Written by Ironi Numair
Chp1 : From Tree To Man
The young man stared up at the sky in confusion. The moon shone down on him brightly, and for the first time in his life, he took a good look at it. What had happened? Nothing had happened, had it? Minding his own, he was soaking up dew in the night, and now, here he sat. Long brown and blonde hair fell in front of his bright green eyes and the moon's light played along his naked, tanned skin. He took in a breath of air from his mouth, a strange sensation mind you, and lifted his arms. His movement was quick compared to before, and he had no assistance of wind either. No wonder humans died so quickly.
He remembered the sky screaming, and then a burning sensation, like he had been struck by lightning. And now, he the very thing he had learned to detest, a weak human, with its soft skin and funny roots. What had happened!?
Rowan, as he had come to call himself, tried to stand on the funny double trunks. The roots on the end were too short and he fell. How could the humans do it? Either way, they managed it when they killed and took away his parental tree. They were able to laugh and run, as they would take his apples, holding the precious seeds, his children, and eat them without limit or care.
He managed to crawl to another tree and used it as a brace as he lifted himself up, using his legs. He stood there, as though drunk, and then tried to walk. He only succeeded in stumbling and collapsing again. This was annoying. Whoever did this, whatever monster had done such a thing, had better hurry up and change him back. The wrath of a tree was not to be taken lightly, the Dominion Jewel was proof of that.
After several more tries, he finally managed to stand. Now, how had the humans used these to walk? He lifted his foot to place it forward, as he had seen them do, but suddenly fell sideways. It was going to be a long night.
Patterns of the sun's rays breaking through the leaves dotted along the forest floor. The quail rose into the air, frightened, as Rowan stumbled into view. It had taken him all night, but he had finally adjusted himself to walking. He had even managed to jump a little. The humiliation, however, continued throughout.
There was a strange feeling in his middle, familiar to that of when one's branch grows weak and breaks away. Pain, it was, but not quite, milder. He began to feel a little weak. He recognized this well; he just needed a little energy. Slowly trotting along, Rowan began to search for a break in the trees above. He was satisfied when he reached a small clearing.
He strode to the center, becoming a little giddier each time he discovered a different style of walking. He paused and looked around. It was a quaint little spot, with all the tall giant trees of the mountains surrounding him, and the long gold-colored grass tickling his legs gently. This would have been a nice spot to grow, but humans seemed to have to move all the time.
I am not human, he thought harshly. He spread his arms out, letting the sun play along his fingertips. Heat spread through his chilled body, and he became more comfortable. But the weakness remained. He didn't get it. Confused, Rowan plodded on, searching for other forms of food.
Splashing about a creek was fun, he had to admit, but it didn't solve his problem. When he drank the clear water, he felt refreshed, like one is on a new spring day, but the weakness remained. What did humans do to rid themselves of this? Where they like this all the time? It did seem likely.
He continued onward slowly, the slight pang in his middle turning into something like pain. What did humans do, what did humans do…
Consume us.
The sudden horrific thought just came to him. How could he have not thought of it? That was what humans had taken from him, his apples. Then they would tear awful chunks out with these strange holes in their face. Would he have to…? No! He would never take from his own kind, that was so…human!
Pushing the thought out of his mind, he traveled onward.
The trees just ended abruptly, leaving a thick line of rocks and dirt curving down the way, and beyond that, nothing but grass and flowers. Rowan stood, completely compelled by the vision he saw before him. He had seen little back home.
He heard something up the stretch of dirt; it sounded like human voices. He hid back in the brush a way, waiting for them to pass. Two old crones passed by carrying a large bundle each, their skin matted and torn like bark and their hair like collected lightning. They grunted strange sounds at eachother in that human form of communication that Rowan didn't understand. Watching them pass curiously, Rowan observed the strange garments hanging around them. He didn't have that, but apparently he would, to fit in properly. He followed them, creeping among the bushes to remain hidden.
Their mouths continued to flap, and the noise was bothersome, but he wondered if he was capable of mimicking it. If so, then he could find someone to help him easier. But now was not the time to try. The pain in his middle seemed to fade as the day went by, but his legs were getting a little shaky.
He ignored it and plowed on.
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Chp 2 : From Bush To Road
So that was how these puny humans protected themselves during fierce winds and rain. Rowan stared in wonderment at the small settlement of buildings of stone and wood that stood erect from the ground like deformed boulders. He'd heard of such things from news spread by leaf-song, but the descriptions had usually traveled from so far that they had become unclear. This took his new breath away.
