4096

Moister; roots, pulling pushing.
Heat; direction; moving searching.
Light; air, cold breath.
Feeling; pain, get away.
Space; freedom, green leaf.
Another; three, four five.

Great trees grew in a circle on a dark fire engulfed world for thousands of years these were the only life.
Faces of the soul,
Faces on the soil.
One day the oldest of the trees spoke: “Awake my family”
“Yes eldest?”
“I feel a calling, a pulling, a need to move”
With this the eldest tree slid through the dirt. Roots pulling, pushing, the grounds kiss enveloped the tree as it slid across the surface. In the place where the eldest had moved from, a green leaf emerged. After viewing this, the other four trees moved, from the soil five green leaves grew stretching towards the ever moving sun.
The trees always swayed against the sun
Five directions, pushing; ahead.
Straight circle, behind; destination
Generations grew, third; fourth
At the time the fourth set of trees began to move. In the center were no leaves touched, a child was growing. The 25 elders bowed. Chanting they named this new life Inestisc, the child was welcomed.
At the time of 75 moving trees,
Inestisc was as matured as the elders.
More, numbering: Inestisc grew.
235
Inestisc, twice the size of the others.
555 trees

A small round object fell from the branches of Inestisc. Caught in the wind, the object doubled in size before landing in the dirt near the outer rim of the trees.
“Hello there,” a deep voice rumbled. “What am I to do with this?” the Elder asked.
The roots connected another’s thoughts. “A test” a feeling more than words.
From its own a leaf torn, wrapped around the white pebble and placed safely in a branch. Onward the tree slid. A river that glowed red and produced leaf burning heat halted the Elder’s progress.
From the roots,
“Our first border found”
Another Elder stopped, peering up at the snow covered peaks. Rocks higher than the eye sees.
“Our second border found,”
“Third”
From the roots
“Boarders found now we must fertilize and grow the ground.”
“Yes Inestisc”
The voice of thousands of trees rumbled the found world as all the leaves fell to the ground.
One leaf remained wrapped around the
pebble. As it cracked, forth came the first creature
small in a world of great.
A screech, high pitched, shivered the closest trees to the newest creature. “Hush, hush my son. No fear you will find in our forest.” The elder rumbled. The screeching stopped with the help of a branch the creature stood on hind legs. With his first step the creature stumbled, fell off the branch. Another screech and the trees felt pain for the second time.
“My son, be strong my son. You must not yell when you’re hurt.” For the second time the screech ceased. “Rise my son,” rumbled the elder. This time without help from the elders branches the child rose seeing the bright light of the flowing heat the child ran towards it. “Stop!” all the trees who could see rumbled. The child did not listen. Halfway to the river the child’s hair caught a flame stopping, screaming, the child ran back to the trees head burnt, this point forth hairless. When he returned to his elder the Elder spoke “child you must listen, for out of our woods you are not protected.”
“Elder what was the bright light?”
“We do not know only recent have we seen it.”

From the leaves of Inestisc three more white pebbles fell, this time guided to the three other borders. Which elder entrusted with the responsibility of raising the hatchlings did not matter for all the trees are one. As the pebbles fell upon the leaf covered ground the elder closest picked it up and wrapped it in the leaf it had fallen upon, for there leaves had not yet grown back. The pebbles placed on a safe branch where in time they will produce a creature all their own.
Once again from the leaves of Inestisc little pebbles fell, this time brown. 100 pebbles fell to the ground. From the roots “these new seeds will sprout new life that will produce a fruit for our children to eat they will get hungry.”
Doubled in size the creature with no hair has learned to run, jump, climb to the top branches of the trees, and that he could jump from the middle branch land in the soft dirt and feel no pain. As he was climbing another tree to jump from a higher branch a figure emerged. This figure, small compared to the child. It walked on all six legs, covered in scales and had a long barbed tail. The child jumped from the tree, curious, followed the creature to the edge of the forest. He stopped as the creature continued. Looking around the child stepped out for another time. “You must not leave the forest my son,” the trees rumbled. The child ran after the creature, hearing the footsteps, the creature turned and hissed. The child did not stop. Threatened the creature lashed out at the child quicker than he could react. With its tail detached barbed spikes into the child’s side. Teeth tore flesh and detached muscle from his calf. Shocked that such a small creature could cause so much pain he fell to the ground. He watched as the beast crawled into the glowing river. Pain overpowering the shock the child let out a scream so loud all the trees in the found world shook new grown leaves fell to the dirt.
The pebbles cracked, three new children entered the world of the great trees. The cries of four children shook Inestisc and for the first time the great leaves fell to the soil. Such pain in the land led the elders to bleed and Inestisc to cry. From the seeds covered in blood a bush grew and produced a red fruit. From the seeds touched by tears a vine grew that produced a yellow berry. The one seed touched by both blood and tear grew a flower with a single bud of blue. The screeching stopped as the oldest child crawled back to his elder.
From the roots “this child does not listen and has caused us much pain for this he is to have large ears.” From his bald head ears the size of his hands grew. “But, with our pain this child has brought new life into our world. For this he will be healed.” From the ground roots sprang up incasing the child in a cocoon of wood. “From our pain this child has brought new growth into our world. For this, with his voice and the power of song he will be able to grow and create life from the ground. This life will not move, nor speak, nor interact with others. When he wakes he must be named this name will be the name of his children but will not be their name. Choose wisely.”
“Yes Inestisc,” the trees closest to the boy answered.

