Dear Diary,
After following Abo's directions, we finally arrived at the Forest of Envy. The dense forest, with tall trees and beautiful plants, was a sight to behold. As we walked further into the woods, we couldn't help but notice the remnants of what looked to be homes and small villages, now overgrown with vegetation. The silence was eerie, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves and birds chirping. This place seemed like any other wood until we spent more time; as we adventured further, things felt more magical.
It took a while, but we finally found the run-down shack in the middle of the woods. We were hesitant to knock, but there was no need. As we walked up to the door, a griffin-like creature with a human face opened it abruptly.
He let us inside and introduced himself as Virgil, a hermit who lived in the forest. He had been expecting us, thanks to Abo. Virgil was strange, but he was knowledgeable. He had a vast collection of books that he let us peruse and even gave us valuable tips on survival in the forest.
He seemed kind enough until I finally asked my question; Abo had told us that Virgil was a guide. I was under the impression that Virgil would be journeying with us; I was mistaken. This set him off when I asked why he was teaching us these things instead of taking us out and showing us. He threw two bags full of things and told us to leave his home; as we picked up the bags and left, we heard him yell, "I am an all-knowing being, not a tour guide; you find it yourself!"
In the bags given to us, we found two books of foraging tips for this world in one and nothing but empty vials and pouches in the other. At least we had something to carry our goods in now, but we feel like we still barely know where to start. Virgil gave me a bad feeling that I can't shake. I hope it means nothing.
As we settled into our campsite, I couldn't help but feel anxious. Virgil's outburst had left me shaken, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about him. Still, we had come too far to turn back now. We needed to find what we were looking for in the forest. We spent the rest of the evening studying the foraging tips that Virgil had given us. The books were full of valuable information about identifying edible plants and berries and tips for hunting small game. We also learned about the dangers of the forest, such as poisonous plants and aggressive animals, and how to avoid them.
We finally feel too tired to continue our research and are calling it a night, I hope to write tomorrow about all the food and supplies we found.
-Felicette
YOU ARE READING
The Cat's Grimoire || 2024 ONC
Short StoryFelicette, a charming and curious black cat, serves as a familiar to a young and kind-hearted witch named Lilith. Together, they embark on countless adventures that have never been too much for them to handle. But when something magical goes awry, F...
