It was a beautiful day in the Briarwater Forest. The flowers that cover the ground were blooming, the birds were flying high and singing their songs loud. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits today. The family of chipmunks that lives in an old Eucalyptus tree were eating their lunch of various nuts they found throughout the mass of trees. The old turtle that lived in the pond was gleefully swimming and enjoying the nice, warm summer air. Melany on the other hand, was too busy to enjoy the day. Melany is a tree spirit who was "vertically challenged", in the words of her best friend Luke, but what she lacked in height she made up in strength. She was elected leader and guardian of the forest and she plans to guard it with her life. In order to do that everyday she walks every inch of the forest, making sure everything is at peace. Though she looked intimidating, Melany is a kind and sweet person. Luke Briarbark, on the contrary, is not near as brave. Luke is scared of most things everyone else is; fire, heights, spiders, the dark, strangers, germs, and clowns. Especially clowns. Sometimes, if he's feeling up to it, he'll help Melany with her daily rounds. He's not much help but he can help look in the higher places in the trees. That's all he can really do though. He trips over every twig and hits his head on every low hanging branch they pass. Luke hangs out with Melany every chance he gets so he doesn't have to be alone. Though he does this, no one really knows him. Everyone knows and respects Melany so they don't really say anything to him. But Luke likes it that way, he gets to stay home without worrying about people coming up to him to hang out. He loves his alone time. Today though, he's out helping Melany. Everything was peaceful in the forest, though not the same could be said for the Briarwater village.
K The village was northwest of the forest and falling apart. The population consists of about 30 people. Though the town is small, the general store is fully stocked as well as the doctor's office. Though they're both well stocked, the buildings themselves look well over 100. All the houses look the same way. The only building that looks new is the oracle's tent. The tent is blue and white and is quite large for what it's purpose is. The owner of the tent looks as old as the town. His body is wrinkled and deformed. A long wizard beard grows off his withered face. His back is hunched and he uses a wooden cane to walk. Nobody really knows how he got there or what his name is. The old man says he's in contact with the gods, so no one really bothers him. In fact they give him the royal treatment. The mayor, short jovial man, gives him everything he desires. He says that if they don't do anything and everything he wants, the gods will come down and punish them.
The oracle has the entire town wrapped around his finger. The old man has a secret though. He lies about having contact with the gods. In fact he is just a crazy old man. The oracle called a meeting with the townspeople. After everyone had gathered he started, "My neighbors! The gods have spoken to me! We have been ordered to burn down the forest!". The crowd murmured indecisively. A voice arose from the small crowd, "That is nonsense! Why must we burn down the forest? It has never done us any wrong.". The old man frowned and answered, " It is the gods will! You dare defy orders from the gods themselves?".The crowd went silent and the oracle nodded. "Everyone grab a torch and gather at the forest!". Everyone grabbed something flammable and made a small crowd at the forest. Melany was informed right away and ran over, grabbing Luke on the way. "Stop!" she screamed right as a villager lowered a torch to the dry bush,"What are you doing?". The oracle was quick to respond, "The gods have ordered your forest to be burned!". Luke shakily asked, " But.. why would they want that?" His voice broke and the waterworks had begun. "The gods have told me of all the horrible crimes you have committed!" he moved his torch closer to the vegetation as he spoke. "What have we done? What are these horrible crimes you speak of?" Melany yelled and stomped her foot. The vines covering the ground started to move as Melany grew more and more angry. The villagers started to retreat, but the oracle stood his ground. "You have ruined the farmers crop and killed the plants of our village!". "You lie! We have done no such thing!" Luke retorted. "Tell that to the gods!" The oracle yelled back. "Fine. If we prove to the gods that we have done nothing wrong, you will leave our home alone and never return." Melany began walking towards the oracle, who just smiled in reaction. "If you can get the gods on your side, we won't harm a single blade of grass in or near your forest." His smile was slowly growing into a malicious grin,"You have three days." The oracle turned and started walking, soon followed by the villagers, back to the village. Melany stood and watch him hobble back to the village waiting to turn until they disappeared. Melany turned to Luke who by this point was a complete sobbing mess. "Hey buddy come on it'll be alright." she smiled softly after another agony filled sob escaped from his mouth. She went over and hugged him trying her best to comfort him, "We'll figure it out.". Luke's entire body was shaking at this point, "How are we gonna.." he whispered sadly. " I don't know but we will." she whispered back, her own voice now filled with sadness, "We have to.".
