A Forest

You wake up and see A Forest outside. Are you ready to [[enter?->Prepare]]

You begin to pack up your things, putting important supplies like snacks, a flashlight, and bandaids in your backpack. "Meow?" Your cat Ginger sits behind you. You decide to bring him [[along.->Embark]]

You walk out the door, looking back one more time. Hopefully you can find what you are [[looking for->First enter]].

As you go deeper into The Forest, it becomes more peculiar. It goes from normal trees to an almost fairytale-like wonderland. As you venture forth, you see three trees sitting in a cirle. As you get closer you begin to hear voices. Ginger hears them too, and jumps into your backpack. "We've been waiting for you to come," you hear in the trees' direction. You nervously go closer. [[Each tree begins to speak.->Tree Intro]]

"We are the ancient trees of The Forest," says The First. "We watch over the living things here," says The Second. "We make sure everything here is balanced," says The Third. They have a scary tone. You aren't sure if they want you in The Forest. "We have been waiting for something like this to happen," says The First. "For a human to come looking for something," says The Second. "In the place we protect," says The Third. [[You don't think they want you here.->Tree Choice]]

[["Will you run away from us?" says The First.->Run Home]] [["Will you run past us?" says The Second.->Run Past the Trees]] [["Or will you stay standing where you are?" says The Third.->Stay Standing]]

You quickly turn away and run back. You haven't found what you were looking for.

Without hesitation, you quickly run around the trees. They don't say any more. Ginger peeks out of your backpack to take one last glance. It looks like he wants to go back, but you continue to run deeper into The Forest. You think you're far enough away now, and you begin to slow down to regain energy. As you sit down for a snack, you think you see a giant shadow stalk among the trees. It must be your imagination... The sun starts to set, so you pull out the sleeping bag and make a shelter. You thought nighttime here would be calm and peacful but it was more... unsettling. It must be your imagination[[...->After you sleep]]

Even though you are afraid, you ''(set: $Courage to "1")'' and stay put, waiting for The Trees to speak. "So you chose to stay," says The First. "We hoped you would decide," says The Second. "[[To help The Forest->Helping the Forest]]," says The Third.

"The Forest isn't as it used to be," says The First. "The magic is slowly fading away," says The Second. "You are the one who can bring it back," says The Third. You thought The Forest was fairy-tale like. What do they mean? "The //''Nightmares''// are lurking in the shadows," says The First. "They steal the magic away from our world," says The Second. "If they aren't stopped, they will take everything," says The Third. [[You decide you want to help.->Helping the Forest 2]]

"The //''Nightmares''// don't let the fairies have their parties," says The First. "The //''Nightmares''// don't let the unicorns play," says The Second. "The //''Nightmares''// won't let us have our magic, unless you overcome them," says The Third. [["Only you have the power," "To defeat," "The //''Nightmares''//,"->Helping the Forest 3]]

You finally wake up. You should probably get back to exploring. As you keep walking, you get more nervous. Everywhere you go, you keep seeing shadows move across your view. You keep walking until you see a something. You thought it was another shadow but the sun shines on it and you see...rainbows. It was a unicorn! But it was stuck. You run towards it, but something is keeping the unicorn down. A shadow-like hand it holding onto its leg. You instantly feel fear in every bone in your body. You want to help... but... [[Help the Unicorn.->Help the Unicorn]] [[Run around it.->Run from the Unicorn]]

"The only way to defeat the ''//Nightmares//''," "Is to overcome your ''fear of the unkown''," "But it's best you rest for now," They are right. It's best you sleep for now. everything is going too fast. You unfold the sleeping bag you brought and lay down to sleep. You think about the ''//Nightmares//'' and what they would look like. [[You must ''overcome your fear''.->Waking up after trees]]

It's the afternoon of the next day. The Trees told you that //''Nightmares''// feed off of ''fear''. You have to be brave if you want to defeat them. Up ahead, there is a cave that holds the //''Nightmare Seal''//. It seals the //''Nightmares''// using courage. [[You're ready to enter the cave.->To the tree cave]]

(set: $Courage to "1")...but the shadow dissapears, with a puff of black dust. "Thank you!" The Unicorn says, "you saved me from a //''Nightmare''//!" You realize they are talking about the shadows you continue to see. "Nightmares feed of of ''fear'', so if you are courageous, they would dissapear. [[After that moment, you didn't see as many //''Nightmares''//->Talking to the Unicorn]]

