Chapter Text
Long ago, a young girl went with her mother to pick berries for her father who was hard at work.
But the forest greeted them with a dark, cold silence, the bushes empty.
Yet, determined to find the berries, the rascal broke free from Mother’s grasp and vanished into the trees.
Mother’s worried cries faded fast as the girl ran on; over vine, and under branch and into the forest deep.
As she ran, and searched the forest, she tripped on a branch and her knee got scraped.
The mighty tree showed itself, and felt bad for giving the girl a wound. So he ruffled his leaves causing it to fall on the girl.
"Come child, treat your cut." It said.
So she took a leaf and covered her knee, healing it immediately. She smiled with joy.
Feeling strange eyes upon her, the girl recalled Mother’s scary bedtime tales and her throat became bone dry.
Then the Bat Lord appeared! He greeted her warmly and bit his own wing.
“Come, child. Quench your thirst,” he said.
So she drank the thick, dark blood and smiled with joy.
Passing through a graveyard, menacing storm clouds loomed and the air turned bitingly cold.
The girl was shivering in her thin clothes.
Then a Dark Weaver appeared, and with a click of his fingers, crafted mist into a beautiful dress.
“Come, child, warm yourself,” he coaxed.
So she clothed herself and smiled with joy.
Across waters deep and ominous she went, hoping a boat she found would carry her home.
But hunger’s grip tightened and her heart grew heavy.
Then the Fish King appeared and offered one of his many fins.
“Come, child. Eat your fill.”
So the girl ate and smiled with joy once more.
Continuing on, she soon entered the forest’s dark heart.
Then an Iron Steed appeared, bearing a beautiful, golden gear.
The creature said nothing as the girl approached…
…and snatched what she thought was another gift.
The horse grew angry and summoned the other monsters.
Terror filled the girl’s heart as a wild wind rose about the beasts.
Suddenly, a witch appeared – dark, yet regal.
“Gifts we gave, but more you took,” she snarled.
“So more, in turn, is due.” In a blink, the girl was trapped inside a mirror.
Her parents, though, had searched all day and, at last, arrived.
With rampant rage, Father fought the Witch while Mother’s loving touch shattered the dark enchantment.
But the Witch was strong and Father yelled, “Save our daughter!”
So Mother bore their child to safety as the forest was consumed.
Even now, the burnt forest is a grim reminder of Father’s sacrifice.
To this day, any child who stares too long into the charred wasteland will be haunted by nightmares of getting lost while picking berries.
-
The only thing he saw when he looked up from the last page, was his niece tucking her face into his side, shivering slightly. Her hands were clutching onto his shirt for dear life as he ruffled her hair, closing the book and placing it on the bedside table.
The oil lamp beside them was running low, and the girl still wouldn't stop shaking. He sighed and tapped her shoulder.
"Ky."
Still shivering, the grip on his shirt tightened even more.
"Kiara Yvonne."
She finally pulled away, more or less, hands still on her uncle's shirt as he studied her face closely. Moments later, he pulled her small hands off his shirt and put them on his chest. She felt his heart beating, a steady rhythm.
Dug-dug. Dug-dug. Dug-dug.
"Follow my lead."
He started breathing slow and deep, chest expanding and deflating at a consistent pace. She looked up through her tear-stained lashes, and nodded, breathing alongside him until her heartbeat slowed..
and slowed..
...
till it was fine.
"I'm sorry if that scared you kid."
She didn't turn to look at him, and instead gave him a meek thumbs-up.
Its okay.
He rubbed her back gently, and stood up, hesitation evident in his movements. His hand came up to rub the back of his neck, before he turned around and faced her again.
"D'you want a song before going to bed?"
She looked up to face him, nodding and he sat back down as she started settling into the covers. He took the guitar resting by the bedside table, tuning it a little before playing.
As her uncle started singing the familiar lullaby, she didn't feel so scared anymore. Ky's eyes slowly fluttered shut as sleep overtook her, drifting her off to dreamland.