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Description
Beleth was wandering around at night more often.

It was quieter and less crowded and it put every familiar thing into a new perspective. Boring old trees stood tall like dark, mangled monsters that threw long and deep shadows. Houses were devoid of most light, making them feel as though they were empty. It was as if nothing inhabited this space, except Beleth.

The purple wyngling kept wandering toward the woods, but couldn't steel himself enough to go in, much to his chagrin. Beyond the first few rows of trees seemed to be swallowed by some dark and formless entity, and Beleth told himself he just didn't want to go in because it wouldn't be fun to not see anything. At least out in Wynsiph he had the moonlight.

He'd started making a routine of coming to the mouth of the woods and just looking into it, as if contemplating how much closer he wanted to get to it, how far he wanted to try and go in. The sound of a branch breaking or a bush rustling would often send him hurriedly pacing (not running!) back to the Nook.

Tonight he wanted to at least try to go beyond the first throng of trees, and he convinced himself that any weird noise he'd hear was probably the wind or a small animal. There was nothing dangerous in Wynsiph, of course...

He must have glanced away for a second too long because when the wyngling lifted his ringed eyes back up to the forest's entrance, there were two bright green pinpoints.

Beleth felt a tremor deep down, but held his ground as he felt goosebumps ripple up his back. Those had to be lumibugs maybe, or some kind of other insect, he told himself, almost desperately.

The wyngling didn't want to admit he was freaking out already.

And the pinpoints were coming closer.

Beleth felt something catch in his throat as some large, dark shape began to drift out of the darkness, the green light blazing from what he guessed was its eyes.

The wyngling could almost feel his soul leaving his body, and he began to back away. The creature did not speed up, but continued a steady pace. It suddenly stopped and seemed to just stare at the wyngling.

Beleth held its gaze for a moment, unable to clearly make out the creature's figure. He thought he saw huge claws and tall, pointed ears, but his nerve had just about abandoned him.

The wyngling turned and bolted, looking over his shoulder to see if the creature was on his heels. He felt like he had wings on his feet, sending him in a frenzied flight back toward the Nook, back toward safety.

The creature did not follow him.

MAX WYNS

Description
Beleth was wandering around at night more often.

It was quieter and less crowded and it put every familiar thing into a new perspective. Boring old trees stood tall like dark, mangled monsters that threw long and deep shadows. Houses were devoid of most light, making them feel as though they were empty. It was as if nothing inhabited this space, except Beleth.

The purple wyngling kept wandering toward the woods, but couldn't steel himself enough to go in, much to his chagrin. Beyond the first few rows of trees seemed to be swallowed by some dark and formless entity, and Beleth told himself he just didn't want to go in because it wouldn't be fun to not see anything. At least out in Wynsiph he had the moonlight.

He'd started making a routine of coming to the mouth of the woods and just looking into it, as if contemplating how much closer he wanted to get to it, how far he wanted to try and go in. The sound of a branch breaking or a bush rustling would often send him hurriedly pacing (not running!) back to the Nook.

Tonight he wanted to at least try to go beyond the first throng of trees, and he convinced himself that any weird noise he'd hear was probably the wind or a small animal. There was nothing dangerous in Wynsiph, of course...

He must have glanced away for a second too long because when the wyngling lifted his ringed eyes back up to the forest's entrance, there were two bright green pinpoints.

Beleth felt a tremor deep down, but held his ground as he felt goosebumps ripple up his back. Those had to be lumibugs maybe, or some kind of other insect, he told himself, almost desperately.

The wyngling didn't want to admit he was freaking out already.

And the pinpoints were coming closer.

Beleth felt something catch in his throat as some large, dark shape began to drift out of the darkness, the green light blazing from what he guessed was its eyes.

The wyngling could almost feel his soul leaving his body, and he began to back away. The creature did not speed up, but continued a steady pace. It suddenly stopped and seemed to just stare at the wyngling.

Beleth held its gaze for a moment, unable to clearly make out the creature's figure. He thought he saw huge claws and tall, pointed ears, but his nerve had just about abandoned him.

The wyngling turned and bolted, looking over his shoulder to see if the creature was on his heels. He felt like he had wings on his feet, sending him in a frenzied flight back toward the Nook, back toward safety.

The creature did not follow him.

MAX WYNS