Near the mountains the child ran and climbed and ate the red fruit and the yellow berries. Being told stories of the first child leaving the forest and the pain he received and caused the great trees this child never stepped foot outside the ring of outer trees. One day after jumping from the very highest branch of her elder she hit the ground and sank to point she had to step up to be back on normal ground. This sparked a thought, if I can’t leave the forest but must stay within the trees may I go under the ground? She asked her elder, “Elder if I can’t explore outside the trees may I explore under them?”
“You may not leave the trees, as long as you stay within the forest you may do as you wish.” The elder rumbled.
This confused the child, she did not know whether she could go under the trees or not. After waking the next morning she went to her favorite spot to eat. A spot where she could sit under one of the elders, feel the breath, while being able to see both yellow berry and red fruit without having to go far searching for one or the other. While eating a handful of yellow berries she caught the sight of something moving out of the corner of her eye.
Heart pounding
Eyes darting
Stationary life the only thing known.
This walked on two legs like her, but, was as big as her if she could stand on her own shoulders. With horns coming out of his its head just above the eyes. Too frightened to move she dropped her berries and stared. The beast stopped, raised its nose to the air, inhaled, and looked straight at the girl.
Charged.
Running, screaming
Beast faster.
TREE, climb, HIGHER
The beast tried to follow but couldn’t climb, she felt safe the beast roared. Backed up and charged, head lowered it slammed against the tree. The child wished she had waited to climb an Elder. For they were bigger and stronger. This tree shook when the beast hit it. Another hit and there was a loud crack. The tree started to lean. Feeling the pain the other trees started to cry, as did the girl. Afraid the tree was going to fall over soon and the beast was going to get her, she climbed to the tallest branch and when the beast rammed the tree next she jump off the other side hoping the beast hadn’t seen. She hit the ground and jumped out of the hole. Looking to see if she had been spotted the beast charged the tree again. Knowing she didn’t have much time she started to dig in the hole left behind from the jump. By the time the tree fell she had dug deep enough to hide herself from view.
From the roots, “what if it finds your hole?” With this new information the girl started to dig again, down and over. Soon the light from the hole was no more. Still, afraid, she dug. Afraid the beast was behind her digging a larger hole for it to fit. Soon her heart slowed and she started to think again. “What if I’m outside the forest?” she asked softly, “I must go up.” She felt safe in the ground. Fear of having left the trees made her climb to the surface. When she reached the top she saw trees, and stars. She laughed and cried as she set beneath the biggest tree she had ever seen.
From the roots, “My daughter, come sit in my branches I will keep you safe. Come I have some fruit for you.”
She climbed and she climbed, above the other trees. She kept climbing; she climbed higher than she had ever been. Any other time she would have been afraid of falling; but, something inside told her she would be ok. When she got to the branches she stopped to rest. Later, before going down, she would climb to the top but now she was too tired. Another branch moved close to her and from it a fruit grew. A fruit she had never seen.
From the branches, “eat my daughter, eat and rest a long day you have had.” She ate the most delicious thing she had ever tasted. Finishing she fell asleep in the branches. Awaken by the rising sun and the smell of another wonderful fruit.
Sitting up she ate and asked, “Why are you so much bigger than the elders?”
“I am Inestisc all the roots of the trees are one, I am all of the roots of the trees.”
“So you are not the oldest tree?” she asked.
“No, at the beginning of my growth there where twenty-five trees that moved, and some number of trees that yet had the ability to move. In the beginning there were five trees in a circle where I am now. Of these five trees one is the oldest, Eldest was the first tree to speak, and the first to move. None of us know which one, Eldest is the only tree that knows.”
“But why are you the biggest?”
“All of the trees are their own life but, I am all of the trees. I am not my own.”
“When I was in the ground was that you who spoke to me?”
“It was me, yes.”
“Why?”
“You are my daughter, I must protect.”
“Where is the beast now?”
“Gone, it left the forest and went back from where it came.” The two talked as she climbed until she reached the highest branches, the sun was highest in the sky. Again Inestisc produced fruit for the child to eat. They talked until the sun went down, again the child ate. After she finished eating Inestisc spoke, “now after feeling the safety of the ground you will always prefer to be protected by dirt and stone than be in the open. But, you do not have the eyes to see in the dark. For this I give you eyes to see better in darkness than in the light.” And her eyes grew to the size of her hands. “Since you listened and never left the forest I give you the ability to feel which way you need to go to return home. Since the rocks will provide more for you than the dirt I give you strong hand with which you can break stone. Return to your elder and be named after which you may go where you wish but, always remember you may call this home.”
“Thank you Inestisc.”
“You may jump,” which she did.
Returning to her elder, “Inestisc said I was to be named Elder.” The child smiled excitedly.
“Yes daughter, we have thought long on your name and we have chosen Puttep.”
“Thank you Elder this is a beautiful name I will honor it well. But I cannot stay here; to the mountains I feel my calling.”
“This is your destiny. Always remember young one that you are welcome home anytime you want to return. We will miss you loving spirit.”
“I will miss you Elder. You have taught me much,” hugging the tree she cried.
Walking towards the mountain, scared, a rumble came from behind her. “Stay free Child.”



