The Edge of Knowing
People in Oakhaven were always a little scared when they talked about the Blackwood Forest.
It felt like the air got colder, heavier.
When kids played, their happy sounds didn't seem as bright near the forest.
I held my bag tight. It had my drawing book and flowers I had pressed.
It felt safe against me. I stopped by Mrs. Gable's bread shop.
Usually, the smell of warm bread makes everyone happy.
But today, people inside were talking quietly and worriedly.
"...I really saw it, Martha. By the old tree at Widow Hemlock's farm.
A dark shape, long and low, moving too fast for a fox…" Mr. Abernathy's voice was usually loud and happy, but now it was quiet and rough.
Martha whispered back, sounding scared.
"You didn't go near it, did you, Thomas? You know what the old people say…"
I felt a shiver go down my back.
It was like a dance of being annoyed and a little bit brave.
The old people in our village told stories about Blackwood.
They said there were creatures with shiny eyes, scary howls that made people crazy, and shadows that could take you away.
Fear was thick in Oakhaven, like morning fog.
Everyone in our small village was holding their breath because of the fear.
But for me, the fear was like a wall.
Behind it, I really wanted to know what was there.
Other people saw only the dark and danger in the Blackwood.
But I saw a place full of secrets, with living things no one had seen and amazing things waiting to be found.
My heart would beat faster when I looked at the quiet, watching trees.
It wasn't just wanting to be brave; it was a strong pull, like a needle pointing north.
Old Man Hemlock's face had lines like an old map from telling stories about the village.
He once saw me drawing some green stuff on rocks near the forest.
His old eyes looked right at me, warning me.
"Stay away, Elara. That place… it takes things. Even your soul."
His words were meant to scare me, but they just made me want to know more.
What kind of souls? What secrets did those old trees keep so safe?
The forest wasn't a monster to me; it was like a locked book, and I really wanted to open it.
Today, I was going to Whispering Falls.
The sun shone through the leaves there, making the green rocks glow.
It was further into the Blackwood than I usually went, like doing something a little bad against the fear.
Inside me, it was always a fight: being careful like the villagers told me to be, and really wanting to go and see.
As I walked on the path to the forest, I saw a small tree branch on the ground.
It wasn't broken by the wind; it was a clean break, like someone did it on purpose.
I felt a little worried.
Had someone else been here? A hunter? Or something… else?
I tried not to think about it and looked at a bright red flower growing from the wet ground.
I really wanted to draw it.
This was my world, the quiet talk of leaves and roots.
It was different from the scary talk of the village.
But even here, near what I knew, I could still feel their fear. I walked faster.
I wanted to get deeper into the woods and show myself that it had beauty, not just scary things.
Every step I took into the woods felt like being a little brave against the village's fear.
The air got cooler when I went under the trees.
Sunlight came through the leaves in patches. The sounds of the village went away.
Now I could hear the quiet sounds of the forest.
It wasn't silent, but it was a different kind of quiet, like something was about to happen.
Suddenly, I heard a loud snap in the trees, closer this time.
My heart jumped. I stopped, listening carefully.
It could have been a deer, a squirrel… but the sound felt heavy.
My breath stopped.
A big, dark shape moved between the trees ahead.
It was too fast and smooth to be a deer.
My brain, which usually knew all the plants and animals, couldn't figure out what it was.
It was close to the ground, strong, and moved in a strange, smooth way.
Fear, cold and sharp, finally made me stop being curious.
This wasn't just leaves moving or a small animal breaking a stick.
This was something… else. Something like the scary stories from the village.
The shape stopped and lifted its head. I couldn't see it well in the shadows, but I felt like something was looking at me.
My breath got stuck in my throat.
The beautiful forest suddenly felt like it was hiding something old and unknown.
Then, I heard a low, rumbling sound.
It wasn't a dog's bark. It was deeper, louder, and sounded a little bit like a person.
My blood felt cold.
The stories… they weren't just stories, were they?
The shape moved again.
For a quick moment, maybe it was just the light, but I thought I saw something else in the dark.
Something that wasn't just an animal. Something… smart.
My feet felt stuck. I was scared, but also really, really curious.
I had wanted to know the secrets of the Blackwood, and now it felt like the Blackwood was going to show me one.
The creature took a step closer.
The shadows got a little lighter, and I could see its shape better.
A man? But… too big, too strong, and the way it stood was strange, almost like a wolf.
And then, I saw something shiny and sharp in the dim light, like teeth.
It saw me.
Its head shot up, and for a moment that made my heart stop, our eyes met.
Even in the dark, I saw something wild and strong that scared me.
But under that, was there something else? A little bit of… knowing?
It took another step, and a low growl came from its throat.
It shook the air. It was a warning. It was scary.
My legs finally moved, and I stepped back.
My bag fell, and the flowers I had collected scattered on the wet ground. I couldn't breathe well.
It took another step, getting closer very fast.
The fear felt like it would take over me.
But under it, I still really wanted to know what it was.
What was happening?
Then, just as it was going to reach me, I heard a loud crack in the trees.
After that, there was a high, sad cry.
The creature – the man-creature – stopped. It turned its head quickly.
Its eyes were now shining brightly, looking at something deeper in the woods.
It stopped for a second, its eyes looking back at me.
I felt like it was telling me to be careful.
Then, it ran into the thick plants very fast.
I was left alone in the quiet, dark woods.
My heart was beating so hard.
I could still see its shiny eyes. What had I just seen? And what had just saved me?