Temptation Forest

The forest loomed before them, its dense canopy casting eerie shadows over the narrow path. Elara wrung the water from her sleeves as she walked, glancing at Darius, who still rubbed his chin from her earlier punch.

“You’re not still mad, are you?” he asked.

She shot him a look. “Oh, I am. But right now, I’m more concerned with getting to the Shamrock Tavern in one piece.”

Darius sighed. “Right. Through this place.”

Temptation Forest was deceptively beautiful. The leaves shimmered a vibrant green, almost too bright under the filtered moonlight. Flowers pulsed with an unnatural glow, their petals shifting colors in a slow, hypnotic rhythm. The air smelled sweet, thick with the scent of honey and something richer...something dangerous.

Elara’s fingers brushed the hilt of her sword. “Stay sharp. I heard that even the vines here can...”

A vine shot out from a nearby tree, curling toward Darius’s ankle. He barely dodged, slicing it mid- air. The severed tendril hissed like a wounded snake before shriveling to dust.

Darius exhaled. “Great; even plants want to kill us.”

They pressed forward cautiously, stepping over roots that slithered like serpents. The deeper they went, the more the forest seemed to whisper, voices too faint to make out. Then, ahead on the path, something glittered.

A pile of gold coins lay scattered beneath an ancient oak, gleaming in the dim light.

Darius took a step forward.

Elara grabbed his arm. “Don’t.”

He hesitated, eyes locked on the treasure. “What if it’s real?”

“Run.”

A sudden, guttural growl rumbled from the earth. The coins shifted...no, they rose, revealing a massive, moss covered beast beneath them.

Darius swore. “Running sounds good.”

They bolted, the forest alive with movement behind them. However, surviving the night in Temptation Forest was their first challenge.

Written for: "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt Words: Write a story that includes the words: shamrock, green, gold
Word Count: 299