Chapter Text
“Found one,” Setsuna Yuki said as she spotted a black rabbit nibbling at some grass on the ground. The very thought of eating made Setsuna’s stomach rumble. “Forgive me, Ayumu-san,” she said in her head before pulling out her bow. She cocked an arrow and held her breath.
Then the growling in her stomach became loud enough to startle the rabbit. Maybe thinking the growling came from a non-human predator, the rabbit twisted its head in Setsuna’s direction. She let the arrow loose, and it landed where the rabbit used to be before it scurried further into the forest.
Setsuna let out a sigh before cursing her stomach for being so hungry. Well, it’s not like Setsuna was free of blame. The other two rabbits she caught were burnt to crisps when she cooked them earlier in the day. She was terrible at cooking small animals. Larger animals, like deer, were much simpler for her.
Not that she was a professional chef when it came to larger meats. The last time she cooked deer meat she ended up with something edible. It just resembled jerky more than a nice steak.
As she remembered the deer she had killed, a wave of guilt passed through her. Setsuna didn’t like taking from the forest now that she knew Ayumu presided over all of it. In fact, she didn’t like when anyone came to the forest for greedy reasons. Sure, it was impossible to protect the forest from all ends. That was something only Ayumu could do.
The Justice Archer and the Goddess of the Forest, keeping the peace. Now that sounded cool, Setsuna thought.
After the deer incident, Setsuna told herself that she would only eat small animals and fruits that she could find on the ground. It didn’t help that the fruit had to ripen to the point that it’d fall off the branch, or that rabbits were quite slippery.
And had incredible hearing, Setsuna thought as her stomach growled at her angrily.
Setsuna tracked the rabbit’s footsteps as she walked further into the forest. She spotted it again, nibbling on another patch of grass. Then as if it sensed Setsuna somehow, it continued further into the forest.
“It’s going to be a while,” Setsuna silently said to her stomach, who snarled back at her as she followed her prey.
Ayumu was at the center of the forest, sitting under the tree where her essence laid inside. Her senses were elsewhere, though, as she tended to some flowers at the edge of the forest. She parted the branches of the trees above those flowers, giving them some much needed sunlight.
Another day with more responsibilities. Ayumu was happy to do them, but doing the same thing every day for hundreds of years had become a little boring. She went through the motions, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
Specifically, they were on a rather interesting human she had come across recently.
Setsuna Yuki, the so-called Justice Archer, was passionate, headstrong, and often quite strange. Ayumu giggled at the thought of her, and suddenly the forest was filled with more energy.
“Whoops,” Ayumu said as she calmed down. Then through a squirrel’s eyes she noticed that a human was approaching the center of the forest. She took a closer look while thinking how she could divert them from reaching this inner sanctum.
She saw Setsuna, chasing… Yuu?
Setsuna must have been hunting again. Well, hunting in itself was fine, but maybe Ayumu could provide food for Setsuna in a different way. With that thought, she sent a signal to Yuu, telling the small rabbit to come to where Ayumu was.
It had been a long time since any human had been allowed underneath the largest tree in the center of the forest. But knowing Setsuna, she could bring no harm to it.
Ayumu simply smiled as she waited for company to arrive.
For a while now, the rabbit had just been moving without stopping to eat. Maybe it had noticed her presence, Setsuna thought. But she was dead set on testing her new and improved cooking techniques on this rabbit.
The rays of light that weaved their ways in through the foliage above grew more sparse as Setsuna travelled deeper into the forest. All signs of human activity had vanished. It was quiet, but not in an eerie way. It was peaceful.
Then the rabbit stopped at the foot of a tremendous tree. Light seeped through its leaves in a way that illuminated the ground beneath its mighty branches. Setsuna had never been this deep into the forest, so it was the first time she had seen it. She marveled at the sight until she was forcefully reminded of her hunger.
The rabbit was a perfect, still target. Setsuna drew her bow.
“Wait a second, Setsuna-chan,” a familiar voice said from behind her. Setsuna spun around.
Ayumu stood there, in that breathtaking white and pink dress. Translucent wings popped out from behind her figure. Her headdress and necklace, both made of flowers, seemed to glow with color, even in the relative darkness.
With a wave of Ayumu’s hand, the branches of the tree arranged themselves, creating dim spotlights that lit the ground beneath the pair’s feet.
“A-Ayumu-san. It’s nice to see you again,” Setsuna said, almost entranced by Ayumu’s beauty.
“Likewise.” The rabbit Setsuna was hunting ran up to Ayumu and leaped into her arms. “I see you’ve met Yuu-chan.”
“Yuu-chan?”
“Ah, she’s just a rabbit that has been very friendly with me after she strolled into the center of the forest.” Ayumu recounted some stories between her and Yuu, and Setsuna listened, thinking about how lucky it was that she didn’t kill one of Ayumu’s friends. Then Setsuna’s stomach grew tired of listening and let out a growl. “Oh?”
“S-Sorry.”
“You must be hungry. I’ll be back in a second.” Ayumu placed Yuu down and flew up into the trees. Setsuna, still feeling guilty about hunting Yuu, knelt down next to her and apologized profusely. Yuu responded by rubbing up against Setsuna, who couldn’t help but think about how cute the rabbit was.
Ayumu arrived with various fruits from different trees and gave them to Setsuna. She happily watched as Setsuna devoured the fruits. After Setsuna’s hunger was satiated, she suddenly felt guilty.
These weren’t just fruits on the ground. They were picked. Well, since Ayumu-san was the one to give me them, it’s fine, I think.
