Glen walked through the forest. It was a very trying experience, because he had no flashlight. He couldn't see where he was going. The trees were so big they blocked out the moon and stars.
But it was also so quiet at night. He felt like every step he took shook the world with the noise of crunching leaves and scuffling dirt. If he just paused for a moment, he could appreciate the quiet better... Except it wasn't exactly silent. Even though there were no animals making noise, the wind was still, and everyone had gone to sleep, he could hear something, feel it with more than just his pointy ears, almost like...
He could hear the trees growing.
Weird. He never realized that before. He'd always spent so much time stumbling through the forest, during the day, listing to the static in his own head, he'd never bothered.
"Ay," said Horatio, from up the path, somewhere in the trees. "Keep it coming. He'll want to talk to you."
"Yes, yes, I'm on my way," said Glen, and he started walking again.
And then he stopped again as he realized that he hadn't stumbled a single step this entire way. He trips on the flat, even concrete of sidewalks; taking a walk in the forest was usually like a minefield. But here, in the dark, it suddenly wasn't a big deal. This was very out of character, and it made him uncomfortable.
He heard a coo come from Horatio, which Glen chose to interpret as a sigh. "Look," said Horatio, "just follow us. Whatever confusion you're feeling now will be tripled in a minute. And then, you'll understand. Just get your ass in gear already, we haven't got all night. He leaves at dawn."
Glen almost asked, "Who?" but figured that for now it might be best to just keep walking.
After a bit he could hear some voices, which would have been odd, but at the rate things were going, it didn't actually surprise him that much. The muffled voices seemed to get closer as he walked, until he reached a clearing lighted only by a few handfuls of fireflies.
"OH, for the love of --" started someone, a familiar voice. "Finally, you're here."
It was Colin. Colin Peterson, the librarian. He was sitting, cross-legged, on a big rock on the edge of the clearing. Of all people to be in charge of this shindig.... "What do you want?" asked Glen. This guy was pretty weird. Colin could never stop talking about a subject once you mentioned it. He acted all huffy, like he thought he knew a lot more than he was letting on, and was very selfish about it. He had antlers coming out of his head, but that wasn't a new installment -- though what did strike Glen as odd was the fur covering his legs, along with hooves in place of feet. "Um--"
Colin rolled his eyes, sighing. "It's simple enough to hide a couple hairy legs, Glen. Especially when you have a job as dreary and boring as librarian."
"Oh... kay...." said Glen, thoroughly weirded out by now. "So, uh... Why... did you want me here?"
Small critters scuttled across Colin's rock, squeaking as they ran by. "I know, I know, why would I, a beautiful faun such as myself, even bother to call upon your dreary elfish being?"
Glen scowled. "I'm not even -- "
Colin chuckled. "I know what you are. But pitiful enough, you happened to help me and my fellow creatures catch a murderer yesterday. As much as it pains me to say, you actually did... a decent job. Though you probably don't remember it, and it's painful when you try to. Which would mean I did my job well, as always. But I knew you'd freak out about some of the side effects of such a memory wipe, so I had to talk to you about it. Simple answer: I'm magic. Everything touched by my magic takes a bit of the forest with them, and you, my friend, can now communicate with creatures of nature. Why, earlier today, you already made friends with the... lovely.... Horatio, over there."
"Like hell I'm lovely," came a screeching voice from the trees.
Glen just looked skeptically at Colin. "You're full of it, Colin."
"Ah, yes, but that is what makes me such a great ruler of this beautiful forest!"
"Mm-hmm. All one acre of it. 'Night, man," said Glen, turning around. "I'll see you tomorrow in the library."
"Wait! One more thing: You mustn't tell anyone about this meeting, or the wrong people could find me..."
"I have a feeling I'm one of those 'wrong people,' Colin," said Glen. "Also, why would I tell anyone about this meeting in the middle of the night I was told about by a talking bird, at which Colin the Librarian revealed he was the faun ruler of the tiny forest on the edge of town? Hah, it's not as if people don't already accuse me of being crazy every day. Or worse. Usually worse."
"A--" Colin couldn't even get a full syllable in before Glen interrupted.
"Goodnight, Mr. Librarian. I'll see you tomorrow, and then, if you really want to talk, we can do it then." With that, he turned back the way he came, and headed down the path.
Another installment complete! Sorry for the long wait, school started a couple weeks ago, and I had to get situated. I've only had a bit of time, here and there, to even think about writing. And now, I've finally gotten the time to do it. Been one heck of a ride while I was away, though. Maybe I'll write about it sometime. Who knows?
It's getting exciting, having the story advance like this. I have so many plans now, and it's just... Evil plots are going to take place, I can tell you that much. So hang onto your seats, kids, 'cause it's gonna be an adventure!
~Polar
