“Cleatus!” Haagut whispered. Haagut looked down at the ring of mushrooms that were keeping him away from waking Cleatus for his watch. “Cleatus!” Haagut whispered louder. Odelia stirred slightly, making Haagut freeze. He huffed. He scooped up a rock and threw it hard up the tree.

The rock smacked Cleatus in the nose. He jumped up and hugged the tree trunk. Fully alert for danger.

“Cleatus!” Haagut whispered up. With a relieved sigh he jumped down from the tree. Landing on all fours.

“Changing watch?” Cleatus asked quietly. Haagut nodded. Cleatus got into his bag and pulled out a small handful of goodberries. “Here, take ‘em”

“Why? Will they go bad by tomorrow?” Haagut asked as he took the berries.

“Yeah actually.” Cleatus said.

“Ah,” Haagut agreed. He shoved them all into his mouth at once and found his bag to sleep. Cleatus took the time to feed the fire before sitting down for his watch. Despite the small fires that had been set early on, there was still enough wood for the fire. As he sat he listened to the ambient noise of the forest. His ear twitched, the woods were far too still. Unnaturally so. He looked up at the Awakened Tree that he’d slept in and the common looking mushrooms that were growing all over it. He hmm’d and scratched at the fur on his chin, then he reached out and picked one of the mushrooms. Nothing happened. He opened the bag where his little forest spirits were resting and placed the mushroom inside. They all took it and chittered happily.

The sun came up and Cleatus started waking up the party. Hurriedly moving them and rushing them to get moving.

“Wha’ss th’ruhhsh?” Odelia crawled onto their hands and knees and then curled back up.

“Today; we reach the Great Grandfather tree.” Cleatus said. “Now hurry, we want to make it there before nightfall.” Odelia nodded against her bedding and began getting up. Shaynen was already up and helping Cleatus bury the firepits; Haagut collected the rats and Odelia got to her feet and crammed her things into her bag.

Cleatus led the party quickly, the travelling ick stayed on the party’s heels. The trees broke and out of them was a line of mushrooms as big as mountains, behind it was a tree that reached beyond the clouds. The bulk of its branches were above the forest canopy and out of sight. The mushroom barrier kept the little city within from being touched by the waves of ick that were washing up against it like ocean waves.

As the party approached the opening to the city they were stopped by two guards, keeping watch over the entrance.

“Halt! None touched by the corruption may pass!” One of the guards commanded. The party paused.

“Now what?” Shaynen whispered.

“You’re the reason we’re here, go on!” Odelia snapped. Shaynen frowned, he looked at the other two party members who both motioned him onward. He sighed tiredly and turned to the guards.

“Hi! Uh, we were.. Or. I.. What even is the corruption?” Shaynen stepped toward the guards. “And is there a way to get rid of it?”

“Do we look like we know what any of that is?” The guard rolled his eyes as he motioned toward the ick.

“How about getting rid of it?” Shaynen asked hopefully.

“You could die,” The guard said plainly. “That normally does it.”

“Cool... '' Shaynen nodded. He turned back to the party. “No one covered in ick enters and the only way to get un-ick’d is to die.”

“Cleatus did.” Odelia motioned to the tabaxi.

“Cool! We just all do what Cleatus did and then we’re good!” Shaynen grinned.

“I don’t think it works that way, kid.” Cleatus said. “See, I was brought to an old oak that died and then I was cleansed.”

“Wait. You! Tall one!” The guard pointed at Cleatus. “What did you just say?”

“An oak tree cleansed the ick from me.” Cleatus repeated louder. The guards looked at each other then whispered intently.

“Wait right here.” The guard said sternly and he left into the elven city.

“Nice!” Shaynen gave Cleatus an enthusiastic thumbs-up. He half-heartedly returned the motion. A few moments later a tall elven woman surrounded by guards arrived. She stepped outside the ring of mushrooms and to the party. Her green eyes looked at every one of the party members, stopping on Cleatus.

