Grandmother Lyndzei looked at Amerie, and the wise tree knew to expect the torrent of questions that were about to come her way.
“But how is any of this even possible?” Amerie sputtered out. “I get you’re a talking tree because I can hear and see you talk, but -” Here the biologist’s daughter paused, wondering if this would be a potentially insensitive thing to say, in case she would be offending tree etiquette and manners. If that’s even a thing, Amerie thought silently. Anyway, she decided to continue, “But you’re still a tree. Trees release energy by photosynthesis don’t they?” Amerie looked at Grandmother Lyndzei, who smiled encouragingly. “Right,” Amerie went on, “So they live and grow using sunlight. This forest is full of trees, but,” Amerie emphatically pointed to the sky, “There is no sun. Just stars. How is that even possible? How are we even alive right now? How does the earth even have an atmosphere? If my father ever saw this place,” Amerie whispered seriously, '' he would have a mid-life crisis. He’s an astronomer.”
Old Lyndzei rumbled heartily, more than she had done in this past year. “Amerie, the sun is also a star. It isn’t the biggest star, just the closest one. It is still there though. Try to think of it as the sun you know has been pulled back a little, and the other stars have been pushed forward a little. We have more than enough light energy to survive.”
Amerie nodded, then shook her head, “Okay, suppose that is the case. But why? Why push and pull the stars around? Why are trees - no offense - talking? Why,” Amerie pointed to a leaf that glittered proudly, “is everything so shiny?”
“Oh, that’s because this is the realm of stars,” Grandmother Lyndzei answered simply. “Ask the stars, Amerie. It is their enchantment after all.”
Amerie could feel a headache coming on. Ask the stars, Amerie thought weakly. My parents are scientists, but here I am, a tree telling me to go check my horoscope. Still, as much as she inclined to disbelieve everything she has just heard, the truth was right in front of her. A very kind old tree (who didn’t mind that Amerie had scratched her name into her face) was talking to her. The sun was just another star. Leaves and the like were no longer sad and soggy at this time of the year, but pristine.
She knew the more questions she asked, the deeper she would be rooting herself into this mess. However Amerie had just seen roots move up in the air, so she figured at this point a few more questions couldn’t hurt. “What is the star realm?” Amerie asked. A part of her winced when she saw Grandmother Lyndzei’s eyebrows lean upwards dramatically. She recognised that look on her grandparents whenever she had said something that triggered a memory. She was about to get a back story. Judging by the stretch on Grandmother Lyndzei’s high forehead, a very long back story at that. Amerie sighed and found a comfortable patch of grass to sit on. She was going to be here for a while.
“What is the star realm? Well, well, well, the star realm cannot be defined as simply one thing, you know,” Grandmother Lyndzei replied cryptically, “But I will do my best to explain.”
Amerie’s eyes widened in anticipation and hugged her knees to her chest. She had a gut feeling that Grandmother Lyndzei would be a good storyteller. She waited, suspense hanging over her like the shimmering mist of this enchanted forest. Just then, Grandmother Lyndzei gave a terrible rumble that made Amerie clutch the grass in surprise. Was this a secret so powerful that the old oak had to summon ancient spirits? Was it so dreadful that it hurt Lyndzei even to speak it? Was it -
Another terrible rumble. Then quiet. Then another rumble. Quiet. Rumble. Quiet. Rumble. Quiet.
It then dawned upon Amerie that the (very) old oak tree had picked this very moment to take a nap.
And snore.
Amerie’s eye twitched. Exasperated and impatient, she tried to wake Grandmother Lyndzei, but to no avail. The old thing refused to be woken.
Amerie heard another rumble, only this one came from her own stomach. It occurred to her that as far as she knew, Grandmother Lyndzei was the only one who could help her understand the star realm and more importantly, how to get out of it.
She mentally retraced her steps. It clicked. Amerie remembered that she had fallen backwards into the star realm. That must be how I can get out, Amerie thought.
She stood up, and fell back like a bird struck by an arrow, except Amerie was confident she wouldn’t get hurt.
She was wrong.
Amerie was somewhat shocked to feel the bump forming on the back of her head. She looked around and realised she was still in the star realm. Whether it was from the pain of the fall or just the frustration of being wrong, tears began to fall from Amerie’s face. Though this world was beautiful, she was sure it was dangerous. Amerie rubbed her eyes bitterly and wished she was more brave.
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