The trees are laughing today.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98g9XZcW9S
The wind rushes through them, scattering pine needles and adding a roar to the forest’s throaty chuckle.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFQ2qBql7J
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. copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdeAk5V2uT
The trees tower above me, dominating the sky as far North as the eye can see, thick trunks making a labyrinth around me.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E1qOYq0Vz
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. copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIfJLFkb0r
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.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcE8MYdH1I
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When I was younger, the forest scared me.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5fQP0w9bx
I would cling to my older brothers’ hands, flinching away from the dancing branches and falling pine needles.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6Jefwdtee
Now, I find beauty in it’s age.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPpzr1L34Y
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGtHZPuFoY
Sanddunes hid trolls and ogres, tree-trunks guarding troublesome pixies, and the beautiful pine needles were faerie swords.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF4PwTP321
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. copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD8jRnP5Q4
“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.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3TJDkLpoP
“That’s the Forest King.”copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYvsN2mD5p
“If you ever get lost, wait with the Forest King - he won’t let anything happen to you in his forest.”copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF2NZUbP02
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.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk5M4I7P7v
But, back then, my mind was enticed with the idea that the very trees around me were royalty.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvtbYhdlUj
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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. copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH2Gt6oBWw
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.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C2AO0R1mM
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.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7mjUJhDi5
Oh, what these trees must have witnessed.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTMpzgwYRt
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.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡuY5xzTxrVU
Me, imagining myself the covert assassin, hiding behind the King in waiting ambush, only to be frightened by my brother sneaking up behind me.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg1AAWkSzC
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.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWvKl51R3S
The childhood days of laughter and light, of smiles and sunshine. The childhood days now gone.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyRq6rkESf
But, now, it’s just the King and I. copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6wzG6v0Y4
Lydia, Carl, Dad - the Forest King is just a tree to them. Always was. Always will be.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW08HmeIdi
I was the only to stay, to believe. And so I sit, alone with an audience from the King.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxRsYXUiBM
He seems older now. Tired.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9S3Izadz8
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.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡic5jlMFzuT
Around us the trees still laugh, oblivious to their King’s distress, but we sit and remember the good times, just us.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5rJypGsHh
The King and I.copyright protection57ＰＥＮＡＮＡffr8j9Htnh
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