The boy shifted his way through the forest for some time, not really having a plan of action, just trying to navigate the darkness. He couldn’t believe how the sun couldn’t penetrate through the forest at all. In fact, the only light at all seemed to be a sort of moonlight, although there was no evidence of any moon in this world. The boy figured this must be some of the magic of the realm again. The forest was dark, but it wasn’t quiet. Ty could hear whispers and creepy sounds all around, as if the forest was in fact alive.

Ty came upon a thick patch of grass and was surprised at how well it was growing in the darkness. He started to walk through the grass, and it disappeared under his feet. The boy paused for a few moments thinking he was imagining things, but the grass was gone. He then remembered what he was told about spirits living in everything in the forest, and he figured maybe the grass spirits were the shy ones that he heard of.

He continued on till he heard a rumbling sound behind him. Ty turned to look, but in the darkness couldn’t see much past his own face. The sound grew louder, and something was getting closer to him. He winced to try and see what it was, and then he saw it. There was a rock as big as a shopping cart rumbling towards him. This must be a vengeful spirit, so Ty turned and ran. He kept going as fast as he could, not really knowing what he might run into. The sound of the rock was getting closer, and the boy thought he actually heard a chuckling sound. Before it got to him, he managed to narrowly run between two large trees, so he stopped. Sure enough, the rock smashed against one of the trees, and disappeared like the grass had just before.

“Ouch!”

Ty froze dead in his tracks; he even tried to hold his breath so he wouldn’t make a sound. He was alone, as far as he knew. What in the world had just said ouch?