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“The forest keeps dying. Natsu said the rot has spread to the west now. The deer started migrating beyond what is safe to pursue. I fear what’s going to become of our livelihood if we can’t get enough skins and meat to last,” Lucy said. The heavy books in her hand clattered on the table with a hefty thump.
Levy frowned and leaned back in her chair. “Yes, Gajeel told me the same thing earlier this morning,” she added. “The Strauss siblings might be able to help since they all grow their own produce with plenty of extras. But, I’m not sure if we’ll make money this year. Argh! It’s so frustrating how much the rot has spread. Don’t you think so, too, Rufus?”
The librarian tore his gaze from the computer screen and cocked his head toward the girls.
“The r-rot?” he stuttered. “What do you mean?” All of a sudden, Juvia popped out of nowhere and slammed her hands on his desk, leaning in close with wide eyes.
“You don’t know what the rot is?!” she cried. “Seriously, do you not leave your house or something?” Rufus shrugged and saved the report he was working on. The conversation was turning in a direction he wasn’t enjoying.
“I work in a library, and I love my job. I don’t have a need to go out and get all dusty,” he said in his defense. Juvia rolled her eyes, accompanied by a sigh as she walked back to the closest table and sat in between Lucy and Levi, a copy of the newest edition of the modeling catalog. Rufus had no doubt that it was due to Gray’s feature for the top ten hottest men in Fiore. Somehow even a small village boy like him managed to catch the eye of the agency.
(Mirajane probably also pushed for his acceptance as she held seniority retired model status, but even Rufus wouldn’t say that to Juvia’s face.)
Levy swiveled her phone around and stuck it toward Rufus. He squinted at an image of what seemed to be a decaying forest. The trees and grass were browning and wilting, branches laid bare. Anyone with a brain cell could tell the forest was dead. If you so much as breathed on it, the remains would crumble into nothing.
“This is the forest a mile out from the village,” she explained. “It used to be full of flowers and flourished with the best mushrooms, wild herbs, and natural remedies. It’s also the best place to hunt for the highest quality venison and what most of the boys try to score.”
“The boys as in the Dragon Slayers Hunter’s Club, right?” Rufus asked. Levy nodded and continued.
“Last month, Cobra, Laxus, Sting, and Rogue went out on a trip and said the whole north and east side of the forest looked like that. And then yesterday, Gajeel and Natsu came back and said it had spread to the west. I suppose the good news is that it stops at the forest’s edge. But, once it does die, we’ll lose everything in it. We’ve relied so heavily on it, so it’ll be hard to recover.”
Rufus paled at the news.
“That’s quite unfortunate to hear,” Rufus muttered. “Perhaps we could bring it up with the council or work out a service trade with the surrounding villages or even the city. You’re on the council, right, Lucy? Do you think you could propose it?”
“Yeah, of course. That’s a wonderful idea, Rufus,” Lucy beamed. “There’s a meeting at 6 pm tomorrow night. I’ll make a note to mention it. Thank you.”
“For someone who sticks his nose in books constantly, you sure have a good insight on social economics,” Levy mused.
“Hey, I’m not that dense. I’ve got hobbies, too. It’s not like I live at the library itself,” Rufus retorted.
Lucy clicked her tongue and pointed an accusing pen at him. “Sure, but how often do you do those hobbies?”
Rufus opened his mouth to answer, but that answer never appeared. He’d been busy renovating the library since the council had granted him a bigger budget. Renovations needed supervision. There was no time to take a break. And due to that, even he did not know.
When was the last time he’d spent time on his hobbies?
Levy covered her mouth and giggled. “You don’t even know,” she stated. Rufus feigned naivety, a sly smile on his lips. Laughter and chatter filled the rest of the evening. As hours ticked away, Rufus finally allowed himself to breathe as he closed the library for the day.
Hobbies. His hobbies. Rufus enjoyed doing many things. Reading was among them. As was knitting and crocheting. He also loved to dabble in the various theatre culture. But, the one thing that he had missed recently was spending time in nature.
It was a little late, but not enough that there weren’t still a few hours of daylight for Rufus to take advantage of. In quick haste, he prepared some quick sandwiches and set them into a basket. He finished the preparations with a huge wool blanket before heading out.
A knot formed in his chest as he came near. It was as the girls had said.
Rot everywhere.
