The sun filtered gently through the canopy of leaves above, casting dappled shadows across the forest floor. The air was sweet, rich with the scent of blooming flowers, ripe fruits, and earthy moss. It was a place teeming with life—birds chirped melodious songs, while insects hummed their steady rhythms, adding to the peaceful symphony of the forest. Trees of all kinds, with lush green canopies and branches heavy with fruit, filled the vibrant landscape.
Among these trees, nestled high in the boughs of a massive oak, a monkey Tracient stirred. His brown fur blended seamlessly with the tree's bark, his tail dangling lazily from a branch. Trevor Maymum, his orange eyes half-lidded in drowsy contentment, let out a yawn as he stretched. A lock of his hair fell across his face, brushing his brow, and he gave it a quick flick with his hand. His tail twitched as he swung down from his perch, grabbing onto a branch with the ease of someone who spent more time in trees than on the ground.
With a light hop, Trevor dropped down from the oak, landing gracefully on the forest floor below. He ran a hand through his hair and grinned to himself, his eyes alight with mischief. "Today feels like a perfect day for some bananas… and peaches," he mused aloud, rubbing his stomach in anticipation. He knew just where to go—the Ford of Beruna. The trees surrounding the fords were known to bear the best fruit in the area, and it had always been Trevor's favorite spot for foraging.
Whistling a light tune, Trevor set off down a familiar path. His feet barely made a sound as he darted between the trees, his long tail swaying behind him, sometimes curling around low-hanging branches as he passed. Along the way, he encountered several other monkey Tracients, both young and old. He greeted each of them with his characteristic playfulness.
"Morning, Ozzie!" Trevor called out, waving to an elderly Tracient resting under a pear tree.
Ozzie waved back, chuckling softly. "Off to gather those bananas again, eh, Trevor?"
"You know me too well!" Trevor replied with a grin before bounding up a tree to swing from its branches, using his tail for balance as he moved forward with ease. The smell of fresh fruit grew stronger as he approached the ford, filling the air with its sweet fragrance.
As he neared the Ford of Beruna, the landscape opened up, revealing the shimmering surface of the river. Its waters, fed by the mountains, were crystal clear, reflecting the bright blue sky and the trees that lined the banks. The Ford of Beruna had always held a strange allure for Trevor, but he never paid much mind to it—until now.
He swung down from a branch and landed softly near a grove of banana trees. "Ah, there you are," he said to the tree as though it were an old friend. He quickly began to gather a handful of the ripest bananas and peaches he could find, stuffing some into the pouch slung over his shoulder.
As he was about to reach for another branch, a sound interrupted him. It was faint, but unmistakable—a voice, distant yet clear. "Help…"
Trevor froze mid-reach, his ears twitching. He looked around, expecting to see someone nearby. "Hello?" he called, but the forest around him remained still. He scratched his head, wondering if he had imagined it. But just as he turned back to his fruit, the voice came again, this time louder, more urgent.
"Help me…"
Trevor's heart skipped a beat. The voice didn't sound like it was coming from one direction—it seemed to be coming from everywhere at once, as if the very air carried the plea for help. He scanned the area, his playful demeanor quickly replaced by concern.
"Where are you?" he shouted, his eyes darting around. No one answered. The voice echoed in his head, unnerving him.
Suddenly, he remembered the Ford. "The water!" he realized, breaking into a sprint toward the riverbank. "Maybe someone's drowning!" Trevor rushed to the edge of the ford, his feet slipping slightly on the moss-covered rocks as he skidded to a stop at the water's edge.
The river was calm, its surface undisturbed except for the occasional ripple from a passing breeze. Trevor leaned over, looking into the clear waters, searching for any sign of a struggle beneath. For a moment, all he saw was his own reflection staring back at him—his eyes wide with worry. But then, something changed.
His reflection shifted.
In the place of his familiar face, he saw the image of a lion Tracient staring back at him, its eyes filled with sorrow. Trevor gasped, stumbling back in shock. The lion's reflection lingered for only a heartbeat before the water returned to normal. But the moment Trevor caught his breath, something powerful pulled at him from the depths of the ford.
Without warning, an invisible force yanked Trevor forward, his feet slipping as he was dragged into the water. His tail whipped around, trying to grasp a nearby root, but the force was too strong. He plunged beneath the surface, the cold water engulfing him as he fought to swim back to the surface. His arms thrashed, but no matter how hard he struggled, the water seemed to pull him deeper.
Trevor gasped, bubbles escaping from his mouth as he sank farther into the depths. Panic clawed at him as he realized he was powerless to stop it.
The world around him grew darker as he sank deeper, the light from above becoming nothing more than a distant shimmer. He flailed his arms, but it was as if the water itself was conspiring to keep him submerged. His lungs burned as he fought for breath, his vision blurring as the surface seemed farther and farther away. This is it, he thought. I'm done for.
Just as the last of his strength began to ebb away, Trevor heard a loud, piercing crack—the sound of ice shattering somewhere in the distance. The noise jolted him, cutting through his desperation like a sharp blade. He barely had time to process what was happening when he felt powerful arms reach into the water and grab hold of him. With a forceful heave, he was pulled from the depths and dragged onto solid ground.
Trevor coughed violently, sputtering out mouthfuls of water as he lay sprawled on a surface far colder than the warm forest ground. His head spun, his body trembling as he struggled to catch his breath. For a moment, he blacked out, his world fading into a cold, dark void.
When he came to, Trevor blinked against the blinding white that greeted him. Snow. He was lying in the snow, the cold biting against his soaked fur. His breath misted in the frigid air as he slowly pushed himself up onto his elbows, groaning softly as he tried to make sense of where he was.
"This… isn't home," he muttered, shivering as he looked around. Everything was different. The trees were gone, replaced by vast plains of snow, the sky a dark slate gray, heavy with storm clouds. He wiped the wet hair from his face, his eyes wide with disbelief.
A figure stood not far from him, silhouetted against the snowy backdrop. Trevor squinted, focusing on the stranger. A wolf Tracient stood there, his fur a strange combination of deep blue with streaks of yellow that caught the dim light. The wolf's presence seemed almost otherworldly, his gaze fixed on Trevor with quiet intensity.
Trevor staggered to his feet, his legs wobbling as he took in the odd sight. "Who… who are you?" he managed to ask, his voice hoarse from the water still lodged in his throat.
The wolf didn't answer immediately. He stepped closer, his blue eyes locking onto Trevor's, and with a voice calm yet filled with authority, he finally spoke.
"My name is Adam."