Near the desert the question was asked, “Eldest, why are you not powerful like Inestisc?”
“Because my daughter I can move yet Inestisc cannot.”
“But Eldest, life comes from Inestisc and not form you, you are the oldest and for that you should be the one all listen too.”
“Inestisc does not control us child.”
“Inestisc is the biggest.”
“Inestisc is all of us child from that power is granted. I am my own.”
“You should be the with power.”
“Enough, I forbid you to continue this talk. We are all one.”
Walking away she mumbled under her breath, where none could hear, “not I. I am not one with roots,” walking to the edge of the trees she stopped looking into the blinding sand. She wondered what was out there.
“My child?” rumbled the voice of one of the elders.
“Yes, Elder?” She asked confused why the tree had approached her with a question.
“You have much confusion in your head.”
“Why can’t I leave the forest?” she asked.
“In the forest you are safe no fear will find you while you are here.”
“I’m alone though. I would feel fear to feel another like me.”
“My child, there are none like you. You are the first from you others will grow.”
“I am the first?”
“Yes child, you may not leave until you are ready.”
“I am ready now.”
“No”
“When will I be ready?”
“You will change, and then the choice will be yours to whether to stay or go.”
“I will find food, I must eat.” As she began to search for the same thing she ate every day yellow berries and red fruit.
“You have a darkness in your heart, don’t let it consume you child.”
Sitting beneath Eldest she ate her berries and fruit. “I am the first Eldest like you.”
“In a way little one yes, you are. You’re the first and you will spread your seed.”
“Unlike you Eldest, I will explore, expand, lead, and control.”
“Daughter your job is not to control but to teach.”
“Teach like you did?”
“Yes my child you are here to teach like I taught you. To protect like I have protected you. After your test you will be free to do as you wish.”
“When will I be tested?”
“I do not know.”
“I will not wait, I am the first, I will do as I wish.” With this she stood, walked towards the desert.
From the roots, “You must not let her leave her time has yet to come.”
“What can I do? I cannot stop her. She will do as she wishes.”
“You must follow her, protect her and lead her home one day. I give you the ability to walk like her and always sense home. You will produce a fruit for her to eat.”
With roots Eldest stepped.
The ground shook.
To the desert he was drawn.
To his daughter he was drawn.

