Under The Oak Tree Ch 20 Novels & Stories

The path beneath their feet grew uneven, the forest growing thicker and more ancient as they walked, until they arrived at the base of the oldest oak tree in Valenwood. The massive oak towered above them, its gnarled branches stretching out like protective arms, creating a canopy that filtered the moonlight. Caius stopped beneath the tree, his shoulders tense as he exhaled a slow breath. Lira stood beside him, unsure of what to say, the weight of the prophecy hanging between them.

“Alright! Alright! My bad! I know you don’t do your niece! That’s completely incest!” The girl laughed as she received a stern look from Silas. I bowed my head. I just looked at the noisy dry leaves whenever I stepped on them. Do they have a relationship? The girl was just laughing at his irritability. They seemed used to each other. “What tree is this?” I asked while touching the big tree we stopped at. “Oak tree,” the girl replied shortly and stood beside me. We were out of the forest, but this area still seemed to belong to the homeowner. There was not a single person in sight, and only one type of tree was planted. The environment here is pure green—with dark green grass, big oak trees,

Cat's last email replayed over and over in my mind like a sinister song, highlighting the shadows in Lachlan's past that seemed to loom over me. Then, I saw it: a grand oak tree, its gnarled branches stretching skyward, beckoning me closer. I didn't understand what it was doing here on a desert island. And more than that, how did Cat tell me to meet her at an oak tree just yesterday and here was an oak tree. What the fuck was this?

The second the final bell rings, he’s waiting by my locker. Rowan (quiet): “Orchard. Now. Bring the fox if you want. The rest stay topside.” Kayo follows without asking. The world folds. We step out under the cedar tree in the mist-space. Dacia is already there, arms crossed, looking exactly like me at sixteen except for the weight of eight thousand years in her eyes. Rowan bows—actually bows—to her. Rowan: “First Queen.” Dacia (dry): “Still not my title, monk.

Colton looks like he wants to walk into a tree. I shake my head, unable to stop the small smile tugging at my lips. “You two are terrible at lying.” Oakley beams. “Thank you.” “That wasn’t a compliment,” I say. “It felt like one,” he replies. Colton exhales slowly. “Let’s just… move on. The orchard is this way.” Oakley nods quickly. “Yes. Orchard. Trees. Fruit. No mysterious healer prophecies there.” Colton mutters, “Hopefully.”

“It can’t be any other tree than that. Aunty Corvina told me that I couldn’t miss it, and she was right. I did—” He freezes in his spot, staring down at where we left Corvina’s car, as he stops his pointing gesture mid-air. We observe him confused before we follow his gaze to the spot beneath the thick branches of the oak tree. “Where is the car?” he asks lowly, getting my heart to skyrocket in anxiety. “Where is the fucking car?” I blink several times as I think I must be imagining things. The oak tree is still standing there, its branches giving shadows to an now empty spot.

She replied, too tired to ask questions. I headed down to the forest to meet Iditan seated beneath a great oak tree on a patch of green verdant grass, her eyes closed and her body relaxed as she leaned against the tree. I stared at the Oak tree which was the size of a small house, surprised to be seeing it for the first time. Ever since I have learnt to morph and fly I have never passed the way through the forest, choosing to fly over it, but still I should have seen a tree this big from above, or so I thought. I strangely felt like other trees were wary of the oak, as they grew very so far apart from it, leaving a hundreds of feet of wide patch of grass around it.

“Stay still, everyone.” “What is it?” Eve noticed her sudden stop and asked. “I saw something on that tree.” Diana pointed out the uneven, massive old oak tree. “What did you see?"Inquired Eve. “Someone,” she said, seeing the figure, little more than a smudge, wobbling in the distance. She snuffed Eve’s lamp and brightened the area. “What the hell is that?” Impossible. She thought. The bloodbath was all but impassable on a fine day, but with the little old lamp on her hand, to venture across them during such intemperance was madness. But still, the shadow plodded, bowed, and was resolute. Shoving itself into the wind as if into a challenging lover.

“And what does she want?” I look up at the vast branches, at the sea of green fruit swaying gently in the light. “She wants balance again.” Rowan lets out a slow breath. “Then that’s what we’ll give her.” Kevin’s hand finds the small of my back. “One step at a time, little flame.” I nod, still trembling. “One step at a time.” The wind moves through the clearing, carrying the scent of sap and earth. The Mother Tree glows faintly, her sadness still there but quieter now, soothed by the promise of being seen.

Chloe sat at the end, drinking her lemonade like it was something stronger. "To family," Chloe said, raising her glass. "To family," we said. We drank. The sun set. The lights came on. The mosquitoes bit. No one moved. --- After dinner, Rick and Matthew walked to the oak tree. I watched them from the table. Laura watched them too. "They are getting along," she said. "Yes." "That is good." "It is also strange." "Same thing." "No. It is not." She put her hand on mine. "Let them be. They do not need you to watch them."