Rana let Siana’s hand go to wrap herself around the trunk as much as the girth of the wood allowed. “Isn’t he magnificent? He’s the oldest tree around for hundreds of miles and he’s very wise.”

“Ok,” Siana looked at the tree. It was very clearly ancient, knotted and gnarled with thick branches that nearly rested on the forest floor in some cases. The trunk was scarred in one area making Siana wonder if it had been struck by lightning at one point or another. It ...