Creature In The Cedar Forest I

As the first light of dawn began to colour the night, we all woke up early. Daneel was the first to tend to the animals in the stable. I had noticed that he woke up several times during the night to check the weather. Fortunately, the sky was partly cloudy today. When he mentioned that he had some business to attend to in the city, he mounted his peculiar steed—something between a horse and a zebra—and rode off swiftly. Meanwhile, Arwa took me under her wing to begin my training as a healer's apprentice.

Fixing her gaze on the forested mountains stretching beyond the adobe house, she spoke:

"Tod

I listened attentively, hoping her words would imprint themselves onto my memory. However, Arwa mentioned that we were missing some essential herbs. She described their appearance to me, explained their uses, and promised to

She then turned to her daily tasks. She had to milk the spotted goats and make cheese. When I offered to help, she kindly declined, suggesting that I rest or spend some time outside instead. At that moment, the idea of exploring the forested mountain struck me. I wanted to gather some of the herbs Arwa had taught me about and surprise her.

Before leaving the house, I grabbed one of the woven reed baskets and a clay jar. Then, I set off towards the mountain alone. Though it seemed close, I soon realised that the journey would take longer than I had anticipated. As I neared the forest, I was greeted by the chirping of birds, the gurgling of running water, and other sounds I could not quite identify.

This was the Ancient Forest. It had existed long before people ever set foot here, and in some way, it continued to make its presence felt. The trees were so dense that sunlight barely penetrated the depths of the woods, casting an eerie shadow over everything. I felt both at peace and strangely uneasy.

Placing my hand on the trunk of an ancient cedar tree, I called out to Siri in my mind:

"Siri, check for any anomalies. Use whatever method you see fit."

"More data is required to determine whether an anomaly is present. Due to insufficient data, no definitive conclusion can be made."

Hearing Siri's familiar yet mechanical voice filled me with disappointment.

"Let's keep gathering data. I have a feeling—something about this forest is not as it seems," I said.

"There are no other voices detected within you aside from myself. Data collection is ongoing. You will be notified once the process is complete."

I ventured deeper into the Ancient Forest.

"Siri, create a new file for the medicinal herbs Arwa described. Use my memories to identify and mark any you can recognise. I want you to project them visually into my mind."

"Task initiated. Completion will take some time. Please wait."

Within a few minutes, I felt a shift in my perception. As I walked through the forest, the herbs Arwa had described appeared before my eyes, outlined in a faint blue light. I opened my basket and began collecting marjoram, tarragon, sumac, coriander, rosemary, pennyroyal, thyme, basil, and sage. None of them were particularly rare, but they were not exactly easy to find either.

Just as I was about to head back home, I noticed a cluster of faint blue lights, highlighted by Siri. Approaching them, I was taken aback—before me stood beefsteak mushrooms. They resembled a large tongue, with a reddish-brown surface. When cut, they oozed a deep red liquid, almost like blood. Arwa had told me these mushrooms were beneficial for heart and respiratory ailments and even mental disorders. I carefully sliced them with my knife, ensuring that the tree would be able to produce more in the future.

My baskets were now full, and I set off towards home. Thrilled by the newfound abilities I had discovered in Siri, I said,

"Siri, play 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley."

Immediately, the song began playing in my mind. I walked towards home, dancing with my baskets.

But then, Siri's voice suddenly interrupted the music:

"Anomalies detected. Small wisps of mist are appearing and disappearing around the coniferous trees. Additionally, since you began gathering mushrooms, a non-human shadow has been following you."

A shiver ran down my spine.

"Siri, show me the image of whatever is following me," I whispered.

In my mind's eye, a figure materialised—about 1.80 metres tall, humanoid but unmistakably not human. Its head was shaped like a person's, yet its proportions were slightly off. This unknown entity was beginning to unnerve me.

"Is it still behind me?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"Yes, it is still following you," Siri responded, its tone devoid of emotion.

I did not dare look back. So far, it had not harmed me, but I had no way of knowing what it intended to do. I kept dancing, trying not to appear suspicious.

"Siri, play 'Forever Young' by Alphaville. Sing along with me. Today, we shall conquer our fear," I said.

The song echoed in my mind, and Siri joined me in singing. I continued dancing to bolster my courage. But I could feel it—it was getting closer. The game was over. Now, I had only one choice—to run.

I bolted.

As soon as I emerged from the forest, the shadowy figure came to an abrupt stop. It was no longer following me.

I was too afraid to look back. But summoning every ounce of courage, I slowly turned around…