9

No matter how much it may feel like it sometimes, you're not alone. The forest is alive, it's strong, and it's part of you. Somehow, knowing that gives you back some strength of your own.

You feel like your body is crumbling away from you as you press on, calling out for Arctus as you go. There's still no sign of her—but even though you can't help the worry you're feeling, you're certain you know exactly where she is.

It doesn't take you long to find the hemlock tree. When you stop amongst its sturdy roots and crane your head back, you can just about make out the shape of the little wooden tree house hidden away up there. The faint, familiar rush of the nearby river is the last thing that falls into place.

Then, as you stare up at the tree house, you hear the faintest hint of an animal whine from up in the branches.

Hearing it, you let out a long breath—but even though you know she's here, you don't think there's any chance that Arctus will come down on her own. Instead, you'll have to go up.

Thankfully, it doesn't take you long to find the entrance: a hole in the trunk just big enough to crawl through, hidden underneath a large root. Keeping your arms close to your body, you squeeze through the hole until you've left the forest floor altogether and are instead standing inside the tree's hollowed-out trunk. Small flecks of light reach you through little holes disguised as knots in the bark, and thanks to them, you can just about make out the bottom of a steep staircase.

Wasting no time, you start climbing the steps that spiral upwards through the center of the tree. As you move, you breathe in the familiar sweet scent of wood and evergreen needles, letting your fingers brush against the walls you recognize so well. Soon, you can tell you're very high off the ground—and you think you can start to hear a faint noise coming from overhead.

At last, you see light coming in from above. Mounting the last few stairs, you see a door—already half ajar—come into view. For a moment, you hesitate.

"Arctus? It's me—you okay, buddy?"

Putting your hand on the wood, the door swings open—

And you can't quite hold back a gasp.

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