Swinging from the branches
See from above
Four legs
Long neck
Strong tail
Webbed arms
First move, quickly fall. Tare the web
To the ground. rolling,
Caught by branches before the blue flower was no more.
Against his elder he bled. From the waist he was torn, from the neck he tore.
“To Inestisc become more.”
“You have attacked and killed in the forest, for this I banish you.
Wings are yours to leave.”
“You have defended life from the greatest evil ever seen,
Talons given to defend.
A tail, remember not to kill.
Teeth to threaten, legs to leap.
Over the ocean, do not weep.”

To the ground the boy was lowered, awoken by the soft ground below his back. Eyes open, green leaves brown bark.
“Stand child.”
“Yes elder?”
“You have been healed, gifts granted. Yours and the name of your offspring. Nucim you are named. Inestisc is calling you.”
“Yes elder,” Nucim answered as he began walking deeper into the forest than he had ever been.
“My child come hither.”
“Yes?”
“I am tired of looking at all brown. I would like to see some color.”
“Elder, I have a similar problem. I am tired of eating the same food.”
“Child I would like to feel the breath of new life.”
“I do not understand Elder. Why are you telling me this? I cannot help you.”
“Yes Nucim, you can.”
“How? Elder, tell me and I will gladly solve our problem.”
“Close your eyes Nucim, breathe in, breathe out. Deep breaths. Get rid of everything in your mind. Black and white is all that should be left.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“You are going to create new life, start with something small. Roots first, your life must be able to survive. Picture how tall your life is going to be. Envision what it looks like every detail.”
In his mind Nucim created. First a plant with many leaves yellow and green, with a fruit of orange. Then he added a vine that comes from the base, with a new kind of food something hard and tan.
“When you have it youngling, sing what you feel into the ground.”
Without opening his eyes he bent and placed his hands to the dirt. Singing his feelings, noise flowed forth. From his hands skinny white roots entered the soil. Light green stem began to grow. Moving his hands around the new life, singing, guiding, growing. Green and yellow leaves unrolled. Vines began crawling across the ground. Orange fruit grew from the leaves; tan nuts emerged from the vines. Slowly Nucim opened his eyes. Shock vibrated throughout his bones. I have created life!
“Well done child. This is your purpose your calling. A beautiful specimen, lovely against all the brown.”
“Elder, Why?”
“You chose your destiny my son. From your pain we cried and bled. From our blood and tears new life grew, now from you new life grows.”
Unable to speak Nucim ate his new meal as he continued towards Inestisc.

(Future)
In front of him sat eight of the most powerful Putteps the world have ever seen. Looking at them from his seat.
Second from the left, her chair was raised slightly higher than the others, “Mongor you have been charged with treason to the highest degree.” Why she sat higher than the others he did not know. In the courtroom a different chair was always higher than the others. This seat controlled the hearing and had the last say in the matters at hand.
“Is it treason to fight for survival?”
“You raised an army and attacked our armory.” The one on the far right answered.
Four men, four women. Why he did not know, so sex was not the motive he assumed. All of this custom, the only thing keeping him alive right now was custom. He usually hated the way things were, but now he will use it to his favor. First was the meeting where he was charged with his crime. Second was the hearing where the “wise ones” will discuss innocence or guilt among themselves but where all can see and hear. Third, his punishment. If only his army could get here before the third meeting all would be ok.
“You decided to overthrow us and leave power to one man.” Another said. Eight, so no one sat in the middle. No one was to have absolute power.
“I only planned to liberate my people from suffering.”
“You have committed the highest crime imaginable in the tunnels. For this you will die.” Spoke the lady in the highest chair as she stood strolling towards the man on trial. Drawing a blade she smiled.
“What about Discussion, Sentence, and Punishment, this is custom!” Terror filled his lungs as the lady moved closer.
“You don’t believe in Custom,” she hissed running the blade deep between his ribs. The other seven stood, shocked with horror.

