AREDRA [The Cave, the Forest & the Lake: Part 3]
INTRO:
Who is Aredra and why are we telling her story?
I always had a love for writing. And I can easily say for me, writing a story is almost the same as designing for SM. An outfit is all about who wears it, the things she’s doing, her interests and mood, and what phase of her life she’s in. I started writing a story about a girl named AREDRA in mid-2020. And she quickly became a fascinating character. All the products you see are named after a character and represent them. Aredra exists in a whimsical world that poses constant challenges yet embodies a place where limitless possibilities unfold.
PART 3:
The green forest looked like an endless maze of trunks and branches. Rays of sunlight peeked through the holes of the green dome by the leaves that now hid the blue sky. The air was pleasant and fresh and the smell of the sea had disappeared. Aredra was alert and her eyes were wide though the forest was calm and quiet.
-“Skylos”. She whispered.
“What is it?”
-Shhh Listen.
Skylos stood on a low branch and stared at Aredra as her arms were stretched out and her body hunched.
“I do not hear anything.”
-Precisely, the forest is too quiet. No sign of the birds or windblown, strange, don’t you think?
“I suppose,” Skylos said, cautiously studying the trees.
“Do you think something has happened?”
-Not yet, but we must hurry, if we ought to find a safe place by nightfall.
Skylos jumped swiftly and began climbing up the trees. He reached the crown with the forest stretched before him like a green carpet. He took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.
“It is an endless forest indeed”
-“What do you see??” Aredra shouted.
“Nothing but the trees up and down the hills”
-We should head north till we find the Erenaiv River. Come on.
Aredra was walking slowly and alert. The branches and the green-covered twisting roots showed no sign of a path.
-This forest has not been disturbed in many years. I have heard of such stories about wanderers of Oxelis travelling through the southern edge, following the river never to have returned. It is easy to get lost for the roots grow to veil any path.
It has been some time now since Skylos and Aredra last heard of the sea waves. Travelling through the forest began to slowly wear them down, for they had to walk through the tangling trees and climb up the rough roots that pieced through the ground, sieging the trees.
“I do not think I can go much further Aredra.” Said Skylos.
-We need to find water before we make camp. Otherwise, we cannot survive for much longer.
“I do not care, besides, it is almost half-light. We are in the middle of nowhere, I saw no sign of a river when I was above…the…trees...”
-No no no Skylos! You cannot fall asleep now! come on we need to find the river, I know we are close, I can feel it.”
Aredra threw herself on the ground and let out a sigh leaning her head against a tree. She closed her eyes and spoke:
-We are…close, Skylos..I know it, we need…to…move…now..”
She began to drift off and it sounded like she was talking in her dream. She wanted to move but something felt so heavy, as if the green dome of the forest was getting lower and it was getting harder to breathe. Aredra gave in, for it was easier to lay still, and let the forest take control of their faith.