1 (Prologue) The Red Woods

<p>In the hidden enclave shielded from the clamor of the human world, where the last vestiges of magic clung to the earth, titanic trees rose in stoic defiance. These arboreal giants, guardians of untold wisdom and teeming wildlife, harbored more than just the tangible wonders of nature—they cradled secrets veiled in enchantment.<br/><br/>Descending from one of these colossal sentinels, Auburn Claw, a light brown squirrel, clutched a peculiar arsenal—a sharpened stick secured to its back by a resilient vine. Eyes tightly shut, it navigated the intricate maze of branches, desperately seeking solid ground. As its tiny paws touched the earth, a sigh of relief escaped the creature, only to be followed by a loud proclamation, "I hate heights!"<br/><br/>A resonant voice, belonging to a robust grey squirrel, echoed from beneath a mammoth root, "You should be accustomed to ground patrol by now. It's been three sunrises since you joined me."<br/><br/>"Three sunrises too many! Our homes are on colossal trees," Auburn Claw retorted, defending the apprehension that clung to him.<br/><br/>Amused, the elder squirrel teased, "Ah, Auburn Claw, a red wood tribesman afraid of heights. It's an unusual sight."<br/><br/>"I prefer Light Fur," Auburn Claw muttered, a habitual gesture of his hand readjusting the weapon on his back. "Do we really need to keep patrolling? We're at peace with other tribes and creatures, aren't we?"<br/><br/>"Peace treaties are fragile; history proves that. Peace doesn't always last," the elder squirrel replied, his grey fur catching the dappled sunlight as he led Auburn Claw through a forest clearing adorned with massive roots. The labyrinthine network of roots concealed abandoned structures, serving as makeshift way stations during their patrols.<br/><br/>After retrieving satchels and spears hidden among the roots, Auburn Claw's stomach growled audibly. "Good thing we stashed food here. I forgot to eat before leaving."<br/><br/>As they left the decaying huts, Auburn Claw, momentarily distracted from his hunger, suggested, "Maybe we can share lunch with the lizard patrol later?" His smile, however, evaporated as the looming lookout post came into view.<br/><br/>"Stay here," the elder squirrel hissed, his keen senses alert to danger. Approaching the scene with caution, he surveyed the lifeless bodies of the lizard patrol strewn across the ground. Tails severed, the reptiles appeared to have met their fate in desperate flight.<br/><br/>Auburn Claw, his gaze traversing the unsettling tableau, was abruptly halted by the elder's warning, mere moments before the ominous sound of beating wings reached his ears. "Look out!"<br/><br/>Sharp claws sliced through the air as Auburn Claw instinctively ducked, narrowly evading the talons. Blood, like a crimson offering, seeped into the earth as the elder squirrel rushed to his side. In the moments before losing consciousness, Auburn Claw managed a fleeting glance at the elder's face—a countenance etched with fear, loss, and a rare panic that shattered the veneer of stoicism.<br/><br/>The forest, once a tranquil haven, now hummed with an ominous energy. The air crackled with an unsettling tension as the elder squirrel, burdened with the unconscious Auburn Claw, cast anxious glances into the darkening shadows. The harmonious balance of the secluded realm seemed to teeter on the precipice of upheaval, and the answers to the mysteries veiled within the ancient trees remained elusive, entangled in the enigma of their own secrets.</p>

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