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Tine trailed the dark forest, using his hands to keep his jacket closed for warmth. It was cold, and he could see his breath. And the air smelled of pine and mud. He shivered a bit, but he kept walking, stepping over tree trunks and large rocks, anything he could see that he didn’t want to trip over.
He was told a while ago by Dim and Green that there was some sort of significance to pine trees within the forest, and that if he prayed to a pine tree spirit, he’d get what he wanted.
Well, Tine’s not that dense, and he knows that’s just something they said to make him feel good. There’s no such thing as pine tree spirit. Oh, Tine could laugh about that for days. But with finals coming up and everything, Tine didn’t have any confidence to pass, so he looked to anything that gave him strength.
And seeing as he couldn’t sleep on the night before finals, Tine decided to head to the woods.
He walked within the deep, dark forest, looking between the crowded trees, stepping on sticks that scattered within the forest floor. He decided on just picking a tree. Tine walked right up to one and looked up.
It was tall. He squinted his eyes. He couldn’t see the top. Nor could he see the stars, as branches and pine needles prevented him from seeing the sky above. Then he inhaled, taking in the pine scent again.
He took out his candle and matchbox from his coat pocket. He glanced up once at the tree again with hesitation. Then he decided to go for it. Tine striked the match to light the candle then stuffed the box back in his pocket.
He held the candle between his hands and he closed his eyes, exhaling deeply.
“Dear pine tree spirit,” he started. He puckered his forehead as his eyebrows furrowed as it felt strange to say that outloud. “I know you’re not out there, and no one’s probably listening, but I’m desperate.” he admitted, “I got finals tomorrow and I really need to pass them. I mean, I admit I don’t study as often as I should. I use my study time to go hang out with Ohm and Fong and Phuak and sometimes we blackout but that’s not the point. The point is I want to do well on my finals.”
A twig snapped.
Tine opened one eye and turned his head. He saw nothing. So he turned back towards the tree and squeezed his eyes shut again. “I brought you an offering in case you’re not convinced.” Tine dug around in his coat pocket.
There was a crunch.
Tine’s eyes flew open. He looked behind himself. “Hello?” he asked to the dark forest air. “Is anybody there?” He scratched his head then turned back when he got no answer, swallowing a nervous lump in his throat.
“Um, so anyway, I can’t seem to find the offering, but I swear I brought it.” Then he pressed the candle between his hands again and closed his eyes again. Then he heard a small whistle of wind. Tine opened his eyes again and the light on the candle was burned out.
Tine nodded, staring at the smoke. Then he turned his head. He could see amber glowing orbs. Eyes. Tine’s heart sped up at least three times.
“Thank you for listening. I’m gonna go now,” he told the tree he stood in front of, then turned around and bolted back to where he came from.
Tine became breathier as he ran, his heart pounding as fear rose up his body. He didn’t wanna look back, but he did, and saw the glowing eyes again, closer to him this time. Tine sped up, his throat becoming dry. He could feel something near him; the heat of something was near. He knew whatever it was, was tailing him. Oh, he knew it was a bad idea to come out to the forest alone. Tine squeezed his eyes shut.
Then he tripped over a tree branch into the wet dirt and mossy greens, soaking his pajama pants. The candle rolled away.
The boy opened his eyes and turned back, only to find the dark figure standing over the top of him, golden amber orbs that were similar to honey, glowing like the sun.
Tine couldn’t look away as they hovered above him, no matter how hard he tried. His heart was about to pound out of his chest as he felt the figure’s breath on his skin.
“You have beautiful eyes,” he said, lifting his arms to cover his face in self defense.
“Thank you,”
Tine put his arms down slowly.
He came face to face, noses almost touching, with what looked like another boy his age. Brunette bangs falling in his face, dark skin, and, of course, his glowing eyes.
Tine swallowed as they looked each other in the eyes. “W-what?”
“I thanked you for the compliment,” the other said to him, his voice low and somewhat… soothing. Then he got off of Tine and stood up straight. “I’m Sarawat,”
Tine looked around then back up at the figure. “I’m Tine, I guess,” he said with hesitation. He decided to finally get up as well, his bottom cold and wet. He wiped his hands on the front of his pants. “Why were you chasing me?”
“You prayed to me so I showed up.” Sarawat told him. Tine lifted his eyebrows. Then he put his hands on his hips.
“You’re not…”
He nodded, “Yes. I’m the pine tree spirit,”
Tine gapped at him for a moment in disbelief. Then he laughed. “Pine tree spirits aren’t real,” he howled. Sarawat cocked his head.
“Are you making fun of me?”
Tine immediately quit laughing and he cleared his throat. “No, sir,” he denied apologetically. Then he looked up at the figure again. There was a faint glowy aura that surrounded Sarawat’s body. Then he looked down at his bare feet. “You’re really a pine tree spirit?”
Sarawat nodded with wide eyes.
“Well you didn’t have to chase me,” he huffed out. “You scared me. I thought you were a monster,”
“Oh, I’m a monster?” Sarawat pointed. “You’re the one lighting candles in the forest.”
Tine put his hands up in a praying position again, bowing a bit. “I’m really sorry.” he apologized. He really didn’t think it was a big deal; not a passing thought came to mind telling him not to bring a flaming candle to a forest. He could’ve accidentally started a fire. Now he feels dumb. He didn’t want to hurt the trees. “It won’t happen again.”
“I’m just kidding, people do it all the time,” Sarawat laughed at him. Tine stood back up and crossed his arms. “Wanna tag along?”
Sarawat gestured behind himself. Tine looked at all the other dark forest trees.
“Why should I?”
