A story by YenYen Lintang

Strange creaking sounds and animalistic cries resounded through the gloomy forest. Ruwin couldn’t see exactly what was happening out there because a thick mist obscured all, even the path ahead of him. With a shiver, he tugged at his damp leather jerkin and shrugged the sword higher on his shoulder. He cursed himself again for ever setting out on this quest, for not being satisfied with his hometown, for wanting more and for seeking out this King who supposedly knew each person’s past and each person’s future.

Something ahead caught his attention. As he neared, Ruwin made out the form of a small girl with wild hair, in a tattered white dress. She was sitting in the dirt, and couldn’t be more than seven years old.

“Hello,” she surprised him by speaking first.

“Hello,” he responded quizzically. “Are you lost?”

“I’m not lost,” the girl assured him in a confident voice. “Are you lost?”

Ruwin was taken aback a moment by her precociousness. Recovering, he laughed embarrassedly and said, “I think I am a little. I can sort of figure out where the path is, but the mist is so thick that I can’t really tell where I’m going, or which direction to take when there’s a fork. Are you familiar with this place?”

“I know everything about this place.”

“Do you know if there’s a King who lives nearby?”

“He lives just up ahead.”

Ruwin looked in the direction that the girl was pointing.

“I can’t see anything,” he said. “Will I be able to reach the Castle if I stick to the path?”

“Oh, no. You can only reach the Castle by going through the forest.”

The blood-curdling cry of some dying creature emanated through the dark woods just as she said this.

“Surely I’ll be able to get there eventually on the path?” Ruwin asked, suppressing a shudder and adjusting the sword on his shoulder. The path may have been shrouded in mist, but it was certainly better than the forest.

“No,” the girl said. “If you really want to reach the Castle, you have to go through the forest.”

Ruwin frowned. He fingered his sword, looked from the path to the forest to the girl. The girl looked back solemnly.

It was absurd. He had been traveling through the forest for a long time now, and nothing very bad had happened to him as long as he stayed on the path. What reason did he really have to believe the words of this odd little girl, dressed in rags and sitting in the dirt?

“Alright,” he said, inexplicably taking a leap of faith.

The little girl smiled, stood up and held out her hand. Ruwin took it automatically, having already submitted himself to her guidance.

As soon as they stepped off the path, the mist thinned just enough so that Ruwin thought he could see a series of lights up ahead.

“Is that where the King lives?” he asked.

“It is,” the girl said. “Step where I step, stay focused on the lights, and don’t get distracted by the forest.”

Ruwin nodded, following exactly behind the girl as they began a dizzying, twisting journey through the forest, crawling over fallen trees and jutting roots, skirting around creepers and pools of pitch. The girl was amazingly fleet-footed and at ease in the environment, skipping, humming and singing blithely.

When they came to a steaming, sulfurous swamp, with only a rotting fallen tree as a bridge, Ruwin let go of the girl’s hand so that he could better balance himself. He gave all his attention to figuring out where to put his feet, but it seemed that concentrating so much on a limited area was affecting him in an adverse way. He fought to keep his balance, failed, and found himself falling headlong into the murky waters. Just as his head was disappearing under the surface, he cried out for help.

The next instant, he felt something clutch his hand. Then he was on land again, coughing up black liquid and gasping for air.

“I told you,” the girl scolded him. “Step where I step, stay focused on the lights ahead, and don’t get distracted by other things!”

They continued when Ruwin had rested and regained enough strength.

As night fell, the forest took on a different, more sinister air. Small glowing creatures began to appear in the surrounding undergrowth, and Ruwin thought he heard sounds from very close behind them. He gripped the hilt of his sword just for comfort, and that was when he realized that many of the small glowing creatures were actually eyes staring at them from the darkness.

Fight instinct taking over him, Ruwin drew his sword. The glint of his weapon against the moonlight attracted the creatures. Something large darted out at them and attacked. Ruwin gave a cry and fended it off, but not without receiving a few injuries of his own. When he was sure that the beast was dead, he ran forward, grabbed the bemused-looking girl and ran quickly through the forest. The girl was trying to say something to him, but Ruwin shushed her as he sensed more forest creatures creeping up on them. He pushed the girl next to a rock for protection, then got ready for the onslaught.

An army of rather small, but sharply clawed, critters launched themselves at him. Ruwin fought with all his might. He had always been able to hold his own in a fight, but now he could feel claws and teeth sinking into him, knocking the sword out of his hands.

As he was being dragged into the shadows, he made a grab for his sword.

Suddenly, the girl appeared in front of him and thrust out her hand.

Ruwin looked, bewildered, from her outstretched hand to his weapon.

Surely she did not expect him to make such a decision? His sword had served him well over the years. It failed him just a moment ago, but if he could only grab hold of it again and reorient himself, he was sure he would be able to fend off the creatures…

“Trust in me!” she entreated, eyes wide and voice shrill, as if begging.

It was ridiculous. But he found himself making the leap. Giving up on himself, on his sword and what he could do with it, he reached out his hand and entrusted himself to the little girl.

Instantly, he felt the claws release him.

Battered, bruised, and bloody, he was able to scramble to his feet with the help of the girl. Feeling weak and more than little ashamed, Ruwin hoped that they would reach the castle soon.

Just as he thought this, he looked up and found himself standing before the shining gates. He went forward, but a pair of guards barred the way.

Helpless, Ruwin turned back to look at the girl.

She smiled at him and held out her hand. He took it automatically.

The guards let them through.

“Do you know the King?” Ruwin asked her as she led him into the hall.

“Yes,” the girl answered. “He’s my Father.”