Neverwinter Forest your heart that was so eager

He had been told in no uncertain terms that there was a curse on this forest, and that he was not to settle it under any circumstance, now or in the future. He'd been told, even, to warn his future sons and daughters not to settle here, lest they be taken by the woods or the lake or just disappear entirely.

Katmai felt it was as good a time as any to face his fears of deep, dark woods.

The young male roved deeper, nose twitching and ears swiveling as he investigated the woodlands. He knew that the aunt of his cousins had died here in the lake — though he was not yet sure where the lake was. And he knew that their other aunt had dwelled here until the day that no one could find her, and Katmai thought he could feel the ghosts of them watching as he padded deeper still into the woods.

Snuffled reached his sensitive ears, eventually. He hesitated where he was, trying to draw information from the still and heavy air.

"Hello?" he called into the trees, peering uncertainly through the gloom. He thought he saw something pale and ghastly up ahead, almost glowing in the darkness.