The Enchanted Forest

Shirley twirled around. The Cerulean sky, peeping in tufts, entangled in the branches reaching heavenwards, twirled too. She looked, searching among the green tufts- all shades of green could be seen, emerald, apple, sap, sea, aquamarine. The long trails of soft bottle green moss, like the long tresses of some witch, blowing with the wind, gently beckoning all to swing along.

Her ticking watch drew her attention to time running out.

She was here to search for the most precious thing required for her grandmother.

The pale golden sunlight filtering through the trees ahead, drew her towards it. She started running towards it. The wind called out to her; ‘Catch me Shirley… Play with me… I know what you want… Whoosh! WHOOSH!!!’

The wicked thing tugged at her clothes, her short auburn hair were tousled and messed up, but she had to find that precious, life saver.

She could feel the dials on her belt, whirring away.

Time was ticking…

She increased her pace, picking up her knees, increasing her stride length and breaking into a sprint.

///////

The forest is enchanted. It has all the answers, they said. Since time immemorial people had been escaping to the forest. They stayed for days, weeks and months! Sometimes even years. And came back renewed. Some returned leaner, calmer, stronger. Some returned wiser. Some never returned!

The forest bath… touted as a panacea for all, had people thronging there soon.

And then the rumours began… Of hidden treasure!

Treasure that would end all strife! Treasure that would heal even the most dreaded disease!

And the thronging began. The lonely stragglers were replaced with mobs. The disciplined, regimented souls were soon ousted by the motley, rowdy, scavengers.

The silence was swallowed,  the ravages, replaced it with raucous revellers. Then they were forced to defend themselves. The branches extended, as high and as far as they could. The vines swung around, up and down, weaving a fine web, while the roots radiated beyond the trees, the neighbouring trees and finally beyond the forest.

The tarantulas, the mushrooms, the scorpions, and the deadly nightshade soon cast their wizardry through the length and the breadth.

“Thwack” the first greedy, human who came next morning felt a sharp slap from a branch. Right across his face.

“Hey! What was that?” he shouted.

His mate tripped over a root and was seen dangling up in the branches, entangled in vines so thick and so strong, seemed like  an iron band. The others in the group could barely take stock of what was happening when they heard a loud howl.

“ Help! The black widow!”

“Where? Don’t be daft!” said another.

“Right between my eyes! It is sinister! Its going to kill me!”

Silence!

“Holy Mother of God!” whispered the leader! As he shut the eyes of his mate!

“Plop!” as he turned to check the sound… he found the body of the man up in the vines, cozily cocooned, gently dropped among the leaves. Looked like a baby fast asleep in his cradle, wrapped in a blanket of amber, russet, and brown leaves.

As the group tried to back away, one quiet step at a time, the wind came down in a whoosh! It seemed to be waiting for its turn to have some fun. Whoosh! It blew… WHOOSH! And it stirred up the leaves from the forest floor like magical fairies and elves, dancing to the music of a distant drummer. They swirled and twirled, and the music played on…

They found them all next day, lying in the lap of Death! The look of terror frozen on their hard, ruthless faces!

That was enough to stop the capers of the wild humans. They closed the road to the woods.

/////

She didn’t know that. It was a long time ago.

The forest had gone back to being its peaceful, enchanted self. The wickedness having slithered away, like magic. Yet, here was a human in search of something once again.

She seemed to be … well, harmless! Not an enemy to hurt and harm. What could she possibly need?

The whirring dials, the ticking clock egged her on.

And then she spotted it.

It must be the treasure she sought. The elixir to save her grandma. She recalled the clue:

Under the giant Oak

A flurry for you to soak

Scarlet and Crimson-

Don’t touch!

Brown and Old

Are Gold!

She plucked an armful and pressed the buttons on her dials.

Drenched with sweat Shirley found herself right next to her grandma. Grandma was still sleeping.

Whoever thought a video game would come alive, gobble her up and hand her such an adventure?

“Grandma! Wake up! See I found the elixir! You will be fine!”

And the computer went into a tizzy flashing “Congrats Shirley! You win the Enchanted Forest!”