Going Further In
The red eyes of the scary creature stayed in my mind, a strong warning about Blackwood's secrets.
But even though I was afraid, I felt like I had to go forward.
I needed to understand the singing crystals, the sleepy animals, and the clicking creature trying to protect them.
The forest had a dangerous secret, and I had walked right into it.
My first thought was to run, to go back to the edge of the forest where I knew things.
But the picture of the small, sleepy animals, helpless under the glowing crystals, made me stay.
Inside, I was fighting – wanting to be safe but also feeling like I had to help these strange creatures.
The clicking creature hadn't seen me yet.
It was watching the scary creature coming closer.
This gave me a little time to look around and see how dangerous things were.
The red-eyed creature moved very fast, its long claws twitched, and the metal smell was strong.
The deep woods looked beautiful but hid something very scary.
I had to do something, but what?
My little knife wouldn't help against that monster.
My only chance was to understand things, to watch and maybe connect with them.
I took a deep breath and stepped into the open space.
The clicking creature saw me then.
Its shiny eyes looked at me for a second, surprised, before looking back at the scary thing and growling softly.
It didn't seem to want to hurt me, just… knew I was there.
The red-eyed creature finally saw me.
Its mean eyes looked right at me.
It made a sharp, scary sound.
Its red eyes glowed even brighter, like it was very hungry.
The quiet of the deep woods was broken by the scary creature's threat and the small hope that we could work together.
Inside, I was thinking fast.
The clicking creature was small and couldn't fight the big monster.
The sleepy animals couldn't protect themselves.
I was the only one who could maybe distract it, to give the others a chance.
"Hey!" I called out.
My voice shook a little but went across the open space.
"What are you doing?"
The red-eyed creature stopped, looking right at me now.
Its eyes felt like pure evil staring at me.
It took a slow step closer, its claws scratching on the mossy ground.
The clicking creature used this chance to run forward and scratch the scary creature's leg with its sharp claws.
The red-eyed creature yelled in pain and anger, looking at the small attacker for a moment.
This was my chance.
I had to understand the crystals, why they were pulling the animals in.
I moved towards them carefully, looking at their glowing light.
They felt a little warm and made a soft shaking feeling that felt… like I couldn't look away.
The heart of the deep woods beat with a strange, dangerous rhythm.
The small, furry creatures at the bottom were completely still, their eyes empty, like they were lost in the crystals' glow.
They weren't eating the light; the light was pulling them in.
Inside, I was trying to hurry.
I needed to stop the crystals' power, to understand why they were doing this, before the red-eyed creature beat the clicking one and came back for the sleepy animals – and for me.
I reached out to one of the crystals.
Its light glowed like it wanted me to touch it.
As my fingers touched its smooth side, a shock of energy went through me, making me feel warm and dizzy.
I saw quick pictures in my head – colors moving around, strange shapes, a feeling of being very hungry.
I pulled my hand back quickly, my heart pounding.
The crystals weren't just light; they were eating something, making a strong hunger feeling.
And the small creatures… they were the food.
The beauty of the deep woods was a trick, like a pretty song leading to something bad.
The red-eyed creature was angry again, looking at the clicking creature, which was bravely running in and out, trying to protect the sleepy animals.
But the big monster was too strong and fast.
It hit the clicking creature, sending it flying into the plants.
Now, it was just me between the red-eyed monster and its food.
I was very scared, but I also felt like I had to protect the others.
"Leave them alone!" I yelled.
My voice was surprisingly steady.
I grabbed a thick branch on the ground and held it like a weapon.
The red-eyed creature hissed, its red eyes on me.
It took another step closer.
I could feel its hunger. I knew I couldn't beat it.
The deep woods had shown its real monster, and I was in its way.
Then, a low, rough growl came from the shadows at the edge of the open space.
The werewolf came out, his shiny eyes on the red-eyed creature, his strong body ready to fight.
The clicking creature, hurt but moving, limped out of the plants and stood protectively near the sleepy animals.
The red-eyed creature looked at the new danger and made an angry sound.
They stood facing each other, ready to fight.
Inside, I had a little hope fighting against a lot of fear.
The werewolf and the clicking creature were here, but could they beat this nightmare?
Suddenly, the humming of the crystals got louder, their light flashing faster.
The sleepy animals started to move, their eyes not empty anymore, looking confused and a little scared.
And then, I saw something else.
There were shapes carved at the bottom of the biggest crystal, the same strange shapes I had seen in my head when I touched it.
They flashed with the light, and when they did, the red-eyed creature stepped back, hissing and scratching at the air like it was in pain.
The secrets of the deep woods were written in light and old shapes, a language of power and weakness.
My mind raced.
The shapes… they were hurting the red-eyed creature. Could they be the answer?
Without thinking, I reached out and touched the crystal again, looking at the flashing shapes.
The pictures came back into my head, stronger this time, with a feeling of… disgust?
Like this light, this hunger, was wrong.
As I focused, a wave of energy came from the crystal, going across the open space.
The red-eyed creature screamed, its body flickering like it was burning.
The sleepy animals stumbled away from the crystals, shaking their heads.
The humming started to get quieter, the light fading.
The red-eyed creature, weak and terrified, turned and ran into the deep shadows, disappearing quickly.
The open space was quiet, the only sounds the soft crying of the freed animals and the heavy breathing of the werewolf and the clicking creature.
They turned to me, their shiny eyes looking surprised and… like they understood?
The danger was gone, for now.
But the deep woods had shown a power much stranger and more dangerous than I could have ever thought, and I knew my journey into its heart had just started.
As the last of the humming went away, the ground under my feet started to shake again, this time stronger.
A deep, rumbling voice echoed through the trees, a voice that sounded old and powerful, and the air felt heavy with something I couldn't see.
The werewolf and the clicking creature got ready to fight.
Old Man Hemlock's warning came back to me: not everything that shines… is good.
The light of the crystals was gone, but a new, much stronger power was waking up in the deep woods, and it felt like it was calling my name.