The tree's crown emitted a blinding light that blinked at the strange sound of thumping heartbeats, and when Ryley followed the bulky root underneath his feet, he could see a stream of luminous water flowing inside.
'What kind of apple tree is this?' He was perplexed as to why the tree's thumping pulse seemed to be in sync with his heartbeat.
Curiosity flooded his chest soon enough, but just as he crouched with the tip of his finger about to touch the root's transparent surface, a shrill bird cry came from above, prompting Ryley turn his gaze to the sky.
A peregrine falcon circled the sky it reigned, looking just as majestic as the phoenix he once saw in his dream. And when the blond subconsciously extended his hand forward, the bird flew at full speed towards him, piercing the air like a live bullet before it landed on the ground like a clump of burning meteor.
