The forest glade entranced her with an inescapable tranquillity, the endless sounds of wildlife chirping and buzzing mesmerised her, each and every creature living together in a euphonious harmony. Living alongside these creatures were the plants and the trees and the flowers, a plethora of vegetation. The various waters of the forest sprinkled amongst the flora and fauna, from the serene springs to the rushing rivers. The forest elements all came together as one.
Perching on a branch, soundless and still, she tilted her face towards the sky, gazing upwards as the last glimmer of copper flickered across the indigo sky, the last gesture before the forest fell into the allure of the night.
Shadowed silhouettes danced around the glade. The moon, everlasting and ever bright, was locked in a silent ballet with the shifting clouds whilst the river gushed through the moonlight. It created a prism of colours that glistened throughout, captivating the creatures that took shelter within. On the riverbank, the flowers and the trees swayed in the crisp air, indifferent to how their reflections changed, their portraits constantly being recreated and reimagined. Thousands of fireflies floated past, soft stars in the night, drifting back towards the sky where they belong, ready to join their sparkle. As the moon and the shadows pirouetted away, she allowed herself to put aside the past that dwelled within her, leaving behind the pain she had endured.
She slipped off her branch and twirled through the glade, a sweet mossy fragrance followed her as she danced beneath the moonlight, gathering flowers and berries as she spun into the night. Surrounded by the hope the forest brought, momentarily she forgot her heartache. Gracefully she laughed, a state of euphoria enthralled her, and she continued spiralling round and round and round and round, until she found herself back at her cottage, breathless and drowsy.
Her cottage laid abandoned, absorbed by the thickets and overgrowth of the forest, until she had chosen it as her dwelling. It had become her place to wait and rest, as she patiently observed the ways of the woodlands. Centuries ago, the cottage entryway had been protected by a crafted oak door, engraved with an ancient language lost to time but, as the moons passed, a Kauri tree took root and the two became entangled, forever sheltering the cottage from the weathering of the forest.
Delight consumed her. She knew that her cottage was one with nature and would be perfect in supporting her reawakening. She tiptoed deeper into the undergrowth, careful to avoid the creatures that habitually scuttled to and fro across the ground, and she found herself at the back of the cottage. Before her was a slight crack from where the limestone and granite had crumbled, just wide enough to allow her to slip through. Inside, ivy and roses united, decorating the walls in a viridescent glow that sparkled with rubies, glimmering in the moonlight that seeped through every crevice. She laid herself down on the mossy undergrowth, admiring the beetles and the ants that roamed through it, until the night became day once again.
Sunlight slowly shone where the moonlight had once been, urging her to wake. Tenderly, she shook herself, tears welling, as she warded off the dreams of her realm. Dreams were the light had faded, consumed by the darkness that smothered it. Dreams were any and all magic had dwindled away until it was abolished into nothingness forevermore. Dreams that told a history she didn’t want to remember. She reminded herself that the past could not be altered and that she was here for the future, to bring back the light. Her aspirations would prevail.
With a delicate yawn she rose, fluttering through the cottage and tending to the entwined wall adornments, before heading out for the morning.
Submerged in thought, she found herself at what she liked to call the Larimar Stone Spring, justly named for its opalescent, azure water that glistened in the morning sun. It was here that she would delicately float, refreshing herself for the day and embracing the mystical effect that the water had on her body, and today was no different. Attentively easing her body into the cold, she greeted the fish that spent their days living within her Larimar Spring and watched as the different shades of lemon, gold and scarlet darted back and forth. Occasionally one would approach her, overcome with sudden courage and curiosity, before quickly darting away again. Orchids, bromeliads and canna lilies outlined the spring, and filling the area with an aromatic floral perfume that she adored. As the sun rose through the sky, she left the spring and headed deeper into the forest.
Eventually, she discovered the path to a towering weeping willow tree and, after greeting the willow, she started to ascend, making her way gracefully to the top. The bark of the branches scratched at her feet, whilst the leaves brushed against her face and the sweet crisp smell of honey and citrus infused her lungs as she selected her footing and continued upwards. This is where she would spend hours of her day, peacefully watching and waiting, embracing the forest at every angle to ensure that all was well within.
Desperate to keep thoughts of her realm from arising, she took out a small pouch and removed the flowers and berries that she had gathered in the moonlight. She started intricately braiding them together, weaving them into a plaited cord. As her braiding reached the perfect length, she looped the ends together and felt a sense of gratuity and accomplishment as the soft crown of flowers sat comfortably upon her head. It helped her to feel one with the forest for the first time since her realm had been shrouded in darkness. She knew that if she could be at one with the forest truly and completely, then she would finally be reawakened, rediscover her magic trapped inside, and at last be able to return home.
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