* * * * * * *
Reality returned to her as the memory faced away.
Aletha noticed that she was located in a marsh, hearing the loud sounds of the rolling wheels resounding over the circular wall of pine trees. This could only indicate that Aletha as getting closer to the bull.
When Aletha's boots pounded heavily across the ground, it caused even more mud to slash up her leg then before; but that never mattered for her-- she still kept going.
"I need… to… do this."
As she approached an opening in the forest, where the sight of the green-tinted skyline could be seen above, Aletha turned to her right and saw a squirrel prance around the ground near her.
Like the birds, the brown squirrel hurriedly flew up the tree's trunk, scurried on a slender twig, and tossed an acorn downward.
"Huh? What's that?"
Suddenly…
(BONK)
The rock-solid acorn hit Aletha's head.
