Please note for future reference: T.A. Barron created most of the
characters in the story as well as the entire setting for my story. Sha'n
is a creation of my own, as well as Nisto. THANK YOU, T.A. BARRON. The
books rock. This story is set in Fincayra before the fifth book in the
series, The Wings of Merlin, takes place. If anybody has read the series
and feels I have represented a character in a way that is blatantly
different than the book, please tell me so I can correct myself. Thanks!
With an exhilarated whoop Sha'n ran through the Druma Wood as the sun pulled over the far distant horizon, dodging and weaving between trees, jumping over and ducking the odd branch or vine that threatened to make him stumble or fall. Far ahead and high above him a big black hawk named Nisto wheeled and dove, then shot forward again, teasing him with his speed. Sha'n plowed ahead, into a wide clearing near the edge of the wood. He stoped suddenly, gaping at a huge tree. Nisto continued on, unaware Sha'n had stopped.
The tree Sha'n stared at is unlike any other in the forest. It towered high above the tops of the other trees, and was heavily weighted by innumerable different kinds of fruit, all ripe and healthy. The top of the tree swayed, leaves shaking and twirling in a breeze. Sha'n stepped slowly up to the great giant, reaching out a long-fingered hand to rest the pads of his fingers on the rough bark.
The whole tree shuddered, shaking off the remains of the early morning dew clinging to its broad leaves and long, slender but think branches. He made a low swishing noise, and the tree responded by swinging its branches to make a similar noise. Sha'n continued to speak in the language of the trees.
I have never seen a tree like you, old one. The big tree swished indignantly at him, and he chuckled. Carefully he reached up and gripped a ridge in the bark of the tree. He swished another phrase in the tree language.
Ah, but to me you are old. I am much easier to kill and much younger than you.
With a final swishing he climbed up the trunk of the tree by the bark, which held surprisingly well, until he could reach the first branch. He swung up on it and sat with his back to the bark of the tree. The tree swished at him, and he grined cockily.
I'm resting, not lazy He swished back.
More swishing from the tree and he stood again on the branch, swishing back,
I can too make it all the way to the top. Watch me.
He pulled himself quickly up into the highest branches of the trees, almost like a monkey. He turned to face the center of the tree.
See? I told you I . . .can. His swishing speech faded away as he peered into the center of the tree. It was almost like it was hollowed out, and a large, spacious room was spread out below him, hidden within the protective, arm-like branches of the tree. A single ray of sunlight fell on the most beautiful face he had ever seen, lying on a soft looking pillow and bed inside the room. Her eyes were closed, and she smiled gently in her sleep. Her dark hair draped over the edge of the pillow in graceful curls.
Sha'n felt the branch below him bend, and he lost his footing on the limb. With a yelp he slid forward and fell right into the room, landing with a painful thud to waken the girl. Sunlight streamed in now; from the hole he has just created. The girls wide brown eyes narrowed at him, and she spoke a swishing command of her own. The branches quickly repaired themselves and he is trapped inside.
With an exhilarated whoop Sha'n ran through the Druma Wood as the sun pulled over the far distant horizon, dodging and weaving between trees, jumping over and ducking the odd branch or vine that threatened to make him stumble or fall. Far ahead and high above him a big black hawk named Nisto wheeled and dove, then shot forward again, teasing him with his speed. Sha'n plowed ahead, into a wide clearing near the edge of the wood. He stoped suddenly, gaping at a huge tree. Nisto continued on, unaware Sha'n had stopped.
The tree Sha'n stared at is unlike any other in the forest. It towered high above the tops of the other trees, and was heavily weighted by innumerable different kinds of fruit, all ripe and healthy. The top of the tree swayed, leaves shaking and twirling in a breeze. Sha'n stepped slowly up to the great giant, reaching out a long-fingered hand to rest the pads of his fingers on the rough bark.
The whole tree shuddered, shaking off the remains of the early morning dew clinging to its broad leaves and long, slender but think branches. He made a low swishing noise, and the tree responded by swinging its branches to make a similar noise. Sha'n continued to speak in the language of the trees.
I have never seen a tree like you, old one. The big tree swished indignantly at him, and he chuckled. Carefully he reached up and gripped a ridge in the bark of the tree. He swished another phrase in the tree language.
Ah, but to me you are old. I am much easier to kill and much younger than you.
With a final swishing he climbed up the trunk of the tree by the bark, which held surprisingly well, until he could reach the first branch. He swung up on it and sat with his back to the bark of the tree. The tree swished at him, and he grined cockily.
I'm resting, not lazy He swished back.
More swishing from the tree and he stood again on the branch, swishing back,
I can too make it all the way to the top. Watch me.
He pulled himself quickly up into the highest branches of the trees, almost like a monkey. He turned to face the center of the tree.
See? I told you I . . .can. His swishing speech faded away as he peered into the center of the tree. It was almost like it was hollowed out, and a large, spacious room was spread out below him, hidden within the protective, arm-like branches of the tree. A single ray of sunlight fell on the most beautiful face he had ever seen, lying on a soft looking pillow and bed inside the room. Her eyes were closed, and she smiled gently in her sleep. Her dark hair draped over the edge of the pillow in graceful curls.
Sha'n felt the branch below him bend, and he lost his footing on the limb. With a yelp he slid forward and fell right into the room, landing with a painful thud to waken the girl. Sunlight streamed in now; from the hole he has just created. The girls wide brown eyes narrowed at him, and she spoke a swishing command of her own. The branches quickly repaired themselves and he is trapped inside.