Sometimes a story wants to continue. I’ve been writing these Story and Photos post for fun, just something short for you to enjoy. I don’t go into them expecting to make them longer. Recently, one story, Spring Photos and A Story, wanted to continued. So I did. Here it is. You don’t need to read part one to enjoy this one.
The child was disappearing. At first, Vira Nin was happy to find someone like them. Lyov Ness enjoyed being seen. As the years past, that happiness grew knives and twisted into dread.
The child was now 18 and she could go days without anyone seeing her. Rosella Norin’s family and friends were forgetting her existence. She was special but no one noticed.
Vira didn’t remember her childhood. Did she have a family and friends that slowly forgot about her? It hardly mattered now. She didn’t even know what she was. For centuries, it had been just her and Lyov. That had been fine. The child made her act strange Vira was never happy remaining stationary. Now, the thought of leaving this forest soured what little energy she could absorb from plants.
This spot under the tree used to be relaxing. The small waterfall nearby used to provide music that soothed away unwanted thoughts. The water still ran but it didn’t allow them to hear its song.
The forest usually took care of them. Nature was happy to provide them with food and shelter. That was changing. The vines, flowers and branches making up their house were receding. Holes in their roof didn’t protect them from bad weather. Cold wind blew through the walls, often disturbing their peaceful sleep.
She was so hungry.
“I think there’s something in the forest,” he continued. “It’s hiding from us while it takes over. It’s not nice. It’s making townsfolk hostile.”
The town always fought to protect their land since they were so close to what people called the magical forest. They rarely sought out battles, though.
A flower passed through ground and grass. It grew tall in a couple of minutes. She’d never seen a flower like that in their forest.
Grass rustled. It was Rosella. Her expression was ancient, like she suddenly became as old as they were.
“We should leave now.” Her usually excited voice was empty.
Lyov stood. “What happened?” It came out like a growl.
Rosella slipped her arms around his waist. “Can we leave now?”
Vira joined them. She patted the child’s hand. “Talk to us.”
“Dad kicked me out of the house. He doesn’t know me. No one in town knows me. I thought it would wear off after a couple of days like it always did. It’s been two weeks,” she said in Lyov’s chest.
That explained why they hadn’t seen her in so long. Rosella didn’t stay away often. Still, it wasn’t uncommon for them not to see her for weeks.
