Birch

Mary blinked. She lay in a forest beneath a large, fruit-bearing tree which appeared to be out of season. Dead leaves blanketed the ground eliciting a crunch with every movement. She felt the wind on her skin and recoiled in pain for a moment before she realized it didn’t hurt. The pain felt so real, could it have been nothing more than a bad dream. Mary thought as the stench hit her. It invaded everything around her, the trees, the dirt, even the birds. Birds. She thought. Where are the birds? It was then she noticed how still the forest was and how putrid and stagnant the air felt. This is not my forest. Where am I? She lifted her device. A brown leaf fell to the ground.

“So ye notice it too?”

Mary dropped her device and drew one of her combat knives in the same motion. The voice’s source was a man whose skin was rough and wrinkled with a hue indistinguishable from that of the surrounding tree bark. His long, creaking limbs and the way his shadow swayed with the wind reminded Mary of a tree.

“It isn’t oft’n my forest receives visitors. Even less oft’n one’s young as yerself. Most I get ‘round here nowadays is old folks lookin for a peacef’l place ta rest.” His voice was ragged enough the man chronically appeared on the verge of coughing. “Not so peacef’l anymore since ‘at lunatic Jesper up an’ decided he owned the place.” The man gasped for air.

Mary sheathed her knife. “Are you alright? I can make some medicine using the local flora.” She reached for her device.

“Don’ bother.” The man gestured to some bushes with browning leaves covered in black specks. “The plants ain’t what they use ta be ‘round here. Even that one ya were lyin’ under’s gone bad. It’s in seas’n. Should ‘ave fruits growin’ all o’er the place. Would be pois’nous even if they did grow with all them fancy, magic sappin’ macguff’ns of theirs goin off.” Vines spiraled up from the ground and formed a decrepit cane which the man somehow rested on. “Not like it’d help much to begin with ev’n if ya could scav’nge the plants. Forest’s dyin’ so I’m dyin’. More brown leaves fell to the ground, each covered with black specks.

“I loved nature more than anyone else in Reythe, and not even I would die if my forest died. What are you and are you sure there is nothing I can do to help you?”

“I’m a druid, Name’s Birch. Ya clearly ain’t from ‘round ‘ere if ya can’t even tell what one of us is by lookin’ at us, not ta mention I also don’t know nowhere called ‘Reythe’ so what’s yer story stranger.”

“I am a failure. All I have ever done is explore and protect the people and things I care about and I was not able to do that properly. Nothing else about my ‘story’ matters.”

“We all got our secrets. I won’ push no further.” His smile was lengthy and jagged but peaceful.

“Do you know how to heal your forest?”

“Not happenin’ with that Jepser feller ‘round.” A forlorn look grew on Birch’s face. “Times was much better 'for the war. Didn’ have many people like him ‘round that's for sure. Once they stop pois’nin’ it I can heal it on ma own. But I don’ see that happenin’ ‘till it’s too late ta do anythin’ ‘bout it.”

“I can help. I just need to gather information.” Mary knelt down and tested the soil using her device. The readout on her device displayed many contaminants. “Lead, oil, multiple unknowns…” Mary muttered. “I am surprised the forest looks as alive as it does. That should not be the case unless the plants of this world have a higher tolerance for contamination.”

“I figured ya as one of ‘em.” He pointed a branch-like finger at Mary.

“What do you mean?” Mary's eyes narrowed.

“One of the faded. Folks such’s yerself who’re from worlds beyond our own.” He looked concerned. “I’d be caref’l out there if I was you, not a whole lotta safe passage out there fer yer kind. Wish I could do more ta help.”

“I have always been as safe as possible but I will keep that in mind. Where is Jesper? I might be able to convince him to stop.”

“You won’t be able ta do anythin’, not with him bein’ the Brass Armada’s hot new up-n-comer.” Birch took in a series of deep, wheezing breaths. “If yer really interested in tryin’ though, he’s in Jesperville as he’s been callin’ it. It’s a new settlement not too far west from ‘ere.” A branch sprouted from his cane and pointed westward.

“Thank you, Birch. I will save your forest.” Mary lifted her device and pressed some of the buttons. The screen displayed the words “NO DATA AVAILABLE.” Mary lifted the device above her head. Nothing changed. “I have never seen it read off ‘no available data before.’ The GPS function will not work. This world must not have satellites. A compass might work." Mary set her device down and removed a compass from her pocket. The needle spun. "I'll need to try later, this forest could have a magnetic disturbance." She pocketed the compass. “See you later Birch, it was nice meeting you.” Mary smiled and waved.

“I don’t know what a ‘gee pee ess’ is or a “satlite” fer that matter, but Happy trails."