The Player and the Forest

Under an emerald canopy, Cya made her camp, surrounded by scattered leaves and the fluttering of bird wings. She pulled her grey hood over curling copper hair and drew her lute from its case, her fingers brushing gently over the taught strings.

A groan came from the shadows: an ancient, creaking sound, made by no beast of flesh and blood.

Cya’s hand dropped from the strings and drifted to the dagger by her side as the beast lumbered forward: a creature of wood and magic, long limbs flourishing with sprigs of green. Two burning eyes were set into a horned skull.

It pointed with a mossy hand to the lute and its face twisted to let out a creaking word.

“Play.”

Cya played melody after melody and the creature remained calm as a summer day.

In the morning, she found a bouquet of bright flowers.

She’d played for worse crowds.

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Word Count: 150

This is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers. Thanks to Priceless Joy for running the challenge and Pamela S. Canepa for providing the prompt photo!