月光下低語的烏鴉
Whispering Crows under the Moonlight
在悲傷森林裡，生命似乎被遺忘了，濃霧環繞著古樹的扭曲枝幹。沒有鳥兒歌唱，沒有生物躁動。
我親愛的朋友，這片荒涼領域的王者，棲息在最高至上，他的目光銳利而深邃，不似他看似超然的本性。他們稱他為烏鴉大人，悲傷森林的統治者與迷失靈魂的看守者。
在這特別的夜晚，森林中充滿了一種不尋常的能量。
僕役烏鴉：「主人，他們來了。」
烏鴉大人：「有多少人？」
僕役：「只有三個——一個年輕女孩，一隻橘色的貓，和一個殘疾的士兵。」
烏鴉大人：「他們是誰？」
僕役：「不知道，但他們的心中充滿了悲傷，正適合我們的收藏。」
烏鴉大人的紅眼珠縮窄了。「有趣。嚴密監視他們。或許我們應該準備一點⋯⋯禮物，作為我們好客的象徵。」
僕役帶著陰森、知曉的笑容點頭。「我相信他們會喜歡我們的歡迎。」
與此同時，那三人毫無所覺地跋涉著。女孩不過十二歲，緊抱著一個破舊的小熊玩偶，她的眼睛大而探尋著。旁邊，一隻橘色的貓，毛髮蓬亂而髒污，悄無聲息地蹲伏著，它的耳朵對每一聲響都在顫動。殘疾士兵拄著一根臨時的拐杖，他那曾經驕傲的制服現在破舊而染血。
他們是破碎的，迷失的，每個人都背負著自己的悲傷故事。悲傷森林是他們最後的希望，一個傳說中的地方，據說在那裡可以找到心之所求。他們卻不知道，森林很少給予，卻經常索取。
當他們深入森林，空氣變得更冷，沉默更加壓抑。女孩感到脊背一陣寒意，貓的毛發炸起，士兵的拐杖抓得更緊了。他們被監視著。
在上方，烏鴉大人和他的僕役準備著他們扭曲的歡迎。
「可憐的小東西們，」烏鴉大人沉思著，「他們尋求安慰，但在我的領地裡，他們只會發現更多的絕望。」
Whispering Crows under the Moonlight
月光下低語的烏鴉
In the Sadness Forest, life seemed forgotten, with thick fog swirling around the twisted branches of ancient trees. No birds sang, no creatures stirred.
My friend, the revered Sir Crow watched from above. He was the ruler here, the guardian of lost souls.
On this unusual night, the forest buzzed with strange energy.
Servant Crow: "Master, they're coming."
Sir Crow: "How many?"
Servant: "Just three — a young girl, an orange cat, and a disabled soldier."
Sir Crow: "Who are they?"
Servant: "Unknown, but their hearts are full of sorrow, perfect for our collection."
Sir Crow's red eyes narrowed. "Interesting. We'll keep a close watch. Perhaps a little...gift, as a symbol of our hospitality."
The servant nodded with a sinister smile. "They'll like our welcome."
Meanwhile, the trio, unaware, made their way through. The girl, no older than twelve, clutched an old teddy bear, her eyes wide and searching. Beside her, an orange cat crouched silently, its fur matted and dirty, ears trembling at every sound. The disabled soldier leaned on a makeshift crutch, his once-proud uniform now tattered and bloodstained.
Broken and lost, they each carried their own sorrowful tale. The Sadness Forest was their last hope, a place said to grant heart's desires — not knowing it often takes more than it gives.
As they ventured deeper, the air turned colder, the silence more oppressive. The girl felt a chill down her spine, the cat's fur stood on end, the soldier gripped his crutch tighter. They were being watched.
Above, Sir Crow and his servant prepared their twisted welcome.
"Poor little things," Sir Crow mused, "they seek comfort, but here, they'll only find more despair."
Image & Story by Eva Y.C. Chen