Everyone says the forest is full of gloom. Maybe it is, with all the shadows and darks trees. The leaves are gray, just as you said they are. But I thought they were very pretty. They're gray on top, and they sparkle, too. And they're white underneath. Maybe because that's the part that doesn't get a lot of sun.
I didn't hear the crying of lost souls. I think you were making that up. But I did hear a lot of sighing and singing. Maybe the spirits are having a nice time in the forest. I did. It was very peaceful.
But I did see the horse! I heard him stepping through the grass. And I felt his presence before I saw him. He was just as big as everyone said he was, a giant black Clydesdale with smoky feathering and glaring red eyes. And he was carrying a dead rider, just like all the stories say.
He snorted smoke at me when I came up to him. He didn't rear up or look angry. I think he was curious because of the football I was carrying. No, I don't know why I took it with me. Maybe in case I found a spirit to play with, but they were all too busy sighing and singing to take notice of me.
But the horse sure did! He sniffed me. His breath smelled like wet earth and dung. Is that was demon horses are supposed to smell like? But he didn't try to lure me onto its back and ride me into hell like all the stories say. Maybe because he still had that rider on his back. I thought the rider was alive at first, what with the wide eyes. I didn't think dead bodies could hold onto things so hard that they'd never drop off. But that's what this rider was doing, holding onto the reins like his life depended on it. I guess it didn't after all, considering...
But! I let the horse play with my football! It was funny seeing such a serious, scary-looking horse go around the forest, kicking that football against the trees. It was even funnier seeing the dead rider wobbling in the saddle. His joints creaked and I think something snapped, but he still held on.
I knew it was time for dinner, so I took my football back. I told the horse he could come by later and play some more if he wanted. So what are we having for dinner?
Hey! I hear heavy steps...
Look! There he is!
Let's go out and meet him!