The three days were filled with praying to the gods hoping they'll get help and hardly any sleep. Every morning they would wake up, got to an homemade temple, and pray for help. They never got an answer. Until day three that is. Melany was walking to the temple, hoping that just maybe this time they would get an answer. She was walking past a cluster of trees when she noticed something strange. The trees , which had been the same since forever, were different. She didn't know how or what it was she could just feel the difference. She walked towards them, staying vigilant and wary of possible danger. "This tree is just... wow." Melany whipped around to find a woman wearing a long green dress. Her hair was brown and over her shoulder. She was stunningly beautiful. Her hand was on a tree that Melany recognized as the oldest tree in the forest. "Who are you? What are you doing in this forest?" she asked in slight daze from the beauty of the woman. The woman turned around and smiled sweetly. "I'm... your help. I'm here to help you with your... problem". "Who are you? Answer me!" Melany was growing restless, the longer time she spent here the shorter time she had to pray for help. "Calm down, my name is Demeter. I'm seriously here to help.". Melany almost started crying she was so happy. "T-thank you m'lady." Melany started to bow but fell due to her shaking. Demeter extended her hand to Melany, which she took, and pulled her up. "Your forest is too beautiful to be destroyed. I will tell the villagers that this forest will not be harmed.". "Thank you so much m'lady. I have to go tell Luke!" she bowed quickly and then turned and ran off. Melany found Luke rather quickly mainly because Luke was looking for Melany, like usual."Luke! The gods have answered our pleas! They have told me they would save us!" Melany exclaimed. Luke immediately started crying tears of joy. He hugged Melany and cried into her shoulder for a while.
Back at the village it was not so joyus. Demeter was towering over the villagers,who all gathered in the middle. "Listen to me you puny mortals! You will not harm the forest! If you harm even a leaf in that forest I will bring punishment to you all!" Demeter warned. All of the villagers swore to never even go near the forest again, as long as they lived. The oracle, on the other hand did not swear to anything. "She's a fake! A fake god sent by the forest to scare us! I will not be intimidated by this fake goddess." the oracle said as Demeter left. "I'm leaving this very minute to go and burn down the forest. Who's coming with me?" the oracle was met with silence and pity stares. The oracle looked around at the crowd and shook his head, "Fine I will do it on my own! The gods will punish you all!". He went and found the most flammable objects and headed towards the forest. He lit the torches and walked right to the oldest tree he could find and put the fire right up to it. The tree lit immediately and soon the fire was spreading like, quite literally, wild fire. He started running the opposite direction because he accidentally lit his entrance on fire.
Melany was doing her daily rounds when she smelled the smoke. She ran towards the smell of burning plants and almost ran right into the roaring flames. She turned around and ran the other way, scared of the fire and death.
Melany ran through the trees. She knew her tree would burn soon and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She stop at a clearing to catch her breath, where she found a sobbing, confused Luke. "Luke?! What are you doing?" she ran over to him and grabbed him by his shoulders. He looked up "Melany? Melany I'm scar-" he stopped mid sentence by a knife entering his back. "Melany... help me..." his arms slumped down with his body as the oracle pulled the knife. His body hit the ground with a thump. The oracle ran off before Melany had time to react. "Luke?" she got on her knees and grabbed his shoulder. She shook him lightly, "Luke... come on get up." her voice broke and tears started rolling down her cheeks. "This isn't funny Luke!" she started shaking him harder now. Her cheeks were completely soaked and she was full out sobbing now. "Luke! Stop joking around! It's not funny! Get up!" she stood up and tried pulling his arm. "Luke stand up... please..." she fell to the ground this time, melancholy washing over her body like a wave. "You can't be gone... you can't leave..." Melany could feel her energy draining as her tree caught fire. "I'm coming Luke...don't be scared" she fell forward as her breathing stopped.
The trees were wilting as the oracle ran through. Trees were falling, flowers were wilting and dying. All of the beautiful colors were fading into shades of black and orange. The animals were trying to run out before the fire got to them, fleeing their homes. The oracle found a way out rather quickly after the incident. He returned to the town full of pride. "I've done it! I've burned the forest! You will all be punished by the gods for not obeying their wish!" the oracle yelled proudly. "Well, not everyone will get punished." said an enraged voice behind him. He whipped around to be faced by a very cross Demeter. "Now you on the other hand, will be severely punished.". Behind her Hades stood also looking very angry. "Please spare me! I'm sorry! I didn't know-". Hades stopped him before he could finish his sentence,"You know good and well what you did and you will be punished fairly for every leaf you burned and life you ended." Hades grabbed the old man and disappeared in a column of black fire. He took the old man to the middle of the forest and tied him to a tree. Hades lit a fire under the oracle, it slowly grew until it engulfed his entire body. The oracle screamed in pain and agony; the pain was too much to bear. "You will stay here for eternity, always burning. After it reaches the top, it will lower and your wounds will heal. The fire will then rise again over and over forever." Hades said coldly. He left the old man to burn for eternity, never to be saved.
Demeter looked everywhere for Luke's and Melany's soul, but she couldn't find them anywhere. They weren't in the underworld nor any other place where lost souls go. She asked Hades to keep an eye out for them and he did. He never found them though. When their trees were destroyed, their spirits went with them. Melany Brownwater and Luke Briarbark are gone forever, because not everyone gets a happy ending.