The S'Tlis (standard:horror, 2825 words)
Author: TheAmazingAndo	Added: Nov 04 2003	Views/Reads: 3169/2208	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
In a fictional world, a man disregards warnings about a dangerous forest. What will happen to him?

Men are afraid of walking alone through the Wood of Kalbana, even more
so after the sun falls and darkness covers everything. For it is seldom 
that any hint of the moon sheds light along that path. Whispers of 
danger and fear are spoken throughout the surrounding villages, and 
even the most unlearned commoner heeds the warnings and avoids the 
path. The only safety lies in traversing the Wood in the mid-day sun 
amongst a group of travelers. 

The villages that lie around the borders of the Wood of Kalbana trade
their goods with each other, but only the bravest souls will carry 
those goods from one village to another. But when carrying 
non-perishable goods, even these brave people will take the longer path 
around the Wood, preferring to stay on the road a few days longer over 
a half-day trip through the Wood. 

*   *   * 

One day, a man named Surai came to the village of Endile, which lies to
the Southwest of the Wood. He was a foreigner, hailing from the other 
side of the continent. Surai proudly walked through Endile's gates, not 
deigning to cast his eyes on any man or woman that he passed. He made 
his way through the town disdainfully, giving only the shortest of 
glances at each building, until he came at last to the place of food 
and rest. 

He entered and proclaimed his need for sustenance; before receiving a
response, he sat at a table in the corner of the room. Every eye in the 
room was on him and his rich clothes. After feeling the stares upon 
him, he turned to fix a withering look upon each and every one of them. 
“And why on earth are you looking at me? Can you find nothing better to 
do with your time?” The other customers quickly dispersed. 

Baran, the proprietor of the inn approached him with a plate of their
local crops. Surai rudely grabbed the plate and without a word of 
thanks began eating. Upon finishing his meal, he tossed a few copper 
coins on the table, paying much less than the meal was worth. However, 
the proprietor did not see fit to mention this. Surai then asked, “What 
is the quickest way to Leffar?” 

Baran's eyebrows raised slightly. Leffar was about a half-day's journey
North of the Wood, and was the most prosperous of all the settlements 
around the Wood. It was said that Leffar drew people from all over the 
continent. Baran led Surai to a cloth hanging on the wall. On the cloth 
was drawn a crude map of the Wood and its surrounding area. Baran 
pointed at the representation of Endile, then traced a path around the 
Western edge of the Wood. “You should leave the Northwest gate and 
follow the trade route. If it gets dark, make for Epwis,” here 
gesturing at a town along the path, “You can rest there. If you do not 
tire easily, you should enter Leffar's gates before the falling of 
tomorrow's sun.” 

Surai pointed at the large mass of the Wood. “And why would I take such
a detour when clearly I could make straight for Leffar through this 
forest and be in Leffar by tonight?” 

Baran quickly made a sign with his hand as if to ward off evil. “That is
no mere forest. There are few who are brave – or foolhardy – enough to 
cross the Wood of Kalbana even when the sun hangs high. It already has 
begun its descent; you would still be within the Wood when it falls.” 

Surai crossed his arms and looked down upon Baran as he would a common
imbecile. “And what if I would? I fear nothing.” 

“Then you risk death,” Baran was almost trembling. His voice shook and
he spoke in a voice near a whisper. “It is spoken that even those who 
cross the Wood in safety are never the same, and many who enter the 
Wood never leave it. If you value your life, do not walk in the shade 
of the evil trees of Kalbana.” 

Surai laughed derisively and walked out of the inn without another word.
Baran sighed and offered a prayer for the soul of the traveler. But 
somehow he doubted that the haughty man would ever see the gates of 
Leffar. 

*   *   * 


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