02/14/2026
It was a quiet afternoon, the trees stood tall and still.
The brook which ran in the middle of the woods trickled softly throughout the forest floors, hidden by lush greenery. The vibrant colors of greens that belonged to the Ferns, the adventurous and playful Ivy, the mosses and Lace Lichens.
If you were to stop and listen, you could hear little birds hopping along the branches, with a sweet chirp here and another there.
As the clouds started quickly coming in, turning darker and darker, a swift breeze swept through the forest, the wind blowing through the leaves encouraging them to sway and dance.
The first drop of rain fell, this drop was unlike any of the others that would follow, this one held just a little magic within it.
As it fell, it fell upon a lone Amanita mushroom.
What happened next was so special, never had anything like this happened in any forest before.
The animals came close, feeling something different in the air, curious, then-all living things went silent.
A beautiful warm light of a deep glistening yellow hovering over the lone mushroom, the animals stood back giving it space.
Moments passed quickly and the lone Amanita grew and then it grew into a beautiful young woman wearing her cap.
She looked around, wonder filling her eyes, this feeling of fulfillment, filling her soul.
She breathed in the air, thinking to herself how it was the most beautiful thing she had ever smelled.
Looking down towards the ground, she spotted something that intrigued her, she gracefully bent down picking it up, now holding the most beautiful piece of the forest in her arms, cradling it like it as though it was the most precious thing in the world, it was to her.
As she held it, the sweetest little butterflies came fluttering near her, proudly showing off their lovely colors.
Soon after a very curious little Western Bluebird came close to her, looking at her in curiosity, intrigued and feeling safe, he quickly began to build a nest close to her, while then still, he would soon to be admiring all the beauty around them, singing with glee, the sweetest noise she would ever hear.
She realized that this feeling she had, the warmth in her soul, this newfound sense of Joy and being alive, it was a feeling of connection, connection to the forest and all things around her, the tall Evergreen trees, the Oaks, the Willows and all their mystery.
It was all the little mushrooms and all the living things within this magical place. It was the sound of the babbling brook that calmed her, and the sunshine that is now peeking through the trees making her feel warm and safe.
Smiling, she realizes that this is right where she's meant to be.
-Inspired by my Emma's beautiful home-crafted Amanita cap for Halloween, I felt inspired to do a piece, also intertwining my love for the woods and all the beautiful and fascinating things in it.