The herd didn't scatter. They moved closer and ceased all movement. One could almost mistake them for statues. Their eyes open, ghastly staring in all directions at once. A flower of horns protruded outwards, warding all predators...apart from me.

Ignoring the unease I felt from this scene, I moved slightly to another place. As I didn't bother with my axe, I had to endure the brambles and the thorns scratching and piercing me. My thick leather hide stopped most of it though.

Taking aim once more, through the various twisting branches in front, I let loose another arrow. Flying straight through the narrow openings, it emerged in the clearing for a moment before disappearing.

One more stag fell, its horn thudding against the ground as if a sign of surrender. A stalk of thin wood could be seen embedded in its neck.

Another hunt, another prey.

They didn't react one bit, only shuffling to take the place of their lost member. This unnerved me. Deer didn't act this way. No prey acted this way.

Their empty gazes still spread out, a bloom of sharp horns and black beads. The doe could be seen behind the outer circle, with the same exact stare. I couldn't see the fawns and neither did I wish to.

A stalemate had occurred. The deers just stood there motionless. I stared at them from the shadows. Time was quickly passing. I needed to go.

Not without the prey though.

Having no choice but to end this hunt early, I slowly looked around for something I could use to frighten them. There was too much on the ground: withered leaves, dead branches, and innumerable thorns. Nothing suitable though. Digging through the debris, I found something that could work. A lonesome rock, the only one that I found in the immediate vicinity.

Holding it up, I judged it. It was heavy enough to produce a distracting sound and could be thrown a fair distance. Suddenly swinging my arm back and judging a suitable angle, I threw it.

Arcing up through the canopy, catching the only light it had ever seen in decades, it fell straight into the clearing. Straight into the middle of the herd, most definitely hitting a fawn.

No reaction. No sound. Just the same circle of eyes.

Discomfort slowly drowned me. It was just so unnatural. Something was definitely wrong. It couldn't be them. Not in a group.

Instead of leaving, I slowly came closer. I was making a mistake. I knew that, but still. Something told me, what I expected won't happen.

Dragging my cart, I stepped into the light of the setting sun.

|=====================|

In a small clearing illuminated by shadows and an orange sky, stood a man. Opposite him, stood a herd. A herd that was looking straight at him, unmoving and silent.

The man was also immobile, standing and staring back.

Barry had misjudged the situation. His intuition had been wrong. The moment he stepped out, was the moment all their gazes swiveled toward him, with uncanny smoothness. Since then, they had been frozen in this position.

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The sky gradually turned dark and at the final moment, Barry stepped back. The deers all looked towards his new location but did not move. He stepped again. They looked again, always staring.

Barry stood still, judging the strange reactions. He stepped forward. No change in the response. He stepped again and again, inching closer. The herd did not change.

Barry came beside the prey and grabbed them by their horns. He then pulled them all the way back to where he emerged from. During all this the deer just stared, unwavering and quiet. Like the statues they were.

Not once did Barry look back, just strapped the prey into his cart and just went back to the path he came from. The herd was then once more hidden from view by the silent forest. Their fate remains unknown.

|=====================|

Without a sound, I walked. Following the path subconsciously, I had nothing to do. Nothing apart from vigilantly observing my surroundings. The night had truly fallen by now, the unfamiliar darkness and shapes, playing tricks on my unused eyes. The forest was truly dangerous now, every next step having the chance of being my last. Still, things had been normal for now. I was close to the grass.

What happened back there...I couldn't remove it from my mind. The way that herd behaved. Something had definitely happened to them, no creature would willingly leave the depths, not with its bounties. The depth shouldn't be dangerous to them, only outsiders would suffer. If it were possible, they could all be corrupted due to the Collapse of the central lake. But corruption isn't uniform, the years had shown proof. It is better to believe nothing of such sort happened to them. Perhaps...

A flicker of movement beneath my feet caught my eye. I looked down and froze. I was standing on the grass, which was swaying as one whole.

I physically recoiled, ready to jump away. But nothing happened. The grass fluttered unbothered. My gaze swiveled across the entire field, where the grass undulated harmlessly. I looked deeply at them, and their beautiful movements.

The sight of the grass no longer seemed disturbing. That beautiful vibrant green, lush, and full. Growing solely for me. Why was I afraid of them? They are so peaceful and innocent. Just dancing in the breeze, providing a show just for me. Inviting me to feast with that welcoming glow.

To feast on them, to indulge with them, and forget the worries of the world. After all, wasn't the deer that I found here happy too? It was alone but unconcerned, just happily feasting. Such joy should be shared. Why shouldn't I take part?

I reached with my hand and grabbed a lock of that generous grass, tugging it out. Up close, it was just so wonderful. Parallel channels that pulsed with a soft, hypnotic glow. The continuous dance of its strands twisted it into all sorts of mesmerizing shapes.

Such a beautiful thing, so beautiful that I couldn't bear to eat, but...it begged me to. And I couldn't let its pleas be unheard. I brought it closer to my mouth, about to taste the freedom it offered. The strands twisted and reached toward my mouth, displaying their childish eagerness.

The moment those wonderful little guys were about to become one with me, a soft grumble rang out from everywhere. The grass froze.

The mysterious glow of the field regrettably disappeared, the strands wilting and becoming incredibly dull, hurting my heart.

I looked at the poor grass, lifeless in my hands and no longer as vibrant. A true tragedy. With immense sorrow I embarked on my previous promise, to devour and accept the grass. I stood there, awaiting my happiness but none came.

I couldn't believe it. The grass had promised, it wouldn't lie. I began to shovel more of the field into my mouth, desperate for that piece of joy and freedom that was my prize but nothing. Absolutely nothing. I felt betrayed. I was betrayed. The grass had lied. This impossibility was the truth, a truth I wholeheartedly hoped didn't exist.

Another rumble rang out, closer. I turned my head with intense eyes, full of hate. The source of the sound killed the grass, that I was most sure of. The grass didn't betray, it was pure. The creature behind the sound was responsible. It was the only thing nearby that could do this.

Standing up tall, I looked toward the direction where the rumble came from. I was ready to avenge the innocent child that had promised its fortune to me, ready to bestow vengeance. A surge of strength flew through my body, enough to ensure whoever came forth would suffer. I was willing to lay my life.

Another rumble, a thud of something monstrous approaching, shook the ground. I was not frightened, the grass was with me and I was with it. We were one, we were grass, we are-

The forest plunged into levels of silence never heard before, a silence I was unaware existed. When that figure came into view, the world slowed. Our eyes slowly met, staring deep into each other. Something within me snapped.

Like the fog clearing, I ran away without a word. I left all that was a burden behind.

For I had encountered a Patchwork. One that walked.