One day, a curious Selene asked her father whether he knew any stories about the creatures of the Dark Forest. In answer to her question, Petrus took her down to the foot of the mountain, where the kingdom’s borders ended and the Dark Forest began.
“Many years ago,” he told her, “in this spot, a friend of mine entered the trees on a dare. He was bold. Stupid. Part of him made it out. Not all of him. He never did tell us what he saw in there, but he had nightmares about it. Still has them.” He turned to Selene. “Don’t go into the forest. Do you hear?”
Selene nodded, her eyes fixed on the hungry darkness between the trees, both fascinating and horrifying. It seemed to draw in the light, as if eager to consume it.
“Promise?” her father emphasized.
Selene shivered and looked away. “Promise.”
“Good lass,” rumbled Petrus, embracing her. “Let’s go home.”
Selene thought about her father’s warning often, too. But her interest in stories of the Dark Forest did not diminish.