He remained hidden and watched from a distance as humans hurried about the streets like dried leaves being scattered in the wind. Small humans, who Rowan assumed were young ones, ran after the elders on their funny sapling-like legs. It was amusing.
After a long while of observation that his tree-patience enabled him, he had finally concluded that there were two different human types. As different as he and a cedar, but humans nonetheless. The difference was most obvious in their outer coverings as he could see. One type was usually shorter than the other, though there was exceptions, and wore a loose garment that hung off their torso and over their legs in the fashion of a willow, hiding their funny double legs to look more normal. The other type usually wore some form of a garment that outlined their legs, proving they were double and awkward.
After a longer observation, Rowan decided he resembled the second, taller type more than the other, as he didn't possess the dull stubs on his chest that the first did. Rising on his tired feet, he followed a second type human as he walked to a more secluded structure. There, he hid behind a tall pine and waited, not sure what to do next. But he really didn't need to consider, as just then another human came out and hung a few of those garments over a thin line.
Why, she must have known he was there! How nice. Maybe not all these humans were so bad afterall!
She hurried back inside before he could thank her, though it was probably for the better, as he didn't know how anyway. Rowan strode over to the line and picked out several items he had seen the other human type wearing, then returned to the woods.
Rowan sat with his chin in his hand (why he suddenly was doing this, he did not know) in thought. He stared at the garments lain out before him; how was he supposed to use them? Apparently they didn't just stick on, so how did the humans accomplish this?
Selecting the pair of green-brown breeches he had taken, he held it out and took a better look. They appeared to be made to cover two of his limbs. But which two? Instinctively, he held them to his legs, and they seemed to cover them perfectly. He'd try it, but how did he put it on? He took hold of one of the limb coverings and found an opening at the end. Sitting on a patch of grass, he slipped his foot into the opening and pulled it up over his leg. Unfortunately, it only went so far before it became too tight, and now there was this big flapping part at the end. No, no, that wasn't correct. He pulled it off and took another look.
Ah, now he saw it, the large opening at the top went on first. He slipped it on, pushing his feet through both leg coverings until they appeared out the other end. Yeah, that was right, though it felt strange and a little bit bothersome. Well, he would have to do it if he had to travel amongst the humans. Rowan groaned at the thought.
He slapped his hand over his mouth. Noise! He had made a human noise! He removed his hand and tried again. He breathed out, then seemed to work something in his throat, and sighed audibly.
He could do it!
By the time the sun began to sink toward the horizon, Rowan was trotting down the road happily, wearing his cream colored shirt, breeches, and boots and humming off-tune to himself. This wasn't too bad…he would be able to hold off like this until he could find a way to change back.
He was still hungry. The mild pain was back with a vengeance, demanding food. Rowan looked around, and saw a small group of apple trees standing just a little off the road. He wanted to continue, but his feet seemed to have their own ideas, so he found himself staring at one of the few apples that remained. He seemed to whine (ooh, a new one!) in indecision, then finally reached up and plucked the apple off its branch.
It's okay, as long as I drop the seeds, he thought to himself, it's okay… He hesitated, then took a large bite out of the juicy apple. It was good. He finished off the apple, leaving the middle with the seeds on the ground, and ate a few more.
There now, he thought, I'm a cannibal.
He continued his walk not far from the road. His stomach satisfied, he ambled along feeling much better. It was dark now, but that meant little to him. It wasn't until the stars were blazing in the inky sky that he suddenly felt a little weak again. His eyelids kept drooping, and he tripped over his own feet. He finally sunk to his knees, then just lay down entirely under a cedar tree. What was wrong?! He had just eaten! Did humans really die this quickly? No, no! It couldn't end for him like this!
It couldn't!
He couldn't fight it anymore, and his eyes shut. He sunk into a strange, peaceful darkness.
His eyes snapped open; it was daylight. Rowan jumped to his feet in a hurry, and found his was refreshed again. Realization crept over him, and he felt his lips lift up in an odd smile. Sleep! He had known always that humans did a thing called sleep! He felt stupid.
He relocated the road and continued along it, again playing with his new, light voice in strange hums. The scenery changed around him, making him nervous, but he walked along, trying to stay cheery.
A human passed him, one like him, only his hair was darker, and held up his hand and waved it. Rowan hesitated, then did the same. Apparently, this was some friendly gesture. He'd have to remember that. It was a good sign for him, maybe, just maybe, he could find a human to help him.
If something, or someone, was powerful enough to turn him into a man, then they would be powerful enough to change him back.
Right?