Loneliness is also common. Without other people around, the character may start to feel isolated and long for human company. They might think about their friends and family back home.
They might encounter strange animals. For example, they could come across a rare and beautiful deer that startles them at first but then becomes a symbol of the forest's mystery.
You should stay calm first. Try to find a high place to look around for any signs of civilization like smoke or paths. If it's daytime, use the sun to orient yourself. Maybe you can follow a stream as it may lead you to a more populated area.
Love and loss are common. For example, a story might be about a person losing a loved one and the grief that follows, or finding new love after a heartbreak.
Love, of course. There could also be a sense of peace and contentment when they are alone together.
Isolation often leads to themes of paranoia in alone short stories. The character, being alone, may start to suspect things that aren't there or overthink situations. Additionally, the theme of mortality can be present. When alone, characters may be more aware of their own mortality, as seen in some stories where the solitary character faces a life - threatening situation and contemplates death.
Well, often there are things that seem out of place in short scary forest stories. For example, a strange old building or a mysterious object. Ghostly or unexplained figures are also common. These figures can be seen briefly or just sensed, like a shadow passing by. And the forest itself is often described as being overgrown and difficult to navigate, which makes the character's situation more dire.
The main character, the boy, might be a bit of an outcast. He doesn't fit in well in his community, so he often retreats to the forest. There, he feels more at home among the trees and the animals. He could be a creative and imaginative boy, always dreaming up stories about the forest and its secrets.
The main character could be a mischievous little boy. He's always getting into small troubles around the house when his family is there. So when he's home alone, he really has a field day. He might try to build a huge fort in the living room or attempt to cook something really elaborate but ends up making a big mess.
I'm not sure specifically as there could be many 'forest short stories'. It might be about various things like the adventures of a character in the forest, the secrets hidden within the forest, or the relationship between the forest and the creatures living there.
Common themes in such a story might be identity crisis, coping with change, and the importance of communication. Emotionally, you'd likely see a mix of guilt, disappointment, and maybe a glimmer of optimism as characters try to mend the broken bonds.