Among Giant Leaves: Magical Realism

Two women have a beautiful, playful friendship that keeps the world of giant leaves alive. If something comes between them, their jungle dissolves.

Citizens of the village drink a special tea that helps them understand the primacy of the jungle, the intertwined simple, harmonious natural life that should not be destroyed by modern technology and greed. The women serve tea to try to sway Atar, who won his position as head of the council through corruption. Atar still wants to sell out the land to evil Bortez.

They all enter the jungle together.

Will desire come between the women and dissolve the village?

This short story is an example of the Literary genre Magical Realism and it demonstrates all its tropes and philosophies. (I categorize my stories here Paranormal, as that's the closest label offered, but don't expect vampires and zombies.) With Magical Realism, which is a Latin American genre, the miraculous stories of the grandmothers, which were passed down in earnestness through generations, are treated as if they're true. The past harmony with the earth is celebrated but is in danger due to imperialism and power, and there's rarely a rousing ending in which the characters combat that, because that is not the trend in reality.