The towns surrounding the forest all knew of it. Something was living inside of it, and it wasn’t human. Some believed it to be a deity of the forest, some believed it to be the forest’s very soul embodied. Some just thought it was a myth. A lot of them, if not most, respected the forest and treated it well. They believed whoever didn’t would be cursed.
Some wood cutters reported pained screams when they tried to cut down a tree. That animals would try to attack them until they left. They said the forest grew darker, seemed denser. Animals looked at them with murderous intends. They never stepped back into the forest.
Some children say that they got lost in the forest, but some animals lead them out of it again. Some say they saw a person smiling at them. A few even claimed they had talked to this person, who had branches like a tree growing out of their head.
The forest was sacred to many. People prayed to whatever spirit lived in it, and in return received its blessings. Or so they say. A lot of people offer little gifts to the forest, which they say are always gone when they look again. People ask the forest for advice, for help, and often will receive an answer.
The forest was breathing with life, thriving. Leafs green in the sun, birds singing their songs, animals living in peace. It was a wonderful place, through which many traveled safely.
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