The One Who Waited in the Trees
The sudden snap-crack of wooden wheels over rough ground shattered the tranquility of the rich green forest. Tak—Tak — Tak! The rhythmic trot of horse hooves resounded between giant trees, every beat thudding like a soft but persistent heartbeat into the untamed quiet.
Sunlight pierced the dense overhead canopy, bursting into disjointed shards of gold that went leaping across moss-covered boulders and wildflower clumps swaying in the drowsy forest wind. The air was heavy with damp earth and new leaves' perfume, bearing the faint, primeval musk—like an echo from bygone centuries. Birds sang overhead, their songs intertwining perfectly with the creak of boughs, to create a living symphony that seemed immune to time.
