breathingtreetalloneoperatorslenderone.
you are not mine. to have.
you are. enemy.
you always were.
i wish it had. been different.
i wish it had not. ended in war. in so many. on both sides dead.
in the children. deaddeaddeaddeadslaughteredallslaughtered.
but i will not. cry. for you.
when gone. i still. am here.
do not forget. OuO
ritual.
ashtree ashtree. why so ungrateful?
it is because of me. you still have. your soullifeselfspirit.
i would always have. let you have them. had you trusted me. you would not have suffered.
you only made it. more painful. by struggling.
(iamsorry)
i took. him deep into forest. into nightdarkshadows. where there is. no lightjoyhappiness.
it rained. that evening.
the ritual began. with what few servants. i had left.
they bound him. to a tree. he protested at first. panicked. screamed. cried.
my branches. brushed away his tears.
why did? he cry? he was safesafesafesafesafe.
(iwillkeephimsafe.)
i whispered. to him. the wordswordswordswordswords. meant for him.
the words. only he would. understand.
and he listened.
(openmindopendooropenwindow.)
i offered him. tearsbloodsapvitae. but he would not drink.
instead. he bit. me.
fortuitous. OuO
the tearsbloodsapvitae. leaked into his mouth. it was not much. a few drops. but enough.
i had not intended to. take his mind in full.
(suchiswhatthebreathingtreedoesiamnothe.)
he came around. to me soon enough.
he is now called char.
and he is mine.
it is because of me. you still have. your soullifeselfspirit.
i would always have. let you have them. had you trusted me. you would not have suffered.
you only made it. more painful. by struggling.
(iamsorry)
i took. him deep into forest. into nightdarkshadows. where there is. no lightjoyhappiness.
it rained. that evening.
the ritual began. with what few servants. i had left.
they bound him. to a tree. he protested at first. panicked. screamed. cried.
my branches. brushed away his tears.
why did? he cry? he was safesafesafesafesafe.
(iwillkeephimsafe.)
i whispered. to him. the wordswordswordswordswords. meant for him.
the words. only he would. understand.
and he listened.
(openmindopendooropenwindow.)
i offered him. tearsbloodsapvitae. but he would not drink.
instead. he bit. me.
fortuitous. OuO
the tearsbloodsapvitae. leaked into his mouth. it was not much. a few drops. but enough.
i had not intended to. take his mind in full.
(suchiswhatthebreathingtreedoesiamnothe.)
he came around. to me soon enough.
he is now called char.
and he is mine.
OuO
ash. is with me.
he could not run. for long.
starlingtiredstarling. caught him trying. to escape the town.
he stood. no chance. my children. are very strong.
and now he is with me. pleading. crying. from his cage of roots.
(minemineminemineminealwaysmine.)
will serve. me very well.
he could not run. for long.
starlingtiredstarling. caught him trying. to escape the town.
he stood. no chance. my children. are very strong.
and now he is with me. pleading. crying. from his cage of roots.
(minemineminemineminealwaysmine.)
will serve. me very well.
drawtheblinds
i found him.
fightinghimfightinghimfightinghimfightinghimfightinghim.
was not easy.
my branches his branches broken.
so many. lost. either side. the dead lay scattered.
ashtree ran. thank all. that he ran. or he would also have died.
(iweepiweepiweepiweepiweepiweepforthethought.)
i had him pinned. the breathing tree. we had ourselves. pinned. branches through branches through bark.
ibledhedidnothedoesnotbleed.
but his breathing. was labored. from painpainpainpainpain.
(he was very very weakened so weakened as was i)
eyeless gaze locked. with my own.
(amongst the dead
no silence broken
no words were said
no whispers spoken)
we stayed like that. for a while. as we had before. when he tortured me with only. his sight.
(iwasalwayshisfavoritetotwist.)
he flailed. in pain. sight never. left mine. it was pitiful.
(iwept.)
i could not kill him.
i could have. easily. but i did not. i could have made. him suffer. in his last breaths.
but i did not.
and neither did he. kill me. despite having ample opportunity to.
i understand it now.
it was never. about ashtree. it was always. about me. about his own. failings to contain me.
he needed. to prove he still had power. over me. despite him having. so much over everything else.
he needed. to prove himself. able to control. what had once found weakness. in him.
(butdespiteallhiseffortshestillcouldnotkillitburyitsmotheritmurderit.)
he understands it now. iamnothisneverneverneveragain. and i am not to be attacked againagainagain.
we each let. the other go.
that was. 1one week ago. i have not. seen him since.
has he left? me alone for now?
whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy? would he?
