Together at The Edge of a Universe

✨Prologue - alone at the edge of a universe humming a tune

Tree P.O.V:

Walking.

Slowly walking down the street. It's something I've gotten used to. There's not many parking spaces around the shop...only on my lucky days. Which aren't as often as of late...

I sigh, stepping into my car. The low hum of the engine begins as I pull out of my parking spot. Shutting my eyes for a second, I think for a few moments. It's late... around 1:00 am I assume. Flipping the radio on after opening my eyes, I begin to drive.

It's quiet...even with the music, it seems so still. So...dead. I've driven these streets thousands of times probably, it never gets any easier. It's just so lonely at night. There are no animals, no people, no ones ever out this late.

It gives it this, creepy abandoned feeling. Sort of...liminal, I suppose.

It's a somber drive around...same shops, plants, little quirks down the streets. Familiarities all around. It's so familiar, yet so...eerie and strange at the same time.

No matter how many times I do this same route, it never stops it from feeling sad and liminal. It's strange, how can something be so familiar yet so foreign at the same time?

The music is just muffled background noise at this point...lost in thought...crossing the forest. The lush greenery seems to engulf any light from inside. It's...strangely calming. Like a big blanket laid over it, absorbing any light that may be unfortunate enough to find it's self in the grasp of the night. It's beautiful in all honesty, I wish I could stop. But I'm far to tired for this-

BAM!

I slam on the breaks, jerking my head out of my thought, attempting to look at the direction sudden sound. I feel as if the ground rumbles in aftershock, shaking me to my core. Gripping the wheel tightly, I roll down my window to track the source of the sound. It seems like it's coming from...the forest.

I park my car, too intrigued to let this mysterious sound go. Stepping out, I grab my phone and turn it on Flashlight mode. I slowly begin my trek through the forest. The cool night air, hitting against my skin. I feel the dirt and gravel kick up against my shoes, clearing a pathway for me. I angle my flashlight towards the trees, watching for any movements.

"...Who's there?" I call into the darkness, wondering what on god's green earth could have made that noise. I pause for a moment, examining the blackening night. For just a moment, I consider turning back, shelve this idea. It's not worth it.

Only for a moment however.

I continue my journey, I'm in to deep to go back. I've made it halfway to the center of the forest I assume, there are no signs of the thing that made the noise. I go with my gut.

Keep going straight.

I soon enter a clearing in the woods. My eyes widen as I believe I have found what I'm searching for. A large pod...of some kind sits in the middle of the clearing. I wearily look around for any signs of life.

Nothing, it's just me and...this...thing? No matter, I'm here so I might as well check it out. Creeping towards the object, circling it, carefully plotting out my next moves. I finally have it in an arms reach, it looks as if it was made of steel. Seemingly smooth and egg shaped, a few gold highlights around it's dark purple appearance.

I feel my curiosity over take me, reaching my hand out to feel the strange vessel. Like I guessed, cool to the touch. Weird...was it the one who had made that strange sound?

Out of nowhere, the ground began to rumble yet again. I yelp as I fall to the ground, desperately trying to grab something to support me. The forest seems to cry out as it shakes, birds screech as deer and fox trample around me.