasea, carved out a meager living. Lynn spoke to the earth and to the plants that grew, Ven to the Elements and spirits, and Nasea to animals. 

The great warring horns sounded from the North and From the West. The faint cries of blood thirsty men and the thundering of their running and their beasts filled the air like a violent storm.

Ven knew what was to come and wanted no part of this impending battle that was to take place in his valley. Both warring parties were soon in sight. The air thick with rage and blood lust. The commanders of both armies came forth to begin their campaigning and boastering of whose might was stronger, and whose cause more just. 

In their screaming match, it was as if Ven and his family did not exist. Ven shouted "I care not who you are. Nor why you would spill each other's blood. But you shall not do it here on my ground. I have lived here in peace, with my family, for longer than I have memory for. This land was worked by my father, and his father, all the way back for as long as time, it seems. You trespass, and may not make your war here, where my family and my home are kept." Ven declared.

The commander from Rhiehurst was a presence that commanded acknowledgement by lesser people, moved closer. A barbaric looking man, in bloodstained armor, sat on the back of a pure black horse. "I am King Rhinehart's General Franstrom the Black. No man stands before my lord's wishes. You are commanded to stand aside or you shall taste my blades wrath." Franstrom boasted. 

Another voice shouted back "I am Camore of Drask, my lord has commanded my blade to defend his land, and the Draskan people. You invade without provocation and this is where you shall be turned from your task." Camore said. 

"Did you not hear me? My voice I know, is not silent" Ven shouted at them both, this time with a loud booming thunder behind it that shook the very ground they stood upon. 

They gave him notice. "Stand aside you fool, you see the army I command, you will be nothing more than the mud beneath our boots." Franstrom spit. Lynn stepped around from the side of Ven, "Sir, you know not what you presume, the mud is mine to command, and this is our land! You, and all those who have rallied here today, are the ones that need to step aside." Lynn's hand began to glow a bright green color and with a gesture of her long fingers the land went soft and became mud. Nasea clung to her mothers dress peeking from behind her. "Witch how dare you" Franstrom shouted and threw a dagger that struck Lynn in the chest. The light from her hand, and eyes faded. 

Nasea let out a scream that caused all the animals on the battlefield to faint. Ven looked on in horror as his wife fell to the ground. He rushed to her side, pleading for her not to leave him. Growling under his breath. Nasea went silent. Camore held her by the hair and ran his blade across her tiny throat. 

Instantly a low thundering sound filled the air. Ven covered in the blood of his wife, watched as the now lifeless body of his daughter was thrown into the mud and her blood wiped from Camore's dagger. Ven let out a howling scream that caused Camore's body to explode. Visera splattered the men behind him. 

He turned his gaze upon the Drask army. Blood red lighting filled the skies above. Franstrom called for his army to attack. An arrow shot past Ven's face inches from his eye grazing his cheek. Ven let out a sound like a million lions roaring all at once. The spirits that he knew answered his call. 

They came forth from the ether and began violently ripping apart the army of Rhinehurst. Franstrom charged Ven and drew his sword. "You and what's left of your men shall stand vigil over what you've done here this day." Ven waved his hand and lightning melted Franstrom's sword. 

His legs froze in place. Panic struck his heart for the first time. A loud cracking settling sound could be heard from all around him as his men began to petrify and become gnarled twisted trees. Their horrified screams silenced. Franstrom began hitting at his slowly petrifying legs. 

The Draskan army turn to flee at the sights and sounds of what was happening to the Rhinehurst army. The blood red lightning struck the ground all around them, as if it were a cage. "Where is it that you would go that my power would not find? Stand your grounds oh brave soldiers! You followed these orders, and your commander laid waste to my life. And so from you, I take yours in unworthy payment..” he painfully looked down at his hands covered in his wifes blood as his voice trailed off “..for my broken heart” Ven looked up and fixed his gaze once again on the Draskan army “Let this to be where your lines end." 

Ven's eyes glared with hatred and heartbroken pain. "Your souls are mine" he reached out his hand and made a grasping motion. The flesh of the Draskan army fell like drops of rain with only an ethereal spirit of the men who once stood in its place now were. 

"I bind you to this land, never to return home, never to know honor, glory, or love. I take from you whatever afterlife you had been promised. I take from you the light of day, and the glow of the moon. Trapped herein for all time. Forever and always. Even longer than that. No man, woman, child, or god will ever bless you, save you, nor reverse what has been done to you here this day. Your voices lost among the screaming of the forest! Your spirits are the fog which arise from the ground." A tear ran down his face as the ground and air grew thick with mist, as the spirits of the fallen army collapsed into plumes of smoke. Ven walked to his wife and his daughter. His heart hurt. And the tears came now like rain. Beautiful Purple flowers grew all around Lynns body where her blood flowed. The creatures both great and small laid at Nasea's small body. Her hair stained with her blood. Ven dropped to his knees. In anguish he stuttered out "Not my loves. Please, not this! Oh death, could you not make an exception? Could a deal not be made? Oh spirits please, hear me in my time of need." He sat there on his knees weeping, holding them both. A hand gently fell on his shoulder and squeezed him. It was Lynn's spirit. "My love. My husband. You who have foresight of spirits. I will never leave your side" She said with a smile. "Me too papa, me too" Nasea's little voice sang. A fawn stood up from Nasea's side and walked over to Ven and nudged his hand. He gently caressed the velvety soft fawn. The other animals began to depart, and their spirits faded. 

Ven went back to his humble little cottage that used to be filled with love, and laughter, and shut the door. Spent, and tired from the pain in his soul. He fell into a deep sleep. So deep in fact that the vines and grasses grew over him, and entombed him. His body, soul, and magic fused into one being. In nature he could be with his girls again. His life wasn't forfeited however, just able to live on for all time through nature itself. Its conscious and heart. Its connection to the world of man. And the warning of the forest, and the screams therein. To any who should trespass there. Or to make war in peaceful lands. And that is the story of the Screaming Forest.