In the tendays following the battle in the town, no trolls had been seen, nor had the dark specter that commanded them. The townsfolk were able to begin rebuilding, which was sorely needed. Their town suffered much destruction and many hardy folk lost their lives. But they were ready to move forward.

Though the town itself seemed to be enjoying a time of peace, evil seemed again to be gathering. This time, a particular forested area on the edge of town, known in the days of old to harbor a coven of witches, began to be avoided by any and all. Unwholesome whispering and chanting could be heard and an unnatural darkness fell on this area. Some feared the coven, thought to have been wiped out long ago, had returned. Though most believed it to be another advance by the eldritch horror that had attempted to facilitate their doom once before.

News of this darkening of the forest made its way to the Owl God, who had stayed nearby to further protect the town, and to strike back at the chaotic scourge when the opportunity presented itself. This was that opportunity. Nebulosa however recruited the help of the mystical hermit living in the nearby mountains. He knew the hermit would be a great asset in the coming conflict. And so they set off together, into the cursed forest, to confront the evil that had taken up residence in their home and threatened the lives of all in the area.

A supernatural darkness had certainly fallen over this section of wilderness. The trees and other vegetation here seemed particularly gnarled and muted in color. The trees seemed to lean towards the hermit and the Owl God as they traveled, pressing in and creating an uneasy, claustrophobic atmosphere. No breeze blew here, and besides the sickly trees and undergrowth, there seemed to be no living things inhabiting this cursed place. The overwhelming silence added to the aura of anxiety.

After hours of uncomfortable travel, hushed voices could be heard and the unmistakable flickering of firelight could be seen ahead. The hermit and the Owl God entered a clearing with a fire burning. Two particularly large and gnarled white pines towered over the center of this clearing. A fire burned before a squat stone altar positioned in between the two huge pine trunks, but closer to the hermit and the Great Owl. On one side of the altar stood a hunched and hooded figure. Long spindly fingers with sharpened claws poked out of the sleeves of a dark and battered robe covered in strange runes and symbols. No eyes could be discerned, though a canine-like maw protruded from the darkness created by the hood. On the other side of the altar loomed the paragon of darkness and chaos, taking on an anthropomorphic form. It donned no clothing and looked as dark and insubstantial as shadow. Lying on the altar between these two abhorrent figures laid a human babe, swaddled in moss and lichen. The child seemed at peace and occasionally cooed, though whatever nefarious designs were in place would certainly be anything but peaceful.

Luckily Nebulosa and the hermit arrived when they did, so those designs would not be carried out. The Great Owl silently swooped in, talons aimed squarely for the shadowy terror. The talons never found their mark though, for the specter puffed into nothingness before contact could be made. The specter reappeared farther back in the clearing, and a terrible cacophony of cackling echoed through the woods.

At that, the beastly witch broke into a sprint on all fours directly towards the hermit. The hermit was able to leap out of the way of the furious charge unscathed, however he caught a glimpse of the beast's eyes shining with bloodlust and hatred as she barreled by. The monstrous witch never slowed her charge, and bounded right up the trunk of a tree bordering the clearing. The hermit scanned the boughs of the trees along the edge of the clearing, but could not spot the witch. Before he could discern where she had gone, he heard a low growl and the muttering of an incantation drift down from the canopy.

The Great Owl focused his energy on keeping the shadowy specter occupied. He knew he needed the power of the hermit to eradicate this being of destruction and chaos. But the hermit was currently engaged in his own battle. So Nebulosa continued swooping down at the specter, forcing it to continuously be on the move. Bolts of dark energy occasionally shot out of the hands of the specter, and stung the Great Owl, piercing through his thick feathers. Nebulosa knew he had to continue this assault, but hoped he could hold out long enough for the hermit to prevail in his battle with the witch. Assuming the hermit could prevail in his battle with the witch.

