Enlightened 2.0
Capitalist jerkwad goes into a trecherous enchanted forest seeking loot but comes out having experienced a spirital journey Aka my protag for the Enlightened event this year is Cog lmfao
Author's Notes
Strudel-cafe prompt: "You tremble as you stand at the boundary of the Slumbering Woods... Dark trees tower above you like sleeping giants. It's not often you venture into these woods, but something indescribable is pulling you in. A sort of magical energy that only you can feel..." 750 words minimum
Answering the Call
Cog faced down the tall, dark forest with a determined stare.
This wasn’t where he thought he’d be when he woke up that morning, the sun shining its blessing down on him as he closed camp and resumed his walk, his recurring travel route. But then, there had been a mysterious energy in the air... A force pulling him, beckoning him to follow. Peculiar. Peculiar indeed. He didn’t recognize it, magic, probably, but he’d never known much anything about it to be able to tell. What was this? And why had it led him to this creepy, weird forest?
The breeze that ruffled his short dark brown fur seemed to leave the trees and vines completely, eerily unaffected. The air felt denser somehow, harder to breathe. He felt laid bare in front of it, and yet he was still going to walk right into the bear’s den.
"Alright, this forest may not be on my map... But this place is special, and what says special says rare loot! I can feel it!" There were unsaid words. Decided: I’ve got to go in there. Or, reasonable: Dear lord, this is a terrible idea.
Cog didn’t make it a habit to speak to himself, but the strong magical energy was enough to make him buzz with adrenaline. He had the tiniest tendency to run his tongue when stressed, and in the comfort of solitude he didn’t bother to repress it. What bad could the forest do, listen?
Oh. That kind of sounded creepy and ominous, nevermind. Maybe he’d keep his mouth shut.
He grounded himself. He was Cog, Padlock Verse, the guy with the goods. He’d been doing this travelling thing since always, he’d slept in forests of all colors. This? This was nothing.
And though his confidence and resolve were as hard as steel, the oppressing energy was enough to make him reconsider.
Life choices reconsidered.
Conclusion? He’s still going in there.
Ah, what he wouldn’t do for crumbs... No one can ever call him lazy again, mark his word.
To keep himself from thinking of just what he was getting himself into, he though about what ressources he had with him.
Of course, his trademark cabinet backpack was on his back, as hard and heavy as ever. From all the years, he barely felt it on him, though. His silky but rugged scarf felt cool around his neck and head, and made him feel safer, more protected against the charged air of his environment. And he was just at the edge of the forest, for Midveil’s sake...
Well, he knew he had enough medecine in there to be able to fix himself up if anything happened... Though a fair few were mostly snake oil. He also had a bit of comestible herbs and bottled water, but he didn’t expect to spend too long in there... If he could help it.
He was a tough one though, he didn’t need much to survive and be in decent shale. A few bites and sunlight would be all he needed on a bad day. Yeah, he’d ace this thing.
No sleeping bag or tent, of course. He knows to get by without them just fine. Sleeping on hard ground is actually better for your back, after all. Worst comes to worst, his trusty puca mount would make a fine pillow.
Oh right, Posca was here too. She stood nearby, wearing bags with extra rations and supplies, but mostly empty to make place for what he‘d find in what he was sure would be an untapped gold mine. He looked at the weary beast and gently ran his paw through her tangled fur. She made a noise in gratefulness and pressed back into his palm. He chuckled at the sight, and the pang of affection in him. He had a soft spot for the old thing...
Ever since he found her half dead on the side of a road, he took her in. She might be a nomadic spirit, but she’d taken to following him around. Her presence was like a shadow behind him by now. Just them against the world, yeah.
He turned back towards the forest. His calculating eyes flicked on the shadows of the forest, the sun and the compass in his hand.
The way his compass twirled on itself and refused to point in a stable direction should have been warning sign enough that he shouldn’t be there, nevermind going further in.
Listen, he might be the tiniest bit reckless, but he wasn’t dumb.
He didn’t know how big the forest was or what lied ahead, and precautions were needed, buuuut...
Yeah he wasn’t waiting any longer.
And with that, Cog took his first step into the forest.