Cocoon

With no well-trodden path, moving forward becomes a daunting challenge. The wooden fishing rods constantly snag on branches, disrupting the silence and startling deer that had been peacefully resting among the trees moments before. Eventually, they discover a suitable resting spot, a clearing where massive, decaying trees encircle a small stream of water. The boy eagerly selects his spot near the top of the stream, where a gentle waterfall cascades from the mossy rocks. His attention fixates on the fish bravely swimming against the water's turbulence.
During their construction days, the boy's father had surreptitiously slipped a few tiny metal wire fragments into his pocket. Though initially reluctant, Ben eventually transformed them into functional fishing hooks at his father's behest. The villagers remained too preoccupied to notice the small pieces of metal going missing. The son reaches into a jar, retrieves a worm, and impales a plump one onto the hook. Excitement courses through him as he observes the fish swimming just within his reach in the shallow water.
"Come down here, father!" the boy calls out. "There are plenty of fish!" Instantly, one fish takes the bait. The son eagerly attempts to reel it in, but the fish manages to free itself and slip away. His impatience led to a shallow hook, not deeply embedded in the fish's flesh. Frustration replaces his initial excitement. "Father, where are you?" the boy yells. "I am here, my son. I've ventured a bit further to survey the area," the father responds in a distant, raised voice. The boy feels reassured and redirects his focus back to his fishing, grabbing another worm to hook and cast into the water. However, the loud yelling has frightened the fish away, causing them to seek refuge in the calm depths. The boy sighs deeply but remains content in his current spot, patiently waiting for the fish to return.

As he waits in tranquility, the soothing sounds of the babbling water calm the boy's spirit. His father's footsteps grow fainter as he distances himself from his son. The boy's fishing spot becomes a serene oasis, and a few fish gradually return. Their scales glisten beneath the water, illuminated by beams of sunlight that pierce through the autumn foliage. The interplay of light and water creates caustic patterns on the surface, dancing through the forest's branches and decorating the surroundings. Lost in the serene atmosphere, the boy immerses himself in the tranquility until a repetitive noise shatters his meditative state.
Not too far ahead, a large tree drips a reddish liquid into the water. He hadn't noticed it before, but there are a few peculiar trees growing downstream along the stream's bank. One in particular catches his eye—a tree with a large root that pierces the stream, its end split as if two trees had merged unnaturally. Other branches appear fragmented and broken, releasing the reddish liquid into the water. Curiosity propels him closer to examine the tree, revealing that the entire tree is coated in this strange, jelly-like resin. Even the tree's bark appears unsettling, adorned with hook-like features. The son has never encountered anything like it before.
The allure of the fish is forgotten as the boy's attention fixates on the enigmatic tree. As he investigates the area, he realizes that his father has vanished. Though he senses no immediate danger, he stands up to survey his surroundings, his legs tingling from prolonged sitting. As he cautiously ventures closer through the dense undergrowth, the tree becomes increasingly bizarre. The illuminated red liquid courses through its interior, pulsating in sync with the rhythmic dripping, lending an illusion that the tree itself lives and breathes. The main trunk reveals a deep crack, concealing something within—a creature, a fetus, or perhaps a cocoon. The red liquid-like substance envelops it, and as the boy draws nearer, the entity within twitches, sending a shiver down his spine. He retreats hastily, urgently searching for his missing father.