Under The Oak Tree Ch 5 Novels & Stories

How many times had they put themselves in danger while I was too focused on war plans and elder meetings to notice? I stayed far enough back that they wouldn't hear me. Close enough to intervene if something went wrong. The trees grew thicker. The light grew dimmer. Shadows stretched long and dark across the forest floor. Still, the children kept running. Finally, they stopped. A massive oak tree loomed ahead. Ancient and gnarled. Its roots twisted up from the ground like frozen snakes. Its branches spread wide, blocking out what little remained of the evening sky. Carl and Karin dropped to their knees beneath it.

I got out of bed and texted Aaron to tell him to meet me on the patio. The lightning and dark clouds frightened me. Why hasn't my fear of rain overcome me, even after I've already defeated that monster? Standing on my patio under the dark sky made me so afraid that I decided to go back inside. I'll meet him somewhere else this morning. I don't think it's a good idea to wait for him on the terrace. I turned around to go back to my room. That's when my gaze fell on the oak tree. Thunder and lightning struck the oak tree, revealing a blood-stained face shining beneath it.

she asked for the third time, curiosity evident on her face. “Be patient, my dear,” I replied with a smile. “Just a few more minutes.” “You know I'm not good at being patient.” “Oh, I'm well aware,” I laughed. “Remember when you were waiting for the results of the Elder Council's test? You paced for three hours.” “That's different!” she protested. “That was about our future as—” She stopped as we rounded the last bend and the view spread out before us. A small meadow surrounded by tall trees, with a small river flowing on one side. In the middle of the meadow stood a huge, ancient oak tree—its branches spread wide, creating a perfect natural canopy.

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.”

“He hasn’t released me.” “He will.” The certainty in her tone leaves no room for doubt. “What if he never does?” Her head tilts slightly. “He will.” Silence hums between us. “Where?...Where can i find you?” I ask. The clearing shifts. The trees blur and rearrange. The vision expands outward like a map unfurling. I see forest stretching westward denser, darker. A narrow trail barely visible beneath overgrowth. A river cutting through stone. Then a massive oak tree. Its trunk is split clean down the center, blackened along the jagged seam as if lightning once struck it from sky to root. The top half leans precariously but still lives, branches heavy with leaves.

A moment that was supposed to bring every mother joy filled me with only dread. The frustration was palpable - we were making no progress. We were simply wandering blindly through the maze of trees. Dread settled heavier in my gut with every fruitless step. Finally, as the last rays of half-light faded, Ophelia stopped and turned to us. "Let me try something." I watched apprehensively as she stepped up to a gnarled oak tree and pressed her palms against the bark. Her eyes slipped closed as she began whispering under her breath. Old tongue.

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.

“Glee . . . shit.” Another tremor jolted them, and the centuries-old cottonwood tree—the only thing left out there—twisted and leaned, losing its foothold on the remainder of the crumbling bank. Slipping away. Richard felt something at his elbow. This time it was Owen tugging at him, a clogged warning in his throat. Pulling him back from the decimated park area. Toward the waiting vehicle. “Daddeee . . . ” Katie fretted. Richard took heed and went.

“It’s no problem. I’d like for you to come. I feel like you’re owed something from New Glade, anyway, for getting hurt in my territory.” “Oh, I don’t blame anyone for that. I’m clumsy.” I rise so quickly, I almost knock him in the chin with my forehead, which shows me just how close we were to each other. It was much closer than I realized, and now I’m too warm. Much, much too warm. Damn near tingling. He rises, too, and before I can step past him, his hand is resting on my upper arm. “Oakley,” he says, and my name is like sugar when he says it. “Did something…. You asked if you were alone in the forest that night. I don’t think you were. Do you remember anything from before you ended up in

He muttered and I held Rhea close as she grabbed the envelope from my hand and read through it. I knew I was being annoyingly clingy but I was sending a message. “According to this, we need to find five items. The first one is a carved wooden token and the first clue is that it's next to a huge oak tree” She read out before glancing around then frowned. “What the hell? There are oak trees everywhere," She pointed out. “We just have to keep an eye out for the biggest oak tree and everyone watch their steps. There are traps in here” Mason uttered.