(iaskthebranchesoverhead:dotreeshavesoulsorarewedead?)
fightinghimfightinghimfightinghimfightinghimfightinghim.
was not easy.
my branches his branches broken.
so many. lost. either side. the dead lay scattered.
ashtree ran. thank all. that he ran. or he would also have died.
(iweepiweepiweepiweepiweepiweepforthethought.)
i had him pinned. the breathing tree. we had ourselves. pinned. branches through branches through bark.
ibledhedidnothedoesnotbleed.
but his breathing. was labored. from painpainpainpainpain.
(he was very very weakened so weakened as was i)
eyeless gaze locked. with my own.
(amongst the dead
no silence broken
no words were said
no whispers spoken)
we stayed like that. for a while. as we had before. when he tortured me with only. his sight.
(iwasalwayshisfavoritetotwist.)
he flailed. in pain. sight never. left mine. it was pitiful.
(iwept.)
i could not kill him.
i could have. easily. but i did not. i could have made. him suffer. in his last breaths.
but i did not.
and neither did he. kill me. despite having ample opportunity to.
i understand it now.
it was never. about ashtree. it was always. about me. about his own. failings to contain me.
he needed. to prove he still had power. over me. despite him having. so much over everything else.
he needed. to prove himself. able to control. what had once found weakness. in him.
(butdespiteallhiseffortshestillcouldnotkillitburyitsmotheritmurderit.)
he understands it now. iamnothisneverneverneveragain. and i am not to be attacked againagainagain.
we each let. the other go.
that was. 1one week ago. i have not. seen him since.
has he left? me alone for now?
whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy? would he?
(iaskthebranchesoverhead:dotreeshavesoulsorarewedead?)
saveyou.
mychildrenhetookashdeaddeaddeaddeaddeadremnantisdeadiweep.
ashtreeiwillsaveyousaveyousaveyou.
ifitisthelastthing. ido.
ashtreeiwillsaveyousaveyousaveyou.
ifitisthelastthing. ido.
observeobserveobserveobserveobserveobserveobserveobserveobserveobserveobserveobserve
ashtree. i see you wandering.
(iwanderthroughthelovelywoodsiwanderthroughthewoods...)
your path. is being twisted.
back to him.
back to me.
whowillwinwhowillwinmustbememememememememustbe.
do you enjoy? tug of war?
(theforestclosesinonyouslowlyslowlyslowlyslowlyslowly...)
(iwanderthroughthelovelywoodsiwanderthroughthewoods...)
your path. is being twisted.
back to him.
back to me.
whowillwinwhowillwinmustbememememememememustbe.
do you enjoy? tug of war?
(theforestclosesinonyouslowlyslowlyslowlyslowlyslowly...)
ashashashashashashashashashashashashashashashashashashashashash
do you know? why i destroyed? the humans?
because he would have. used them. against you.
because they are not. to be trusted.
because they tried. to stop me from taking. their children.
(thecrusadeofchildren)
they were unnecessary. this town belongs mememememememememe. now.
i have 20twenty remaining. i do not know. how many. he has. i can find more. manymanymanymanymanymanymoremoremore.
i am nearly. recovered.
you cannot run. from me. my children guard. the exits.
you will stay. stay. stay stay stay staystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystay
because he would have. used them. against you.
because they are not. to be trusted.
because they tried. to stop me from taking. their children.
(thecrusadeofchildren)
they were unnecessary. this town belongs mememememememememe. now.
i have 20twenty remaining. i do not know. how many. he has. i can find more. manymanymanymanymanymanymoremoremore.
i am nearly. recovered.
you cannot run. from me. my children guard. the exits.
you will stay. stay. stay stay stay staystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystay
tired. starling.
starling came. to me tonight.
she saw ash running. from the fleshangel.
he ran. into the schoolhouse. now empty.
starling said. it hovered. humming its hymns. as it moved around. the building. screeching in anguish.
it could not find him.
(helivedhowhowhowhowhow?)
impressive. he will be a strong. strong asset to my cause.
goodhumanstronghumanyesverygood.
but the shadows. run. from themselves.
ashtree you cannot escape this town you will not hide from me forever. i have marked you so has he.
but i am far faster. than he is.
in fact. i can see you. right now. OuO
she saw ash running. from the fleshangel.
he ran. into the schoolhouse. now empty.
starling said. it hovered. humming its hymns. as it moved around. the building. screeching in anguish.
it could not find him.