You run past The Unicorn. Shadows slowly surround you. You keep running, and running... and running...... Until you see a cave. [[It's almost like it's calling out to you.->Fear of the cave]]

"Up ahead, there is a cave. Inside that cave, is the //''Nightmare Seal''//," The Unicorn said. "It has the ablity to seal away the //''Nightmares''// using courage. Only a human can do it." "I'm thankful that you saved me from a nightmare, but there are many more. If you decide to help, The Forest would be so happy." [[You decide you want to help->Towards the Cave]]

"I can walk you there," The Unicorn says. Ginger looked a little scared at first, but it now peeking out of your backpack. You begin to walk with Unicorn to the cave. As you go farther, more shadows come. Everywhere you look now, there are shadows hiding behind the trees. [[You have to stay strong.->In front of the cave unicorn]]

You begin to walk to the cave. As you go farther, more shadows come. Everywhere you look now, there are shadows hiding behind the trees. You have to stay strong. You finally reach the cave. An ominous sound is coming from it. Black mist surrounds you. Shadows stare at you from inside the cave and behind the trees. Do you want to go? [[Go inside the cave.->Enter the cave tree]] [[Run away.->Fear of the cave]]

"We're here," Unicorn says. "This is as far as I can go. The //''Nightmares''// have sealed off magic creatures." A strange, ominous sound is coming out of the cave. Black mist slowly surrounds you. Ginger meows in fear. Do you want to go? [[Head into the cave.->Unicorn head into cave]] [[Run away.->Fear of the cave]]

"Thank you for your help!" Unicorn says. You slowly walk into the cave. [[You are afraid, but you have to be brave.->Enter the cave unicorn]]

You feel as though you need to go into the cave... You have to. Inside there are eyes staring back at you. Shadows staring behind you... The same shadows that attacked The Unicorn. You want to go in to help... You have to go in to help... [[But you are overcome with ''fear''.->Run Home]]

You muster all the courage in your body and head into the cave. Inside, it's cold and dark. Shadows climb on the walls like they have a mind of their own. Maybe they do. Ginger hides in your backpack. You can tell that he's scared. You keep walking through the cave and finally see a glint of light. It's small, but you can see it brightly in this darkness. [[You keep following the light.->Holding the seal Tree]]

You are at the end of the cave. The small light is right in front of you. You reach out to it and hold it in your hands. The shadows stop circling and you begin to calm down. You feel courage in your heart. [[It's time for you to destroy the //''Nightmares''//.->out of the cave tree]]

Inside, it's cold and dark. Shadows climb on the walls like they have a mind of their own. Maybe they do. Ginger hides in your backpack. You can tell that he's scared. You keep walking through the cave and finally see a glint of light. It's small, but you can see it brightly in this darkness. [[You keep following the light.->Holding the seal unicorn]]

Outside of the cave, you can see the ''//Nightmares//'' hiding behind the trees. It seems they are afraid. Suddenly, you feel as though you know what you must do. The light you hold in your hands guides you. It's telling you to go to the Heart of the Forest. [[You close your eyes and begin to walk.->To the heart of the forest]]

"There you are!" Unicorn stands up. "I knew you would come back out." Outside of the cave, you can see the ''//Nightmares//'' hiding behind the trees. It seems they are afraid. Suddenly, you feel as though you know what you must do. The light you hold in your hands guides you. It's telling you to go to the Heart of the Forest. "Thank you for saving The Forest," Unicorn says. "We will never forget what you did." Unicorn runs away, past the trees. You know he is telling the other creatures it will be okay. [[You close your eyes and begin to walk.->To the heart of the forest]]

You open your eyes and see light. Plants of all colors inhabit the area. It's beautiful. But you know what you must do. You begin to feel ''fear'' again. The sky goes dark and a strange dark mist begins to manifest itself. Large black claws and bright white eyes come out of the mist creature. The wind begins to blow wildly. Everything goes dark except for the light in your hands. You want to run but you stay strong. The wind becomes faster and the sky becomes darker, but you still stay strong. You look at the light in your hands and you push it towards the //''Nightmare''//. The light begins to glow bigger. You have to be brave. A large roar comes from the //''Nightmare''// as it tries to fight the light. [[You close your eyes and everything becomes quiet.->Home]]

You open your eyes. You are right in front of you house. Ginger meows beside you. Looking behind, you see A Forest. It's time for you to go back home. You enter your house and lay in your bed. You don't feel scared anymore. You finally got the adventure you always wanted.