Transcendent Regard
#1 of Esoterica
This is a story I had written as part of the writing prompt "What lives in the woods". Writers were allowed to interpret this in any way they saw fit as long as it stayed relevant to the forest.
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Deep in the dark of a foliage covered lair sounds the weighted breath of a beast with a hungry glare. The trees seem gnarled and ground shredded bare by the might and fury of the monster waiting there. Few have ventured and fewer still have returned, gripped by the fear of which can be only vaguely discerned. Implicit the danger of continuing forth at whits end where the bravery of many can easily bend as they descend cautiously into a wood where the agent of demise may blend.
Step by step drawing nearer to the cave were beast finds refuge, the anticipation of an encounter courses the blood in pulsing veins. To assuage grim curiosity one's sight, upon this cave will deluge, and every emanating sound becomes a warning of possibly being slain. The long walk down into the depths of this stony hollow gives time to reflect a condition rendered fate, and at the end of the path it becomes clear of that which you harrow. One falls to their knees from the discovery of which their curiosity will sate.
Alone in silent solemn dismay the phosphoric rocks caused your mental decay, and a wind that whipped through the stones where they lay brought out a voice which caused your spirit to sway. What lives in the woods is naught but the doubt in your heart; a thought brought out in the dark from an inward roar which you hark. "I will prevail" to yourself one must remark for a great sense of courage to give its fiery spark. Fly out from this cave to the sky from the dark and let this be from fear, your disembark.