The forest was alive with sound—birds chirping, leaves rustling, the distant rush of water. But to Aric, it felt eerily silent. The feeling of being watched hadn't left him since he woke up, and every shadow seemed to move, every sound a potential threat.
He followed the stream, his steps cautious but determined. The water led him to a small clearing, where the trees thinned and the sunlight broke through in golden beams. In the center of the clearing was a village—a cluster of simple wooden huts surrounded by a low stone wall. Smoke rose from a few of the chimneys, and he could hear the faint sound of voices.
Aric hesitated at the edge of the clearing, unsure of what to do. The villagers might be friendly, but they might also see him as a threat. He had no way of knowing.
"Hello?" he called, his voice echoing in the stillness.
The voices stopped, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then, a figure appeared at the gate—a man with a bow slung over his shoulder and a wary expression on his face.
"Who are you?" the man demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of a knife at his belt.
"I… I don't know," Aric admitted. "I woke up in the forest, and I don't know where I am or how I got here."
The man studied him for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"No," Aric said. "I'm not."
The man sighed, lowering his hand from his knife. "You'd better come in, then. But don't try anything funny, or you'll regret it."
Aric nodded, relief washing over him. He stepped through the gate, his eyes scanning the village as he followed the man. It was small, with only a dozen or so huts, but it was well-kept. The villagers watched him warily as he passed, their whispers following him like a shadow.
The man led him to the largest hut in the village, where an elderly woman stood waiting. She had sharp eyes and a stern expression, and she studied him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
"Who's this, Garrick?" she asked, her voice firm but not unkind.
"Says he woke up in the forest," the man—Garrick—replied. "Doesn't know where he is or how he got here."
The woman nodded, her gaze never leaving Aric. "What's your name, boy?"
He hesitated. Did he even have a name anymore? The prince he had been was dead, his life and identity shattered along with his crown. But he couldn't just call himself "No One."
"Aric," he said finally, the name coming to him as if from a dream. "My name is Aric."
The woman nodded again, as if satisfied with his answer. "Well, Aric, you're in the village of Eldermere. And if you're telling the truth, you've got a long road ahead of you."
Aric swallowed, his mind racing. Eldermere—the name meant nothing to him. But it was a start.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "For letting me in."
The woman's expression softened slightly. "We'll see how long that lasts. For now, you can stay in the guest hut. But don't cause any trouble, or you'll be back in the forest before you can blink."
Aric nodded, his gratitude tempered by the weight of her words. He had found shelter, but he was far from safe.
----
The guest hut was small and sparsely furnished, but it was clean and dry. Aric sat on the edge of the cot, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of everything.
He didn't know how long he sat there before a knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He opened it to find a young girl standing there, her arms full of folded clothes.
"Elder Mara sent these for you," she said, her voice shy but kind. "She thought you might need something to wear."
Aric took the clothes, a lump forming in his throat. "Thank you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The girl nodded, then hesitated. "Are you… really from the forest?"
Aric frowned. "What do you mean?"
"People say the forest is cursed," she said, her eyes wide. "That anyone who goes in never comes out."
Aric didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply nodded. The girl studied him for a moment, then turned and ran off, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
He changed into the clothes—a simple tunic and trousers—and stepped outside. The village was bustling with activity, the villagers going about their daily tasks. Aric watched them for a moment, feeling like an outsider looking in.
He spotted Garrick near the gate and approached him cautiously. "Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked.
Garrick looked up from his work and studied him for a moment. "You any good with your hands?"
Aric nodded. "I can learn."
Garrick grunted, then handed him a hammer. "Help me with this wall, then. It's seen better days."
Aric took the hammer and set to work, his movements slow and deliberate at first but growing more confident as he went. The physical labor helped clear his mind, and for a while, he was able to forget about the void, the forest, and the shattered crown.
----
As the day wore on, Aric began to feel a sense of belonging, however small. The villagers still watched him warily, but they didn't seem to mind his presence.
That changed when the sun began to set.
A shout came from the edge of the village, and Aric turned to see a group of villagers gathered around a man lying on the ground. His clothes were torn, and his face was pale with fear.
"What happened?" Garrick demanded, kneeling beside the man.
"Wolves," the man gasped. "Big ones. They attacked me on the trail. I barely got away."
Aric's stomach churned as he remembered the creature he had faced in the forest. "Where did you see them?" he asked.
The man pointed toward the trees. "Just beyond the ridge. They're getting bolder. It's only a matter of time before they come here."
Garrick stood, his face set in a grim mask. "We need to fortify the wall and set up more traps. If those wolves attack, we won't stand a chance."
Aric stepped forward. "Let me help."
Garrick looked at him, surprise flickering in his eyes. "You don't owe us anything, Aric."
"Maybe not," Aric said. "But I can't just stand by and do nothing."
Garrick studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But stay close, and do exactly as I say."
----
As the villagers worked to fortify the wall, Aric couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming—something big. The wolves were a threat, but they were just the beginning.
He glanced toward the forest, the trees dark and foreboding in the fading light. Whatever was out there, it was watching. And it was only a matter of time before it struck.