In which Monique and James enter the Dark Wood, learn something about the Folk of the Woods, and are surprised by the singers.

"Like, right now?" Monique asked as she took in her dew-dampened pajama pants. Despite the warmth of her jacket, she shivered.

"Something horrible could have happened to the singers," Thunder said, his small wooden features screwing up in a frown. "We might already be too late."

Monique glanced at James, who shrugged. "Should we?" she asked. A troubled ball settled in her stomach at the thought of entering the woods at night with mythical creatures and no responsible adults.

Thunder turned towards the woods, disregarded Pine's disapproving grunt, and flew past the shed. The fairy stopped where the yard met the trees and waited. Thunder's blue light fell to the ground, revealing a hidden path.

The other fairies buzzing around the yard entered the forest, lighting the overgrown dirt path like Christmas bulbs illuminating the eaves of a house.

James peered at his ensemble of jacket, tennis shoes, and pajamas. Not his preferred hiking gear, but going back into the house for supplies would wake their parents. He glanced at Monique. "A fairy is asking for our help. How can we say no?" he said before he made his way to where Thunder hovered. He turned back to Monique and waved for her to follow.

Pine stomped a foot in the air and took off like a lightning bolt into the woods, ignoring the others. His golden light winked out of sight.

Monique squared her shoulder and started towards James and Thunder. As she passed the shed, she stopped and retrieved the hammer. Its weight reassured her. As she approached, Thunder sagged in the air, falling several inches before he caught himself.

"I'm afraid you can't bring that with you. The metal is poison to the Folk of the Woods," Thunder said. "The nails nearly killed me today."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Monique said, and she dropped the hammer to the ground once more. The troubled ball expanded in her stomach, reaching her throat.

James sensed her hesitation and said, "Wait here. I have an idea." He sprinted back to the house and tiptoed onto the porch, and grabbed something before returning. "How's this?" he asked, his eyes sparkling in the fairy's light. In his hand, he held a wooden baseball bat.

Thunder flew to the bat, sniffed the handle, and then licked the lettering before giving it a hardy knock. "Maple wood. Yes, this will be fine. I've seen these. What are they used for?"

"It's for a game called baseball. You hit a ball with the bat and run in a circle," James said as he shouldered the bat. "I don't much like it, but Monique's really good."

"Interesting," Thunder said, his voice thoughtful. He gave the bat another taste before flying into the woods. The other fairies lighting the path bobbed in the fragrant summer breeze, waiting.

James pushed his glasses up onto this nose and headed after Thunder. Monique gave their dark house a final solemn look before stepping into the woods.

It was several degrees colder in the woods. James and Monique pulled their jackets tightly around themselves as they walked. Despite the fairies' glow lighting the path, the woods were dark. Very dark. The thick canopy allowed little of the moonlight to trickle down to them.

"Um, Thunder," James said as he took in the black looming shapes of trees beyond the fairies' light, "what exactly are the singers?"

From his position several feet ahead, Thunder turned to face them, flying backward. "The singers are spirits of this forest. They bring inspiration, passion, love, and hope to the Folk of the Woods."

"And they're missing?" Monique asked as she suppressed another shiver. It was getting colder.

Thunder slowed, allowing the kids to catch up, and gave a solemn nod. "A moon's cycle ago, they went quiet."

James frowned. "So no one's seen them for a month?"

Thunder nodded again. "They were there, and then they were gone. It's been so quiet." He peered around the dark wood, his shoulders drooping with sadness.

James remembered how quiet it had been while he tried to sleep. He stopped now and listened, but the woods were silent. "Do you hear anything?" James asked.

Monique shook her head. Her poofy dark hair caught the fairy's light and glowed like a halo. "Maybe they're quiet because we're here?" she offered, thinking of how birds quieted in the trees in the park when she ran past.

James shook his head. "It's been quiet all night. Eerie quiet." He turned back to Thunder, who hovered nearby. "What do the singers look like?" he asked.

"Well," Thunder began as they moved deeper into the wood, "there's Click Clack who's small and black with six legs. Long Tongue is about three fairies large with greasy, green skin. Night Flyer has large, orange eyes and flies on silent wings." Thunder paused and gave his buzzing wings a withering look before continuing, "Moon Watcher is by far the largest of the singers. She walks on four legs, is covered in thick fur, and has a mouth full of teeth."

"Wait, Monique said, hurrying to catch up. "The singers are bugs and animals?"

"Not exactly. The singers take the shape of animals, but they are spirits, ancient spirits. They are older than the trees. Some say they came from the stars."

Everyone fell silent as they walked, each lost in their thoughts. James and Monique dazzled at the fairies along the path. As they passed one, it would fly to the front of the line keeping the trail before them well-lit. Without thinking, they glanced back the way they'd come and saw nothing. A darkness so complete that not even the path they'd just traveled was visible. James and Monique stifled a squeak of surprise and fear, pressing themselves closer together. James gripped the bat tightly in his hands, hoping he wouldn't have to use it. 

(1002 Words)