Secrets of the Jade Forest (a short story) | LET'S MAKE A COLLAGE: Summer Break FreeStyle #3

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Reminder, Let's Make a Collage ("LMAC") is on summer break until September 15. In the meantime, members are free to let their imagination soar and freestyle their collages. Rules must still be adhered to. In my collage this week, I wanted to have a bit of fun and go dark by delving into evil deeds. Just a short story I'd like to share to accompany my collage.

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The Jade forest. I stood mesmerized by its lush, green beauty. On first glance, the interlocking vines and branches are breathtaking. It had been so for two centuries. Undisturbed. There natural and unnatural forces dwelt. It had been rumored so for as long as I can remember. And my memory is not that old due to the fact that I wasn't allowed to cross the stream and see for myself.

My name is Rosalyia. And what I do know about the Jade Forest is that there exists in that place the wonders to behold. That's according to my grandmother. And I believe everything my grandmother ever told me. So when she silently nodded her approval the week leading up to my sixteenth birthday, I set out on a mission.

Others told me it was foolish. However, the Jade Forest summoned me. The voice soothed me in its appeal for my presence.

Was I afraid? Nope. You see, she prayed over me. Then, she secured about my neck a strange artifact sculptured from her own hands out of rocks and sand retrieved from an abandoned site near the stream.

That night with one hand that refused not to shake, I pulled back the hood of my robe. The other hand bore the box that would collect the wood's treasures and knowledge that the voice promised.

The moon was helpless as I attempted to adjust my eyes to follow the tiny dancing lights from the fireflies.

Crossing the stream, what seemed like a floodlight searching for escaped wrongdoers settled upon my face. My guide. I followed the path it cleared.

I gasped. There before me stood a small skeletal figure with features resembling a woman. Attempting to back away, two of its four hands reached out and grabbed my cloak. Before I could scream, another hand covered my mouth.

My heart raced. I dropped my box. Her hand caressed my face as she whispered unfamiliar words in ear. They spread throughout my consciousness. My body slumped. I felt my feet lifted from the forest bed, then float deeper into the woods. The vines untangled. The trees parted to allow us passage.

Immobilized, I could sense beings standing in the distance. I could see tiny eyes peering from large insects scrambling about. Above, a ghostly figure hovered between the trees. A branch shook as a raven took flight, dripping crimson-color from its beak.

I could hear no sound in her movements as she followed alongside me.

The moon changed from a ghostly blue to dark as we inched closer toward the eerie light. I couldn't tell the direction nor see the inhabitants promised. The stagnant odor, together with rot and decay that filled my nostrils, validated their presence.

Desperate to figure out how to escape the horror, I closed my eyes and willed my grandmother's face appear. The incantations she spoke over me filled my body. I remained still.

Finally, we reached the other side beyond the edge of the woods.

Brilliant lights, dancing trolls, fairies singing, and a wonderland of a forgotten era burst forth.

An angel settled next to me. With a wave of her hand, the skeleton and all who'd accompanied me to this place disappeared.

Could I have escaped? I didn't want to.

She bid all in attendance fill my knowledge box with wonders I'd never imagined. The fairies left gifts, herbs, seed, and potions to heal the sick.

Did I want to escape the horrors of the forest? No. I understood what I was required to conquer to enjoy the fruits of my resolve.

I was now one with the Jade Forest. The weight of its secrets bounds me as I upheld the pact made centuries ago that were only rumored.

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To create the collage, I uploaded all images into Canva. I utilized my Annual Pro Membership Subscription to blend the elements. Images from the LIL helped to create the haunting forest scene.

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I appreciate your visit and hope you like my collage theme.

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CONTEST RULES

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

It is imperative that you read the post LMAC School - Public Domain Picture sources (Free Materials for creating collages) by @quantumg, which discusses public domain issues. The post offers valuable information on images for commercial use. Links are included to sources that offer public domain images and other images that are free for commercial uses. Using public domain pictures and free pictures for commercial use are requirements for all collages that are submitted as entries in the LMAC contest and the LMAC Image Library (LIL).

What is Let's Make a Collage?It is a weekly photography and collage contest.
Who created the contest?@shaka is the contest owner.
What type of contest is it?This Contest utilizes a single photo provided by the contest owner as the basis for you to create your own photo collage by adding to the photo provided.
What are the rules?1. Use as your starting point for your collage the photography provided by the contest owner. It is located on the contest owner's post for free use without any copyright protection.
2. Entries are required to be posted to the LMAC community and must contain a link to the contest post.
3. Entries need to set the LMAC account (@lmac) as 20% beneficiary to be eligible for the dynamic component of the prize pool.;
4. Extra support with the LMAC trail to all collages where LIL assets have been included AND the respective LIL-contributors set as 2% beneficiaries;
5. By submitting your contribution you agree that your artwork remains public domain and that it can be copied, modified and distributed, even for commercial purposes, without requiring further permission.
6. Any graphical element that is added to the photography either needs to be your own original work (e.g. own artwork or photography) OR needs to derive from sites whitelisted by LMAC.
7. IMPORTANT: Indicate the source of all materials used in your accompanying post. Otherwise your entry can NOT be put up for the final vote.
8. All sort of editing, modification and/or manipulation is allowed as long as no copyright is affected.
What do you win?Prizes listed on the contest owner's post.

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Thanks,
@justclickindiva

Happy rest of the week everyone with whatever your endeavors.

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SOURCES:

a) JustClickindiva's Footer created in Canva utilizing its free background and images used with permission from discord admins.
b) Unless otherwise noted, all photos taken by me with my (i) Samsung Galaxy 10" Tablet, (ii) Samsung Phone, & (iii) FUJI FinePix S3380 - 14 Mega Pixels Digital Camera
c) Purple Butterfly part of purchased set of Spiritual Clip Art for my Personal Use
d) All Community logos, banners, page dividers used with permission of Discord Channel admins.
e) Ladies of Hive banner used with permission of and in accordance with the admin's guidelines.
f) Image created in Canva by @justclickindiva utilizing one of its free templates.

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Bang, I did it again... I just rehived your post!
Week 122 of my contest just started...you can now check the winners of the previous week!
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Great story and collage, good luck in the weekly photography contest 😎
@justclickindiva have the best weekend
!ALIVE
!BBH
I will be including this content on the @heartbeatonhive curation collection

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very amazing edit and also very interesting to see I hope I can do something like that

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I'll look forward to seeing your collage theme. Yes, you can do it. I use Canva to blend my images for the scenes.

Thanks for stopping by and viewing my collage and reading my story. Pleased that you liked them both.

Take care.

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Rosalyia is so brave to endure all that and she is only sixteenth.
This is a wonderful collage, you really designed it so well.

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Great collage and story of the Jade Forest!
Stay !ALIVE

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Hello @stdd. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to view my collage theme and read my story. I'm happy to hear you liked them both. I love dark and dramatic themes and like to create short stories.

I appreciate your support. Take care.

!LUV
!LADY

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You did go dark in this one, @justclickindiva. 😊 I love it and the great story.

Thanks for including the raven.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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