Sitting atop the highest ledge, the Father watched his children build. Huge flying creatures working in unison. Large boulders flown in and dropped in a pile breaking into smaller pieces. The younger of the children carried the broken pieces and placed them in a line where the oldest and most experienced of the fliers had learned to control the heat in their chests to melt the rocks into a wall. Built between two cliffs with a little hole in the bottom center for the stream to flow undisturbed. On the other side of the growing wall a valley, snow covered peaks, no trees, no animals. No life only a stream. When the wall reaches a point of satisfaction of the father the hole for the stream will be covered and the valley will slowly began to fill with water. The creatures had found their home and will soon have enough water to stop their search.

This thing has to get tired some time! Chaca screamed in her had before she tumbled over a root landing face first in the blistering hot cracked dirt. Rolling onto her back she let out a screech as the creature pounced. I have too much to do, this can’t be it! A branch caught the four legged beast before it landed on the kill. With its last effort the beast brought down a massive claw leaving three gashes from just beneath Chaca’s left ear to just below her right shoulder. The branch swung up like a whip throwing the beast to the ground. With its roots Eldest, pinned the creature to the hot dirt.
“Where were you?” Chaca yelled at her guardian.
“You told me to ‘stay put;’ you said I could be of no service.” Eldest replied.
“I needed you. I almost got ate back there! You’re supposed to be my guardian, guard me.” Arguing because she was unwilling to admit she was wrong, unstopping until the tree apologized.
“Stop this yelling we caught the beast, and, you are still alive.” The creature near the point of being crushed still struggled to escape from the weight of the tree.

Pausing in mid pace she screamed, “Look at me, I am walking in a pool of blood!” pointing first to her chest then to the trail of blood where she had been pacing.
“Next time watch where you put your feet, maybe then you wouldn’t bleed so much.”
Frustrated, “I don’t need this.”
Blade drawn
Distance closed
Claws lashing
Teeth thrashing
Jabbed missed
Now she’s pissed
Back of the head
Hair pulled
Neck exposed
Blade sliding
Blood gushing
Returning to where they had spent the previous night, Chaca hung the beast from a stone arch she had found. Rope made from Eldest’s leaves woven together.
“Run your blade down the middle of the creature’s underside,” rumbled Eldest.
Doing this the insides of the creature slid down Chaca’s torso ending up at her feet; bending over her insides did as well.
“Be strong little one, you must be strong.”
“Why did you tell me to do that Eldest?” She asked trying to calm her stomach.
“Beast will provide you with things I cannot. Find something to store water in for there will be times when you will not be able to find it.” the all-knowing tree instructed the girl. Through the mess of intestines she found the bladder. “Now empty it so it can be used for a water bag.”
Following the trees instructions she emptied the bladder, made more rope to tie the openings so water could be stored. She began to skin the animal emptying her stomach another time during the process.
“The skin will protect you against the cold. Hang it up to dry and tonight wrap it around yourself to stay warm.”
When she finished removing the skin of the creature the sun was highest in the sky and her stomach began to growl.
Eldest directed her to cut of thin pieces of flesh and place them against hot rocks to cook in the sun. When finished she ate meat for the first time. She had tried bugs before but this was different. To her this tasted good. She ate a fruit from Eldest to wash down the pieces left in her mouth.
“Cook enough to get you through the night, now you have means to feed yourself other than my fruit.” Eldest sounded proud of the child.
Before the sun went down Chaca filled the bag with water and buried the insides of the animal. When dark cam she grabbed her animal skin and climbed into the branches of Eldest and asked, “How do you know everything Eldest?”
“I do not my child, I just know what needs to be done.” The tree replied.
“But, how do you know it?”
“Instincts Chaca. Rest, a long day lays in front of you tomorrow.”
She fell asleep awakening only when hunger or thirst brought her from her dreams. After satisfying her needs she fell back asleep happy to have such a guardian.

