Phantom Hollow this way to sexy town

Isolated from the rest of the Heartwood by a bend in the river, this part of the wood is distinctly colder, darker and quieter than its counterpart. A thin layer of fog weaves through the trees come morning, only to dissipate slowly as the day goes on. Here, thick layers of moss hang from the branches of tangled, barren trees and a covering of crumbling, graying leaves line the forest floor. Most noticeable is the absence of life. The stillness. The crunch of a twig underfoot seems to echo in the silence. The rolling of rocks, a sin. At times, even to breathe feels to forsake the forest.

She had thought the whole area was a wasteland, but when she spotted the small enclave of trees, it grabbed her attention immediately. Curious, and still on the lookout for a good place to make her home, Cyclone eventually found herself across the river from what looked like a goddamn lush forest. It was small, but suitable. Eagerly, she sought a place to cross, and eventually she found a shallow part of the rushing river where she made it to the other side cold, but alive.

The Blackthorn shook her coat free of the water that had collected there, and the properties of her fur quickly shed the water completely. She wasn't bone dry, but she wouldn't freeze to death, either. Then, she paused, taking in the scenery. It was quiet and cool, but she could tell it was alive. The sun had begun to set, and she could already see the mist beginning to form between the forest floor and the moss that hung above.