Chapter Text
It all started with a flower, Enid supposed. A silly, stupid flower that only grew in one place. The clearing was nearly devoid of all life when Enid entered it, basket in hand. Grass seemed more brown here than anywhere else in the glen. No ferns or trees imposed on this clearing. It was as though there was a wall keeping them out, which made it easily the creepiest area in what was already the creepiest forest Enid had ever lived in. The trees seemed hellbent on blocking out all sunlight from ever reaching the forest floor, and the green of the plants was nearly black. Enid was sure it couldn’t be normal. On the plus side, it meant she could mark the path to her house with her yellow flowers and bright green vines, which made it easy for the villagers to find her when they needed help.
There was one exception to this rule. Scattered around the clearing and particularly clustered in the center were small black and red flowers. Enid had never heard their name before a few days ago and had only ever seen them in this place. She shivered as she entered the clearing, trying to whistle away the nerves that had crept up on her. Enid hated this place and it was colder here than anywhere else in the woods, she would swear it. Or maybe that was only because Enid swore she could see the statue staring at her.
The statue in question was made of black metal and lay, arms crossed above its chest, in the center of the clearing. Enid had seen the statue before. It looked almost like a suit of armor, but Enid knew if it was, it was far too large for any human to wear. Right now though? It looked like a sleeping knight, far too clean to belong in some creepy forest. Enid tore her gaze from the shiny black metal. She was here for a reason, and it wasn’t to gawk at slumbering statues.
Enid slowly made her way through the clearing, her long blond hair swaying from side to side as she made her way across the grass. Bending down, Enid began to pick the flowers, making sure to only grab the ones with seven petals exactly. She hummed as she worked, a song still stuck in her head from the last time she had been in town. There had been a few children who were singing it outside her client’s house. Enid couldn’t quite remember what the lyrics were, only that they reminded her of when her father would croon at her and her siblings before they fell asleep.
The memory of her father’s gentle hand and the brush of his leaves made her stop humming. Enid wanted to glare at herself for being choked up about such a silly thing. But it had been so long, so long since she had heard her brothers chatter about which tree they loved most and boasting about who would be the tallest when they grew up. Enid sighed as she set aside her half-full basket and looked up at the slowly dimming sky. It wasn’t sunset yet, but it would be soon. The beautiful blue was already fading into a dimmer color, and the sun was long gone from view, casting the clearing in shadow.
Enid sniffled, still thinking of her family. She even missed her mother at times. She never missed the way Esther yelled, but she missed those quiet days before the vines, when Esther was still proud and Enid wasn’t a disappointment. She closed her eyes and imagined what it would feel like for her mother to run her fingers through Enid’s hair. You’ll be the most beautiful of my children one day, if your hair is anything to go by at least. Esther’s voice almost sounded real to Enid, the fondness and amusement in her tone foreign but welcome. She could still remember when Esther had spoken those very words to her. She had been so young back then. So eager to prove that she was worthy, good for her mother’s forest. Enid would never be that lucky. She never was.
Wrestling herself back to the present, Enid went back to collecting seven-leaved flowers. She was too old to be crying over such things anyway. Besides, her life wasn’t all that bad now. Enid was a definite part of the Jericho community now, even if it was from a distance. She kept watch from her cottage, healed those who were ill and guided those lost in the wood back to their homes. She was happy. Enid plucked another flower and scrubbed the leftover tears from her eyes, knowing she would look all red and miserable when she looked at her face later.
“Sprout. Why do you cry?” The smooth feminine tone made Enid freeze. The voice was low, and cool, like stones at the bottom of a brook. Her head snapped up to meet the intruder’s gaze. Enid had only rarely met those willing to brave the dark woods that immediately surrounded the northern half of Jericho, and fewer still who had been friendly. It took her a moment to realize that there was no one new in the clearing and a few more moments to notice that the statue not more than four steps away had moved. The smooth black metal gleamed as the figure sat on its pedestal, staring at her. Enid blinked, caught completely off guard.
“You can talk?” Enid’s voice came out as a squeak. She was still frozen in her kneeling position, one hand poised to pick another flower out of the dirt. The statue cocked its head at her minutely, just the slightest tilt.
