Lost in the Forest

"Mother! mother! mother?" The child's voice echoed through the forest. The forest floor of needles were so soft and soothing. The towering pines stood silent and unmoved by the tormented child. The forest which could seem so beautiful and friendly is now ugly and proud. The boy angrily wiped his eyes. Suddenly he cried out in surprise; something had bitten his leg, it is ant. He pulls it's legs off one by one and then last of it's head. Even the ant is full of pride, he bit but would not even cry out in pain. The boy looked around for the ants nest but when after a minute could not find it he ran again. "Mother! mother!" the prideful hills mocked him "Mother... mother..." His hand caught a blackberry as he passed tearing his skin, without stopping he pulled out the thorns that had stuck. The pain and the sight of blood gave him new energy. In the distance the sky was starting to glow orange and red. For once this beautiful sight filled him with horror, the red seemed to run as though the sky were bleeding. The sun was dying and already there was a chill in the air. His foot caught a rock and suddenly everything slowed down, he watched a tree glide toward him, in vain he tried to cry out. The whole forest howled at and rose up toppling him over backwards. The ground turned to jelly and the trees danced  around and writhed like huge snakes towering up into the bleeding sky. The roaring wind deafened the boys ears and he fell forward on his knees as the forest reared up and the ground bucked like a wild horse trying to free herself. The forest gave another blood curdling howl and flock of crows swarmed down from the sky. The boy tried to fight off the darkness. The sky flashed red and black behind the dancing serpents. The child wildly swung at the sky trying to keep his balance and grabbed at a tree. The roaring wind and the thumping of his heart echoed through the forest. He twisted his head back and his eyes rolled up and closed.

* * * *

A fox scampered through the forest back toward her den and pups. Her mouth watered from the bird she'd just caught, the taste of warm blood choked her and she dropped the bird to lick her lips. Suddenly her fur bristled and she sat up alert. She had caught a disturbing scent in the night air. Picking up the bird she cautiously moved toward it. After a bit she saw a large creature laying on the ground, motionless. From the smell it was still alive, it lay in a distorted heap of limbs and shaggy twisted skin. After watching for some time she circled in closer to investigate the creature. Perhaps it was sick? It didn't smell of sickness -just the stench of fear, saliva and blood. The creature stirred and the fox jumped back in alarm, but it made no other movement so the she crept forward again. The creature was bleeding and fox sniffed the creatures head, and licked it, the creature was very salty. Suddenly the creatures eyes opened and then it screams: "Mumma!"