From the top of the dam water slowly fell to the growing pond below. The Father arrived to oversee the problem. “Never did I think or lake would get this full. What is your opinion on the matter Mofport?” He asked his appointed engineer.
“Well sir, more water is flowing into our lake than ever. We do not consume half of what comes in.” Mofport answered.
“This is obvious my son, I want to know what you think we should do with the excess water. We have plenty more than enough for ourselves.” The Father replied annoyed.
“I apologize sir, I misunderstood your question.” He turned and looked away from the dam. “When was the last time any of us went down this canyon to the other side?”
“I don’t think any of us have been out of the valley since the dam was built. Do you think we should see what is out there?”
“I do. To have the river return to its natural flow before we disrupted it would be the easiest solution in my opinion. But, I would like to know what is out there now before we send a river where a stream once flowed.” Mofport an idiot at times made the most since when he was thinking.
“Sometimes I forget why you are my top engineer Mofport. Until you make since like you do now. Anyone else you think should go with us before we leave?”
“No Father. The two of us will suffice. We shouldn’t waist the time getting more people. Soon the river will be flowing through this canyon who knows what damage it could cause to the other side.”
“Once again Mofport your intellect surprises me.”
Mofport smiled showing a mouth full of razor teeth, not the most handsome in the valley. But, it surprised the Father why he had, after all this time, not found a mate. Pushing off with their powerful legs they took flight down the canyon. The Father first for there was not enough room for them to fly side by side.
Emerging from the mouth of the canyon the pair landed in shock. “What have we done?” The Father cried.
“None of us could have known”
Tears from the pair melted in the air
Once green grass and tall trees
Now only dust blew in the breeze
Trees still stood
But only the wood
Such destruction they caused
With all his might the Father roared, following his lead Mofport joined, and the two shook the ground with their summon. From the canyon the first reply came.
“How could we have lived in such comfort to forget to check?” The Father asked himself.
“We had a long search Father. Don’t beat yourself up over it.” Mofport regretted the last state as it left his mouth.
Nocked to the ground Mofport apologized. He wasn’t let up until the first of the others arrived. They too landed in shock and tears flowed.
“What have we done?”
“How could we not have checked?”
“We are Beasts!”
“We are Monsters!”
“So much destruction.”
“Enough my children we do not have the time to whine we have work to do.”
In unison they answered “Yes Father.”
“Advet Tarnet fly south until the sun is high then return. We need to know what to do with the water. If there is no life by the time you turn back find a place to start another lake if only a small one.” When there instruction finished the two took flight. “Fremp and Larw fly east return to the valley before dark or if you find life first. Gewn Ulin do the same to the west.” The four took off once their objective was given. “The rest of you dig a path for the water to fallow out of the canyon. If you finish before we return keep digging to the south. The trench must hold all the water coming over the dam.”
“Yes father.” And the rest of the fliers went back up the canyon.
“Mofport I want something as a remembrance of what was once here. A garden more beautiful than any we have grown with statues and landing more detailed than anything we have ever built.” The Father said looking at Mofport.
“Where do you want it?”
“Let us look.” Taking to the air Mofport fallowed. “Point out anything that may look appeasing.”
“How about here sir?” the two landed on a small elevated piece of dirt. After a few minute the Father spoke.
“No, this is not big enough.” They took to the skies again.
Without a pattern they flew. Landing here and there examining a few plots of land. Nothing was perfect there where a few good places. If they couldn’t find the perfect spot they would choose from one of those. They flew until the sun was setting.
Against the brown
A leaf yet on the ground
A pillar of stone
Ribs and bones
“We have found it Mofport!” The Father exclaimed.
“I believe we have sir. We must keep this tree alive it will be the greatest memory”
“My son, get the others in the canyon to fill their mouths with water from the lake return here we must water this tree. I will stay and start a trench.” Before Mofport took to the skies the Father began digging first around the tree to hold the water the others would bring and then continued it towards the canyon.

Before the mouth of the cave came into view Mofport found the group of digging flyers making great progress on their trench. Making a quick touchdown he exclaimed, “We need to water a tree. It is a long flight take a drink before following me!” Taking off before he finished his sentence. The others followed him to the lake. A few flying ahead to recruit all the fliers around the lake able to come.

Taking a break from his digging, father laid looking towards the canyon, waiting. Exhaustion overtook him as his eyes slowly drifted closed.
Eyes opening, sun setting.
Time slept unknown
Time left before dark, unknown
In the distance calls sound
Replied, way found
The sky darkened but, not because of the setting sun. Father smiled as almost a hundred fliers landed emptying their mouths into his newly dug ditch.
“I’m impressed Mofport I did not expect you to bring everyone able to fly. Now our ditch is full and this tree will live. I congratulate you.”
“Thank you Father.”

