The Heartwood don’t believe all the lies that you’ve been told

for @Redshank

So, it was done.

Rian found himself alone today as he wandered the scorched reaches of the Heartwood. The fire that had ripped through the woodland was long gone but the scars still remained. It was a charred ruin of the former glory; a testament to the forces of the world. But the recent onset of spring had produced something of a rebirth within the ravaged territory. Tiny saplings were unfurling from the blanket of ash and detrius. They were small, and had a long road ahead to reach the heights their forebears once commanded, but it was possible that, someday, the Heartwood would stand tall as it once did. 

He felt something of a kindredship with it, as he was going through a similar journey of personal discovery after the terrible events of his childhood. The boy slowed as he approached the burnt out hollow of a tree, and bowed his head to nose one of the sprouts with a gentle touch. The colors were vibrant against the grayscale hues of its surroundings, and it drew a rare smile across his lips, but he didn't linger long. He'd taken it upon himself to find some food for his cousins, so he stepped away and continued on through the hollow out ruin of the forest.