Everything started in a quiet small village close to a mysterious forest where no one had an explanation for how it appeared. Some say that the ancient gods created it to provide resources for less fortunate people, and some say it is the hand of evil that resides in the creation of the forest. But no one knows, and people adventure in it to gather resources to trade and live their life. Although, there is one rule about the forest passed down by the first people who lived in the village.
One should have seen fourteen summers, pass through fourteen cold winters, and enjoyed the early stages of one's life.
This saying meant that you had to be at least 14 years old to be allowed to enter the forest. There were many other rules that you had to follow, made by the older generations, to be sure the new ones would not face the same mistakes.
For Yoshimoto Ryuji, that day when he was finally able to accompany his father in the forest is today.
*Chattering*
*Horse neighing*
*Steps*
*Creek*
*Door opens*
(Yoshimoto Akiko) - Wake up, you don't want to be late today.
*Rub*
*Rub*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Am I dreaming?
(Yoshimoto Akiko) - No.
(Yoshimoto Akiko) - Now get ready and get outside.
*Door closes*
*Creek*
*Crack*
*Swoosh*
After Ryuji changed into some clothes from the wardrobe, he headed outside. His father, Yoshimoto Masao, and his uncle, Itsuki Toya were waiting for him equipped with axes and food in the cart.
(Yoshimoto Masao) - Ready young man?
(Itsuki Toya) - This is your first day in the forest, I thought you were more excited about it.
*Rub*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Yes, I am.
*Grab*
*Shake*
(Yoshimoto Masao) - It will be fine, I promise you.
(Itsuki Toya) - Let's not waste time. Hop on.
*Whip*
*Clank*
*Clink*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I can't wait to see the forest with my own eyes.
(Itsuki Toya) - I thought your father told you stories about it.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - It is different when you see the words come to life.
(Itsuki Toya) - Indeed.
*Whip*
*Clank*
*Clink*
(Itsuki Toya) - Almost there, you can see it from here.
The forest was dense, and the terrain was much different than he imagined. There were trees so tall that they could touch the sky. The grass was so green that it seemed to be from another world. The water flowing in the forest was crystal clear. But there was something strange about it, it was very quiet. There was no sound that you could hear.
*Whisper*
(Itsuki Toya) - Remember what your father taught you, do not go too far from the path.
*Whisper*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Why are we whispering?
(Itsuki Toya) - This is called the Silent Forest, if you make any loud noise you will not leave it unharmed.
*Shivering*
*Whisper*
(Itsuki Toya) - Do not worry, we have been here many times and nothing bad happened.
Even if he told him that nothing happened, the thought of it scared him.
(Yoshimoto Masao) - We arrived.
(Yoshimoto Masao) - I will get some berries.
(Itsuki Toya) - Then I'll go with him and gather some wood while showing him around.
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(Yoshimoto Masao) - Take care.
(Itsuki Toya) - We'll meet here at the usual hour.
*Step*
*Step*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - How are we supposed to get wood without making noise?
(Itsuki Toya) - Few places always have wood, we just need to get it and leave.
(Itsuki Toya) - Stay close.
*Step*
*Bush*
*Swoosh*
*Whisper*
(Itsuki Toya) - Here we are.
After passing through some bushes they arrived at the spot he was talking about, there were logs and branches already cut down only for them to pick them up.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Does anyone live in this forest?
(Itsuki Toya) - Not that we know about. Why are you asking?
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Because it is weird to find those logs already prepared.
(Itsuki Toya) - We do not often question what is happening in this forest, because its whole existence is a mystery.
(Itsuki Toya) - Now, grab what you can.
*Nod*
*Step*
*Grab*
*Crack*
*Echo*
(Itsuki Toya) - Be more careful where you step.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Sorry.
*Step*
*Grab*
(Itsuki Toya) - Looks good, now let's head back.
*Step*
*Huff*
*Step*
*Distant howling*
(Itsuki Toya) - That is earlier than usual.
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What was that noise?
(Itsuki Toya) - The forest made that noise.
(Itsuki Toya) - Let's hurry.
*Step*
*Horse neighing*
*Horse startled*
*Pat*
(Itsuki Toya) - Easy boy, easy.
*Horse neighing*
*Distant howling*
(Itsuki Toya) - Where is your father, he should have come back after hearing the howl.
*Worried*
*Trembling voice*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Should we go after him?
(Itsuki Toya) - If he is not here in 5 minutes we are leaving.
*Angry*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - How can you do this to him?
(Itsuki Toya) - This is the rule we established, if anything happens to any of us we leave without each other.
*Step*
*Step*
*Grab*
(Itsuki Toya) - Where do you think you are going?
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - You can leave if you want, but I'm going after him.
*Sigh*
(Itsuki Toya) - Fine, but be careful.
*Running*
What should I do, if I make noise I don't know what will happen. And if I do not I probably would not find my father.
Ah . . . I don't know what to do.
*Yelling*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Father . . .
*Step*
*Step*
*Crack*
*Yelling*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Where are you?
*Distant howling*
*Grunt*
*Step*
*Step*
*Grunt*
*Shocked*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What happened?
(Yoshimoto Masao) - The tree fell on me, and I could not move.
*Tries to push the tree*
I am too weak to do anything and cannot save someone. It is frustrating.
*Grab*
*Huff*
(Itsuki Toya) - Push!
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Ah!
*Grunt*
*Grab*
*Drop*
(Itsuki Toya) - Let's hurry.
*Close howling*
*Running*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I can see the horses!
*Running*
*Crack*
*Tree falling*
(Yoshimoto Masao) - Watch out!
*Push*
*Loud thud*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Thank you!
*Drop*
*Drop*
*Shocked*
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Your legs!
(Itsuki Toya) - Grab him.
*Grab*
*Howling*
(Itsuki Toya) - Put him in the cart!
*Grab*
*Push*
*Thud*
*Howling*
*Hya*
*Hya*
*Trop*
*Trop*
*Crack*
*Trop*
(Itsuki Toya) - Try to stop his bleeding!
*Grunts*
*Pain*
(Yoshimoto Masao) - I am glad you are safe . . .
*Cough*
*Cough*
(Itsuki Toya) - I can see the exit from the forest. Brace yourselves!
While they were running away from whatever that was, the trees behind us were falling more and more, and the howling was closer. They managed to get out of there alive, but the scars left by the forest marked Yoshimoto Ryuji. He was too weak to help his family, he was too careless and almost died, and the one that he could not protect and help risked his life for him, losing both legs.
- Am I cursed?
*Trop*
*Trop*
*Crack*
*Trop*
The rain started pouring as soon as they entered the village as if the sky was crying for what had happened.
*Yelling*
(Itsuki Toya) - Doctor!
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Where is the doctor?!
*Running*
(Doctor) - What is the hurry?
*Shocked*
(Doctor) - Oh dear! Bring him over to my house immediately!
*Step*
*Step*
*Grab*
*Thud*
(Doctor) - Leave him to me!
(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Can I stay with him?
(Doctor) - You would better go tell the news to your mother, kid.
*Grab*
(Itsuki Toya) - Come, let's unload what remained of the resources and wait until tomorrow.
*Sob*
*Sob*