1 The Awakening as a Human

As she awoke everything was pitch black. The body she held now, felt stiff and even unnatural. Well not unnatural, but she was surely not used to it. After what felt like ages, or seconds, she couldn't quite tell as time felt very different now, she felt strong enough to move her toes. Laughing she wiggled them a little bit and proceeded to move every inch and muscle of he body. The grass under her naked body was wet and it stuck to her fingertips as she touched it. The ground was cold and the only thing keeping her naked back from being soaked, was an enormous amount of dark hair. Lastly she tried open her eyes, but immediately shut them again. The dim light of the moon had burned in her eyes and a pain in her head made itself home. Slowly and very carefully she tried opening her eyes yet again and this time it was much better. Still it felt uncomfortable but not as painful as the first time. Stiffly she heaved her body in a sitting positions and took in her surroundings. Around her were trees, bushes, gras and shrubbery. The wild nature let her heart skip a beat. It had been so long since she had actually seen all the life, that she wished it would be a sunny day, to be able to see and discover every pile of dirt, blade of grass or bug and pollen.

She should get up and go, she knew that, but it was hard to look away from the beauty of her home. Finally she stood up and felt the damp curls on her back falling down to her legs. Her face was lit up by the moonlight and her birthfather reached out to her. She had to follow his light to find him and to receive the help of her siblings. Smiling she started to walk, her eyes never leaving the guiding light.

The walk was long and painful. She had not quite adjusted to this body yet and after so many years, she had forgotten how frail Humans were. Her dark skin was cold and in an attempt to warm herself she had flung her arms around her torso. It did not really help. Her feet felt like ice and she was tired. Even though she hadn't been really able to move the last 340 years, it bugged her, how slow these human feet and legs got her forward. And she was small. Everything seemed to be gigantic and she felt tiny. It was not easy adjusting from being several meters tall to being maybe 1.60m. One had to be fair, her past life as a big Oak Tree granted her to overlook nearly everything.

She did not want to be whiny though. It had always been fun to be human, even though they are not the most graceful creatures that roamed the earth.

The clearing she stumbled onto was illuminated in the moonlight and now she could feel her sisters smiling upon her and granting her warmth. Instantly she felt much more comfortable. The whispers of her siblings was dull, but there, like a never ending flood of soothing words and encouraging phrases.

She sat down in the ground and let her mind fully wander. Finally.

She could feel everything. The Ants in the Earth, rummaging and working for their Queen, the annoyed Pine tree to her right, That was upset with a sparrow that tried to grab some of its needles for his best, the fireflies dancing their mating dance somewhere afar and even the power and life of the roots of every plant and tree, pulsing with life and the will to live. Everything was connected. Everything was in Sync. She had always loved bathing in Nature and it's creations. Maybe that's why she chose to be a tree the last 300 or so years.

Sadly she could not listen forever and her focus landed on a Raven, that was watching her intently from a nearby rock. With a flick of her mind, she Raven jumped from the rock and came to her side, nudging her hand.

She opened her eyes, smiled brightly at her feathered Friend and granted him his desire to be petted. Soft feathers under her fingers made her skin tingle. „My dearest friend I must ask of a favour. I need to find a Brother of Reflection, for only they can tell me how this Path shall go. But you are much more suitable for searching than I am in this body. Would you help me?" The Voice in her head echoed and purred "It'll be my greatest pleasure, Sister of the Core." Once again she patted his Head, this time in Gratitude. "Thank you. I will wander south until you return to me. My brothers love to be in the south." The Raven clicked with his beak and jumped on her Arm, his Claws digging into the soft skin and leaving tiny red marks. He nuzzled the soft thick hair, opened his wings and flew into the night.

Longingly she looked after him, until he was not even a dot in the sky.

She had taken the first Step. As soon as she would reach one of her Brothers, they would be able to tell her over what she had to decide. For that's what her Purpose always had been. Deciding Things in and around Nature. And now that she had been reborn in a human Body could only mean one thing: She had to decide over Humankind.