“You are the one whose been gifted the heart of the forest?” She asked.

“Uh. Yes. Yes that would be me.” He nodded quickly. She nodded in response.

“I will lead the rest of you to be cleansed.” She said. “No corruption is allowed within the city and if you step out of line you will be shot with no warning.” The guards surrounded Odelia, Shaynen, and Haagut; leading them into the ring of mushrooms. The wall of magic that kept out the corruption became visible as it stopped the three party members. They felt the magic repel them like a magnet. The guards behind them kept pushing them forward and into the wall until they were pushed through and into the city.

Within the city the pressure over the three party members was crushingly heavy. They were barely able to lift their feet to keep up with the guards around them. Heartbeats were pounding in their ears and a coppery taste was filling their mouths. Halfway through the city the guards had to keep the butts of their spears against their backs to keep them moving at a reasonable pace.

In the center of the city was the Great Grandfather tree. Around it flowed a river of the clearest water, so pure it looked like nothing but a current of air. Out from the hut to the side of the tree’s center came an old shaman woman.

“Why is this trash here?” The shaman woman snapped. The party looked at each other then back to the woman with deep frowns.

“This one here was blessed by the heart of the forest.” The guard woman said. “The rest have been brought to be cleansed.” The shaman woman nodded, then stepped a little closer and looked over the three corrupted party members closely.

“I see, and what has brought you here?” The shaman asked. Odelia and Haagut both looked at Shaynen.

“That’s a good question, Shaynen. Why are we here?” Odelia asked. Shaynen dug into his bag and fished out the crumpled letter he’d received all the way back in Loudwater.

“I got a letter!” Shaynen said proudly. Smoothing it out to show the simple writing on the paper,

“It says only Great Grandfather Tree.” The shaman women squinted.

“Yes.” Shaynen said.

“Do you… know who it’s from?” She asked.

“No.” Shaynen didn’t lose any confidence. Even as his party started groaning.

“Are you serious right now?” Cleatus snapped. “You brought us all the way out here for that?”

“Shaynen, I almost died!” Odelia grabbed his shirt and yanked him to her.

“So did I! And a lot of things almost kill you,” Shaynen tried to pull himself free but was shoved away by Odelia.

“I see. Our brothers of the wood have always come to our aid.” The shaman woman said with a nod. She looked at Shaynen and her face fell. “Are you… it?”

“If you mean is he the only one? Yes.” Haagut sighed.

“I suppose you’ll do then.” The shaman woman shook her head. She walked to the large crystal clear river around the tree and picked up a staff. She touched it’s end to the water and peered into it.

“Will the truly corrupted one step toward the water,” The shaman woman said. Odelia and Shaynen both tried to step forward. She pointed at him confused and he shrugged. He walked up to the edge of the river. “Step into the water.”

Shaynen slipped out of his sandals and into the water. It wasn’t cold nor hot. But exactly his temperature, reminded of the pool back home; he walked to the center and got down onto his knees. The water flowing around his chest.

“Ah good, you’re already inundated. As for the rest of you,” The shaman turned to Odelia and Haagut. “No matter how uncomfortable you feel, you are NOT permitted to empty your stomach in the river. In any way.”

“Is that common?” Odelia asked uncomfortably. Whatever the answer, Shaynen didn’t get to hear. The river rushed so loudly it deafened him. Small roots from beneath the water grew up and wrapped around his thighs, holding him steady as a giant branch dipped low from above the canopy’s misty clouds. Shaynen nearly fell as he leaned back to watch the branch bow down over him. It touched the water which made large ripples up and down the water.

He felt searing hot water burning up his spine, the water reached around and submerged him completely. His vision doubled and he felt the water receding. It was like sharp claws that dug under his skin and ripped him apart. It took all the willpower he had to keep his stomach down. He fell forward onto the water, the surface solid enough to lean on. The world started to clear again and a heavy weight he hadn’t realized he’d carried was lifted out of him. He breathed in, unencumbered, for the first time in what felt like years.