The Song of Trees

Fantasy Island on an Old Planet

It started when we were exploring the river that runs to the Plage. Bess trundled her gear into the brightly colored kayak. I’m off, she pushed the wildly colored floating ride into the swift current of the river.

Hey wait for me we need to stick together. I was still packing equipment. This was the first exploratory of the river on the planet. Bess was out in front of me the whole time.

Me, always slower, when watching the environment around me and taking pictures of all the new flora and fauna along the banks of the river. Both sides of the river held forests of sturdy brown trees. Different sizes and shapes of leaves on the trees proved a case for intermingled species. Multicolored birds of unknown origin flew off in flocks, if I approached, the river’s banks.

The intense orange floating boat was riding the flow of the river without a paddler aboard. I pulled ;up my binoculars and looked. I could see a body lying near the waters edge. The trees on the island stood back from the edge of the forest in a half circle leaving a half-moon shaped clearing of damp soil. I tied my kayak to a thick post with a ring on it; clearly someone had been visiting this Island at some time in the planet's history.

After examination Bess seemed to be asleep or in a coma. She seemed undamaged physically but ;would not wake up. I trotted across the open area toward the forest where I spotted a path. A few feet along the path was a gate with a lock. 10 foot high fencing flew out to the East and West from both sides of the gate. As I approached the gate, a high pitched pulsing sound literally attacked all my senses. I flipped off my earphones which I wore to communicate with the drop team, which should be flying over every 6 hours to check on the kayaks. Then I retreated back to Bess.

When I returned Bess was awake. I started unloading equipment for an overnight stay. What! she exclaimed in a fuzzy voice?

Staying here tonight. I want to find out what happened to you.

After I alerted the drop crew, they agreed to check back at the earliest dawn.

As long as we did not approach the gate no sounds were emitted. We set up a camp, The quiet lured me into a quick sleep.

I jolted awake. A full moon swam overhead in a darkened brushed bluish sky. Bess slept on, as I noticed hoof prints in the clearing.

Then, a light breeze began to blow swinging limbs and leaves in the multi-shaped green leaved trees. A Song of Trees drew me toward the now open gate. I walked quietly in awe as the bright glow from the full moon illuminated trees growing up to both edges of the path. The song seemed to be coming from the trees as their leaves swayed in the breeze.

Instead of sleep, the bird varieties were sitting in and flitting around the trees. Birds with soft velvet multicolored feathers sang an accompaniment to the breeze blown Song of the Trees. Crowds of butterflies in reds, purples and blues waved their 7 and to 9-inch wingspans in tune with the rhythm of The Song of the Trees. Trees with foot long leaves swayed in the full moon. The leaves dangled and flowed rubbing against each other, pulsing in ecstatic harmony.

The full moon shed so much light the forest was alive in white illumination giving clear vision to the display. The song of trees flowed up and down within the close grouped forest. Now loud, now soft drawing out the different tunes from the trees and birds like a full-blown orchestra.

Thinking of the gate, I wondered if this was The Forbidden Forest. My thoughts roamed back to the gate. I realized there was a sign hanging on it depicting what might mean a danger mark over trees?

The well worn path I trod ended on the bank of a pond. It was ringed in a different type of tree. Small star shaped leaves gave off the aroma of heavy lilac and roses. The song changed here. Now the music was a soft swinging lilt. It was waveson asea on the air; like leaves floating silently on the surface of water.

On the opposite side of the pond stood a mare; the purist white I have ever seen. She saw me and pawed the ground. A small white colt emerged from among the trees to stand beside the mare. Their eyes were a deep brown. They saw me and melted quietly into the Forbidden Forest. I turned and walked quickly back down the path. Now the music seemed to be pushing me out. Soft drumming sounds from my feet echoed as I walked down the path. When I passed through the gate it closed and locked.

Bess was awake when I walked over and entered the tent.

Where have you been?

Listening to a heavenly orchestra,

We curled up in our sleeping gear and slept more soundly than ever before.

Word count by WDC: 861