“You don’t have to,” Sarawat shrugged. “But you should know there are other spirits in the forest that aren’t as kind as me,”
Sarawat turned and started walking away. Tine looked around with fearful eyes then quickly ran after Sarawat.
“So you’re really a pine tree spirit?” Tine asked as he walked alongside the other.
“Why’s it so hard for you to believe?”
“Well, my friends said you were real, but I just thought they were messing around with me.”
Sarawat looked over at Tine. “Well maybe you should listen to your friends next time.”
Tine looked down at the ground and stepped over a rock. “Do you eat pine cones?”
“You humans are all the same.” Sarawat sighed. “Thinking I eat leaves and sticks and stuff just cuz I’m a forest spirit.”
“So, you don’t eat pine cones,”
“No, I do,” Sarawat nodded at him. Tine’s mind then got curious.
“You’ve come across other humans in the forest?” He asked. Sarawat shrugged.
“Once in a while,” he said. “But no one ever wants to play with me,” then he looked up at the trees as they walked. “They’re like you; they pray to me, then when I show up, they run away.” he looked down at the forest floor. “But I have the elk and the bees to play with, so I guess that makes up for it.”
He pointed at one of the trees. Tine looked up at it as they passed. “See that tree? One thousand four hundred years old.” Then he pointed to another tree on the opposite side of them. “I’m old as that tree over there. It’s two thousand, six hundred and one years old.”
Tine looked at him with wide eyes. “You’re saying you’re two thousand, six hundred and one years old?”
Sarawat nodded at him. “We just celebrated our birthdays together yesterday.”
Then he suddenly halted, putting his arm out for Tine to stop walking as well.
“Here’s a good spot.”
“For what?” Tine furrowed his eyebrows as Sarawat dropped to the ground, digging his hands into the moss and mud.
“For your offering,”
“Oh, that?” Tine sighed. “I think I dropped it. I couldn’t find it earlier.”
Sarawat looked up at him from his squatting position on the ground. “Check your pocket.” Tine dug around in his jacket. He shook his head at Sarawat. “Check your other pocket.” Tine stuck his hand in his other pocket and slowly pulled out a large pine tree seed, holding it up between his index finger and thumb.
“How did you--? I mean, this wasn’t here earlier,”
Sarawat reached his empty hand out. Tine looked at him then put the seed in his palm. Sarawat took it and dropped it in the hole he dug. “You know, pine trees represent strength, growth, and wisdom. That’s why they live so long.” Then Tine watched him close his eyes. Sarawat hovered his hands over the mud mound. “Grow, tiny seed. You belong to the other trees.” a beam of light transferred between Sarawat’s hands and the mound. Tine’s eyes grew wide.
Sarawat stood up and faced Tine. “Your wish is granted.” Tine squinted at him.
“That’s it?” he asked in more disbelief.
“That’s it,” Sarawat nodded, “You’ll do well on your finals tomorrow.”
“So all it takes is one tiny offering, and I’m set?”
“Tiny offering?” Sarawat questioned, gently. “Look, around you, Tine. Look at how big these pine trees have grown. Look how strong they are. Think of the many lifeforms that trees take care of. You didn’t give me a tiny offering. You gave me a big one.” he told him. “And by tomorrow, there will be one more tree here in the forest. One more tree in the world that can provide for you.”
Tine hadn’t thought of it that way. He looked around at the surrounding trees.
“Most people bring me acorns or rocks,” Sarawat continued. “I just eat the acorns, but really the only thing rocks are good for are throwing them into the lake,”
“You skip rocks?” Tine asked, though he was a little caught by surprise. “I used to do that all the time when I was a kid,”
Sarawat perked up. “Do you wanna skip rocks with me?”
“Um, actually, I should really be getting back to my dorm.” Tine rejected him. “I should be getting some sleep before school tomorrow,”
Sarawat dropped his shoulders. “You’re right.” he agreed. “Get some sleep. Oh, and good luck on your finals.”
The two parted ways and Tine went back to his dorm to get a good night’s sleep.
When he woke the next morning, ready for classes, he didn’t feel nervous. Nor did he hesitate on choosing his answers for the tests. And when scores came back, he had a good grade in each and every one.
When the night fell dark, and the stars were out, Tine took a small trip out to the cold forest.
He wasn’t good at directions, so he stopped at what would be a good tree. Then he put his hands up in a prayer position and closed his eyes. He sighed.
“Um… pine tree spirit,” he started, “If you’re there, would you please come and see me?”
Tine opened an eye and looked around the dark forest. He didn’t see anything. Then he closed his eyes again.
“Sarawat, are you there?” He listened closely. He couldn’t hear anything. So Tine opened his eyes and looked around. No figure. No anything. He sighed and shut his eyes again. “If you’re busy, then that’s okay. I understand. I just wanted to say thank you.”
Tine opened his eyes and dropped his hands to his side. As soon as he turned around, he was met face to face with a pair of golden amber eyes that glowed like the sun.
“For what?” he asked.
Tine swallowed. He couldn’t look away from the beautiful eyes. “U-uh, for helping me with my finals. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Sarawat eyed him. “But you did do it without me,” he said, “I wasn’t there. You did it all on your own.”
Tine supposes he’s right. He gave a small smile as he looked down. “I brought you something.”
“Another offering?”
“More like a thank you gift,” Tine suggested, digging into his coat pockets. He pulled out a bunch of rocks. “Do you maybe wanna go throw rocks in the lake?”
Sarawat blinked at him with his wide glowing eyes. “You wanna play with me?”
Tine felt shy all of a sudden as he stuffed the rocks back in his pockets. “Well, yeah,”
Sarawat’s face grew a smile, showing teeth, as his cheeks puffed out.
Then he grabbed Tine’s hand and the two ran hand-in-hand to the lake at the end of the forest to skip rocks.