With such slow progress, it’s only obvious that the sun would at one point fall below the horizon, allowing the night sky to bathe the forest in such deep darkness that I can no longer see past the closest trees. For that matter, I can’t really tell what anything is at all. Everything has the same dark-green shade. The rocks that I had previously been so assured of now look less like rocks and more like hunch-backed creatures contending amongst themselves.

The forest doesn’t feel real anymore. In the middle ground between day and night, the trees look to me like organic pillars; the moss alive.

After a few hours, my stamina starts running dry. I feel tired, but if I go to sleep, I can’t be sure that I’ll wake up again. I’m sure this is a result of my mossy body requiring sunlight to move, but I still force myself to continue walking. Even when the night takes over and I can only see the falling streams of moonlight shearing through the canopies, I keep walking.

I feel dazed and strange. The trees wobble around me. The moss beneath my feet stretches endlessly. The rocks look at me curiously.

I pause only when I find a path.

Yes, a path. One that snakes between the trees, clearly stepped upon by many creatures and people before.

For a few seconds, I just stand here, staring at my salvation as though it has to be a mirage of some kind.

And then I see the light.

Further down the path, there’s a light. Not like the moon peeking out through the branches, not like the gleam of a creature’s eye, not a stray star. A light.

The lantern sways gently from side to side alongside the movements of whoever's carrying it. I can’t tell whether they’re walking towards or away from me, but in a surge of strange emotions, I understand only one thing clearly: I need to go towards it.

I start walking, but when the lantern remains far off and distant, I start running. My fragile stamina quickly runs out, but I keep running, trying desperately to absorb the moonlight and turn it into energy. Is this the cost of Cap? Higher dexterity at the cost of stamina? Tired and certain, I put it out of my mind. I keep running.

Even when my legs feel hot and ragged and my body starts falling apart, I keep running. The night air rushes past me. Is it just my mind, or does the lantern seem to come closer?

But right as I begin to feel assured of the lantern being closer than ever, I notice how the trail turns the other way. The lantern is no longer walking on the trail, but has instead jeered off the path and into the deep, impenetrable forest. I pause my running, feeling hot and strange inside. Why would he leave? Where is he going?

Cautious, I stand still, my mind running circles around whether to follow or to remain on the trail. The lantern moves further and further away.

Cursing under my breath, I run into the woods, darting over snaring moss and avoiding tall mushrooms and large rocks.

Then, as I approach once more, I see how the lantern has stopped. With newfound hope, I press on, even when the moss changes into pools of mud and strange, tall grass. I approach further. The forest, although now precocious, flies by me as I run and run and run.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The lantern stops just around a bend. There isn’t much left.

With my nonexistent heart beating, I turn a corner to find it standing a few paces before me.

The lantern hangs solemnly beside a man-shaped silhouette. But it isn’t a man.

Lyktgubbe: Dödsväsen, rank Å. A spirit that lures lost souls in the woods to their doom. Once you have seen its face, there is no escape.

It has turned to face me. We are in a small clearing, enlightened by the light of the silver moon. I cannot see its face, only the blackness of its presence. I can feel its gaze fall on me, dragging itself over my body like a cold slug. Unwillingly, I shiver. I don’t want to die. What is this thing? A spirit? Why would it call me? Is it because I am a lost soul? Fearful questions prickle across my mossy flesh.

And then, as I stand there, fully expecting death, it disappears. The light goes out in a gust of biting wind, and I briefly hope that it might have been the death of it. But the taste of its slimy presence still lingers.

Right. Right…

I fall to my knees. Cap squishes against my thigh and I wish I had an arm or something to touch it with.

But this place… This place isn’t too bad, is it? A small clearing surrounding a larger rock. With the moon shining down, it almost looks pretty. There’s a certain mystique about it, even though I would personally prefer a warm couch and a bottle of olives.

I don’t think I can leave this forest as I am. By every measure I can see, I am weak.

Mossling(F-) Lv 1/10 Stage: Kid Health: 4/4 State: Mycorrhiza(Lesser), Shaken

Yeah, thanks, I know.

But my gaze is drawn to one thing here, apart from the obvious. Level 1/10. If my life really has become a stupid game of some sort, then it would follow that increasing my level should make me stronger. If it caps out at 10, then that would mean that once I hit that level, either something strange happens or I just stop right there as is. Whichever happens, I’m probably going to be at least somewhat upset over it.

In games, you usually increase your level by killing things.

Considering I’m pretty much just walking moss, I would personally assume that I’d get experience by, well, doing things that moss does. But photosynthesizing for hours didn’t give me anything. So…

I turn my gaze to my legs. Does a mushroom count as a living thing? In all honesty I doubt it.

For that matter, added dexterity has helped me pretty well, so I guess you’ll live another day, Cap.

Then, if not Cap…

At my feet is a carpet of moss, but within this, there is movement. Nothing supernatural, nothing terrifying, just…

Ant(F-)

Stage: Adult Health: 3/3 State: Normal

...Ants.

My blood turns to ice and I feel an intense bloodlust.

Now that I’m looking closely, there are quite a few ants. And other things.

Beetle(F)

Stage: Adult Health: 4/4 State: Normal

Worm(F-)

Stage: Juvenile Health: 4/4 State: Eating

Ant(F-)

Stage: Adult Health: 3/3 State: Normal

Okay. Alright. Maybe this clearing isn’t as unoccupied as I thought. If I just keep myself calm and don’t go haywire over a few stupid, idiot insects, then I can just trudge out of here and never-,

Something touches my foot. I look down. My eyes meet the eyes of an ant the size of a small dog. My mind goes red.

FUCK!!