Phoenix Maplewood I want to reach a higher place.

circle?

he remained silent until he found the way of it, the ring of fungi. his mouth twitched; he looked at the fair woman for a long moment before shaking his head, eyes darting between her and the strange apparition upon the ground.

no, aditya said firmly. no, i've seen things like this before—but not here. not yet, he added, his face caught between wonder and pain.

he ought to have stayed, to see this place in all its forms.

he shouldn't be discovering wonders of the maplewood seasons and seasons after he'd claimed it for his own.