From afar there are trees that have no leaves, just branches that have been withered. Trees that have branches growing in all different directions twisting among its other branches. Some are even intertwining with other trees.
What does this mean? Ellie thought.
Anthony and Ellie were walking out from the hills and into the large forest. While Antony guards what's above them from what could be in the twisted branches mess, Ellie guards the lower portion which is what could be hiding behind the stumps and trunks or maybe even squirrels.
"So are you ever going to tell me what-" Ellie began.
"Have you ever thought about how trees are related to us?" Anthony interrupted. Ellie figured that there was no purpose to argue.
"We have this tree and we are the stumps and our family are our roots"
"Our close friends are our branches because they grow apart and with us…"
Ellie shoots are limping bird with her arrow and runs ahead and picks it up. "Mmhm"
While she cleans the carcass, Anthony goes on.
"And the people that used to be our friends are the leaves that fall off"
Ellie places the bird meats in her backpack and they continue their pathway.
Ellie asks, "What about the strangers? How do the impact our lives?"
"The strangers are the trees that are far away… and you need binoculars to see him"
They pause and look around to find a small area covered by trees so they are protected by anyone since they realize that they won't be able to reach the end of the forest.
Their little area- after Anthony came back with logs and placed them on one side and one on the other side- was guarded by trees.
Ellie sat down and took her backpack off and examined the bird.
"We should build a fire…"
Now it was Ellie's turn to interrupt.
"Why then- why did you think that these trees have branches that are twisting among each other?"
"Um,"
"There are literally branches going through each other and even in their stumps!"
It was true, there was a tree that had another tree going through it. Killing it.
"It's because its the apocalypse."
"Ellie- look " Anthony pointed.
Above her was a withered tree. It had blood oozing out from the stump going all around.
What does this mean? Ellie thought
I thought the smell was coming from the bird.
