Luthra kept his grip on the dying tree's roots, watching them crumble to black ash between his fingers. The entity's voice grew weaker with each passing second.
"Please... I have lived for centuries..."
"Should've thought about that before you tried to eat us."
The last of the tree's consciousness faded. The massive trunk collapsed inward, rotting from the inside out until only a pile of black mulch remained where the ancient being had stood.
Luthra let go and stepped back. His body hurt everywhere, that deep bone ache that came from pushing too hard. The white glow faded from his eyes, returning them to their normal dark color.
Rebecca stood behind him, covered in dirt and sap, her hands still shaking from the adrenaline.
"Is it dead?"
"Yeah. It's done."
"Good. That thing was a creep."
The forest looked different now. Without the tree's illusions, they could see straight paths between the normal-sized trees. The oppressive feeling was gone. Even the air tasted cleaner.
