[ WP ] The Legend of the Treeless Forest

“ Papa, tell me again about the Forest. ” Jacob demands from his bed, blanket pulled over him as the wind gently blows through the trees around the house. Walter smiles, tucking the blanket in around his son better. 
 
 “ It ’ s very late. ” 
 
 “ I won ’ t go to sleep unless you tell me it again. ” A pout appears on Jacob ’ s face but his drooping eyes tell a different story. 
 
 “ Fine, fine, if it will help you sleep. ” Walter pats the blanket as he speaks. “ You drive a hard bargain my son. ” Jacob grins brightly at him. 
 
 “ That ’ s what my teachers say. ” The boy stifles a yawn, snuggling into the bed further. “ Tell me about the Treeless Forest, Papa. ” Walter gives a nod, moving his eyes up to where Jacob ’ s drawings are pinned to the wall, the child ’ s imagination running wild with his father ’ s descriptions of a place that he might see in the future. 
 
 “ The Treeless Forest is quiet. Very few birds and animals live there. The trees are tall things of metal and glass that litters the streets. The ground itself is black and grey and green life only grows from the cracks and broken areas. ” Walter glances to his son, seeing Jacob listening intently even as the boy ’ s eyes droop more. “ The metal trees stretch further above than any tree we ’ ve seen before and they sway in the wind that blows. 
 
 “ Each tree can be climbed from the inside, stairs may lead you up and up, the floors in some of the trees reaching well over fifty. Each floor can be different from each other. Some trees are very different from one another as well, some hold rooms that look like they once held people. Others hold kindling and broken down trees that rot slowly into yellow and crumble at the touch. 
 
 “ The tallest of the trees have places far above, where you may step out and look over the Treeless Forest. It is very high, and one slip may drop you the very long way to the ground. ” Walter grimaces, recalling the accident with Joshua ’ s son Remus. “ It is extremely dangerous. Some of the glass still falls from the metal trees and crashes to the ground, shattering and as you know, each shard is extremely sharp. ” 
 
 “ How sharp? ” The question is tired, one that Jacob already knows the answer to but Walter indulges him anyways, looking at the piece of colored glass hanging in the open slot for the air to come in. The piece of blue-green always lit the room up beautifully when the sun came through it. 
 
 “ Sharp enough to gut a boar with. ” Walter nods and Jacob snuggles deeper into the blankets, seeming to be falling asleep. “ You must always keep your wits about you for the Forest does not enjoy us walking through it and disturbing it. ” Another, younger and less experienced scavenger comes to mind, the glass falling onto him as they watched helplessly. Those screams wouldn ’ t leave him, no matter how far he tried to distance himself from them mentally. 
 
 “ Why not? ” Jacob ’ s eyes are closed, words slurred. 
 
 “ Because the Treeless Forest is a grave, my son. It is the remnants of people who lived a long time ago, and their ghosts still haunt the trees and the ground without mercy for those who still live. They envy us, for we still live and they were robbed of their lives by others. They seek to kill and take our lives, even though they can not. They simply spread misery. ” 
 
 “ Will I scavenge there too one day, Papa? I want to see the Forest. ” Jacob opens his eyes only halfway, almost asleep despite forcing himself to stay awake. His eyes close again almost immediately. 
 
 “ Maybe so. ” Walter grimaces as he looks at his son. “ But that day is far into the future. ” Walter leans down and kisses Jacob ’ s head. “ Sleep well. ” 
 
 “ Mm, thank you Papa, ” Jacob murmurs. Before Walter even leaves the room, the boy is sound asleep.
