Dead Animals of the Fleshless Forest

Thundering drums rumble and crack amongst calls of unseen creatures echoing over the hills. The call is carried on the edge of a still night from the glowing heart of the Fleshless Forest. Shadows flicker in front of the flames where the great fire burns, warming the bones of those brave enough to dance with the animal dead.

There are stories of a sanctuary amongst the trees. A forest for the skinless where flesh is unwelcome. On All Hallows Eve, the animals of the earth rise to dance, shaking the earth with pounding strides and howls from deep in the wood. Dancing around the Pyre of Luminescence, they bleach their bones of flesh-form restrictions in the moon-rays of immortality. In revelry they thrive at the spiritual oasis of the fire dance, free to be wild and protected from mortal interference forever.

As practice follows tradition, on the darkest night, the bravest of mankind will disguise their form with paper masks to traverse the Fleshless Forest and join the carnival of the animal dead. Obscuring their humanity from the skeletal souls that prowl the darkness, they will leap, stride, stalk and pounce to move as animal undetected. Take your place in the great dance, but leave by dawn. Soft and pale, weak and frail, exposed in first light you will be. Mortal intruders beware of the sharp bones and claws of those who wait to stretch skin over drum.