Challenge #04923-M174: Monsters in the Night

Shh, they'll hear you -- Spare AMitA Prompt

In the Forest of Giants, a war has raged for centuries.

The Elves did not know that some trees were more alive than others. They did not have reason to ask before the first branch reached out and crushed the first Elf to bent a bivouac into someone's head. The actual war happened because they did not care to ask.

They were Elves. The first people to make civilisation as they defined it. They had forced peace with the Dragons and Dragonkind. They no longer bowed to anyone. All other alleged people were irrelevant and easy to command. Until they encountered the Trolls.

They were immune to the Circlet of Commanding, being plant-based intelligent life. They were nomads, so there were no cities to raid, no strongholds to siege, and no resources to sabotage. And, according to the Elves, no telling when a wandering tribe would invade Elven territories.

Some fled underground. Some ran to the plains. Some raced up the mountains while others fled to the coldest places they could find.

As for the forest Elves, they broke up into small groups, meeting up only in open glades in the daylight, when the trees were less inclined to move.

But in the night... they had to keep moving.

Jun should have been hiding with the other children. She thought she was grown enough to help fight the enemy with the grownups. She was just as good at sneaking, and could see in the dark really, really far. Even the elders said she had an eye for detail.

They may not let her have a weapon, but she could point for the grownups who did.

She started out with confidence, but got lost after five turns. Jun tried to stay quiet as her fear bubbled up inside her. Slow breaths. Remember the lessons. Listen. Look. The moons were not yet high in the sky, so the world around Jun was all in grey. Shapes, but no detail. She could see snails or slugs crawling on leaves or stones, but not the trails they left behind them.

She did not see the one who grabbed her, putting their hand across her mouth.

"Hush, now. Calm now," whispered a voice in Jun's ear. "Be still. Be very, very still."

Jun relaxed when she saw whose arm was wrapped around her. Elder Alder's scarred arm had been familiar and reassuring for all the nights Jun could remember. She trusted Elder Alder, and relaxed in his grip.

Until the cluster of deer raced by. Each with a rider.

The enemy!

And she had almost wandered right into their path!

"They have sharp hearing," whispered Elder Alder. "They could hear you easily if I let you go further." He released his hold on Jun. "Now I have to take you back to the copse, foolish child."

"I want to help," whispered Jun.

"You can help by staying hidden with the others, little sprout," whispered Elder Alder, already carrying Jun carefully away from the enemy. Away from the Elves. "They can summon fire in their fingers, and burn you with a thought. None of the grownups want to know that their little ones were their victims. Stay with the others, stay still, and stay safe. You can join us when your crown joins the unmoving trees' crowns."

"I'm nearly there," complained Jun. "Just two reaches to go."

"Then you must wait two reaches' growth, my dear." Elder Alder gently set Jun down with the rest of the children. Waiting in patient stillness in the copse. "Juniper Freeleaf, stay where you are put, so we don't fall from worrying about it."

Jun sighed, and took her place in the copse. "Yes, Elder." She tried -very hard- not to worry when she lost sight of him.

The enemy who hollowed out Grandfathers and Grandmothers were out there. The enemy who burned parents were out there. The enemy -the Elves- who threatened little sprouts like her were out there.

And yet, she couldn't help thinking... They were so small.

[Photo by Abhijit Sinha on Unsplash]

If you like my stories, please Check out my blog and Follow me. Or share them with your friends! Or visit my hub site to see what else I'm up to.

My Prompt Forum is currently down, but if you want to send me a prompt, post it on my Discord's emergency prompt supply.

Support me on Patreon / Buy me a Ko-fi

Check out the other stuff I'm selling