The Forest of Pacts

I found myself on the edge of a forest

A magnificent tree stood before my eyes

It must have been taller than fourscore my height

The leaves in its crown calmly moved with the wind

Whispering - about other travelers before me

Beneath it a narrow path outset, barely a foot wide

I knew it slithered through the whole forest

Even though - I never saw it afore

The silence was broken by a birds cry

Cut off by an atrocious outcry

"I... I must go into it, it is calling upon me."

With confidence I said, and immediately

Took a step back scared of what's to come

"If I don't, my sister... will breathe her's last."

Just as I entered it's welcoming shade

All my fear fled, like a flock of birds

When they see a seasoned falconer

The Forest - Myslevyr was its name - felt mysterious

There was something... unnatural about it

I felt as if it was alive, but not alive like flora or fauna

It seemed to... have a mind of its own

Is it a thing from another world?

The sun was slowly setting and I was tired

I decided to camp for the night near a spring cold

When I was in the middle of making my lair

I picked up a crackle to my side - without thinking

I dropped to the ground and towards it crawled

From behind a bush I saw three creatures - half man

Half goat - gathered around a campfire

My body decided for me - I ran

Ran as fast as I could, as far as I could

Making sure to still follow the path

Taking my half-made bed with me

Hoping the creatures would not look for me

In tomorrow's sun's radiant blaze

In the morning I woke up to the sound of a wolf's howl

Thankful that the creatures didn't decide

To make me an empty vessel without a soul

The path started slowly creeping upwards

And the tree branches began to get denser

Now the forest whole was full of eerie sounds

I started to worry if I will be able to come back

I spent a week in this forest, learning it's ways

Keeping my distance from everything

I did not understand

And on that faithful day I reached a river

With a tree slumped over it

My mind numb - I started climbing it

And then I heard it right next to me -

The growl I was hearing for the week past

Scared out of the living daylights

I slowly turned my head

Straight into its grinning face

Terrified to the core, my mind went blank

I woke up on the ground, unable to move

Thinking I was paralyzed I awaited

The monster's return

But after a while I regained control

Grateful to all the gods, I swam through the river

Not even worrying about what may have lurked below

And continued my journey to the other side of the forest

After a year or so of going in circles I exited the forest

Right next to the tree I first saw

With my sister long gone

And no one else home

There's nothing here worth my time

I think I might go back

To live out the years I still have

In the place that took my life

And who knows?

Maybe I'll find where it leads

All the poor, lost souls

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Inspired by SCP-6028