The Forest

The sun picked up the drape and lay down on its bed to rest. The atmosphere cooled down; the yellow heat was smoothly replaced by the orange glow of warmth; and the shadows rose to embrace themselves. The sun dipped and gave way for the darkness to reign. It was catastrophe; it seemed that this would be the first win of good over evil or the light against darkness.

The wind broke the silence and woke up the creatures. Blowing in gusts like burst fire from a rifle, it ravaged through the leaves and tore through the gaps between the trees. Resisting this vicious motion against them, the trees held strong and didn’t budge.

Retreating due to the onslaught led by the wind, the creatures which thrived in the day scampered to the safety of their homes; small caverns, the gaps in the bark of woods and the safe haven at the top of the trees, far far away from the massacre led on by the wind.

The creatures in the withdrawing contingent consisted of a vivid variety. Almost every genus being covered, the platoon raced away in all directions, a colorful rainbow disintegrating into its parent colors. A unique moment in all of jungle lore, it was surprising to see an antelope running wildly behind a tiger with the predator trying to escape and not kill.

Stopping to look up at the amazing spectacle, a baboon glanced up. The radiant sky, painted with wisps of orange and red and maroon, held the yellow ball which was fighting valiantly to leave the battleground for rest; it was as if it had other commitments somewhere else.

The battle did not last for long and the fleeing ball of light managed to do so with minimal damage. Darkness prevailed and the shadows became solid. The nocturnal beings crept out of their slumber and left for a night full of stalking and slaying. Deadly creatures as they were, all of them waited patiently for their prey to venture out. They all waited for a mistake.

The handsome steed galloped towards the forest at an unimaginable rate. In full control, the rider moved in accordance to the jumps of his mount and danced precariously to the beat of the hooves. Oblivious to the danger awaiting them, they raced through the first line of trees.

Invisible in the darkness, the rider and his stallion emanated only the sound of their travel. Cutting through the underbrush with flawless skill, the rider swung his sword in all directions. Managing to disturb the sleep of almost all the creatures, the rider reached a clearing. And he waited. Waited for the forest to rise.

Moving in accord with each other, the creatures shifted into pattern as if they had practiced the movement for years. Arranged in order with increasing size, they shifted noiselessly. A mistake had been committed, and they would all avenge it.

The arrival of the danger did not cease the attitude or even induce a sense of fear in the rider. He skipped off the horse and slammed into the hard earth beneath him. The wind returned, and blew the hood of the rider away.

As the beings moved closer, their image of the miscreant became clearer. A white shiny face, glimmering in the darkness, with huge eyes and long ears; remnants of war present on the pleasant face in the form of scars and the single projection coming protruding from the middle of his head-a horn.

As they approached, a murmur passed through the audience. The stallion vanished and the rider transformed into an impossible being. They bowed their heads in prayer. They knew it was him-their God. He had come to rid them of evil-Faunus was here.