The Legend of Oakwood Village
In a time LONG ago, nestled within the midst of rolling green hills and crystal clear waters, laid a little quaint village called Oakwood. This picturesque village was populated by the warmest, friendliest folk one could ever meet. However, their otherwise serene life was punctuated by an ominous occurrence. Every full moon, a monster emerged from the depths of Placid Lake, spreading terror across the village. It was a large beast with fiery red eyes, sharp claws, and a roar that could echo for miles, making the bravest hearts quiver. The elders called this creature ‘Moros.’ All attempts of subduing Moros had been futile. This nefarious creature continued to wreak havoc on Oakwood, unhindered.
However, amidst the village lived a young, spirited girl named Tilda. She was barely ten but bore an adventurous spirit that surpassed her age, a spirit that often found her at odds with the overcautious villagers. Tilda was fascinated by Moros rather than scared. The idea of a creature turning monstrous once a month intrigued her and she decided to unravel this mystery.
On the night of the full moon, when the villagers cowered in their houses, Tilda cautiously approached Placid Lake. As expected, with the shining moon as the lone witness, the lake’s calmness shattered with Moros’ emergence. Tilda watched from her hiding as the creature roared and thrashed about, and discovered that the beast seemed more anguished than angry.
The next day, examining the tracks it left, she discovered the creature's path led into the dense forest. Bravely, she ventured into the forest with nothing but a wooden bow her father had made her. As she ventured deeper, the denseness of the foliage waned to reveal an old dilapidated shrine. An old tree stood adjacent to it, its twisted branches reaching out like arms. In its trunk, embedded a golden arrow.
As Tilda approached the tree, she noticed the etching of the same beast, Moros, on the shrine. According to the inscriptions, Moros was a deity who guarded this forest and the golden arrow was the only thing that could set him free of an ancient curse. In a moment of enlightenment, she was drawn towards the golden arrow, and plucking it out, she ran back to Oakwood.
The next full moon night was upon them quicker than expected. As the beast emerged, Tilda, armed with her father’s wooden bow and the golden arrow, stood fearlessly on the lake’s shore. Her determination flickered in her eyes. As Moros charged, Tilda drew her bowstring, aimed with all her might, and released the golden arrow. It flew with a fiery quickness and struck Moros, not wounding him but creating a brilliant golden light that engulfed him.
Astonished eyes of Oakwood's villagers watched as Moros' anger faded, replaced with tranquility. As the light diminished, standing there was no monster but a majestic creature, not of terror but of awe. The curse was lifted. Moros spoke in the language of old, expressing his forever gratitude to brave Tilda and vowed to protect Oakwood further more.
Thus, the demon of Oakwood was no more but remembered as a guardian deity, and the little girl Tilda, the heroine of Oakwood, will be told in the oakwood folklore for eons. From that day forward, every full moon wasn't a symbol of fear, but of celebration as they honored Moros and their brave heart Tilda, under the moonlit sky, making for joyous nights to remember forever.