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Up high, the city looks so small. The people are running around like ants into their little shops and homes. You can see the roads beyond, leading to new experiences. The trees are a large mass, steadily growing, slowly increasing their territory. And the sky. The bright blue sky stretches on forever. Full of promise and opportunity.
Jasmine and Ranesh had grown tired of the bustling palace one early afternoon and had escaped to the tallest tree in the garden. They had raced to the top (Jasmine had won, of course, but Ranesh was not far behind) and were staring out at the horizon below.
‘You and I, we are not so different.’ Ranesh comments. ‘Though our place of childhood were not at all similar.’
‘Indeed. I could not imagine staying in a cramped room most of my days. Especially with Josef.’
Ranesh laughed. ‘Josef is not so bad once you get to know him. He is like us; stubborn, set in his ways but intelligent beyond his years. What he does not know about the history of Deltora is not worth knowing.’ He glanced over. ‘Besides, I felt safe with those four walls to hide me. I could not imagine walking through a forest, let alone living in one.’
Jasmine raised her eyebrows. ‘You have not been in a forest?’ She asked, disbelievingly.
Ranesh shook his head. ‘I have not. My life has been spent entirely in the city. Tell me, Jasmine, what are they like? What is it about forests that allowed you to live most of your life in one? What made it feel like home?’
Jasmine paused for a moment, thinking. How could she explain it to him? Something she has inherently known her entire life? She stared at the trees in the distance before she started to speak.
‘When you think of life and vitality, you think of a forest. The interactions between life to support and enrich this wide expanse of nature. It is thriving. The plants provide food for the animals, and the animals help the plants to grow. Everything has a place and everything is needed for the forest to remain, and grow. Everything seems to be brown and green at first, but when you look closer, you can see the wonderful colours it holds. The birds come in vivid rainbows, the shrubs bear fruit. Some trees and shrubs bear flowers. The rivers are a clear blue. Sometimes, the leaves on the trees turn red in the cooler season before they fall and brighten the ground. And of course, the sunlight. Golden rays peek through the branches and bring the forest into full colour. Everything is illuminated and rich, and you feel like you are in another world.’
Jasmine, smiled, looking off into the distance at the place she once called home. Ranesh turned his eyes from her face to the seemingly tiny forest and tried to imagine it.
‘For all I have heard, I still cannot think of a forest as anything but trees. What else does it hold?’
‘As for what is in the forest, it is best and most simple to work from the ground up. The dirt, made up of those specks which provide the nutrients for plants to grow. It is brown, rich, moist. When leaves fall or things die, they rot, and insects eat them. Then, the nutrients are returned to the ground for the plants to use. The forest floor is expansive, and it is full of life. The grasses are the first to appear, first in patches, then the earth is covered in soft green. Some grasses are short, while others can even grow taller than me, surrounding and smothering. It is like being in a sea of green. Bushes tend to grow in amongst the grasses. Some are small, with pointed leaves, others are larger than life with long, rounded leaves. Some bushes grow flowers, some bear fruits but others do not sprout these at all. It depends on the part of the forest which you will see. The tree roots come in all shapes and sizes, but there are some which are thick and sprawling, they cover the ground, steadily collecting nutrients for growth. If you are unfamiliar with the forest, then you must take caution, or else you may trip. There are many fallen branches and logs, on which moss and algae grow so they are not only large, but also slippery.’
‘It sounds almost overwhelming. So many sizes and different things around. I wouldn’t even know where to look. I think I would find a small space and watch the world from there.’ Ranesh chuckled.
‘You are not alone in that regard. Many creatures of the forest hide themselves for different reasons, generally in shrubs.’
‘You said they were different types of shrubs. What are your experiences with them?’ He inquired.
‘The shrubs, as I mentioned before, bear different things. I eat a lot of berries from these bushes, they are quite tasty! Other larger bushes are great to hide in, the leaves fall, and they completely cover you. Oftentimes you will find a bird or small mammal sharing the space with you, as they tend to hide from their predators. Some birds lie in wait, ready to attack the prey that comes past. It is amazing, so many creatures have the same knowledge and wit as you or I would. Especially those near the riverbank, they can dart out and catch their prey in the blink of an eye. It is amazing. I didn’t spend much time near the river, only to drink or bathe. Most of my time was spent within the trees.’
‘It seems I have the right idea!’ Ranesh proclaimed, with a smug smile. ‘I too, have spent most of my days in one type of place. You get used to the way everything looks and feels, and how you interact with the space.’
‘That is right.’ Jasmine agrees. ‘Stable ground or trees are much more preferable to a fast-moving current. I feel very out-of-control in one.’
‘I cannot swim myself. But then, when have we needed to? I suppose we could learn at some point, but right now we have more important things to do.’ Ranesh stated. ‘But not right now.’ He grinned. ‘Could you tell me about where you lived?’
‘I lived in the First Wood of the Forests of Silence. My parents had built a nest before I was born. The Grey Guards burnt it down when they captured them, so I rebuilt my own when I was seven. If you could only see the trees, you could understand why it was better up there. The forest is old, and the trees have been growing for centuries. The trunks are thick, the roots are expansive, and they are so tall. They can watch over everything. The trunks start straight and rigid, but the trunk twists and bends as it grows. The branches reach outwards, whorled yet strong and steady. They support a lot of weight and will not move in the wind. The tree remains, after fires and rains. Life continues on for them, as if nothing significant had happened. They support the whole forest. The smaller plants and the animals And me, Filli and Kree. Our nest was wide and deep, with plenty of room for even Lief and Barda to sit. The foundations were strong, and the leaves kept us warm and dry, I always felt safe there.’
‘I think it is incredible you were able to live so high off the ground. Though if the trees were that strong, I understand why you felt safe and comfortable doing so.’ Ranesh looked around at the features of the tree they were sitting on. Still quite tall, though not as tall as those in the forests he imagined. Sturdy, their conversation on the branch was evidence. Squinting, looking through the leaves, he could make out tiny nests, tucked safely in the crook of a nearby branch.
‘Could you tell me about the animals?’
‘The animals… the forest is home to so many. The birds, insects, spiders, snakes, squirrels, wolves, just to name a few on land. The Forests of Silence in particular had the Wenn and Wennbar, what I saved Lief and Barda from at the very beginning of our quest. And that is where I met Filli and Kree too.’ She smiled, gesturing to the animals in the branch above them. 'The smaller animals eat the plants and spread their seeds, and the larger animals control their population, so the forest is not depleted. Everything is balanced. Everything in the forest has a role, and though they fend for themselves by preying on weaker things, they allow the forest to be as it is. Full of life, full of vigour. It certainly had its dangers, but I would not have it any other way. The beings in the forest, while mostly self-serving, could also work in harmony. Teamwork was necessary to warn of enemies and prevent harm from the forest. It is how I knew about the Wennbar and Gorl in the first place. If people would just talk to the plants and animals around them, they could find out so much.’
‘Indeed, we have much to learn. I think we would all be better off having spent some time in the forest.’Ranesh shook his head. ‘Incredible. I cannot even believe what you are describing to me is real.’
Jasmine smiled. I will have to show you.’
‘There you are!’ A voice broke the silence. They looked down to see Lief at the trunk of the tree, with Marilen not far behind.
‘Do not think you two can hide from us all day! Come down and eat lunch. ’ Marilen ordered, hands on hips.
Ranesh looked at Jasmine with a wry smile. ‘It seems we have been found out.’
Jasmine snorted. ‘Yes. Back to imprisonment we go. At least the people aren’t so bad.’