Tragedy — Hive

I was alone in the forest. It was a wet, misty night. The stars were hidden behind the drizzling clouds. I walked, step by step, towards a large, circular light that illuminated the forest. The mist was so heavy that I could not see anything past the light. Then, out of the mist, came a large form. I could not tell if it was a man, or a beast. The only thing I knew was that it was enormous. It kept pace with me as we walked together through the forest. The beast-like thing came up to me, and put both its paws on each of my shoulders.

I was scared out of my mind, but before I could scream, it began to hum with a voice. It was a woman's voice, and it was beautiful. 'Protect my son.' it said. 'Please. He will be so violent when he is grown. It is not his fault, but please, protect him.' And then, as quickly as she had come, the beast-like woman was gone.

When I woke from my dream, I looked up at the slightly-mended ceiling above my bed. It was mortared with dirt and moss and lichen, but the support beams were still standing. My bed was made of an old tree stump, and a few leaves and branches. The ceiling, however, was the only thing my father had ever allowed to be built in the village. I knew how much the ceiling meant to him. Ever since my mother died, he had taken over the ruling of our otherwise democratic village. He wanted privacy for his rule. Up here in the attic, with all of the doors closed, I could consider my options.

I wasn't sure whether I should tell my father about my dream. I knew I would have to one day, but his infrequency of returning from his wanderings made it hard to plan anything out. Still, I would have to tell him at some point. I couldn't leave home. I couldn't leave him all alone.

I wanted to protect my father, but it was hard. So I decided to return the responsibility to other people. I decided, as princess, it was my duty to protect the secrets of this village. I didn't know how, but I knew I had to protect it somehow. And, who knows, maybe my duties here would help me to protect my father.

I climbed out of bed and looked out in the misty night. The trees were dripping with light, but I could see my outline. My father didn't bother to stoke the fire from his journey to hunt, and it was beginning to get cold. I found the old ladder and climbed it down the wobbly, mossy floor. I threw my fur coat over my torn nightgown. I began to make my way out the door, when I froze. The mist had disappeared, and I could see the signpost in front of me as clearly as I could in the light.

Tragedy

It read.

I stood there, dumbfounded. It had to be a mistake. It was such an unlikely message. It couldn't be real. Still, it was right there, staring me in the face.

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