[ Old World - Deep inside the unknown woods ]
The trees and the landscape were already beginning to change yet again.
Autumn wandered ahead, her fingertips trailing over bark textured like dragon scales. Everything smelled richer here…deep earth,wet ferns and that peculiar sweetness of wild honeysuckle curling around ancient trunks.
She paused beside a thick tree with roots that rose like twisted old fingers, and squinted up at the sun barely slipping through the dense canopy.
She paused… more like her feet rooted on the spot by themselves… it felt like she had seen these woods… in some distant dream… or nightmare.
She blinked a couple of times, trying to shake off that awkwardness… and then…
"Hello, ancient one," she whispered, patting its base. "What secrets do you keep buried down there, hmm?"
Cerbs padded beside her, tongue lolling, ears alert. She looked down at him and grinned.
"Don't worry, I won't climb it."
Cerbs gave a low chuff.
