Fantasy What lies Among the Trees

[Calibutcher]

All that we think we know pales in comparison to what we do not know. 80% of the ocean on our very own planet lays unexplored, unmapped uncharted. Yet we claim to have explored every inch of the land, climbed every mountain explored every cave trekked every vast plain, and wandered the prairies wide. But what have we missed? What lays our knowledge barren compared to what we think we know. What if some of the travelers of this earth, the people who go missing or those who wander away never to be seen are simply discovering something we never knew about?

This is such a story, and it lies deep in the woods. No longer slumbering among the trees. Something is no longer interested in merely being hidden.

 

[Calibutcher]

ZoneyGirl
Your hike will start here....

 

[ZoneyGirl]

Hiking had always been a hobby of hers. From her years of cross country track in high school to dragging various friends and significate others on various hiking paths across the country. She had been to many, hiking along the coast, in the redwood forests and the Rocky mountains. Getting into nature just made her shoulders slump as she relaxed. She often got lost in the sounds of nature or whatever was playing in the earbuds that day.

Judith was in her late twenties, toned legs from her hobbies. Currently dressed in a pair of dark green cargo pants, a black jacket wrapped around her waist, and a soft cotton blend black t shirt. Vibrant red curls of hair pulled back into a ponytail and soft green eyes covered by the pair of polarized sunglasses. A backpack of supplies over both her shoulders as she stepped further into the dark, dense woods of her latest hiking path. She raised the bottle of water her lips and took a sip. Stopping to catch her breath for a moment.

A hand pressed against a tree as she stretched. She was planning to go on a decent hike, bringing supplies to camp over night before she would head back to her car. She wanted to explore the forest, something about it called to her. It felt ancient, powerful even. Almost like a voice was luring her deeper in the dark woods covered by the entangling canopies of the trees. She had been plenty of places, but this one felt different. And it only lured her deep and deeper into it.

She felt her wrist buzz and raised it to look at the latest message she got from her phone. Her friend Georgie asking if she was down to join them for brunch on Sunday. She agreed and dropped her wrist after. The day was still young and she had plenty of energy. She slid the water bottle back onto the side of her backpack and gripped her walking stick. Pushing forward and sinking deeper into the darkness of the forest.

 

[Calibutcher]

NIta was stalking the border of her woods right along the edge of where her influence spread. While the need to look around in such a manner was not entirely necessary she wanted to look. She also wanted to put distance between herself and the other beast that she was stuck with. She shook away the thought, not wanting to dwell on such things here when she was surrounded by so much beauty. No matter what lay in her woods nothing had undermined its raw beauty.

These were the deep woods, the places people did not usually reach even more so than normal as her space in the woods did not technically show on any maps. Which made what she needed to do even more difficult. Lure a human here. It had been too many winters without success, and she wondered if she could ever end the vicious cycle of waiting. She stomped along her path crushing leaves and twigs beneath her hooves. She paused and clutched at the bark of a nearby tree. How many times had she wandered by this spot? She groaned a mixture of frustration and agony.

She was considering banging her head against the tree when she stopped and turned her head suddenly. She could sense it, a new presence in her woods. Human. She licked her lips and for a few seconds locked up in a panic, she needed to keep whoever it was here. She broke free of her stupor and focused on where the person was. All she could tell now was that it was a lone human right on the edge of her territory. It would take her some time to travel there herself. She would need help.

She closed her eyes and muttered in a soft language, she reached out to the closest creatures she could find. She found two suitable subjects. Whitetail deer, Emui and Tallahu. She knew both of the creatures personally. In her quiet voice, she spoke to them regardless of distance and told them what to do. Emui was resistant to the idea but Tallahu readily agreed, and wherever Tallahu went Emui would follow. That done NIta began trekking through the woods in the fastest path she could think of to get to the human.

Tallahu and Emui were a scant walk away from the human and as they crested a small hill together they caught sight of the only human they could see. Emui the smaller of the two deer looked to Tallahu with concern but Tallhu pressed on all the same. The two deer approached slowly but did not veer away from the hiker as they normally would. They would do as asked, they could trust Nita after all.

Emui stayed back a few steps but Tallahu the larger deer approached the hiker and came just within reach. She turned her head inquisitively and huffed air as she caught the hiker's scent. She craned her long neck forward and gave the girl an opportunity to brush her muzzle. After such, she shook her head at the strong odors the human carried and looked back to Emui who gave a small bow of her head.

Tallahu circled around the girl and stood behind her Emui began to lead the way deeper into the woods. The large deer pawed at the ground imploring the girl to follow.