Jessamyn reached out, her fingers brushing against the rough yet strangely comforting surface of the tree. The bark, though weathered and gnarled, carried a warmth that belied its age.
As her fingers traced the intricate patterns, a sudden zip of shock sparked at the tip of her finger, startling her. The sensation sent a shiver up her spine.
For a fleeting moment, her vision blurred and then sharpened, and she saw the eyes of the woman in the tree open. They were luminous, ancient, and filled with a depth of emotion that spoke of eons past.
Jessamyn's heart raced, and she stumbled back, her breath hitching in her throat. The fleeting image vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her in stunned silence.
"Did you see that?" she asked the wolf, her voice a whisper of awe and fear. She walked away from the tree, rubbing her finger that still tingled with a lingering pain, akin to frostbite.
