The Search for Trees

Moon is full. The place looks less like a park and more like a woodland. The original paths have been maintained. However, the trees are much larger than the surrounding neighborhood's, and they cast darker shadows than you think they out to. As for the pond and the island; the pond is green with life, while the island is an inscrutable forest of trees. There are a few swan boats that are submeged at the shallow end of the pond, their swan necks sticking above water like reeds.

This is what a forest should look like. Except for the utter lack of spirits and all that. Motes a plenty, but nothing stronger than that. As you move towards the lake, the motes change as you would expect them. As for the other side of the gauntlet, the trees there are even thicker than on the physical side when it comes to the island. The shadows they cast are impenetrable.

The pond isn't terribly deep, but you will have to swim for about 10 feet of it. No other way across.

With no way to cross and no floating vessel to farry his behind. Andrew sucked it up like a man and plunged into the water with his empty wallet and harmonica in hisdingy shirt pocket. Only after he was away from shore a few feet did he realize he hadn't made sure nothing waited for him inside the lake. He panicked a little, wondering what would jump out and eat him.

Dividing his attention always made him jumpy. The unreal and twisted vision across the gauntlet always put the real world off center; similar in way to how watching a movie in 3D was different then watching it in two dimensions. With this in mind he regained his composure and continued across, feeling a little ashamed and embarrassed for the lapse of reason.

A wry thought came to mind; at least he was finally able to wash his clothes.

Your hand brushes through some reeds and other underwater foliage. otherwise, no issues. When you arrive on the other side, a neraly impenetrable wall of trees and bushes obstructs your path. You can only see a few few into the forest on both sides before it becomes too dark.

Things seem to be going well. Its pitch black, but you feel your way through the tress just fine. Unfortunately, you hit a root with your foot and fall. When you rise again, you realize a few things.
1. It is totally pitch black, on both sides.
2. You are lost
3. You are alone

And then you realize that there is the sound of rustling, like two tree trunks slowly scraping against each other. You can't pinpoint the sound. The sound revereberates in your bones.

Yeah, its definetly coming from this side. If anything, now it seems to be coming from all around you. You take a few steps forward and find yourself in a clearing, although the canopy prevents any light from appearing.

A deep groaning can be heard, reminding you of darker, more primeval times.
"WHO DARES! Who dares to challenge me in MY forest!" You can feel the earth shake and the trees quiver, as leaves fall on you from the canopy.

A low deep breath emerges, sending a wave of air crashing into you. It smells of fresh grass and a living forest.
"Shadow Tongue. You have come to see this wood. But did you announce your presence? Did not the moat give you pause to announce yourself into my domain? Or perhaps." Thwump. You feel, more than hear, something big just took a step towards you. A big step. And you can smell it. Its practically on top of you. "You came to steal from me." Another Twump echoes through the glade.

"Go and deliver a message. Tell Taylor, Alpha of the treacherous Shadow seekers, that if he, or any of his pack enter these grounds again, I will rend them limb from limb, and scatter their bones in the pond as further warning. Now leave, before I decide to just you as a warning."

"All of your essence will buy your life." The spirit ignores your first question

A vine wraps around Andrew's arm, andthen spins rapidly, flaying the skin off of his arm. Andrew can feel the essence getting pulled out through the wound. Until he is utterly dry. The spirit doesn't say anything, just looms over Andrew.

(Take 3 Lethal, and loose all of your essence)

"I am Light Engulfing Forest. Pray you never meet me again. now GO." The leaves rattle and fall, but you are bolting, running headlong through the darkness, stumbling and smashing into trunks, Running as his life depneds on it. He dives into the river; doggie paddles to the other side, and stands there in urhan form, panting.