Dead leaves and withered roots crunched beneath his feet as even the wind seemed to fear singing its gentle hands through the bare branches. Not even a single bird fluttered among the branches if they dared to stay in the hollows anymore. Turning away, he went followed the rot until he reached the edge where death met life.
He set up the picnic, making sure that it was all neat and tidy. Satisfied with his setup, he returned to the rot once more. This time, he walked deeper into its recesses where the trees began to bridge their own gaps, nothing but forest all around him. The first few times he’d walked the route, Rufus nearly cried trying to find his way back out. But now, he could walk it with his eyes closed.
It didn’t take long for Rufus to see who he was looking for.
A rundown shack sat, half embedded into a large oak tree. Next to the doorway was a large stone with no engraving. And there, a large figure sat in front of the stone.
“Hey,” Rufus greeted quietly, careful not to startle the man. Almost like a giant covered in moss, the figure turned around, and sad eyes met Rufus’s.
“Rufus?”
The librarian smiled and nodded. “It’s been a long time, Orga. I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long. Things have been busy in the city.” Orga hummed and turned back to the stone, or rather, the grave as Rufus now realized. Rufus bent down and sat cross-legged next to Orga, taking off his hat in respect. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
Orga shrugged. “Death is part of the forest just as much as life is,” he grimly stated. “...I miss her.”
“Porlyusica was a cranky but wise old woman,” I mused. “I’ll miss her, too.”
For a moment, neither one said anything until Orga let out a sigh.
“I don’t know what to do. She was supposed to be the one who watched over this forest. And now, I have to fill her shoes. But, I just can’t do it.”
“It helps to start somewhere, Orga. Here, stand up, big boy.” Orga tilted his head in confusion as Rufus stood and dusted himself off. Slowly, he obliged to Rufu’s request only to get his vision taken away.
Rufus secured the blindfold, carefully knotting it so none of Orga’s carefully kept hair wouldn’t get caught. With careful steps, he held onto Orga’s hand and navigated him through the forest until the confines of the wooded area let them go. And here in the sunset, Rufus could finally see how much Orga had faded. His skin was sunken in, shriveling and shrinking. His arms and legs were boney. If Rufus had to guess, he wouldn’t have lasted so many more days until succumbing to death himself.
Orga lifted the blindfold off when Rufus gave him the okay, and his eyes widened in surprise. “What’s all this?”
“A picnic,” Rufus answered. “We haven’t had one in a while, wouldn’t you say?”
Orga’s eyes softened and his lips twitched into a smile. And in that brief moment, Rufus could swear he heard the trees whistling their praises. As they settled down and began to munch, Orga suddenly spoke up.
“I’m killing the forest,” he said. Rufus froze, a pained expression pulling over his face. It seemed that Orga was aware of what was happening. “Rufus, I don’t know how to move on.”
Rufus took a deep breath.
“Sorrow is a difficult thing for any creature to process. Grieving, mourning, crying, numbing; All of it is different for each of us. But, it’s not a stagnant process. Piece by piece, you need to keep walking forward,” he lamented.
“And if I can’t?” Orga shifted his weight, leaning back into his palms.
“You know, sorrow is but a seed. It could grow, or I might eat it anyway,” Rufus says, popping a handful of sunflower seeds into his mouth. “But, it doesn’t mean I can’t keep planting new ones. Chances are one of them has to grow. Do you get what I’m saying?”
“So what, I just try again?”
“Yeah.”
Orga closed his eyes, processing Rufus’s words until he suddenly started to laugh. And laugh he did. A bittersweet feeling came over his whole being as he looked at Rufus.
“Hey, Rufus?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for coming out here. Really, I mean it. I don’t deserve someone like you.”
Rufus rolled his eyes, but love was all that he had. He leaned over and wrapped his arms around Orga’s. “Why don’t you let me decide who I deserve in my life, you big oaf?” he crooned. And his lips met the others’.
As days began to pass, somewhere, rumors of the child of the forest had been revived. The forest started to grow again. Where rot once resided, new grass and flowers and leaves began to take root and sprout. Rufus returned to his job, but made sure he didn’t neglect to set time aside to take to the forest. He was happy and now living in Porlyusica’s hut was a new keeper, his own precious Orga. And with a new beginning to his own reign, Orga was happy to flourish with Rufus in his life. What unforgettable companionship that he would give the world for.