“Of course I can, Sprout. Did your parents teach you no manners when speaking to one of my kind?” The statue’s words were cold and sharp, making Enid stiffen and glare at it. She was very polite! Most of the time. Almost all the time. Besides, being surprised didn’t count as being impolite, how was she supposed to know that the statue would start talking? But if there was anything she had learned while living on her own, it was that she could never judge a book by its cover. Or a statue by its-her?- voice. So Enid collected herself and scanned the emotionless statue up and down.
“I don’t really know what you are, and I was just surprised that you talked considering you haven’t moved or spoken in the last four years.” Enid kept her voice calm and steady as she properly turned to face the statue.
“Ah.” The statue’s voice was a touch regretful, or maybe that was just Enid’s imagination. “My question still stands, Sprout. Why are you weeping?” Enid scrubbed at her face again, her cheeks flaring with embarrassment. She couldn’t believe she’d woken up some old statue with her crying.
“God, I can’t believe you saw that. I hate when people see me crying. It’s so ugly, y’know? Plus, it hurts, which doesn’t exactly make the experience better. Out of curiosity, what are you? Are you some kind of gargoyle or something? One of the kids in Jericho was saying that their church has a gargoyle to keep out demons, and even though I haven’t seen it yet, Billy said it was made of stone, which, now that I’m thinking about it is way different from you, you’re way shinier, probably made of some kind of metal, how are you not rusting-?” Enid’s curiosity had gotten the better of her at this point and she was on her feet, reaching out to touch the statue’s head, when it slapped her hand away. If a faceless statue could glare, Enid was certain this one would be.
“Refrain from touching me. I do not want your leaves or vines anywhere near me.” The words were spoken in almost a hiss and Enid rubbed her hand. It was a metal hand that had slapped her and it was definitely going to leave a mark.
“Okay, okay, not a toucher, got it. You don’t have to be so rude, you know.” Enid bit back, giving her best glare. Her brothers had said it was completely ineffective, but she hoped that time on her own had sharpened it somewhat. The statue only huffed in response, a sound that seemed entirely unlike the dark and deadly nature of its armor. Enid sighed heavily, still watching the statue warily. The black metal seemed so at odds with the greenery around them, though it did match the color of the flowers quite nicely. She had to admit, she was very curious about it. Sure it was irritable and spoke like some rich human lady, but it was so out of place!
“Seriously, what are you? I’ve never seen a statue talk before, so I’ll be honest, you’re kind of freaking me out.” Enid’s words were met with no response as the statue only reached behind itself and yanked a long axe up out of the ground in lieu of acknowledging her. Enid jumped back out of harm’s way as the statue examined the axe, which was just as black and sharp as it was.
“You’re not gonna use that to chop off my head or something, right?” Enid asked nervously. The statue raised its gaze slowly to her, an empty void greeting her beyond the grates of its helmet.
“Not yet.” The tone was just ominous enough that Enid felt that she should take another step back. After running an obsidian gauntlet down the haft of the axe, the statue returned its gaze to Enid.
“You asked what I am, did you not, Sprout?” The nickname made Enid pout in annoyance. She wasn’t some little kid, why was it so insistent on calling her that? Another huff came from the statue at her response that Enid supposed she could interpret as amusement. It sounded nothing like a normal laugh though.
“Uh, yeah, I did. And why were you just laying there? Were you sleeping?” Enid tried to push down her irritation at the nickname so that she could ask the important questions. The statue sighed and Enid wondered how that was even possible. She supposed anything that could talk could sigh, but it just seemed odd to see an obsidian knight sighing like some child told they couldn’t have their favorite food for dinner.
“I do not sleep normally. It was an aberrant situation that reduced me to such a state, though I am unable to recall how it happened. As for what I am, I am a caretaker.” Apparently, the statue didn’t think any more explanation was required because it returned to examining its axe. Enid just stared before shaking her head.
“What does that even mean? You’re a caretaker? Of what?” The statue refused to look up from its meticulous examination of the axe. There was no way it was even that interesting. It was just an axe! Sure, it was made of the same weird black metal as the statue and had no signs of damage, but was it worth ignoring her for? Of course not!
“I am the caretaker of these woods. I have cultivated life here in order and harmony for many decades.” The statue spoke slowly, as if it wasn’t certain that Enid could understand it. “You do know what a Caretaker is, don’t you?” The question made Enid roll her eyes.
“What, like a human gardener? Plus, order and harmony? Who are you kidding, this place is creepy and dark and scares people off before they can even get to my house!” The statue met her gaze now with a sudden jerk of the head.
