dj-devil

[dj-devil]

welcome part 1

don't go there

pairing: prince!hyunjin x fem druid!reader

genre: medieval fantasy au

warnings: fluff, angst, magic, shapeshifting

words: 2.4k

summary: the forest is cursed. not many remember why, and only some are curious.

he is the prince who has been watching the forest his entire life

she lives there. as one of the last of a family of shifters that now roams the forest.

Masterlist

The sun outside the forest no matter how dull is still brighter than anything you were used to, being just beyond the border only yielded so much sun. The process of studying and learning how to be a raven was two months, which cut it a little too fine for your taste. The raven choosing was in little under two days and shape was always the hardest part. And feathers. You've never done feathers or birds in general.

This field, a large unkindness called home. All day various groups talked, to each other and other animals that would wander close enough to get to the lake surrounded by the trees they called home. Gliding, walking, eating, talking, flying, interacting. All things you would have to think about when becoming a raven. It weighed on your mind that you would not get this right in time for the ceremony. It's not like it only happened every five or something years. Something to do with teaching and learning to be ready for the care they would need, you were sure that was what the guards had said that time.

Leaving the forest always seemed the wrong thing to do, whenever you had tried in the past there was always a watchful eye somewhere aware of your plans. You had always noticed it in the corner of your peripheral, the disturbing feeling of being spied on; stalked. But now, for some reason, things were calmer, like some of the weight of your decision had been shifted. It was not something you understood, but for the moment were grateful for.

The guards and residents of the castle stayed away for a few days, stopped rigorously watching the field of vibrant green and dotted black. It was in those few short days that you crept from the safety of the woods to be with the ravens up close. The person who had named a flock of ravens had had something against them, you'd always thought, since learning that it was called an unkindness. They had probably never talked to them either, not big on gossip but rather casual informative conversations.

"Is there room by the lake for one more?" You asked the flock as they sat at the water's edge, under the guard of the willow trees around its edge. To most, this would be just a cacophony of endless squeaking. To you this is a dozen voices asking the same question; "If we make room are you going to sit or walk away like the rest of those idiot humans?"

The question makes you smile, speaking to new groups of animals always does. The surprise squeaks when in the space they make, you sit.

"How did you…?" One speaks up after some silence, and you find the raven's face in the sea peering at you inquisitively.

There is only one word for this, you know that. Only one word to elaborate a lifetime that they would understand; "Druid."

Wide eyes all around, a group hopping in time another just off. Surprise is the most shared emotion, it seemed so cute on ravens. Wings opening slightly, either slight or full hopping, beaks that let loose the gasps and squeaks.

"Does that mean you're Ivory's daughter?" Comes a quieter whisper from beside you, a smaller bird. You turn to face them, patiently putting out a hand to give them a gentle pat on the head.

"Yes. She was my mother."

"Why are you here then? And not in the forest working on the smog?" Turning back to the group, there is one raven in the centre staring up at you with a kind of curiosity that you know you have, the one knotted with a desire to fix the problem. To search your whole life for a solution when the only things you have to go on are what others tell you about the problem. You could see the gears turning in the raven's head, chugging and groaning under the weight of the knowledge of the cursed forest that was always passed around. Through most animals in the surrounding area, the understanding of at least part of what happened passed through the generations.

You give them all a small smile, "I am here to learn how to be a raven." Not fully answering both questions, but one seemed enough. The rest would be answered in time. A chorus of oh's fills the air. An excitable voice piped up. "You have watched, now you wish to be, yes?"

"Yes." You answer with a giggle at their enthusiasm. They sit together in a group, in their matriarchal stages as the lady who runs both the unkindness and this part of the field makes her way to me. She walks two steps before quickly hopping the rest of the way.

"That would've taken too long, right. I'm Bone, I've led for 200 years. And you wish to be a raven? You are?" She breathes deeply as she lands in front of you, wings flapping slightly to create a light wind that can cool her off a little.

"I am Y/n, I come from the Yellow Wood forest. I need to be a raven to help my family; the last druids." You speak with confidence and wide eyes to the raven in front of you. She; who definitely saw the beginnings of the smog 20 years ago. She; who won't tell, but could be there to offer words of wisdom if they are needed and accepted.

