When Tristan was a child, he watched a boa strangle a dog. The barking canine had chased the snake across the village. Desperate to escape the snapping jaws, the boa slithered up a tree. Though out of the dog’s reach, it didn’t stop the four-legged creature from snarling its yipping challenges at its scaly foe. The beady eyes gleamed with a growing hunger, knowing that as long as its enemy sat below freedom was out of reach. Unable to wait any longer, it dropped from its perch and attacked the dog.

  Their battle was brief but hard fought. The dog whirled around, jaws snapping at the long body, hoping to toss the snake away and rip into its flesh. All the while, the snake’s coils gathered to form a tight, unbreakable rope. That rope tightened, creating a constricting chain that the dog couldn’t escape. As the moments passed, the dog’s barking became weaker. Tristan couldn’t look away as the dog collapsed, struggling to hold on to whatever life still pulsed in its heart. When its foe fell, the boa wasted no time in partaking of its prey. The snake swallowed the dog whole. According to Issachar, the snake hadn’t reached full maturity. Armed with their farming tools, the men of Ariel slaughtered the boa. The last thing anyone wanted was the constricting creature to grow any larger. Who knew when it would get a taste for man flesh?

  Inside his grassy prison, Tristan wondered what thoughts passed through the dog’s mind. For most of his life, he didn’t consider that animals had complex minds. He was sure they only thought in terms of their base desires. However, after learning that gods existed, he wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Yet there was one thought he knew for certain.

  I can’t escape. No matter how hard he struggled, the forest’s underbrush forced him deeper into the grassy void. Despair set in. He was no different from that dog. It could fight, but at some point, it had to admit the truth. The time to run towards freedom had long since passed. I shouldn’t have come here. Never should’ve listened to Prospero. Perhaps he would’ve grown used to seeing spirits. Ariel’s patron god was the only one causing him trouble. For all he knew, Tristan might have gone his whole life without seeing another god or any other divine creature. Sadly, none of that mattered.

  Give in, a voice whispered, as if he needed encouragement. If his mind was clearer, perhaps he might have questioned where that voice was coming from.

  Falling inside the green, he remembered those that might mourn his passing. Opal and Ur. That was it. The thought of his friends should’ve driven him to summon his strength and fight to the surface. All it did was give him relief. At least they will be free of me. They wouldn’t have to worry about him. He embraced his fate. Maybe Prospero can help me in the afterlife.

  “Don’t give up,” a voice called to him. It was different from the gentle calling that crooned in his ears. This voice was familiar. For one long second, he pondered what this meant but he had little control over what happened next. The voice sent a new surge of power through his body. A sudden longing for life overtook him. “Hurry lad,” the voice urged. “If you don’t get out now, a fate worse than death awaits.”

  “What am I supposed to do?” he screamed, struggling to break his inescapable bonds.

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  “Leave it to me,” the voice answered. Without explanation, the grass loosened its grip on Tristan’s body. Hope flared up in his heart. Reaching with both hands, he grabbed a hold of as much of the weeds as possible and, with all the strength he had, he pulled. Though he could not see it, he felt it. His body rose up. Excitement surged. Releasing with one hand, he slid it through the tangle to grab another handful and pulled himself further. Hand by hand, he moved up. His arms ached from the exertion, lungs screaming for air. Still, he continued, knowing that if he gave up this would be his end.

  At last, he burst out of the grass. He felt a sudden rush as air filled his body. Looking around, he saw the tree-covered world above the green sinkhole. Relief set in as the panic and fear dissipated into nothingness. Panting, he chuckled, low at first, until he was close to roaring. “Are you okay?” Prospero interrupted, his voice tense. The god floated around him, his eyes darting around.

  “Yeah,” Tristan said between the fits of laughter. “A little shaken up, but I’ll live.”

  “Good, because you’re not out of this mess yet.”

  “What?” All his excitement and relief died. Fear began to creep back.

  “I found out what’s trying to kill you. That’s why I didn’t get you out sooner. While it focused on you, I had to locate it.”

  “Thanks. Glad to know I was top priority,” Tristan said with a fair amount of sarcasm.

  “Say what you want, but if I didn’t do what I did, you’d be dead now,” the god answered. “This isn’t my domain. There’s only so much I can do. To help you, I had to find the source of our problem.”

  The way the god finished his explanation sent a chill through Tristan. After what he survived, he knew that anything was possible. “What was it?”

  “The heart of the forest. It’s angry. You better get going.” The god’s voice was stern, leaving no place for argument. “I will do what I can. Though this isn’t my forest to control, I have the power to deal with twisted creations.” The god placed his hands together. A flash of light appeared between his palms. The light expanded, attempting to blind Tristan. When it vanished, a long spear and wide shield rested in his hands. “It’s been some time since I’ve needed to don my weapons, but if I plan to see you safely to the end of our journey, I better get back in practice.” Armed with his sacred tools, he floated deeper into the forest, leaving Tristan to flee alone.

  At first, Tristan wasn’t sure if it was safe to move. If the heart of the forest intended to harm him, anything could attack him. In the land of the divine unveiled, nothing was impossible. Perhaps he would have wasted the time Prospero gave him, but something gave urgency to his flight. Behind, he noticed a strong presence, one he hadn’t felt before. It was overpowering, threatening to release its fury on mortals. Fear urged on his heart. Summoned what strength he had left, he forged through the forest’s smothering surroundings.

  The foliage fought against him. Each step was harder than the last. He couldn’t be sure, but it seemed as if the grass, weeds, and vines grew at an alarming rate. Before long, he was certain that his feet were no longer touching the ground. His arms flailed about, struggling to keep his head above the rolling surface.

  In the distance, he heard Prospero. “Foul demon of the forest, this day Prospero shall relieve thee of thy pain. Come and greet my spear. Kiss my shield with your arrows. Let us battle to bring this misery to a close.”

  In answer, a low, unnatural moan roared. For a terrifying moment, his body attempted to freeze in place. “No,” he groaned, forcing himself to continue. If he stopped running, he’d meet whatever made that noise.