Fair Weather

I haven’t heard the birds in a while. What began as a sudden hush over the forest now lies over it like a blanket, smothering all sound but the snap of branches under my boots.

I blame the mushrooms for all of this. It was a pleasant midday hike until I stepped into that fairy ring.

The birds were my first clue. They fell silent as I crossed the ring, like they were shocked at my forest faux pas. What a silly goose, doesn’t she know?

Then, there was the fog. It rose up from the ground and drifted in through the trees. That didn’t feel like normal fog behavior, but what do I know? I’m not a meteorologist. The fog pooled and condensed, flooding in like a rising tide. I climbed up the hill, to get above it, to see over it. To find my way out of it. All I needed was a little altitude.

I have been climbing this mountain for over an hour. The fog has only gotten heavier. I have no idea where I am or what direction I came from. I don’t even remember there being a mountain on my hiking route.

Below me, all that remains is a white mist inhabited by blurry wraiths of birch trunks. I can’t turn back now. Something tells me there’s nothing to turn back to.

So I continue the climb, exhausted, and stumble on a raised root. I clutch at the nearest tree to steady myself.

Somewhere, a single crow caws, tearing through the silence. For a moment, the fear and uncertainty vanishes. Of course. This is normal. Just a regular forest, with regular birds. Soon the fog will lift, I will walk out of here, and it will have all been some strange dream.

A second crow joins the first, then another, and another. A chill, deeper and more primal than just the cold damp air, creeps into my bones. Is it a warning? Am I in trouble? Are they laughing at me? The insistent screeching grows louder. And closer.

Now, gripped by panic, I’m scrambling blindly through the fog, higher and higher, away from the cries of crows and the mad fluttering of wings. I don’t know what awaits me at the top of this mountain, but it can’t be worse than what’s coming up behind me.