"This Forest? You mean the Black Forest?" The rodant screeched
"Yes this one." He aswered while slowly getting annoyed by it. The orange furrball was loud, very loud. Its voice alone would bee enough enough to shatter glass
.
"This is the Black Forest. Many of us came here after the lands around broke. The birds protected the forest from the breaking, thats why its still here."
Trembling and filled with dread Sunny asked. "What do you mean with many of us. More of you, of your kind?"
The screaching of one of those things would be enough for him to go deaf and bleed out of his ears. WHAT would he do if there were more of them, if they were thousends of them waiting for him.
"Of course. There are many more of me. But not just my kind. There are manny more of other kinds. There are still birds, deer, ants, wolf, fox and manny more. But be carefull of the fox if you meet them." He answered before digging his nut in the ground.
Sunny still had many questions but everytime he asked them the thing just ignored him, as if possessed by the nut.
When he asked about the "breaking" of the lands around, the rodent just trew dirt on him while digging.
After that he continued on his search for information and other creatures. He did not even notice that the small bird had not been by his side while speaking with the "screecher" as Sunny had called him.
The small bird slowly flew back onto his shoulder, resting on him.
Walking further and further the environment got livelier, the sounds of animals became clearer and louder. He heard the singing of birds, the pecking against wood and more. Even the vitality of plants has increased.
Light was shining through the leaves, illuminating the Forst in a golden hue.
'Everything seems so tranquil.'
It's a stark contrast to what is to come.
It did not take long for him to find another creature.
A four legged , light brown colored animal covered with white dots was standing in front of him. On its head lay a crown of keratin, growing out of its head and give a majestic, almost mythical feeling. Behind him were tree other animals of the same kind. The were slightly smaller and thinner and they didn't have the same head ornament the one infront of them has.
Each one was bigger them himself. They were at least 2 and a half meters tall.
"Are you new here? To the Black Forest." It asked
This time the creature didn't even open its mouth to speak. The meaning of what he was trying to convey entered his mind. It was not forceful. It was like opening the door of one's Hause to accept a package. Only this time the package was a question.
'Is this telepathy?' Sunny thought to himself. Before answering.
"Yes, I'm new in this forest. But sadly I don't know mich about this whole place. Would you mind telling me a bit about it?"
The crowned animal stept a bit forward before huffing and answering.
"Ofcourse I don't mind. After all there isn't much to do in this forest. We don't have to forage much or concern un about food."
Speaking about food Sunny remembered something critical. In his whole stay in this forest, about one day he didn't feel the least bit hungry or thirsty.
In the outskirts Hunger and thirst plaqued his mind almost always. So it was strange to not feel it at all.
'That's probally the work of [Vitality]. It allows me to regenerate in the presence of plants and life. It seems to sustain all my physical need through absorption of life energy.'
"This forest is the territory of Big Bird, Judgement Bird and punishing Bird. They protect this forest from the outside. Big Bird is observing the forest to make sure no one enters it. Judgment weighs the sins of those who try to enter it. If they ore bad, he destroys their soul to kill the chance of wraiths coming. At last there is punishment. He punishes the evildoers inside this forest. He makes sure no one who enters can harm anyone else."
Piecing the identity's of his greet crew together Sunny thought what this would mean.
'If the big round feather ball was just an observer and not one to destroy, how terrefying were the others then? I haven't interacted much with the so called judgement but it was not much better then the observer. How monsterous would punishment be then?'
The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.
But there were more important questions to answer. What was wrong with the lands outside, how did they break and what the hell happened for it to house an abomination like the twighlight beast?
Trying to satiate his couriosity Sunny asked?
"What happened to the land outside this forest? An orange rodent already told me that they broke, but how.
After a moment of silence the majestic creature answered, worry flowing inside his whispering voice.
"It's because of Imagination. They created something. No one knows why or how. They created a river of sorts. It destroyes everything and everyone and rebuilds it as nightmares. Harrowing abominations filled with madness and destruction. The birds called it Cogito, the source of destruction.
"It consumed the lands around and filled them with those nightmares. Some even say the guardians were once part of Cogito, righteousness born of destruction. But don't ever say this aloud, punishment may come after you."
Sunny was stunned in silence.
'Did I just discover the source of the nightmare spell, of the nightmares.'
Not giving Sunny much time to think the animal quickly said before leaving. "But I can't tell you more, it would be better if we leave."
Manny questions filled Sunny's mind. He daid way to much important information.
'What was cogito? Was it the twilight beast? No that can't be. He felt the form of it during his vision and it was no river. Had the river, no Cogito created the twilight beast? It must have.'
'Are the birds really parts of Cogito? If yes he could not trust them. They might as well destroy the forest themselves. But I don't really have a choice, do I? WHO else could I influence to help me finish this nightmare? Lastly and maybe the most important, who is Imagination?