A whirlwind of crows circle overhead, cawing warnings and hasting orders to be wary.

My bones chill at the eerie sounds, the wind whistling mournful tones.

“Something isn’t right,” I whisper to myself, trudging through the moist soil, my steps sinking into the grass.

I continue to look above, the crows following me with their wings and cawing songs.

Mist begins to roll towards me and my heart surges.

Something _definitely_ is not right.

I turn to run back, away from the forest, but mist surrounds me all around.

I gulp my fear down and try to think of a plan, but my thoughts are interrupted by loud steps.

“How brave you are to venture into the Forest of Despair,” a tall figure says, cloaked in black crow feathers and mist.

“Show yourself!” I shout, my voice laced in fear.

The figure walks into vision…a man towers over me with pale skin and hair matching his black cloak. He looks ethereal and mystical.

“My crows were telling me of a faithful woman venturing into my woods in search of a cure for her father. I just had to see this brave soul,” the man says, his eyes grazing me.

“What they say is true. I am in search of a cure said to be found in the pools of this forest,” I respond, my voice not wavering.

“Hmm…and did you think the cure would not come with a cost?”

“I will pay anything for the life of my father,” I assure with confidence.

“Then you’re a fool,” the man laughed. “For the price is your life. A life for a life.”

My stomach twists in agony of this revelation.

“So you’re going to kill me?” I whisper.

The man shakes his head. “I, the King of this forest, am much more merciful.”

“I do not understand?”

The King walks closer. “I will allow you to take the cure from my pools for your father, but in exchange you must forever reside in my kingdom, in the Forest of Despair.”

My head screams at me to find another way, but my heart fights that this _is_ the only way.

Without a second thought, I reply, “I agree.”