When the Forest Falls Silent– Beneath the Quiet in Glimmerwood (Episode 3)

In this episode of Beneath the Quiet in Glimmerwood, Ember senses something has changed. Everything around him feels unusually quiet—his parents, the animals… even the forest. But why? As he searches for answers, Ember begins to listen more closely… while quietly carrying a pain he isn’t ready to share.

Ember sat up slowly on the edge of his bed watching the small sparrow fly away. The sparrow joined a group of birds perched on the branch of a large Oak Tree. They were unusually quiet and looking in one direction. Ember walked over and leaned out his window to see what they were watching.  On a path just beyond the village, several forest animals were walking in a single line towards the stream. They disappeared into the forest before he could see why they were acting so strangely.

“They’ve never done that before,” he mumbled.

Ember looked back towards the birds. They weren’t there. In fact, no one was there. None of the villagers. Nor his friends. The village was completely quiet. He only saw the soft morning glow of the sun rising over the horizon. He turned to get dressed, but he was drawn back to the window. The rustling leaves from the forest echoed through the village. In the rustling, Ember heard low, raspy whispers. He listened closely; within the rustling he heard something familiar… a faint bark. Ember looked to his left, in the direction of the sound. Then he heard it again coming from the right. He didn’t waste any more time. He hurried to get dressed and burst into the other room.

“Mom…dad…can we talk?” 

Ember’s parents were sitting at the table having a conversation. They stopped abruptly when he entered. Ember felt the change. His eagerness to talk about Spark slowly faded as he eased into the chair beside them.

“Dad…what’s happening?”

“Nothing to worry about, son. Why do you ask?” his father said slightly unconvincingly.

“No one is outside and you stopped talking when I entered the room.”

“Oh sweetheart…,” said his mother. “Everything is fine. What do you want for breakfast?” She got up and tried to reassure him, but her hands were shaking.  When she handed Ember his food, she asked, “What did you want to talk to us about?”

Ember held his head down looking blankly at his food. “Nothing, mom. It’s not important.”

“You may need to go get Spark before he gets lost. He’ll run into the forest looking for mushrooms without you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Ember said softly.

He slid back his chair and got up without taking a bite. His face was flushed as he walked out the door trying to hold back the tears.

Ember stood motionlessly in front of their ancient door looking at the village and the empty trail that led into the forest. There was still no movement. No birds chirping. Nothing. He felt alone.

He walked hesitantly towards the stream. It was the last place he was happy…happy with Spark. The pain returned, stronger than before. Ember gripped his chest with both hands and sat on a stump.

“How am I going to tell my parents?” he cried. “Spark, where are you?!” he cried louder.

Ember’s mother decided to clean his room. She straightened his desk and found a beautiful picture Ember drew of Spark hidden in a drawer. At the bottom he wrote, “I miss you. It hurts!” His mom’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t believe she missed the pain her little elf was feeling. She knew something was bothering him, but he’s so young she thought. She didn’t take it seriously. She looked slowly around his room for the first time and noticed his clothes thrown all over the floor. He never did that before; he’s a very neat little guy. His crayons were sprawled across his desk and papers had fallen out of his school satchel next to his bed.

“He needs me,” she whispered heartbrokenly walking into the other room.

Ember watched the glistening sunrays bounce off the water’s surface. He was trying to decide what to do next. He felt the tension during breakfast and the strange quietness of the village. A strong breeze rustled the tree leaves and caught his attention. Something was in the air. He felt it too. The sky was clear, but a storm was brewing…just like the storm within his own thoughts. He turned and looked at the stream again wondering why no one was outside.

The brisk wind grew colder.  Ember rubbed his arms trying to warm them because he left his jacket on the floor in his room. The forest silence was eerie. Only the blowing wind and flying leaves were moving. The water ripples began to flow rapidly. When he reached in to get a stone, the stream reached back splashing water into his eyes. He reached in again, but a small buzz made him stop. On top of a large rock sat a dragonfly. The little dragonfly didn’t move, and Ember wondered if he was okay.

“Hello!”

The dragonfly didn’t respond. He simply looked up with a sad, gray gaze.

“My name is Ember. What’s yours?”

“Ivan.”

“Hello, Ivan. Where is everyone? Do you know why the forest is so quiet?”

“They are all afraid.”

“Afraid? Of what?” asked the little elf.

“Something bad is going to happen. I need to go.” The little dragonfly quickly flew into the forest before Ember could find out what.

Ember ran behind him. “Wait! Please wait!”

He stopped and looked around. Ember suddenly realized he was in the exact spot where he lost Spark. The pain…that tightness in his chest… dropped him to his knees. He tried to be strong, but he cried out in agony like he had never done before. When he opened his eyes, the little dragonfly was in front of him.

“I heard you crying and came back. What’s wrong? You look so hurt.”

“I am,” said Ember. “I lost my best friend. I lost him right here!”

Ember explained the game he played with Spark and how he didn’t return after the third toss. The little dragonfly sat on Ember’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear.

“Really!?!” He smiled.

“Yes,” said the little dragonfly. “I know someone who may be able to help. He knows everything that happens in the forest.”

“Can you take me to him? I’m really worried about Spark.”

The little dragonfly hesitated. He looked around the forest in every direction.

“What’s wrong?” asked Ember.

“Listen,” said the little dragonfly.

“I don’t hear anything…” Ember said softly.

“Exactly. Listen to the wind.”

Ember stopped. He tilted his head and listened closely. He heard very faint sounds, but he couldn’t tell what they were. He could tell they were angry. His expression of excitement darkened. He looked at the little dragonfly with concern.

“What is that?”

“The forest….,” said Ivan. “Things are different now.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. The other dragonflies are meeting, but I had to get away. There was so much anger. Everyone was talking loudly and no one was listening.  I flew to the stream just to have a moment of peace. It's where I go to calm myself.”

The sun hid behind a dark cloud making the forest mysteriously dim.

“I need to go. I need to go before they come,” whispered Ivan. He lifted himself into the air.

“I must find Spark!” shouted Ember. “Please tell me who to speak with so I can find Spark.”

“You can’t speak to him now. Not now. Not until this bad thing has passed. I must go. I’ll find you…I promise. But not until this bad thing has passed.

Ivan disappeared into the dark shadows. Ember listened to the wind trying to figure out what it was saying, but he couldn’t. He looked down and saw mushrooms…Silvery mushrooms glowing in the darkness. He noticed something else. A paw print glowing faintly in the ground next to one of the mushrooms. Ember rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things and looked again. It was gone. He felt the soil where he thought he saw it. The ground was surprisingly warm…and smelt like Spark. Ember’s heart raced. Spark had been here.

 

✨ Continue the journey through Glimmerwood as Ember’s story unfolds… and discover gentle reminders to help children feel seen, even in the quiet moments they don’t yet know how to share.

— Written with care by W. L. Shaw, creator of Fanciful Tales