A thousand memories flash before you in an instant…
All concept of time and space vanish inward as a vortex of nothingness pulls you in. You remember everything yet understand nothing as you linger in an ethereal abyss. In this place devoid of hope you feel the sudden urge to pull away, a spark of rebellion within you let’s out a cry of action — you’re not quite ready to let go. The spark grows, stoked by flames from within, the strength to pull away increases. A flashing light flickers, once, twice, three times, and a grain of familiarity returns. This strange feeling that is washing over you, could it be…. hope…
But what’s that, the sound of something rings out across the void and interrupts you…
You there, can you hear me? Yes, you can, you’re starting to wake up! Bless the stars you’ve come back to us, I’d thought you were lost to us. Please take a sip of this, it will fortify you against the effects of whatever happened to you. It’s very bitter but you must get it all down. There you go, you’ll feel better soon but you must try and keep it down. You’re quite lucky you know, I don’t usually pick mushrooms this far out, but circumstances led me to stray a little farther from the path today. Is it a coincidence that I found you here? I think not… nothing is a coincidence in this place, we are but slaves to the seasons. We grow, wither, and are reborn in cyclical harmony with the Forest itself, we are not one but many, a collective body of life — this is how it has always been.
But come now, let me take a look at you. Hmmmm, yes that’s quite a nasty blow to the head, I’ve not seen a tree do that to anyone before. This wound, it looks more… deliberate… All in all, you seem alright, nothing a good rest won’t cure, but that cut, let me tend to that now. Hmm but what poultice to apply…. Fleekwood? Brownbark? Willowsprite? Nay, we need something a little stronger for your kind — Yellow Blossum with a pinch of cave moss. That should do it. Now, hold still while I apply this, and do not under any circumstances get this in your eye, it will sting worse than a hive of Spring Wasps!!! Ok, there we go, you’re all sorted now and should recover within the moon cycle. But forgive me, I am being rude. Let me introduce myself, I am Silvae, a herbalist and journeyman, although I don’t quite journey much these days owing to the limitations of age. But come now, sit up and try and get your wits about you. The Forest is not dangerous if you know what you’re doing, but you’ve been out here for some time now alone, and the smell of blood travels quickly in these parts. If you can find it within yourself to walk, we should make for my camp before it gets dark.
- Will you follow me?”
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