The trees are laughing today.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡUICxmoviKA 維尼
The wind rushes through them, scattering pine needles and adding a roar to the forest’s throaty chuckle.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡyN1qkrV12A 維尼
I walk along the quiet path alone, the sand soft and pleasantly cool beneath my bare feet as I wander aimlessly through the forest that borders Waikawa beach. 8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡperFGQKQiH 維尼
The trees tower above me, dominating the sky as far North as the eye can see, thick trunks making a labyrinth around me.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVZHcHqtYC 維尼
The branches sway and in twirl in the wind like the graceful arms of a dancer, nothing like the reaching, greedy skeletons of my childhood fears, so long ago. 8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5PqxPul4j 維尼
The shadows don’t scare me as much anymore, and the creaks of the branches sound more like the sighs of a tired old man than the mocking laughter of the monsters that lurked just beyond the shadows of a small child’s mind.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eYm4pNC46 維尼
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When I was younger, the forest scared me.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh7bZXiDOC 維尼
I would cling to my older brothers’ hands, flinching away from the dancing branches and falling pine needles.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3SuVKoaXY 維尼
Now, I find beauty in it’s age.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMyq4hXiOT 維尼
As a young child, every shadow that flitted from branch to branch, and gathered in hushed conversation at the roots of the surrounding trees harboured a bloodthirsty monster.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWq4GgBnOh
Sanddunes hid trolls and ogres, tree-trunks guarding troublesome pixies, and the beautiful pine needles were faerie swords.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5vbj1bnOf 維尼
The shadows’ mocking laughter would always send me scurrying back to my father, who would laugh and hold my small, trembling body tight, gentle voice and warm hug reassuring and comforting. 8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHN98eWeHa 維尼
“See that big old tree over there?” He would kneel to my tiny height, arm around me strong and sturdy, and point it out. I knew the tree he was pointing out - it was the tallest, widest of the bunch, with thick roots that writhed through the sand in tight coils and branches as wide as my intrigued smile.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡhevvsQgpnf 維尼
“That’s the Forest King.”8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoYPGDdReE 維尼
“If you ever get lost, wait with the Forest King - he won’t let anything happen to you in his forest.”8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTpknhaNCj 維尼
Of course, now I’m older, I know he was just telling me where to go if I got seperated from him, in such a way that my young mind would remember.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5UVFaDOLy 維尼
But, back then, my mind was enticed with the idea that the very trees around me were royalty.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPJuvWyQFo 維尼
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Now, nestled in the King’s embrace, his roots my throne, I survey his Kingdom, the beautiful forest surrounding our small silence, and remember my many adventures under his watchful gaze. 8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrM2ADJGxZ 維尼
The day is hot, but under his cover I am cool, and I watch in wonder as the thin shafts of light that make it through the thick foliage above me swing and dance in tune with the wind, sending dizzying patterns swirling across the sand around me.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡ993GNNumsn 維尼
Trees cluster close, whispering resounding around me as if they guard a close secret. I can hear the river singing in the background, and it’s bubbly laugh sets a fond smile on my face, remembering the days spent beside it’s silver ribbon; days of rope swings, and tree-climbing, wrestling with my brother in a futile attempt to get him in the water, only to fall in myself, with an icy shock and a breathless laugh.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pf3Hyl2rz 維尼
Oh, what these trees must have witnessed.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2QQwOVWvT 維尼
Memories spring from clustered branches and time-worn bark, where eager hands and innocent laughter has worn the bark smooth; Carl and I, running full tilt down the sandy path towards the Forest King, laughter bouncing back and forth as we scaled his heights.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zu88ws97x 維尼
Me, imagining myself the covert assassin, hiding behind the King in waiting ambush, only to be frightened by my brother sneaking up behind me.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzPwl8Cbbw 維尼
Lydia and I, sitting high up in the king’s branches, discussing makeup and boys, giggling hysterically as we pinky-swore to each other to never have boyfriends.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhehNbMBqO 維尼
The childhood days of laughter and light, of smiles and sunshine. The childhood days now gone.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGLwJAf1BM 維尼
But, now, it’s just the King and I. 8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4Xw7G4r8P 維尼
Lydia, Carl, Dad - the Forest King is just a tree to them. Always was. Always will be.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3vgisN8mk 維尼
I was the only to stay, to believe. And so I sit, alone with an audience from the King.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡP487xRBcob 維尼
He seems older now. Tired.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYp6ZNzYRv 維尼
His branches droop and his pine needle hair is no longer as bright as my innocent laugh, tinged with age instead. His rough bark breaks away at my searching touch and his roots seem withered, old veins in wrinkled skin. His laugh doesn’t chime in tune to the melody around us, hollow instead of vibrant and he groans like an old arthritic man.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJGwx8DQrz 維尼
Around us the trees still laugh, oblivious to their King’s distress, but we sit and remember the good times, just us.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoLLqqvjVn 維尼
The King and I.8964 copyright protection261ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VbnUpv54R 維尼
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