Forest of the Forgotten

Hestia wanted to run, but she could manage only a trot.  The fog's moist hands caressed and fondled her as it baffled her vision. Again and again dark trees rose up and barred her way, and again and again she almost slipped on the slime chilling her sandaled feet. Again and again she raised her bound wrists to her lips, trying to worry the knot open with her teeth.

She could hear the orcs not far behind. They cursed in their vile language, and they were getting closer. Yes, they were not too intelligent. None of them had thought to watch her while they murdered her servants and guards and butchered her coach's horses. She just quietly walked off into the foggy forest.

But now they were getting closer. The orcs' eyesight wasn't good, but their hearing and sense of smell was better. They had managed to stay on Hestia's trail. She saw the flickering light of one orc's torch and bit back a scream of despair.

Two orcs were getting too close. Hestia hid behind a tree and prayed to Urizen. She wished she had postponed her trip and wished she had not ordered the short cut around the Forest of the Forgotten. She had laughed at the old stories of the dank woods and the cursed Dead Army. She had no use for fairy tales. General Trovenheim's army lost the battle and he cursed his men for trying to desert him? What rubbish!

The orcs were getting near. A scream welled up in Hestia's throat. Suddenly, the tone of the orcs' speech changed. One swore. Another meeped with alarm. A horrid moan rose up. A corrupt smell touched the air.

Hestia dared a peek. Astonishment and horror seized her by the throat!

A pale cadaver of figure stalked out of the mist. It was dressed like a general from 200 years ago. It howled with fury. Hestia could see ranks of soldier-like ghosts shambling from the fog! The orcs howled with dismay and ran!

Hestia saw a gap in the dead ranks. She ran!


story by scorpionlover42

scorpionlover42.deviantart.com…
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