"Zen...there isn't a forest" Zen had asked Kiki and MItsuhide to come along with him to see Shirayuki again- he knew that would be the only way he would be aloud to leave the castle again. He had been running around with them both for a while trying to find the forest again despite Kiki insisting there was no forest around here "I'm telling you there is a forest here, I was sat in a beautiful meadow where I met Shirayuki...why are you looking at me like that?" Kiki and Mitsuhide had stopped walking and were looking at each other as though Zen had gone crazy "Zen we have passed this way many times and not once have we ever come across a forest or a Meadow" Zen stood with his hand on his chin "is this what she meant?" he shut his eyes thinking back to what she had told him "she said 'this forest is a special forest, not any one can just walk in here' maybe that is what this is, maybe I can't find it because you two are with me" face etched in suspicion Kiki folded her arms and narrowed her eyes "I see now Zen, if you wanted time alone from the castle why not just out run us like normal?" shaking his head Zen paced around impatiently "no, no, no! I really was there! I am telling the truth...please Kiki, Mitsuhide. Will you wait for me over there again?" Kiki was still eying him up suspiciously however Mitsuhide stepped forward and placed his hand on Zen's shoulder "I can see that you are serious Zen, I will return to the castle with Kiki and make an excuse to your brother. Just...be careful ok?" He walked off and beckoned Kiki to follow him.
Zen walked around and around but still the forest did not appear Shirayuki said that he could return if the forest allowed it, was he no longer allowed? if so why? He pictured the meadow and the red hair that drew him in. Dreams of the meadow and the beautiful, mysterious red haired woman had dominated Zen's mind all night, he knew he must once again find her.
With this thought a gentle breeze passed through him- different from an ordinary wind. He stood and knew what to do. He looked all around him until she spotted a nearby tree- the same tree he had used to escape yesterday. He jumped up and sure enough the path to the meadow was clear.
Sure enough a short while later Zen found himself stood in the meadow but was confronted with a new problem- how could he find Shirayuki? He turned around slowly on the spot hoping to identify the path she took as she left but somehow it all looked identical. A rustle of leaves caused his heart to leap, however it was just a lone deer. He felt its eyes looking into his and wondered for a moment would this work? "hi there little guy, do you know where Shirayuki is?" the deer ran off leaving him stood there feeling a little foolish. He had all but given up before another rustle caught his attention "Hello Zen" heart pounding he turned slowly to face Shirayuki "hello again, did...did that deer tell you where I was?" she chuckled lightly "no... the forest told me" colour rushed through his cheeks "oh..I see" she smiled kindly and held out her hand "would you like to come meet her?" Zen took her hand ignoring the flutters in his stomach "who?" she led him down a narrow path that went deeper into the forest "my adopted mother...and the guardian of this forest" somehow everything she said was so unexpected and strange yet only enthralled him more.
The walk was a short one and although she seemed at ease, Zen's nerves were out of control. Shirayuki continued to lead him by the hand occasionally glancing back to offer a warm smile "so you're taking me to meet your adoptive mother?" he watched Shirayuki closely, he noted that where most people would pull branches down or cut them out of the way- Shirayuki would gracefully step around them or duck under, move in any way necessary in order to not disturb a single branch nor leaf "yes, she has taken care of me since I was young" Zen stepped over a large rock jutting out of the ground "why? where are your parents?" Shirayuki stopped abruptly, he couldn't see her face though he noted her head was tilted towards the ground "I...I'm sorry I didn't mean to ask such a personal question! she straightened up and turned to face Zen with a somewhat forced smile "no, it's ok. They died a long time ago, they brought me here so that I would be safe and asked the mother tree to look after me" Zen felt her hand drop to her side- his hand was still warm from her kind touch "mother tree?" he had a feeling what she meant and it was confirmed when they had reached the end of the trail. A large tree was stood taller and wider than any other tree in the forest. Shirayuki left Zen's side and knelt by the tree- placing the palm of her hand against the bark "I'm back mother, I have brought him" Zen stood there blinking in disbelief- this tree was her mother? He sat beside Shirayuki quietly as he was lost for words "this is the Mother Tree, she is the mother of this forest and my adopted mother" the tree seemed old and frail, he noticed a small tear in the corner of Shirayuki's eye "what is wrong?" shaking her head as she wiped her tear away she forced her smile back "She is very sick, I have tried every herb in this forest and none will work. She is very old and her voice is fading fast! If she should die, this whole forest would too!" a feeling of helplessness washed over him, he could tell that if this tree died it would cause her great pain, but how could he help? "Hello Prince Zen Wistaria- second prince of Clarines" he looked around shocked who was that? "you...are you the mother tree?" he had felt a warmth enter his body and touch his heart causing him to feel at peace "Yes, I have watched over this forest for thousands of years and I have protected Shirayuki for a long time also. I am not long for this world...that much is certain. The reason I opened up the way to you is because I have a request...if you will listen?" despite being stunned that he was talking to a tree he nodded "of course, what ever I can do to help- just ask!" He bowed his head with his eyes shut tightly- listening intently "There is a great evil that hunts Shirayuki and I have protected her from this all these years...she has been a prisoner to this forest for her own safety...I sense my time is near and so I ask you- Will you take Shirayuki with you and protect her in my stead? I sense that no one but you can accomplish this" His heart soared take her with me? He pictured taking her back to his castle, passing her in the hallway, brushing her hand 'accidentally'. He swallowed hard and shook his head, he simply wanted to assure her safety "I will take her with me.. but will she come?" He could see how she cared for the tree and knew that she would not leave the tree easily "she will follow you, when I die- she will truly have no one else because when I die the forest creatures must move on to survive- and so she must too" Zen had made his mind up "I will do as you ask, you have my word she shall remain safe. I will stay here with her until she is ready to come with me"
Zen's eyes opened and realised that the whole conversation had happened inside his head. He looked over at Shirayuki who was still knelt and smiling in his direction sadly as though she had heard the whole conversation "she wants you to take me with you doesn't she?" nodding gently, Zen rose to his feet "you heard?" she remained knelt and put her forehead against the tree "no I just know her, I can tell that her time is near and I knew the moment she opened up the way to you that it was in order to find someone to look after me" if she knew all along why was she so terrified? "if that's the case why did I frighten you so?" it was shocking to see such a dark expression emerge on her face "I thought you were someone else, someone who was here to take me away, if that was the case it would have meant that mother had died...I was scared" the huge tree already had wilted more, it indeed was dying at an alarming rate! "The Tr...your mother spoke of a great evil hunting you...is that who you thought I was?" her eyes widened and then she shut them "yes I thought it was him!".
