Celestia James's Story

There was something mysterious and unforgiving about the woods that Celestia had always liked. Everything was shrouded in a cool, thick shadow, cast by the trees which stood so motionless and tall but were so obviously alive. Here and there, rays of sunlight would penetrate through the darkness and fall upon the earth below, illuminating the bumps and tangles of the vegetation and soil. She liked to stand amongst the shadows, her face lit by one of these beams, and breath in deeply so she could almost taste what was around her.

But something else had started to enter the forest recently-- well, it wasn't really something; it was someone. He had appeared in the town a little while back, but it wasn't until that moment that Celestia noticed him and was instantly drawn to his presence. It was a strange sensation - one that she didn't altogether understand - that made her curious, worried, uncomfortable, and interested all at once. He was sitting in the woods in a clearing she often visited to think and to be alone.

Now, she was clearly not alone.

Celestia gazed at him quietly from a distance. "God, I'm such a creep," she murmured to herself and ran a hand through her hair. Feeling out of place, she turned and headed back out through the woods towards the town. She stopped several times along the way in enjoyment of her surroundings. In particular, there was a little creek that captivated her. It trickled just outside the town and had been the place where she'd played as a child. She teetered along the stones, careful not to get her shoes wet, and headed towards the town entrance, lost in thought.