Young David had a curious mind, he was drawn to the clearings and wooded paths near his home. 
He’d heard tales of forest imps and fairies, creatures hiding in trees and burrows. 
Dragging his trusty branch behind him, he unknowingly whittled it down on loose stone and scattered viscera, leaving a trail of tiny destruction. 
Midday sun cascaded through the canopy, beams slanting between trees that straddled the skyline like giants. 
Then—a flicker of kaleidoscopic colour, dancing just beyond the treeline. 
He froze, breath caught. 
And then he whispered, remembering his grandmother’s voice: 
“Fairies…” 
And this time, he believed.