The Singing Trees Novels & Stories

The mood was lighter now, as if the forest itself was lifting our spirits. But for me, the weight of what was ahead only grew heavier. I knew this path like the back of my hand. The trees, the bend in the road, the distant sound of a waterfall—it all felt so familiar, so close to home. My heart ached with each step. As we walked, someone started singing—a soft, hopeful tune that spread like wildfire. Soon, the entire group joined in, their voices echoing through the trees. I didn’t sing, but I listened, letting their hope wrap around me like a warm blanket.

Draven plants his beside mine, so close our roots will tangle. On Rowan’s tablet, the green map is no longer a few bright points. It is a net, spreading. Not covering America. Becoming it. Hope chimes once, clear and high, and across the continent, from the Everglades to the Adirondacks, from Rainier to D.C., a hundred young Trees chime back. The accord holds. For tonight, that is enough.

“Do you hear that?” Dalton looks beyond her, toward the endless stretch of dark trees disappearing into the horizon. “I do.” Her eyes open. “They’re singing again.” There is wonder in her voice. Pure wonder. “It’s mesmerizing.” Dalton says nothing. Because beautiful isn’t the word he would have chosen. The forest’s song was ancient. It was a warning, a prayer—a cry for help. But to Maxine, it is simply beautiful. “It’s like…” She laughs softly. “I don’t even know how to explain it.” She leans further out the window. “It sounds like hundreds of instruments playing together.”

“What?” “She’s singing,” Rowan whispered. “Elara’s singing.” We all fell quiet. A faint hum floated through the air. A lullaby. Broken, soft, the kind of song a child sings to remember home. It was coming from the Bone Tree. I stepped forward, holding Elara tighter. The wind surged, and the symbols on the bark glowed gold for a breath, then dimmed. “Put her down,” Lyra said. “On the roots. Gently.”

"They've composed a hymn for you. Let me sing it." The trees *scream*. --- **The Hymn** It's not sound-it's a vacuum. The hymn devours light, breath, thought. Eden collapses, clawing at his throat as the void scars rupture, leaking starlight. The forest writhes, roots spearing toward him, hungry. The storm thrashes, but the hymn leashes it, choking its fury. The woman-the *echo*-grins with my teeth. "The Choir wants the boy. His scars are... *delicious*."

"Stay close. Don't talk to anyone unless I say so. And whatever you do, don't look desperate. Desperate teams get used as bait." "How do we not look desperate when we literally are desperate?" I asked. "Fake it till you make it, newbie." We filed off the bus into what looked like a massive forest. The trees were enormous, a hundred feet tall with bark that shimmered like oil slicks. The ground was covered in moss that glowed faintly, providing just enough light to see by. In the distance, I could hear water running. A river, maybe. Or a waterfall. And singing. Faint, beautiful singing that made my skin crawl.

Birds sing in the trees loudly, and the music of locusts and cicadas rings in my ears. "This is beautiful!" I cry. He smiles a slight smile, the corner of his mouth peaking up at the end. "This is my secret place in the woods," he says. "I found it and I claimed it. See the trees?" I look around at some of the trees by the waterfall. They had claw marks on them as well as a bit of animal blood splattered on them.

[I'm coming, lover] Leonardo whispered, and as he let Thrift lead them towards the mountain, fire trails lined their way as they ran. *****

Sarah then started singing the song again, Oh, ancient trees, reaching for the sky, Whispering secrets as the wind blows by. Your roots run deep, your branches spread wide, Guardians of wisdom, standing side by side. I joined her and we sang together while flapping upside down in the stream, our naked bodies being illuminated by the sunlight. Oh, guardians of the ancient trees, Protectors of all that nature sees. With gradient symbols, their message shows, Balancing harmony as- "Can you guys be fast? We don't have all day?!" Theo's voice came from afar.

Sarah then started singing the song again, Oh, ancient trees, reaching for the sky, Whispering secrets as the wind blows by. Your roots run deep, your branches spread wide, Guardians of wisdom, standing side by side. I joined her and we sang together while flapping upside down in the stream, our naked bodies being illuminated by the sunlight. Oh, guardians of the ancient trees, Protectors of all that nature sees. With gradient symbols, their message shows, Balancing harmony as- "Can you guys be fast? We don't have all day?!" Theo's voice came from afar.