Bone watches you closely, small eyes peering at you as if you are a whole forest that has withstood a hundred wars. As if you are the forest you have lived in all your life, while there is a little truth to it, you feel everything that happens there, lived through enough to know how every part of it functions. Even now trees creak and leaves shift, you know exactly what part of the forest that is in. It is a part of you, you'd been running every part of it as long as you could run. It is your home, the centre of all your problems and the centre of all your love.

"You have much to learn, starting with feathers.."

Bone flaps her wings generating a gust of wind that wanders by you through your hair to its tips, decorating the fields with petals of the wildflowers it sent into a spinning match. The images of how to transform hair into feather pulses in your head, spreading through every fibre of your being, over the hair all over your body begins to grow longer and blacker. Pushing through the discomfort of the new change, feathers take a staggering form bristly and fragile, and a strange form of disfigured autumn leaf-shaped leaves take over your body. Your body shrinks to the rough size of a raven, a little larger than an adult which by how you feel itchy all over is just the beginning of the process.

"Well, that is a better start than I have seen in a while. The last to do that good, was your mother." Bone nods approvingly, as you shift back to human. A curious glint in your eyes, as you watch Bone, turn to the others to usher them into the trees so there is less pressure, eyes that can be discerned add to the crushing weight you feel like an avalanche building around you; the last of your ideas hinged on this working, the last of your hope to break the curse you were born into. All on this one plan, that could if you weren't careful go horribly wrong.

Over the next day, your body and mind go through the changes in order to take and hold the form of a raven, your idea of feathers becomes clearer, though more complicated than scales, it becomes easier than fur. You'd become a mouse once, it had taken 6 months of trials to even come close to the concept of fur.

You get to know others in the field, some had come from places you had never heard about with names you couldn't pronounce to give their chick the chance to be accepted into the castle. It is an easier life than outside the castle walls. That is the hardest part of this plan, you still had to be chosen. The dread and sense of responsibility that weighed on your back the feeling of carrying the entire forest, it is not all your burden to bear, though it did feel that way.

***

In the distance, beyond the wall, the castle came alive with movement and sounds, a steady drum began to sound as people scurried around the courtyard. A flurry of banners was placed in a few minutes; black, red and bronze. Mumbled yelling from this distance, the guards seemed to be in a rush. The day had broken a few hours ago, it wasn't that they were late, was it?

Through that meant there was still time, in the stillness of the field, barely rustling as a light breeze washed over the the tips of the grass. Still, time to be able to fully become the raven you needed, the friend that was going to get you into the castle. At least you hoped it. With this in mind, you sat on the ground, cross-legged and hands on your knees. Mind only focused on one thing, completely being a Raven for the first time.

What most people were always unsure about with Druid's was how the shifting process worked, most assumed the animal would be in the same age sphere as the person shifting, however, they start as the baby and then grow up just like everyone else does. Albeit a little quicker depending on lifespan and animal.

But like most other things it is a learned skill that you work at. Sometimes it took days or weeks, years and sometimes you never actually managed it. Everyone was different in the animals they could become.

Your body worked in tandem with your mind, shrinking and growing the barely formed feathers of a chick whilst also turning you fully into that chick that you are so set on.

The stomping of the guards begins to take over the sound in the area. An earthquake of boots and metal marched into the field. Spouting words of don't worry, we'll give them back and we won't hurt them. The scattered squarks of we know, you're late and move forward filled your ears.

Your voice becomes shrill to the guards who grow closer the more confidence they got for the chicks that are not moving and parents who are not freaking out. Some of the guards wince at the noise created by all the chicks together, deafening them a little. Others smile and bob to the ground; eyes glistening with tears over the selection they were about to make.

A selection of stuck-out feathers and wobbles brings their attention to you, as you get pushed to the side by the multitude of other chicks that are also here. As tiny as all the others are, you seemed smaller to them. Two exchanged a glance of worry and determination, as you did not have a mother watching over you or another to squawk back to.

To your right, a familiar face comes into view. Dressed in red and black, adorned in silver accents, is the boy who interrupted your staring contest a month ago. With light brown short hair and warm orange eyes, he watches over the exchange of rights to parenthood by the ravens at present. He also catches sight of you, concern and uncertainty plastered clear on his face.

In your observation of the guards and the boy, you did not notice the pair of hands closing in on you, encircling your feet and releasing you from the pressures of standing by yourself. To your small form, the lift seemed higher than it was, the ground a mountain beneath you.

"Hey, hey, hey!" You warn, suddenly worried about the fall from a height like this.

