The dark green haired girl sat under a large tree, her back against the rough bark.
The trunk was old, its roots spreading across the forest floor like veins beneath the soil.
Moss grew on the northern side, soft and green, and the canopy above filtered the remaining light into scattered patches.
A squirrel had given her a fruit. It was small and red, no larger than her thumb, and she ate it slowly, juice dripping down her chin.
The flesh was sweet, tangy, and warm from the sun. She chewed and swallowed, then took another bite.
The bird from earlier was gone, but other creatures had gathered around her.
A rabbit rested near her feet, its nose twitching as it sniffed the air.
A fox lay curled a few meters away, its golden fur rising and falling with each breath. A small lizard had crawled onto a nearby root and sat motionless, its eyes fixed on her.
The forest felt almost peaceful. Almost normal.
Then the formation activated.
