A freckle-faced, blue-eyed boy was roaming a large meadow with his mother, holding her hand as they walked. He bent over and plucked a daisy out of the earth, then handed it to his mum. She took it with a soft smile and let go of the child’s hand so he could run and play. Right as she released him, her husband approached her and the couple embraced. The boy ran off as the man took the flower from the woman and looked at it, then up at her. Then, he tucked the flower behind his wife’s ear and smiled before kissing the top of her head, then her cheek, then her lips. The woman laughed and kissed him back. They fell into the grass playfully as they continued.
A moment later they heard their son from across the field, calling for them. The father stood up, pulling his wife up with him as she stifled another laugh. They made their way to the edge of the field towards their son. When they reached him, they both sat on each side of the boy.
“What’s that?” The child pointed the opposite direction of which they came. He pointed to an open area at the bottom of a hill that used to be apart of a forest. It was now just land, covered in burnt wood and ashes, except for a single tree that had been snapped near the base. The top of the tree rested on the ground, scorched. The child’s mother took a deep breath and spoke.
“A very long time ago, this forest was full of lovely creatures. They all got along as well. There were fairies, trolls, giants, elves, goblins, dwarves, dragons, and so much more.”
“All was well until one day when someone got a little too close to that tree right over there.” The father spoke up. He pointed to the broken oak tree in the middle of the ashes. The child’s mother spoke again.
“That tree was where all of the fairies used to live.” The boy’s eyes lit up as he glanced back at it.
“Someone decided to take a peek at the magical creatures though one of the entrances.” The boy’s father said. “They put too much weight on the beloved home and it snapped the tree in two. It caused a great disturbance in the forest. All beings scattered as one of the fairy’s potions spilled and caught fire.”
“Sadly,” The mother continued, “It ended up destroying this part of the forest, with that tree being the only thing that was left behind… somehow.” She looked at the oak tree with a puzzled look on her face.
“Curiosity kills, son.” The boy’s father stood up and gave his wife a hand. He helped her up and she brushed herself off.
“You can stay out here and play, but make sure you’re home for dinner, love.” She said. Her husband put his arm around her as they both made their way back to their little stone house, which was right past the meadow and through the woods in the direction that they had come from before.
The little boy watched as his parents walk away for a moment before turning back to the old oak tree. He took a deep breath and took a step towards it. Step by step, his little heart pounded harder and harder against his chest, for he knew that he wasn’t supposed to go down there.
Soon, he made it close enough that he was stepping on leftover ashes and burnt kindling. He got closer and closer to the old home of the fairies. He just wanted to see a glimpse of the past, then he’d run off. Eventually, he approached the tree. He got close and peered through the scorched, splintered wood. He saw small furniture and broken glass bottles. He saw small dresses and pixie dust, along with tiny, open journals filled with knowledge of the forest from back when these fairies still existed. The boy reached in to grab a page with a picture of a daisy on it when he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He jumped and quickly removed his small hand, stepping back as well. The child glanced back to make sure his parents weren’t coming back, then he took a chance by stepping closer again and looking back into the hollowed-out wood. The child heard a small voice come out of the tree.
A wounded, glowing white fairy cautiously stepped out from behind a twig, limping. She has a look of fear and distress on her face. Then she whispered.
“You’re one of them.”
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