Standing below the greatest tree he had ever seen Nucim yelled, “Inestisc you have summoned and I have come.”
“No need to yell my son, I can hear you just fine even if you were to whisper.”
“You have given me these abilities to create new life. On my trip here I grew a plant with an orange fruit and a tan nut. A bush with many colors, and a flower with the sweetest aromas. Why do I have this ability?”
“Because my son I can only create what is needed but you can now make our forest beautiful.” The tree spoke in a way that made it feel like Nucim’s own thoughts where talking to him. “Child this is not why I have summoned you. You are here because there is something you must see. Climb to my branches for this is of the most urgent matters, too much time has been wasted already you must hurry.” Need was great in the trees voice
Without delay Nucim climbed the Inestisc’s trunk. Out of breath when he reached the branches he wheezed, “What is it Great One, why did I climb so fast?”
“Look towards your Elder my son. Look up and down the glowing river and tell me what you see.”
Nucim looked up and down the glowing river but did not see what the tree was trying to show him. Again he looked this time harder, still he saw nothing. “I do not see the cause of the urgency Inestisc.”
“Look harder my son, look harder.”
Straining his eyes he looked this time focused on section of the river at a time. Taking in every detail, out of nowhere a figure emerged, then another and another. They stood on the opposite side of the river as the forest. Seeming to look and study the trees.
Nucim asked, “What are they?
“I do not have a name to put to them but I can feel them. An evil waiting to cross the river and enter our forest. My son this must not happen for I do not know what they would do to the trees.” Inestisc’s voice near a panic.
“What must I do?”
“You must stop them before they destroy our forest. I fear the worst will happen if you do not succeed my son.”As Inestisc spoke five of the Unknown crossed the river and ran into the forest. Inestisc let out a scream, “They are killing a tree! Nucim you must stop them!”
“How, they are many and I am one.”
“Use your gifts, hurry my son. Jump and run I will try to offer guidance.”
Landing on the ground Nucim began to run towards the river of glowing red. In the back of his head a voice spoke. Nucim you have the abilities to grow new life, this you know. Roots are the easiest to grow for they are the most simple. Practice in front of you as you run, do not stop, do not close your eyes. Use your mind, picture roots, use your voice grow roots.
As he ran Nucim held the view of roots in his mind, singing, the ground in front of him opened and small roots began to grow upwards.
Faster, you must hurry, grow the roots bigger, stronger try it now.
From the ground
Roots grew
Faster
Stronger
With each practice the process became easier. Roots the size of small trees grew before he passed his target as he ran.
They are killing the tree! You must hurry.
As Nucim came into the clearing outside the forest
To the ground the tree tumbled
From the pain the whole forest rumbled
With his tears and the strength of the trees
Up came a root, now there is only three
Shock in their eyes
Watching their peers die
To Nucim they ran
As fast as they can
Another root to the sky
One of them learned to fly
Into the forest Nucim ran
To the tree of grand
Almost to Nucim with their boots
Now they’re in a cage of roots.

Puttep stood looking into the darkness of a cave. I thought I was given better eyes so I could see in the dark. But it is still dark in there. After a few more moments of hesitation she mustered her courage and stepped into the opening. Her heart racing she took another step. Beating faster she too her third step into the darkness of the cave. By her forth step she was able to see.
Shocked at the sudden change in light levels she turned around and looked out of the cave. Unable to see anything but a bright light that burnt her eyes, she quickly turned and went deeper into the cave. “My eyes must only work when they are in the dark.” She mumbled to herself.
Exploring the cave, she drank from a small pool caught in-between some rocks. The taste excited her more than anything ever had. The sting from the minerals made her fill alive. She drank until her stomach couldn’t hold anymore.
Hunger soon over took her and she looked around for something to eat. Nothing caught her eye except the greyness of rocks. Soon she found a yellow root growing in a crack on the wall. She quickly ate the root, and continued exploring. A glowing rock caught her eye as she rounded a bend in the cave. Examining it Puttep decided to test out her new hands and broke the stone around the glowing mineral and stuck it in her pocket.
Continuing the search, for what she did not know, she came to a ledge. Unable to continue going forward the decision was made to climb down the ledge. When at the bottom an underground lake was discovered.
Silver glistening like the moon
Happy the search ended so soon
Now there is enough to drink
Looking into the waters wink
With her hands she made a bed of stone and had the most comfortable dreams.