Shadows of the Redwood - By Gillian Summers Page 0,21

the humans will see you?” Norzan asked.

“It is a customary meeting place for us, ever since the town was founded. We are so inspired by William Shakespeare, who the townspeople revere. We’re redwoods, after all, not like the other trees. Since the coming of the humans, they have performed the Shakespeare plays, and we have learned much about humans from them. Now they flourish, and we enjoy watching the performances.”

“You leave your tree body”—Keelie couldn’t think of what else to call it—“as you have tonight, and then you float into town and watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”

“The humans do not see us. We take the form of fog, and because of the ocean mist, we blend in perfectly. “

“Aren’t you afraid of the humans discovering your presence?” Norzan asked.

Bella shook her head. “You know the humans would panic if we took our tree forms. Besides, the fog adds a certain ambiance to the mood of the play. The Los Angeles Times’ arts critic always complains about it being foggy when he attends. Of course, he seems like an unhappy man and a soul who likes to complain about everything. Master Oswald said so once.”

Keelie liked Bella Matera. She seemed like a fun but very smart tree. Who knew? Trees liked Shakespeare.

“Now we must go to the Globe. Bloodroot has called a meeting.”

Bloodroot? That was definitely not a tree name. Keelie couldn’t shake the sound of the Red Cap’s laughter from her thoughts.

“Bloodroot the tree called a meeting. Huh.” This was a different kind of place. “The trees in the Dread Forest don’t call meetings.”

“No, but they attend meetings,” Grandmother said. She didn’t seem to think there was anything weird about this place.

Bella Matera floated over to Grandmother. She looked down at Keelie, and her ghostly, sticklike fingers touched Keelie’s face.

The child is tired. Let her sleep.

Keelie felt warmth, then cold, eddy through her. It was sort of like being filled with hot cocoa, then having a woodsy whip cream sprayed on top. She stared at the tree spirit. Awe and a deep respect for this Ancient One filled her. The tree smiled.

Bella Matera held out her branchlike hand and blew. “May the stars send you dreams and let you hear the songs of the spheres circling the sun.”

Keelie could hear a soft melody forming in the back of her mind, along with images of shooting stars and planets swirling around one another like in a planetarium show. It was so lovely; the musical harmonies touched the core of her magic, which sparked, then glowed like a banked fire. Her energy faded, and suddenly she simply wanted to go to sleep.

“I am tired.” She tried to suppress a yawn.

Bella Matera began to dissolve into a gaseous mist. The mist floated toward the open window, and a disembodied voice floated in the room. ’Til tomorrow, sleep dreaming of the stars.

Drowsy, Keelie thought of Grandmother and Norzan meeting with Bloodroot without her. Did Bella Matera want to keep her away? She wanted to see the forest at night. She fought to wake up, feeling the tree’s magic around her like a comfy spiderweb. The lovely music faded a little, but held.

“So powerful,” she murmured.

Then burning pain slashed across her ankle, and the dreamy moment vanished—leaving only the drone of Knot’s purr.

The last sleepy bits of the tree’s song lingered as Keelie sat up, screaming. Her ankle bled from two long furrows cut deeply into her skin.

Knot licked his toes delicately, claws out, watching her.

“Thanks, Freddy Krueger Cat. I’ll let you know if I need stitches.” Keelie stood up. “I’m going to have to buy a whole emergency kit.”

“You shook away the tree’s blessing.” Grandmother’s mouth turned down.

Keelie grinned. “Don’t want to miss the big tree meeting. Are you ready to go?” She held back a yawn and limped toward Sariela, who was holding out a wet washcloth.

Kalix frowned, looking at Knot. “The cat takes his role as guardian too far.”

“He is dedicated,” Grandmother agreed.

Fifteen minutes later, the group was gathered at the base of their tree, Wena, the glow of the sap travel fading. Wena’s spirit form stood to one side, watching them but not coming close. The tree’s roots were large and went deep into the ground.

Keelie felt the other trees of the forest pressing in and around her, seeking entrance into her mind. A thrum of deep magic surged under her feet, the energy of the Earth. She touched the rose quartz at her belt, using Earth magic to give herself