It felt like the forest was closing in on all sides, like a clenched hand poised to strangle the life from him. Tangled vines hung from gnarled branches, clawing at Roland’s face and hair, and the uneven ground was littered with damp, moss covered rocks hidden by the shroud of night. It seemed he was the last living creature among the shadowed boughs of crooked trees, clawing his way through a labyrinth with no end while demons laughed at him from the gloom. A warm breeze swept through the trees like a sudden breath, leaves whispering conspiratorially as they brushed against one another. At night, the Deep Forest was both beautiful and ominous.

He had traveled all day, from dawn to dusk, allowing himself little rest in order to cover more ground. It felt like he’d traversed miles of uneven, rocky ground since he left the Threshold, saying a hasty farewell to the Unicorn he’d briefly enjoyed the company of. His muscles ached from the walking, and he tensed at every sound, every movement that caught his attention. He was lost and fatigued, with no idea what could be lurking in the darkness.

As the stallion pushed through the forest, eyes wide, he caught sight of something flashing ahead; a small, golden, glowing light pulsating as it moved through the trees. He jerked to a stop, nostrils flaring as his muscles coiled, preparing for flight. He lacked the courage to investigate, and so stood as still as stone, waiting for it to come closer or dart away. As time passed, the luminous orb remained, spiraling through the air like an earthen star, darting around the trees and lighting on the ferns before taking to the air again. Roland watched in perplexity, jaw slack, as the light continued to move as if it were a being with a mind of its own.

Steeling himself, he took a step closer, hooves clacking against the stones underfoot. As the forest opened up around him, more lights blinked into existence until he stood among them, their yellow glow cast across his dappled hide. With a sudden pang of embarrassment, he realized that they were not ethereal specters at all, but simple fireflies dancing on the breeze. He laughed to himself quietly, tension seeping from his limbs. The shadows were playing with his mind, and the longer he remained among the constricting trees, the more he longed to escape them and feel fresh air against his skin. The torpid breeze that rolled through the forest was stagnant, smelling of rot and damp foliage drenched by a recent rain, but the fireflies lent a sense of comfort to the foreboding woods, and Roland felt he could tolerate the darkness a while, as long as he was in their company.


walk walk walk
"talk talk talk"