As those thoughts ran through Setsuna’s head, Ayumu watched. Then, she was reminded of what she saw while watching Setsuna earlier.
“Setsuna-chan, can you tell me about… I think it was called ‘cooking?’”
“Hmm? What about it?”
“Well, does it make food taste better? I’ve seen a lot of humans cook meat over fires. Including you.” Setsuna blushed as she remembered her previous failures when it came to cooking rabbits. So Ayumu had seen all of that, huh?
“W-Well, it does make it taste better to humans. In fact, we have to cook the meat in order to eat it.” Setsuna sighed before continuing. “But if you mess up when cooking, sometimes you can’t even eat the meat.”
“Ah, so that means… you’re pretty bad at cooking, huh?” As Setsuna made surprised and flustered noises, Ayumu giggled. “I saw you throw away a couple rabbits you cooked earlier.”
As Setsuna heard that, she felt a pang of guilt in her stomach.
“I-I’m so sorry I wasted the rabbits!” she yelled as she bowed before Ayumu. Seeing that, Ayumu let out a small chuckle, then pet Setsuna’s head lightly.
“It wasn’t a waste, Setsuna-chan. You learned from your mistakes, right? Now you know a little more about how to cook rabbits. Your intentions were in the right place, so it’s not a problem.” Setsuna looked up at Ayumu and saw her calm smile, and her feelings of guilt were washed away.
“So, you aren’t angry that I hunt the animals?”
“Of course not. You can take as much as you need.” Hearing that, Setsuna’s mind wandered.
What about the rest of the people in the kingdom? They weren’t as concerned with the notions of justice and honor that Setsuna was. They might storm the forest and take anything and everything they can get their hands on, with no remorse for the destruction they would leave in their wake. Setsuna couldn’t bear to stand the forest, let alone Ayumu, get hurt for selfish purposes.
She brought up this doomsday scenario to Ayumu, who seemed calm even after hearing about how greedy the other humans were.
“That would be a bit regrettable, but as long as they use those trees for their needs, I am fine with it.” Setsuna’s eyes widened in shock.
“What? You would just let them come here and take everything for their selfish needs? If I had your powers, I would punish the people who dared to do so.” Ayumu shook her head and smiled at Setsuna, as if she was looking at a young child who knew nothing.
“I would never harm humans,” Ayumu said before turning around and looking up at the leaves above. “As long as they have a good reason for what they’re doing and avoid wasting, as much as possible, then it is fine.”
Ayumu took a long pause before turning back to Setsuna.
“After all, the forest’s purpose is to give to others.”
Setsuna had never thought of it like that. The plants and animals all grew to help others, whether they be humans or other animals. And Ayumu was in charge of that system, helping it thrive so that others could thrive alongside it.
Setsuna’s respect and admiration for Ayumu multiplied in magnitude as she thought more about those words.
“As long as this tree remains safe,” Ayumu said as she touched the tree that bound her to the forest, “then this forest will continue to grow and provide for others. As it has for hundreds of years.”
She smiled before continuing, “Though, it has been a long time since anyone has made it here without being guided or brought here by me. You should thank Yuu-chan.” Setsuna did as Ayumu asked, and Yuu nuzzled against Setsuna’s leg. Then she looked back up at Ayumu.
Setsuna walked up to the tree and watched her. Ayumu smiled at the tree and ran her hand along its trunk. Her eyes were full of longing and nostalgia. It was as if she was remembering all of the things she and the tree had been through over all the years.
Setsuna didn’t know that Ayumu and the tree were one and the same. She didn’t know that Ayumu was replenishing her energy to stay in the same form that Setsuna saw her in.
Setsuna only knew that Ayumu looked beautiful, incredible... and dreadfully alone.
Humans had seldom ever been to this part of the forest. Setsuna wondered if Ayumu revealed herself to them as well. In any case, taking care of the forest by yourself, day in and day out, must make you feel lonely.
“Ayumu-san, do you… ever feel lonely here? Setsuna asked, probing to learn more about her guess. Ayumu responded with a tilt of her head.
“Of course not! I have Yuu-chan, and Sasuke to spend time with.” She raised an arm, and a large snake appeared out of the darkness and flitted its tongue out at Setsuna. Ayumu smiled, but Setsuna could sense that something was different from her usual demeanor.
“And now I have you, Setsuna-chan. Right?”
With those words ringing in her head, Setsuna had found a way to pay Ayumu back for all she had done. When she tried saying it in her head, the words seemed almost paradoxical but, at the same time, felt right.
I’ll protect Ayumu-san from people and loneliness at the same time.
“Is it okay if I come here to visit you sometimes?” Setsuna asked.
Ayumu paused. She knew it was foolish to become attached to humans. They were supposed to be companions in passing. People to guide. People to share the forest with. People to spend a little time with whenever they entered the forest.
But Setsuna was offering to spend time with Ayumu. Of her own volition, with no ulterior motives.
Ayumu knew how much it hurt to get attached to someone, only for them to pass away. It had happened between her and a human friend, so long ago. Ayumu would live as long as the tree they were next to still stood. Setsuna was just another human. The lasting pain wouldn’t be worth the momentary friendship.
But then she saw Setsuna’s gaze, fiery, and passionate, and caring. All of the things she had learned to expect from Setsuna. So she caved.
“You can come here as often as you like,” Ayumu said with a calm smile. She wondered if she made the right choice, but recalled her own words, as if she was using them as a reason to justify her decision.
After all, the forest’s purpose is to give to others.