Silent but Friendly {{ Pop }}

Hari was more or less a denizen of the forest these days. No matter how many times it posed as a threat to him, he kept coming back, because the creature inside of him — the tree, which was old and strong and unnerving — sought similar creatures to it and outright refused the presence of its more "domesticated" colleagues.

Hari felt at home amidst the rock and the trees anyway. When the business of the city got to him, he found solace amidst its silence.

As Hari traversed the field barefoot, he saw...

Was that a child?

His more human maternal side took over and told him: This was not a good place to find a child. Hari rushed over to the hill, expertly walking around the grass and the rocks to get to his side. "Little boy... Are you lost?"

Hari... did not know what to do. It seemed like that the child saw him as a threat and he would rather leave him there, but the child's obvious skittishness and the fast-approaching sunset were hard to ignore.

Wild beasts and monsters roamed this forest at night. Those who didn't know the path were in danger of being consumed by the dark. Hari slowly walked to him so he wouldn't scare him away, sitting a few meters away from the child.

"Are you mute or scared?" he asked in the softest voice he could muster, the voice he used when he was handling children back when he used to volunteer at the Daycare. "The night is dangerous, little one. Perhaps we should head back into the city?"

Hari nodded, hugging his legs.

There was something about this boy that was... compelling. An odd connection. He felt the part of him that was all wood and leaves itch to get to the surface. It unconsciously did. When Hari noticed his left arm, the one closest to the boy, was partially shifted, he willed it to change back to normal skin.

"I know you like that tree..." Hari listened to the tree. It said it liked the boy, too. Most of the forest did. Odd. "But it's dangerous in the forest, child. There are dangerous beasts that roam the shadows. We need to get you to safety before the night falls."

Hari took his hand and was at a loss of where to take him. The police station and the school were safe bets, but it didn't seem like he was amenable to going back to the city. But how could they communicate if the child was mute?

As Hari began leading them down to the safe path, he began signing, 'Can you understand sign language or communicate with plants in any way? I can talk to plants and ASL, but I can't read your thoughts.'

Hari sighed.

This kid didn't know how to talk and he didn't know how to sign either. How was he expected to deal with this? Where was he supposed to take him? It wasn't possible that he grew up by himself. After all, he had city clothes. As frustrating as it was, Hari wasn't the type to leave children alone.

As they entered the thicker part of the forest, the trees rustled, whispering everything they knew of the child.

Amphios?

Hari remembered Amphios. He helped him in the forest way months ago. If this was Amphios' child, he should get him back. Hari took his hand again. "You know Amphios? I'll bring you back to him, but the way is... off the path. Please be prepared for a difficult journey."

Hari stepped away from the path and began to walk. This path was so much darker.