(helivedhowhowhowhowhow?)
impressive. he will be a strong. strong asset to my cause.
goodhumanstronghumanyesverygood.
but the shadows. run. from themselves.
ashtree you cannot escape this town you will not hide from me forever. i have marked you so has he.
but i am far faster. than he is.
in fact. i can see you. right now. OuO
weepforthecasualties.
weep for them all.
his.
mine.
all were prisoners.
so many dead.
i am injured. he gouged at. my chest. trying to remove. my heart.
just so he could have it. one more time. have what he lost.
but he is not. unscathed either. he may not bleed. but he does feel pain.
(toresomeofhismanylimbsawayslashedhimsodeeplyiwatchedhimshudder.)
i am bleeding. tearsbloodsapvitae. must rest. for now.
have found. a haven of trees. many trees.
my children. will guard me. i will recover. soon.
and then. then ashtreetreetree. will be mine.
his.
mine.
all were prisoners.
so many dead.
i am injured. he gouged at. my chest. trying to remove. my heart.
just so he could have it. one more time. have what he lost.
but he is not. unscathed either. he may not bleed. but he does feel pain.
(toresomeofhismanylimbsawayslashedhimsodeeplyiwatchedhimshudder.)
i am bleeding. tearsbloodsapvitae. must rest. for now.
have found. a haven of trees. many trees.
my children. will guard me. i will recover. soon.
and then. then ashtreetreetree. will be mine.
your time. is now.
my children. amass.
gatherroundmetrustnotthebreathingtree.
protect. our forest. from him.
(angryangryangryangryangrysoveryangrywillkillmaimgoredestroyrendtearripthrash)
we are few. but stronger. than he thinks.
(iwilltakemyashtreebackmychildminemineminemineminemineMINEMINEMINEMINEMINE)
i will find. you ash. i will bring you back. from him.
(youstrayedtohimitoldyounottostrayWHYDIDYOUSTRAY)
fights. battles. have begun.
revenge will surely come.
gatherroundmetrustnotthebreathingtree.
protect. our forest. from him.
(angryangryangryangryangrysoveryangrywillkillmaimgoredestroyrendtearripthrash)
we are few. but stronger. than he thinks.
(iwilltakemyashtreebackmychildminemineminemineminemineMINEMINEMINEMINEMINE)
i will find. you ash. i will bring you back. from him.
(youstrayedtohimitoldyounottostrayWHYDIDYOUSTRAY)
fights. battles. have begun.
revenge will surely come.
manymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymanymany
my branches take themthemthemthemthemthemthemthemthem.
take them all. will not suffer.
(iamsorryitookyourchildrensosorrysorrysorrysorry.)
they are safer. with me. cannot be taken. by him.
cannot afford. to lose what little. i have.
their numbers. have been called.
take them all. will not suffer.
(iamsorryitookyourchildrensosorrysorrysorrysorry.)
they are safer. with me. cannot be taken. by him.
cannot afford. to lose what little. i have.
their numbers. have been called.
trouble. with the maples.
forgive me. i have sinned.
i did not tell. the whole truth. last time. there is more. after he arrived. to take ash from me.
(buthewillnothavehimnownonononoashalreadybelongstomemememememememe.)
ash. could not have heard. our speech. trees do not. speak very loudly.
we did not. let each other. out of our eyeless lines. of sight. to do so. would be a fatal mistake.
on either of our parts.
redtieblack. he wanted to trade. with me. ash. for whatever i wanted. he would have taken. from me. when i have so little already.
(quiteconvincedhe'srightrightrightrightright.)
i declined. denied.
(thebranchesrustledonottrusthimnevertrusthimhebetrays.)
blacktiered. he berated me. i taunted back. useless breathing tree. OuO
i left. so did he. i do not know why. he chose not to follow me. i was injured. weak. he could have. killed me himself. after i destroyed. his servants.
so why didn't he? do so? why is ash? so important to him? when he can take whomever he wants?
even trees do not. have every answer.
the branches quiver.
i did not tell. the whole truth. last time. there is more. after he arrived. to take ash from me.
(buthewillnothavehimnownonononoashalreadybelongstomemememememememe.)
ash. could not have heard. our speech. trees do not. speak very loudly.
we did not. let each other. out of our eyeless lines. of sight. to do so. would be a fatal mistake.
on either of our parts.
redtieblack. he wanted to trade. with me. ash. for whatever i wanted. he would have taken. from me. when i have so little already.
(quiteconvincedhe'srightrightrightrightright.)
i declined. denied.
