In the curling peaks, dewdrops fell along leaves, far, far, far down. They spiraled in icy waters, rushed down cliffs, rock-spires, and ancient trees. Corners of alcoves reflected red and yellow beads, following each moving piece of the world, watching--waiting. The world held its breath.
“Come, come, come!! Let’s go D’art!!!” Stumbling over rock ledges, stepping deeply into puddles as only a child without hesitation could, you grab onto Roseline’s hand.
Her hands naturally grasp onto yours. You think for a moment about how she didn’t even hesitate to grab your hands. How natural it felt to hold onto her scared you, but her ease of the event scared you much, much more.
“Let’s go!!! He’ll be gone! Gone!!” Roseline laughed as she jumped and ran, hair flowing behind her. Her brunette spirals followed and blew in the wind, like a triumphant festival, following her back, keeping up.
She yelled as she stared forward, “Hurry!”
“I am! I am!” You reply quickly.
A fallen tree is in front of you as Roseline slides and crouches under. You’re pulled with her under, with the strong smell of wet bark, waterlogged with rain, filling your lungs. The moment lasted a split second as you dashed out, tailing behind Roseline.
At this point you’re simply attempting to keep up with the energetic lady. Suddenly, you slam into her back and you both awkwardly stumble forward into a clearing.
Quickly, you shout, “My bad, sorry, sorry, I didn’t-”
But Roseline, without looking at you, shushes you and calmly says, “Look.”
A clearing dawned before you. Tall grass and a winding river curled in spectacular ways. The currents of wind and rain softened to a light fall and gust. Verdant vines climbed trees and rocks. You looked at those things for only a moment, as something mystical caught your eye. Suddenly you understood why Roseline grabbed hold of you and ran off.
The last surviving species of american mega-fauna was before you. A towering moose grazed in the meadow, larger than life itself.
Beautiful.