╚»★«╝𝙺𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚊╚»★«╝'s Den

The Forest

It's quiet here. A few minutes ago, you were wandering in the vast world, before stepping in this place. The forest and everything inside seems frozen in time. Forgotten. You can smell the scents of many lions, indicating this place isn't empty. Yet it looks and sounds empty. You wonder what this place once was.

You decide to explore, attempting to follow the multiple scents of lions. Each scent lead to nothing. Where did they all go?

...

Abruptly, there was noise, something made of glass clinking. You tilt your head up towards the noise, only to see a single wind chime, hung from the tree branch, moving without any wind.

''Who are you?'' A quiet voice of a male lion suddenly speaks up. You blink, looking down, to see a grey male Tigon looking back at you. You proceed to apologize for stepping in his territory. The Tigon doesn't seem angry.

''No worries, traveller... We don't get visitors often.''

''..We?'' You parrot, confused.

In a blink, multiple lions appears, curiously eyeing you yet carefully standing behind the Tigon. They have an almost supernatural aura, as if these lions were ghosts. A pale blue lioness standing next to the hybrid speaks up.

''Hello, young one.. I can't recall when was the last time me and Fish had the honor of meeting another lion.'' Her voice is kind, a smile on her face appearing, making you feel more at ease. It didn't change the fact this lioness and the rest of her pack carries a spirit-like feeling.

Fish, presumably the Tigon speaks up again, a little more serious. ''However, you cannot stay here for long. You must keep going. Goodbye, may the Gods watch over you.''

Your body suddenly feels tired. Your head is spinning, and you collapse to the ground while the lions watch you with expressions of sadness, surprise or just a neutral look. An odd exhaustion takes over you.

...

You wake up, your snout full of sand. You are back in the desert, and it is night. Stars twinkle in the sky, the moon bright and beautiful. The memory of Fish and the blue lioness remains in your mind, paired with unanswered questions. Who was these lions?

Was this forest just a weird dream, or reality?