Autumn deepened, and temperatures began to drop continuously while daylight decreased day by day. The trees in the forest had almost all shed their green, appearing a dull yellow from afar, like an age-old photograph.
At the same time, leaves began to fall in large numbers, covering the forest floor and creating a golden road that was breathtakingly beautiful and mesmerizing.
Pandora often sat or stood on a small hill, expressionlessly staring at the forest for long stretches of time, lost in thought.
Richard did not lose himself in it like Pandora. He was very aware that all seemingly beautiful scenes were merely basic physiological changes. For instance, changes in temperature and light inhibited chlorophyll synthesis in the leaves, reducing chlorophyll levels while increasing levels of xanthophyll and carotene, turning them yellow. Additionally, an increase in the plant hormones abscisic acid and ethylene led to leaf fall.
