This is a continuation of B is for Birthday. You may want to read that first if you haven’t already.
F is for
Barry looked around trying to figure out what to do. The decision was made for him when he realized why the grass was luminescent. The glowing grass changed from green to yellow and blazed up into fiery red as the field erupted in fire. Barry could feel the heat rise up around him. Walls of flame covered the field on all sides except for a path directly in front of him, that maintained the grassy ground cover, seemingly unaffected by the fire. That path led straight ahead to the forest in the distance.
Barry moved forward on the path. With each step, flames filled in the areas behind him that he vacated. By the time he reached the forest, the fire encompassed the entire field. For some reason, it left the forest alone.
Stepping into the forest, he continued on the path. He stopped when he noticed movement to his right. On closer examination, Barry found a fox limping slowly in the same direction that he was going just off of the path.
Barry’s first thought was to run, concerned that the fox was dangerous. But looking deep into the fox’s eyes he could see sadness, worry, and concern. Was the fox in danger? Was the fox concerned and sad about itself or Barry? Why was it limping? Should Barry help the fox?
The fox crept slowly towards Barry. Barry stood still, getting ready to run if needed and then to Barry’s surprise, the fox spoke, “Please, help me. I’ve a message for the king. I was caught up in the fire and injured my leg. Can you help me get to the king? It is important that this message reaches him.”
Getting over his astonishment of a talking fox, Barry responded, “I have no idea where I am or how I got here. I would help you if I knew where I was going.”
“I can help you with some of that,” said the fox, “You are in the kingdom of Selat. It is said that you can only get here if you are needed. How exactly you got here and why you might be needed, I cannot answer. Perhaps the king might be able to help. I can lead you to him, but you might have to carry me.”
Barry thought about what the fox said and was about to agree to help when he noticed a sign posted on a tree in front of him. The sign read,
| Beware those entering the forest. All those found within this forest without permission shall be executed.
by order of the King |
Now Barry was worried and nervously said, “I’m not sure I want to risk my life in the forest, based on what the sign says.”
Looking behind him, Barry could still see the glow of the fire and the darkening cloud of smoke overhead as the wind blew in his direction. The way ahead was still clear. “But I guess I have no choice,” was Barry’s lament.
He picked up the fox and following its directions, went off of the path deeper into the forest.
to be continued in H is for Hunted
Oh, I wonder if the fox was saying the truth! The sign sounds ominous.
If you need permission to be in the forest, all the more reason to pal up with the fox with a message for the king – it will give you a legitimate excuse. Eagerly awaiting H…
(Click the Blog link on the second row) : F is for Fiddlers
Pingback: A to Z Challenge 2020: B is for Birthday | hdhstory.net