Nsrar Doesn't Forgive

The woods always gave me a calming feeling, their smell and song a loving hug every time I ventured in. Following my old beaten path, I make my way past the well-memorized landmarks. The first is a large patch of forget-me-nots, their blue faces smiling as I walk past. They bow in the wind as if greeting me like an old friend. As I pass them, I make my way up a small incline, then jump onto a soft, pebble covered bank.

The crick runs faster today, its waters higher from last night's rain. I step onto a small boulder set into the water, balancing myself with my arms outstretched. For a moment, I pause, watching the water all around me, enjoying the smell as it rushes past. Carefully, I put my foot onto the next rock, its algae-covered surface threatening to send me into the icy water. I slowly hop my way across the rocks, jumping from the last and safely landing on the soft earth before me. I re-adjust my rifle pack on my back and continue my trek.

I walk along, looking up into the trees, searching for fat squirrels that I could claim as dinner. Cicadas and birds sing in harmony, their song long familiar to my ears. A small raccoon dashes across my path, making me look down to make sure I don't tread upon it. It hesitates, its wary, watery eyes watching me a moment. I consider bagging it, but the scrawny thing won't make much of a meal. Instead, I slowly pull out my small pistol and shoot the dirt next to it, the small explosion making the little animal sprint away. Smiling to myself, I find myself happy to see the forest still full of life, ripe for extortion.

As I walk, I step on the emerald green leaves on my path. I hop onto mushrooms and inchworms, I even find a small egg, fallen from its nest. It makes a satisfying crunch under my boot. Above me, a bird wails out a squeaky, sad song, and I send another shot into the tree, scattering birds and insects into the air.

I whistle to myself, as I walk along the path. I eye the trees as I go, occasionally spotting the little carvings I had left from hunting seasons past, each one marking my kill and the date. These symbols mark this part of these woods as mine, and therefore all the animals and plants as mine. It sends a small, heady feeling rush through me, knowing I am King of this area.

As I step along, my boot crunches onto something large. Looking down I pick my foot up and see something small and shiny sticking up out of the dirt. Stooping down, I dig my fingernails into the soft earth, pulling out what looks to be a silver coin. I brush off the mud, studying its surface. On one side it has odd symbols pressed into it, and on the other, the face of a man with a rather small nose. As I study it, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Looking up from my find, I listen. The air has gone still, the song of life fallen silent. It's as if the entire forest is holding its breath.

My heart thunders in my chest, and I drop the coin as the brush beside me rustles and cracks. I back away, shaking, my breath catching in my throat. Quickly I grab my rifle, shakily preparing for the danger I sense in the bushes.

"Hello?" I croak out, preparing myself to shoot. A small face peeps out of the bush, plump and baby-like, dark hair hanging out of its scalp in small wispy clumps. My mind screams for me to run, but the thing's eyes freeze me in place. Its eyes watch me, wide, the pupils the size of pins. It smiles, a full-tooth grin, its white teeth gleaming in the sunlight.

"You took Ngrar's treasure," it says, its voice the whine of a dog. "You took Ngrar's treasure."

"N-no I, I didn't mean to," I whisper, feeling my knees threaten to give out beneath me.

"You take all Nsrar's treasure, Nsrar's friends," it hisses, its smile widening, "You take them all. You trample, you steal, you kill." Its head slithers out on a long, slim neck, rising like a cobra, coming up nose to nose with me.

"I do it for fu- food," I whisper, catching myself.The thing grins wider, the edges of its mouth touching the edges of its eyes. "Please, I didn't know they were your friends, that this is your forest."

"You knew you tortured this land every time you stepped into it, you knew you wounded and maimed every creature you caught." Its breath sends smells of rot and dirt into my face, making me gag. Its lips fall into an 'o', and I stumble backward, caught by the rough bark of a tree. "But you didn't know this is Nsrar's forest, Nsrar's friends,"

"Y-you can't fault me for not knowing this was your's-" I begin, getting brave.

"You are thief and murder regardless!" The thing screeches, and I fire my rifle into the bush where its snake-like neck extends from.

It lets out another screech, and I take the opportunity to run.

"You will not!" Nsrar's voice squeals behind me, "You are thief! You will be thief for seven years, seven! One for each season of death caused by you!"

As I run, the trees grow around me, and I stumble and fall to my hands. I scream out when I see my fingers shrinking, their pigment turning dark and my arms become covered in fur. My voice comes as a squeak and I run my hands down my now-furry body. I scurry down the path, Nsrar's laughter floating after me. I run back to the river and peer at its surface as tears run down my face. The water shows a raccoon staring back at me, it's black eyes watery and its snout long.

o o o

Mike stumbles through the twisted underbrush, clumsily making his way to the stream. He bends to drink from the waters, but hesitates as he sees across from him is a thin raccoon, washing his face. Mike slowly unshoulders his rifle and takes aim.