Accursed

November 18. 2021

Words: Lend, Disorder

A refreshing gale blows the hair of a child wandering in the foliage of the forest. Animals mingle around the child, greeting her as they pass by. It was dim inside the embrace of nature, barely does light penetrate the foliage of the tallest of trees.

The child arrived at the front of the oldest tree spirit. It bears the body of a tree and a sagging face of a human. It was dying.

The little girl howled, echoing throughout the forest. She cried and cried until an old lady caught the attention of the child. The lady wore a skull of a wolf, its canines hiding the lady's features, a long, ragged robe made from foliage, and a staff with an unusual orb pulsing a green mist.

"I can help you," said the lady, offering a helping hand to the pitiful child. 

"Really?" asked the child. The lady nodded

The lady explained that for her to save the spirit, she would have to sacrifice her life to the forest. Spending months, years, decades, or even centuries living in the forest. She cannot leave the forest. If she does so, life would cease to exist in the forest. 

The child was overwhelmed. However, that does not stop her from accepting the offer. Because of this exchange, the lady, a shaman, began reciting enchantations. A mysterious light penetrated the foliage, shining upon the timid child and the dying spirit. A burst of light enveloped the forest, disturbing the life living within it.

After the light had dissipated, the child and the spirit had disappeared. What did appear was a woman, enveloped in vines and plants. Her skin was green, her eyes were green, her hair was green. She was infused with the spirit. 

When the woman came to, she had lost sight of the lady. Then a voice echoes in the back of her mind.

"I'm sorry," It said. 

From there on, a dryad-- a child infused with the forest's spirit-- has been born. The curse of immortality is far more devastating than other curses.