"I got you. You're ok, little one." The guard picking you up reassures you, placing you gingerly in a box with a thick blanket lining. "There. Much better, huh?" Under your feet is the fluffiest blanket you've ever seen, a deep purple you'd only seen in the flowers closest to the centre of the forest. It feels strange on new feet, not to mention as you carefully put your body down as well, the scattered feathers do little to shield your new skin from the blanket. Pecking at the fluff until it is comfy, turns out to be a difficult task when your beak is longer than expected.

The new revelations take up all the space in your brain, the rest of the process of picking chicks, making sure they are comfortable, moving the boxes inside the castle and removing you from the box to a lush pillow don't even touch your tiny bubble of wonder at the life of a raven. What does, is the loud voice beside you.

"Whatcha doin' there?" Turning you see a somehow scraggily raven - even more so than you - perched on a red pillow, staring at you.

"Not really sure." You speak slowly for the first time, the language feels strange coming out of your beak.

"Did you at least bring them a present? They love it when you bring them presents. I brought a flea, but I'm Flea, and I'm covered in fleas. So I brought a flea."

Your head cocks in confusion first and disbelief second, trying to understand. Now was this a human thing or a raven thing?

The queen appears in your view crown almost glowing in the morning sun. She walks up to both of you and Flea smiling ravishingly as she puts out her hand for the dead present trapped in the boy's beak.

"Oh, thank you, glad to know we're appreciated." She says as she takes the flea and wanders over to the prince for him to look at. Human thing, right. As you follow her your eyes fall on the prince, blonde hair with hazelnut eyes. Your staring contest buddy was the prince?

"It's… dead. And all mangled, I don't even know what it used to be?" Hyunjin raises his eyebrows in confusion.

"It's a present regardless, it must be appreciated." His mother scolds.

"Thank tha thank….you. I think.." He manages with a nod in our general direction.

[dj-devil]

please reblog this if it is okay to anonymously confess something to you.

[dj-devil]

series masterlist

don't go there

pairing: prince!hyunjin x fem druid!reader

medieval fantasy au

warnings: fluff, angst, violence, magic, shapeshifting

full word count: 5.9k

summary: the forest is cursed. not many remember why, and only some are curious. he is the prince who has been watching the forest his entire life she lives there. as one of the last of a family of shifters that now roams the forest.

on going

Parts

One: in the dark

Two: welcome part 1 | welcome part 2

Three:

Four:

[dj-devil]

in the dark

don't go there

pairing: prince!hyunjin x fem druid!reader

genre: medieval fantasy au

warnings: fluff, angst, magic, shapeshifting

words: 3.4K

summary: the forest is cursed. not many remember why, and only some are curious.

he is the prince who has been watching the forest his entire life

she lives there. as one of the last of a family of shifters that now roams the forest.

Masterlist

For as long as he had lived, Hyunjin had been told not to go into the woods to the east of the castle. Few seemed to know what was out there but none were brave enough to tell him. 

Something drew him to the woods over and over. Many times he would stand on the balcony overlooking those woods. The one that the people refused to give a name, that he could not identify in books, that even history seemed to be purposefully forgetting. 

Life was simple inside the castle walls, routines pulled tighter than the chains holding the main drawbridge to the south. Routines his mother held taunt to her chest. Three simple rules she made sure everyone followed in accordance with the Dark Forest.

No one is allowed near the walls an hour before the sunset blankets the sky, during the night and until the sun is seen in the sky.  Don't go near the Dark Forest gate. Any time of the day.  If anything comes out of that forest, don't go near it. Call the guards and they'll return it.

It was always the same. But nothing had ever made it out of the forest long enough to get beyond the outer walls. Hyunjin had yet to see why this forest he knew nothing about was kept so far from his reach that not even the simplest question was answered about it. 

The trees seemed to twinkle on the edge of dusk, the emerald green of the leaves shining brightly through the near impenetrable darkness that encompassed the woods. But that was the only visual he could get of what could lay beyond the walls and the seemingly infinite darkness that lay to the east. Animals that wandered out were chased back in by the guards at the gate without a second thought. Hyunjin had always thought it was strange how nothing from those woods was allowed to roam close to the castle walls. The animals seemed normal, only once did he ever think there was something strange about them. But it had only been one. A few months ago, when his curiosity got the better of him.

