Into the Forest

The shrubland and trees are all around me, there’s no escaping it. Not that I’d want to escape it, but I think there’s something to be said for being free. I don’t want freedom right now, but I might want it later and that’s the part that frightens me but anyway. How are you doing, tiger?”

I said to the creature currently bleeding out on the ground. After all, I want to give it a friend they can talk to before they go to the great beyond. I’ve been there once, can’t recommend. But I’m sure she’ll enjoy whatever form she takes next.

“Are you alright?” She roared. I said the thing and she roared after, for clarity’s sake.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to startle you. I’m sort of the caretaker around these woods. Unofficially, and in fact I may want to retire later…but that’s all beside the point. I’ll have the rest of my life to tell people and animals about myself. This is about you and your imminent, passing, I suppose.”

The tiger seemed beyond caring at this point, giving a token snap at me to keep me away before giving up, knowing what fate had befallen her.

“I have stories to tell, but soon you’ll have another one to add to the bank. Isn’t that exciting!” I said, slowly patting her and reassuring her everything was going to be okay.

“You probably don’t understand me, but you register the intent, and that’s all that matters. You rest now. It’ll all be over soon.” I had nothing left to say here. I wanted her to say something but it was okay, she didn’t have to. It was about her. That’s the key of it all.

Once I knew there was nothing left of her, not even the bones, I went off. The trees seemed to get…I don’t know, thicker? Something along those lines. Like I was being closed off.