(thebranchesrustledonottrusthimnevertrusthimhebetrays.)
blacktiered. he berated me. i taunted back. useless breathing tree. OuO
i left. so did he. i do not know why. he chose not to follow me. i was injured. weak. he could have. killed me himself. after i destroyed. his servants.
so why didn't he? do so? why is ash? so important to him? when he can take whomever he wants?
even trees do not. have every answer.
the branches quiver.
howmuchisthatdoggieinthewindow?
tail. between. his legs. OuO
the dogskull is not deaddeaddeaddeaddead. only weakened. tore his flesh. branchessosharpyesveryverysharpsharpsharp. piercerendtearcutdestroymaimgore.
i am injured. i bleed. i weep.
he came. after the battle. the breathing tree.
(ofcoursehewouldcomewheniaminjuredofcoursehewouldtotauntmeso)
told me. i am weak. i am foolish.
his branches. extended for me. i felt rage. in his eyeless gaze.
he sent. his servantsproxiesslaves. to kill me.
i am very weak now i must rest. but 8eight of his servants. are dead.
he understands. the gravity now. my branches are broken my bark rent i must heal.
(sunlightonmybranchesfeelsgoodyesveryverygood)
i will not. leave ash alone. again. foolishwillowfoolishveryveryfoolish. ofyou.
weep for poor. decisions.
i saved him. why does he still? run from me?
the dogskull is not deaddeaddeaddeaddead. only weakened. tore his flesh. branchessosharpyesveryverysharpsharpsharp. piercerendtearcutdestroymaimgore.
i am injured. i bleed. i weep.
he came. after the battle. the breathing tree.
(ofcoursehewouldcomewheniaminjuredofcoursehewouldtotauntmeso)
told me. i am weak. i am foolish.
his branches. extended for me. i felt rage. in his eyeless gaze.
he sent. his servantsproxiesslaves. to kill me.
i am very weak now i must rest. but 8eight of his servants. are dead.
he understands. the gravity now. my branches are broken my bark rent i must heal.
(sunlightonmybranchesfeelsgoodyesveryverygood)
i will not. leave ash alone. again. foolishwillowfoolishveryveryfoolish. ofyou.
weep for poor. decisions.
i saved him. why does he still? run from me?
bad.dog.
the dogskull. attacked. the ashtree today. no doubt. on his behalf.
he thought. he could attack. ashashashtreetreetree. but i was waiting outside the house.
the dogskull. it was peering in. his windows. i heard. him scream.
it was bashing. down. his windows. cracking them. it wanted to rend. my ashtree. to ribbons.
(nononononononodogdogdogdogdogdogskullskullskullskullskullskull.)
bad. dog. OnO
my branches. pierced its ribcage. tore its black fabric. threw it into the trees. shattered its legs.
thisisyouronlywarningdogskullstayawayfrommytargets.
ashtreewillsipofmytearsbloodsapvitaebeforeheservesyouorthebreathingtreeheismineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemine.
he thought. he could attack. ashashashtreetreetree. but i was waiting outside the house.
the dogskull. it was peering in. his windows. i heard. him scream.
it was bashing. down. his windows. cracking them. it wanted to rend. my ashtree. to ribbons.
(nononononononodogdogdogdogdogdogskullskullskullskullskullskull.)
bad. dog. OnO
my branches. pierced its ribcage. tore its black fabric. threw it into the trees. shattered its legs.
thisisyouronlywarningdogskullstayawayfrommytargets.
ashtreewillsipofmytearsbloodsapvitaebeforeheservesyouorthebreathingtreeheismineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemine.
therain.
i like. the rain.
it washes the black tears. from my face. from what remains. of my eyes. it soothes. my soul.
if i even have one. anymore.
it weeps for me. when i cannot.
it falls on. my branches. it makes me feel. almost happyhappyhappyhappyhappy.
the children. do not like the rain.
but mine do.
it washes the black tears. from my face. from what remains. of my eyes. it soothes. my soul.
if i even have one. anymore.
it weeps for me. when i cannot.
it falls on. my branches. it makes me feel. almost happyhappyhappyhappyhappy.
the children. do not like the rain.
but mine do.
staystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystaystay
why do? they weep so? when i take them?
i am lonely very very lonely i weep.
there was. a boy. his name i forget.
he had. no mother. and he was well met.
by me.
(buthewasnotashtree.)
he ran away. weeping. at first. always do they always.
he ran. into the forest. my domain.
(therewasnoescapeescapeescapeescapeforhim.)
i found him found him found him found him. in a pine tree. hiding.
he could not. run anymore. and froze in fear when. my eyeless gaze locked his.
i caught him. easily.
i gave him. tearsbloodsapvitae. to drink.
he would not drink. at first.
had to. make him swallow. he wept. in fear.
he came around soon after.
he is now called remnant. he is my child. he will serve me well.
i am lonely very very lonely i weep.
there was. a boy. his name i forget.
he had. no mother. and he was well met.
by me.
