The branches curl around Sam, drawing him in as a lover might, drowning him in lifegiving blood. It is good that he does not need to breathe, for the tree all but smothers him gently against bark and un-flesh. Wessex of course does not go unnoticed, and as Sam drinks sparks pulse in higher boughs like many eyes spying the hidden being.
“Is that so?” The Voice asks, a branch of the tree softly stroking his hair. “You explored many places to be sure, but not the village...” There is a purr of disappointment in her voice as a branch snags in his hair. Probably unintentionally. “A shrine? Oh Samuel.” And then the Voice is there in earnest, her projection illuminated in the tree as her incorporeal form steps outwards to regard her child with laughter and love in her eyes. “How thoughtful. Do you know it has been years since any have made me a new place to be?” She reaches out to caress the side of his face. “But your thoughtfulness is not enough my bright one...” She says softly, ignoring his questions of the blight. “The village...the whole of the Greatwood...it must be explored..”
“Is that so?” The Voice asks, a branch of the tree softly stroking his hair. “You explored many places to be sure, but not the village...” There is a purr of disappointment in her voice as a branch snags in his hair. Probably unintentionally. “A shrine? Oh Samuel.” And then the Voice is there in earnest, her projection illuminated in the tree as her incorporeal form steps outwards to regard her child with laughter and love in her eyes. “How thoughtful. Do you know it has been years since any have made me a new place to be?” She reaches out to caress the side of his face. “But your thoughtfulness is not enough my bright one...” She says softly, ignoring his questions of the blight. “The village...the whole of the Greatwood...it must be explored..”