Hyunjin had managed to sneak down to the wall whilst the guards were swapping shifts. Pressed to the wall inching along it with the last of the sunset's orange rays guiding his way, at the edge of the wall that breaks for the gate of gilded steel adorned with a raven's head; his family's crest. Through the bars of the gate, the forest seems just as quiet as it normally is, torches lined the road to the forest bright as they normally were. However, Hyunjin had to strain to see the one just inside the forest caked in darkness giving off only a faint outline that it was there. Aside from that, there seemed to be nothing else there, on the edge of the forest. An unforgiving night that never seemed to end, not in the lifetime he had spent watching it. 

As he turned to leave he noticed it out of the corner of his vision, turning fully he saw it. Two bright deep green dots stared at him from just beyond the edge of the forest. Entranced he maneuvered so he could see them better. Those orbs felt as if they were piercing into his very soul through his eyes. The boy flicked around the guards that either hadn't seemed to notice or pretended they didn't. He was unsure of which it was. 

His gaze returned to the orbs noting that they were getting slightly larger the longer he stared. After what felt like hours, a green boa constrictor appeared slithering onto a branch of a tree that had made its way just past the edge into the clearing in front of the forest. Those shining green orbs were its eyes, they glinted as if made out of pure emerald locked with his of brilliant brown topaz. It coils itself as it settles into a fork in the branch, the snake's scales the blackest green without losing its colour are tipped with a lime green that could to the naked eye only be seen as a collage of leaves. 

Hyunjin feels this snake is only here for him. Seeing all that it has in that forest it slithered out of and yet it chose him of all people to watch. 

He felt lucky; as if this moment was made purely for him. Handcrafted by whatever higher power was watching over him and his people.

A hand firmly grabbed his shoulder jerking him back from the gate and the gaze of the snake. First, he yelped then he caught sight of the person and rolled his eyes in annoyance. Kim Seungmin. 

"You aren't supposed to be out here your majesty, I will have to report this to the Queen," he said with a smirk. 

A scowl adorning his features, Hyunjin tried to force the other man off him, though taller, the younger through his role as a member of the prince's personal guard had built up more muscle and simply shifts his grip. 

"Come on, let's get you back to your room." Seungmin sighs pulling Hyunjin up and directing him back to his room. Leading the prince through grounds of well-crafted gardens, built at the front door to resemble a raven's wings centred on the raven statue at the front entrance.

Seungmin pushes him through a side door, and up several staircases he makes a hard right through the open door to Hyunjin's room. His mother waits for him pacing the length of his room, upon hearing him enter she turns sharply in his direction, "Where was he?" she asks Seungmin not expecting Hyunjin to answer her honestly.  

"In the gardens, Ma'am, bothering the flowers again." Seungmin's hand had left Hyunjin's shoulder seconds after entering the room. Now he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, shoulders squared and gaze directly forward. Only speaking when spoken to, that only happened when the boy spoke to anyone bare Hyunjin. The prince rolled his eyes again as Seungmin was asked to answer for him, "It's not my fault they are too pretty to not be appreciated."

"You need to start notifying someone when you are leaving your room from now on. I was worried you had gone to the wall," she warned before stalking out of his room. Leaving only him and Seungmin standing there. 

Hyunjin sighed wanding over to and plopping at his desk.

"Remind me, why you didn't rat me out?" Hyunjin pointedly asked him, without turning his head.

"Because Chris said not to. I will not be answering any other questions." the younger smirked, slightly bowed his head and left. Hyunjin waved in his general direction as the boy left. Why had he even asked, he knew he wouldn't get an answer. Not from him.

That was four months ago. The first time he had seen the snake was also the only. It had not shown up again. Regardless of how many times Hyunjin had stood on his balcony watching the edge of the forest for those piercing green eyes that now plagued his dreams. That snake with an unnatural affinity to seep into the periphery of his mind through the day, cracking the defences he has placed there to help him get through his days. Distracting him from the impeding choice he would make in a few days when he was to choose his own raven to raise.

----

It was a day like any other for you, living in the dark forest none would dare venture to. Barefoot with hair halfway down your back, black roots and a deep forest green with braids to keep it off your face. 

You live in the only full remnants of the old castle; the ballroom. Vines hug the entire structure holsing debris in places it shouldn't be, a gentle caress from the forest outside. It still has a ceiling. The skeleton of the chandelier sitting in the far corner along with a piano, that for now still works. 