(buthewasnotashtree.)
he ran away. weeping. at first. always do they always.
he ran. into the forest. my domain.
(therewasnoescapeescapeescapeescapeforhim.)
i found him found him found him found him. in a pine tree. hiding.
he could not. run anymore. and froze in fear when. my eyeless gaze locked his.
i caught him. easily.
i gave him. tearsbloodsapvitae. to drink.
he would not drink. at first.
had to. make him swallow. he wept. in fear.
he came around soon after.
he is now called remnant. he is my child. he will serve me well.
justanotherbrick. inthewall.
he tried another attack today. but i. was. ready. this. time.
i have grown stronger. in my absence from you. my abilities. have evolved from what you gave me.
you are foolish breathing tree. for making your own. worst enemies.
(nostrongerhatethanthatbornoflove.)
your allies are weak very weak so very very weak.
i have gathered more children now. i have 25twentyfive now. and they are committed to mememememememememe.
(evenifimustforcethemtocommit.)
yours are enslaved. or falsely promised.
as you promised falsely to me.
no dark sarcasm. leave them alone.
the children.
i have grown stronger. in my absence from you. my abilities. have evolved from what you gave me.
you are foolish breathing tree. for making your own. worst enemies.
(nostrongerhatethanthatbornoflove.)
your allies are weak very weak so very very weak.
i have gathered more children now. i have 25twentyfive now. and they are committed to mememememememememe.
(evenifimustforcethemtocommit.)
yours are enslaved. or falsely promised.
as you promised falsely to me.
no dark sarcasm. leave them alone.
the children.
humanshumanshumanshumanshumanshumanshumanshumanshumanshumanshumanshumans
are. awful.
they are untrustworthy. weak. things.
i have seen. them harm others. for fun.
i have seen. them hurt innocents. childrenchildrenchildrenchildren.
there was. a drunkard i met once. who beat his daughter. with a stick.
(becausehecould.)
i could watch no longer i wept for that child.
(shewasonly5five.)
i came for her. to take her from. her despair.
(breakthewindowthewindowhasopened.)
he wept. when he saw me. holding his daughter.
he had no idea. what to think. i saw him. cross himself.
(beggingtoagodthatdoesnotexist.)
i came. ever closer. closer. closer closer closerclosercloserclosercloserclosercloser.
he ran. but i. was faster.
(sogladiamnolongerhuman.)
i caught him. my branches. tore his flesh. he screamedcriedpleadedwhimperedbegged me to stop.
hahahahahahahahano. OuO
only i. will weep for him now. his daughter. serves me.
the children. if they listen. will be safe. with me.
they are untrustworthy. weak. things.
i have seen. them harm others. for fun.
i have seen. them hurt innocents. childrenchildrenchildrenchildren.
there was. a drunkard i met once. who beat his daughter. with a stick.
(becausehecould.)
i could watch no longer i wept for that child.
(shewasonly5five.)
i came for her. to take her from. her despair.
(breakthewindowthewindowhasopened.)
he wept. when he saw me. holding his daughter.
he had no idea. what to think. i saw him. cross himself.
(beggingtoagodthatdoesnotexist.)
i came. ever closer. closer. closer closer closerclosercloserclosercloserclosercloser.
he ran. but i. was faster.
(sogladiamnolongerhuman.)
i caught him. my branches. tore his flesh. he screamedcriedpleadedwhimperedbegged me to stop.
hahahahahahahahano. OuO
only i. will weep for him now. his daughter. serves me.
the children. if they listen. will be safe. with me.
itook. thegirl.
she ran away. from home.
naughty child. naughty girl.
you could have ended up dead. by his branches. instead of sheltered. by mine.
she ran into. the woods.
he was close.
but i was closer.
he is very angry yes angry very very angry.
(hewantedherforhisownownownownown.)
his suit is black
his tie is red
the next he sees
will end up dead.
she is a treechild now. she will weep. with me.
she is called starling. she will help me. stop him.
and so will. the other children. of Rifton.
naughty child. naughty girl.
you could have ended up dead. by his branches. instead of sheltered. by mine.
she ran into. the woods.
he was close.
but i was closer.
he is very angry yes angry very very angry.
(hewantedherforhisownownownownown.)
his suit is black
his tie is red
the next he sees
will end up dead.
she is a treechild now. she will weep. with me.
she is called starling. she will help me. stop him.
and so will. the other children. of Rifton.
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