The hermit was anchored in place, frozen by waves of hopelessness and fear. The spell enacted by the witch, who hid in the shadows afforded by the upper limbs of the trees, had done its job. The witch leaped down, and stood before the unmoving hermit. His eyes widened in horror as the witch reached out, grasped him by the throat and with one arm, lifted him from the ground. While one hand suspended him in the air and crushed his windpipe, the hermit watched as the witch reared her other hand back, with claws like daggers, aimed at his midsection and poised to strike. His mind cried out in defiance: he would not not yet die. The hermit summoned his own magic, mentally imploring the forest to lend him aid. Just then, the witch dropped the hermit with a yelp. The hermit crashed to the ground and watched as great roots clawed out of the ground, grasped the witch, and began dragging her beneath the soil. The witch thrashed and screamed, but she was quickly swallowed up by the forest.

After gulping down some air to catch his breath, the hermit stood up and watched the exchange between the Great Owl and the shadowy specter. Nebulosa looked quite haggard: patches of feathers had been blasted away, his beak was cracked and chipped, and blood dripped from numerous wounds. But still, the Great Owl flew and carried on the assault directed at the seemingly unharmed menace of darkness. The hermit whistled and waved, signalling Nebulosa.

The Great Owl noted the signal from the hermit, and was pleased by the defeat of the witch. Now, the two of them could bring down this shadow of evil. Nebulosa deftly flew in, beak positioned to gore the shadowy terror. The Great Owl had anticipated the specter to quickly disappear, and nimbly redirected his flight to turn around, just in time to see the specter reappear directly between the two massive white pines in the middle of the clearing. Nebulosa then cast from his eyes searing beams of light at the shadowy specter, causing it to hunch and wither. An otherworldly shriek of deafening volume echoed all around the clearing as the specter stood in this enchanted light. Nebulosa knew this would not kill the shadowy specter, but it would give the hermit the chance to seal it away forever. While still directing the devastating light at the specter, the Great Owl motioned for the hermit to approach.

The hermit knew not what exactly he was to do. Nebulosa had communicated that only the hermit could lock away this abomination, but no spells or rituals were taught to the hermit. However, as he neared Nebulosa and the ancient adversary, the hermit swelled with magical power. Though he devoted his life to learning the teachings of the natural world, never before had he felt so attuned to the secrets and power imparted by the trees, mountains, lakes and streams.

And so the hermit approached the shadowy specter, trapped in Nebulosa's searing light and writhing in agony, and began weaving a mighty spell. He knew not the words he was uttering, or even what language they were. The hermit had never before learned the intricate patterns his fingers waggled and arms waved. But here he was, completing this most powerful and intricate spell.

As the hermit worked, the two massive pine trees moved together, and crushed the image of abyssal darkness. A wail of pain resounded through the forest as the trunks of the two pines twisted together, absorbing the darkness of the specter flattened between them. These two twisted pines became darker and darker in color as the wailing crescendoed in pitch and volume. But as these two trees darkened, the rest of the forest brightened, and began to return to a natural state. Sunlight finally showed through the trees and bathed the clearing and the twisted pines in light.

With that, the wailing immediately ceased. The ancient adversary was no more, having been absorbed and trapped within the prison of twisted pines, created by the hermit's spell.

The hermit cried out in triumph, but Nebulosa collapsed to the ground. Continuously casting the withering beams of light from his eyes exhausted him and he was already badly wounded from the fight. The hermit tended to the Great Owl's wounds and tapped into his newfound power to provide healing and comfort.

Due to the hermit's efforts, Nebulosa was saved. He would live, though he would need much time to return to full strength. Nebulosa bade the hermit return to town, along with the baby, who had slept soundly on the stone altar throughout the battle. The hermit vowed to adopt the child, and to tend the blackened and twisted pines, to ensure their magic would hold.

Nebulosa flew off into the wilderness and the hermit, along with the child, journeyed back to town. A great gathering was held, and the hermit recounted the tale of his and Nebulosa's journey and victory over the supreme chaos. There was much celebration and merriment over the next few days. Peace had finally been restored.

The townsfolk no longer needed to worry about the eldritch terror threatening them. They finished rebuilding their homes, and moved on with their lives. The hermit ended up returning to the clearing of the twisted pines, and built a new cabin here for himself and his adopted child. As promised, he would tend the twisted pines, and he would raise and train the child to appreciate, respect and draw upon the powers of nature. The Great Owl lived in seclusion for many years, recuperating and strengthening himself. Nebulosa was never far though, for ever was he the protector of these woods and all who lived within them.