In another, the comfiest things you could find for you and your brother to sleep on. You watch his peaceful form as he sleeps, his black hair with tips of yellow his own magic hue that was continuous here in the centre of the black smog that hid you both from the rest of the world. Kneeling next to him you brush some of the stray hairs out of his face. 

"Sleep well Felix, I'll be back soon," you whisper before leaving the place you have called home. Closing the door, you are greeted with a familiar darkness that your eyes adjust to after a minute. There is leftover light in a lantern inside the ballroom that illuminated your life, out here in the bare forest there was only the vision you borrowed from the animals you became. 

Over time this forest had become like a friend to you. Crevices and stumps you avoided like stones, branches from long dead trees that had become part of your trail. You found running through this forest easy like dancing around the ballroom while Felix played the piano. It made its own song that you danced to as you made your way to the forest's edge, just for a peak. 

I just want a peak.

Nothing ever changed out there. Always guards wandering the perimeter of the wall. That castle never changed either, built with white stone you were sure wasn't from around here. Found somewhere deep in the mountains to the west, you had never seen but heard about. The guards talked about it often, it seemed they traded with people that way. Something about their economy, things you hadn't had to think about in a number of years. 

Running amongst the trails you had formed over the years, dodging hanging branches and avoiding the animals in the wood. Some you know, others you don't. Some you hear, others are silent. A talent only your family and its people had, the one to talk to animals and to become them. The wood was never silent, the chatter never ceased. It comforted you to know that there would not be silence and there was always something to talk about. 

As you near the edge of the forest, there is an old big half broken tree, using it as a stepping stone, you climb it to a platform. Once there you smile as your body takes on a well-studied shape that of a green boa, it is in that form that you see better through the impossible veil to the world outside. The few feet from the border are the worst and thickest. 

Your eyes shine the deepest emerald green in this form piecing the veil of darkness to the bright sunlight outside. 

As you climb the rest of the way up the tree, you notice a set of eyes watching you. Matching the gaze of the blonde boy with the hazelnut eyes. You settle onto a spot in the fork or a branch well above the guards, They have a habit of taking a while to look up so you get comfortable.

In the brilliance of the sunlight, you can feel it seeping into your body. Sunlight. Something you can only get beyond the forest, the void of the veil does not let the sun in. The sun resets the timer in your body, the one that dictates how long you can survive in the centre of the veil. Right at its heart. 

Time ticks and is lost as you find yourself in what you think is a staring contest. Stuck so far from reality as you marvel at how many browns make up his eyes. Forgetting to pay attention to the guards underneath. The boy breaks eye contact and you are left to slither back into the forest, but not before you have an idea. 

Back at the ballroom, you walk in to find Felix tuning the piano. He stands hunched over the keys, focusing on the strings and pins that are situated inside them, however, this one didn't have a lot of the outer panels left. It made you smile to see how well your brother took care of it, one of the only remnants of your parents the two of you had left. That, this room, your rings and each other. 

"If you're going to stare do from next to me, you'll be there all day if you don't." You meet his eyes. He sits on the stool which you move on as well. 

"You know I like watching, you take such good care of it." Felix smiles softly as you place your hand in his. They lace together in the comfort that both of you are still here. 

"Y/n why didn't you ever learn to take care of it with mother offered? It could have been your activity together." His voice is laced with honey as he speaks of times that have long passed.

"Mother and I converted sunlight together. That was our activity. You got the piano. Father and I studied our animals together. You got the maps. And h-he go-g-got..." Tears prick your eyes as your words get stuck, and a crescendo happens as the memories flood your mind. Felix squeezes your hand, and beside you, he hiccups back tears of his own. Turning you bury yourselves in each other. That had been one of the hardest days since the curse had been cast. Everyone had struggled that day. 

As you both calmed down, wrapped in that hug you placed your hands flat on his back splaying your fingers so you could channel half of the sunlight you had gathered into him. Felix hugged you tighter as your body relinquished its energy to the one person that could barely leave to get it for himself. The tips of his hair radiate the sunshine you've given him, as he pulls back he looks more like himself giving you a tight smile.

"Y/n, you didn't have to give me that much, you'll have to go out again."

Ruffling his hair in response, "I was going to go out anyway. Lix I think I've found something. A way in."

Felix's eyes go wide, voice betraying his disbelief, "In? Into the castle? We've tried before, what makes this time different?"

