King Me

Yancey Clairvo

Yancey didn't know what to make of the talking tree, even less so of its ridiculous explanation of her location, "No, I've been confused about plenty of things today, but not about the fact that this isn't earth."

"So you're an expert upon all things earth?" The tree queried.

Yancey scrunched her face, "No, but I'm not so completely unaware of things that I'd mistake another planet as different as this one for it."

The tree's trunk bubbled, humming over the information, "Well, at the very least, human, you've no proof that it's so far as you think,"

"Yeah, I guess, but so what? What's the point of this line of questioning?"

She could practically feel the tree leering at her, "I am but curious, little creature! When you sit in one spot for 10,000 years, you'll start to ask questions too, for if you cannot go, you must talk."

Yancey's mouth dropped, "10 Millenium! That's older then the recorded history of humanity! How can you be so old, yet so unwise?"

"Unwise?! OLD?!" The tree scrapped, pulling her in closer to its trunk upon the branch that cradled her, "I am quite young, thank you! True, I may be oldest amongst my nursery mates, but if you knew of the vast Erundion's upon the far side of the planet, you would recognize my vigorous youth!"

Yancey was at a loss. She wasn't sure if the tree was allowed to hurt her, but as its branch shook back and forth, she began to think it could. The tree eventually slowed its swaying/shaking, lofting Yancey pleasantly through the air. Now it was... laughing? "Apologies, little one, I could not help myself. I do have much to learn, but I am amongst the oldest of my kind."

Yancey staired upon it in a stupor, "What is this, some sort of joke for you?"

"No, my intent was to make a point. Consider what you've undergone since your arrival, and perhaps the mystery may reveal itself too you."

And she did. Probably far longer, and harder than she should have, considering she was exhausted, at a loss for an explanation. "I don't get it. Can you either tell me and let me be on my way, or just... let me be on my way?"

The tree laughed, "Apologies, again, little one. I meant only to emphasize that things should not be taken exactly as they first appear."

Yancey's face dulled, "Ok, I still don't get it,"

"That is because the deepest concepts are the ones we must truly analyze."

"Ok, noted. Can you lower me down please?" Yancey asked, and the tree's limb pulled back down towards the ground. She stepped off, feeling emberessed that she'd cried infront of it, even if it was a wacky old tree.

"Ponder my words over. Perhaps you will find truth in them," The tree barked, and Yancey stepped away.

"Maybe. Thanks,"

"Oh, and one more thing. Just a tad of advice, really," it called to her as she headed back towards the camp, "give the thinking water a visit,"

Thinking water? What is with this tree? Is it using some foreign slang to tell me to drink some liquor?

"Oh, no, it is quite literally as it sounds." The tree laughed, confusing Yancey for a moment until it continued, "It is not liquor. It is literally water that will transform depending on what you're thinking about. Some things require deciphering, and some require nothing but basic words to convey,"

"Are you in my head?! I didn't give you permission to do that!" Yancey spat, and headed off into the woods. She considered heading back to camp, but her instincts told her to keep going for now. And so she did. Further and further into the darkness, she went, keeping an eye on landmarks to find her way back, using her little metal device as a light. She came across a stream of water that flowed through the air, snaking between trees in either direction as far as she could see. I wonder if this is that thinking water.