“You live in my woods?” Enid blinked, confused at the sudden interjection.
“Yeah, but I didn’t know they were your woods when I got here, so…” She felt like that was probably the worst excuse she could give, but Enid really didn’t know what to say. The statue stood smoothly, towering over Enid, and she swore the expressionless helmet was glaring at her.
“You will vacate my woods immediately, nymph. I have no interest in living near you or any other sentient creature.” The statue was clearly angry, if the biting tone was anything to go by. Enid’s mouth dropped open and she stared at the ‘caretaker’ before erupting into laughter. The statue only stared, and Enid’s laughter echoed until it slowly died away.
“Are you being serious right now? You can’t just evict me.” Enid couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The statue made no attempt to explain itself before stepping around her and making its way towards the edge of the clearing.
“I expect you to be gone by dawn, unless you want me to hunt you down and hack you into pieces.” The statue emphasized its point by raising its axe in a threatening gesture. Enid blinked, hurrying to pick up her basket of flowers and then following the statue as it stalked through the trees and underbrush.
“You can’t just kick me out, I live here!” Enid shouted as she scrambled after the statue, ducking under branches and hopping over thorns. The statue turned sharply, causing Enid to skid to a stop.
“You have no right to live here, Sprout. I have not given you permission and I will tolerate none of your foolish flowers or vines now that I have awakened.” Enid gaped at the statue’s words, sputtering at the audacity.
“I have nowhere else to go, you know! And my flowers aren’t foolish, they’re yellow!” Enid was fuming at this point, jabbing a finger at the statue to emphasize her point. Even she had to admit that she felt a little childish, barely coming up to the chest of the statue, but that didn’t give it any right to keep mocking her with that name. “Besides, it’s not like I even knew this was ‘your’ wood when I came here, it’s not like you put up a sign or anything! How was I supposed to know I couldn’t set down roots?!” At that, the statue paused and seemed to consider her words.
“If it requires time for you to get moving, take it. A week or a month, it doesn’t matter to me. You will leave at your earliest convenience. Get your affairs in order and then move on. You should be grateful for the kindness, Sprout.” And with that, the statue turned around and continued its journey into the trees. Enid had lost all patience at this point and darted in front of the obsidian knight, dancing away from its steps as she glared.
“My name isn’t Sprout; it’s Enid! And no, I’m not leaving these woods! They are my home too, whether you like it or not!” The statue began to lift its axe, probably in an attempt to chop Enid to pieces, but vines wrapped around it firmly, pulling it back to the earth. Little yellow flowers winked mockingly at the statue, who glanced down at the axe, giving it another futile tug before returning its gaze to Enid.
“Really?! What is wrong with you?! You might be a little grumpy and maybe a bit tired, so this might not have been clear at first glance, but let’s get a couple of things straight: I’m not a sprout, I’m more than grown. And I’m not a nymph, I’m a dryad and so help me, I’ll take this whole goddamn forest with me if I leave!” A vein was pulsing in Enid’s neck as she shouted and she could see more vines coiling around the statue’s legs, dragging it into a kneeling position. The woods had gone eerily silent except for the creaking of the trees. The knight glared at her before making another futile attempt to pull away from the vines that threatened to drag it into the ground. After a moment, the statue returned its gaze to Enid, who only raised one eyebrow in response. The knight sure looked scary, but here, in Enid’s woods, where her roots had sunken deep? The statue was hardly a threat.
“Fine. Stay in the woods if you must, but keep out of my way. I detest the presence of those with more words than thoughts.” The statue sounded more irritated than relenting, but Enid took that as a win. The vines unraveled slowly, letting the statue take back its blade and stand again. Enid ducked out of the statue’s way as it stalked past.
“Screw you too, asshole! I hope you fall asleep again so I can bury you where you can’t get back up!” The statue didn’t acknowledge her threats, but the words did make Enid feel a little better. It made hardly a sound as it traveled through the underbrush, following some unknown trail that Enid couldn’t see. She let out a long sigh of relief once the ominous black metal was out of sight. Enid retraced her steps to her basket, which had enough flowers that she was fairly certain she would be able to make the potion she needed. Enid glanced at the now empty clearing and shook her head. She wished the statue was still there, arms crossed and not trying to evict her from the only place she’d only just begun to call home. Enid turned away quickly and began to make her way back to her home, too tired to even whistle.