You smile, hand falling through his locks to land on his shoulder. "The guards have been talking about the Raven choosing ceremony that is coming up. It's supposed to be for some guards and the prince. In a little over a month, they are going to the fields north of here to pick out the chicks so they can be raised. If not chosen they still live in the castle, not sure as what though."

Felix rests a hand on your cheek shaking his head, eyes trained behind you. "We've tried that before."

"Not as a raven." His eyes snap to yours, lips slightly apart as if wanting to say something. He doesn't find the words. "I'd have to go study them of course. But it's a way in."

"I.. Y/n… It's too dangerous, what if they find out? Who you are, and where do you come from? They…" Felix doesn't finish his thought. He can't. The two of you have lost too much, that the mere thought of what could happen if you were found to be from the forest, he couldn't stomach it. Venturing anywhere near the castle was too much potential for missteps and mistakes that would lead to a worse end than the one they had.

"They will find out one day. One day this smog will lift and the remnants of what is hidden here will be found. Lix, I have to try." Staring into his golden eyes and he in your green ones, neither wanted the consequences of what would come of this if you were caught. But after years of only looking for different solutions, it was time to fall back onto one that had been tried and failed, but with a twist. There was something in that castle that could help Felix deal with the strain of living here and there was definitely someone in there that would know about the curse. There had to be.

"If you go, how will I get my dose of sunlight? Or your hugs every day or your presence? I'm going to go crazy here by myself, who will dance when I play?" He throws his hands up, voice growing hushed. "You won't be here. How will I deal with the curse by myself?"

"I made you some bottles of sunshine like Mother taught me. I have been thinking about this for a while. So, I made plans." You sigh, standing and motioning him to follow. Leading him through the ruins of a castle, crumbling walls with ceilings that gave way to nature-made skylights, vines creeping through the rubble to create cracks in the ground. It only takes a few minutes and several hallways until you are in a room filled from floor to ceiling with glass bottles.

In the centre is shelving that holds bottles of liquid sunshine. Luminescent, glowing and slightly yellow. Rays bounce around the room, turning it into a soft disco ball. In the liquid is tinges of ever-changing reds, pinks, orange and purple.

"I've never seen sunshine like that before…" Felix marvels at the few with oranges and purples. He thought that there was only cream almost yellow sunlight.

"Oh, that comes from sunset. It is always beautiful when converted. I guess I've been giving it to you directly for a while, there's been no need to remember what it looks like." You smile brightly at him.

Mother never really talked about the colours sunlight could be to you until you have decided you wanted to convert it with her. Then you had learnt what she had meant; when is more important than much.

"Suppose so. Come here." Felix mutters before pulling you into a hug that could have lit up the world in your opinion. In one hug, Lix reminded you that you are loved, safe and wanted. He smelled like dust, wet cat and blueberries, he always had.

"I will miss you. So damn much. God… I don't want you to go." He whispers in your ear. You squeeze him before pulling back.

"If you play, and I can fly, I will come back. But I will come back regardless. Lix, you're my brother, I can't leave you alone for long." You wipe a tear from his cheek absentmindedly, Felix kisses your forehead.

"This is as close to a goodbye as you're getting. Are you leaving now? Please be now, I can't do that again." Voice still low, he drops his head so your foreheads meet.

"Yes. I have a bag packed." You lean away from him, place a kiss on his cheek and leave the room. Heading back to the ballroom you grab a small backpack on your way through and leave through the door into the forest beyond.

That small patch just outside the door held a lot of routes you could take. Many that would lead to where you were going. To the north and the fields that lay beyond, where the birds like to play. Picking a direct route, you walk your path. though your sad steps don't take long to turn into running, the sound of your laughing echoes through the trees. All the way, back to Felix who smiles wholeheartedly at the noise.

The chatter of the day was never-ending, the wildlife in the forest kept talking. There were occasional greetings, voices you knew and many you'd never heard before. So much new life has come to the forest, it made the darkness easier to live in. While moving, feet focused on the cracks, bumps and stumps, arms out to catch branches, trunks and rocks, torso holding the balance up making sure not to fall and eyes closed. Not needing vision to discern what was racing past you as you ran to the forest's edge.

It was bright out there. Fields of green in every direction. And in the centre an unkindness. Their black feathers were a stark contrast to the vibrance around them.

So there on the edge of the forest you sit, just in enough to be within the veil of darkness.