At the entrance of the forest park, two vigilant guards stood sentry, resolute in their duty to prevent unauthorized access. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a creeping shadow over the park, Nika seized a fleeting opportunity when the guards momentarily diverted their gaze.
With cat-like agility, Nika darted towards the park's rear entrance, where she knew a tear in the chain link fencing provided her passage. She glanced furtively around, ensuring no prying eyes watched her, and swiftly, she slipped through the parted chains.
Inside the park, rows of freshly planted tree saplings stretched out, attended to by diligent gardeners. Yet, in the quietude of the park nearing sunset, an eerie aura enveloped the surroundings. Concealing herself among the stately tree trunks, Nika navigated towards the upper reaches of the garden.
A little further, amidst the open expanse of greenery, an ancient and colossal yew tree loomed before her. It stood with a regal, towering presence, exuding an aura of majestic grandeur. Nika wasted no time; she rushed towards the tree and embraced its gargantuan trunk.
"I missed you, Wise Yew!"
Unexpectedly, a deep, resolute voice resonated through the air.
"Me too, Nika. The past week has been an agonizing solitude. Where have you wandered, my dear?"
Nika pressed her cheek against the coarse wooden bark of the tree and replied in a hushed tone, "Just around. I wasn't too far away."
"But you've told me that you have no place to call home. Where have you been spending your nights?"
"In an inn."
The tree inquired patiently, "With what money?"
"It's a long story," the girl replied cryptically, then, she began to ascend the nearby branches. The tree extended its branches like strong arms, offering her a gentle ascent. As she reached a stable perch, she continued her tale.
"In mere moments, leaves at the center of the tree parted, revealing a cavity within the massive trunk. "Thank you for always being my refuge, especially in this harsh weather."
The mighty tree spoke solemnly, "The earth laments greatly these days, and every night, I fall asleep to the sounds of nature's sorrow. Humanity's relentless pursuits and its ambitious advances have inflicted irreversible harm upon the earth, water, wind, and fire. The very elements of existence and the essence of the heavens are in turmoil. These disturbances have pushed humans towards an ominous end from which there may be no return."
Nika rested her head on her hands and closed her tired eyes. "Ah, you're right. The streets are overrun with monstrous beings. People scarcely leave their homes, fearful of becoming infected, and soldiers wage desperate battles against the abominations. It's really frustrating, I mean, I'm tired of begging for food."
"Why not heed the wisdom of your ancient friend?" the tree suggested.
"If you mean eating insects, no, thank you. I'd rather endure hunger than dine on cockroaches!"
"Do you know how old I am, Nika?"
"Yes, three thousand five hundred years," she replied.
"No, precisely three thousand five hundred thirty-seven years and eleven months," the tree corrected.
"Oh, so your birthday is just a month away?"
The tree chuckled, but Nika Insistedly continued: "That wasn't a joke, In fact, I think I'd like to give you a birthday present. What would you like to receive?"
The tree's voice took on an oddly emotional quality. "I don't know; I've been alive for over three and a half millennia, and this is the first time anyone has asked me that. Of course, I've never spoken with a human before. You are the first of your kind who..."
The tree's calming and soothing voice abruptly fell silent, and its last words were carried away by the elusive caress of the wind.
"Wise Yew? What happened? Why did you stop speaking? Hello!?"
"The intruder climbing the tree in the restricted area, descend immediately!" a shrill voice blared from the park's entrance gate speaker, its echoes reverberating through the park.
"Oh, my God! They're about to catch me! I have to escape!"
Without hesitation, Nika heard the wail of the gate's alarm, signaling the guards to converge on the vast expanse. The ancient yew tree remained silent, and so, with a heavy heart, Nika scrambled out of the cavity, clung to the branches, and leaped into the grass below. She winced in pain as her leg was injured in the process, yet had no choice but to muster her strength and limp towards the safety of the forested area, fleeing from her pursuers.
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