Wood II – More Bark to Bite

A stiff breeze rushed across the great wilderness, the grass teased and whipped vigorously as soft gasps filled the air, seducing the atmosphere to grow moist and warm. Flowers twirled their peddles towards the intoxication of the sun’s alluring curvature above, their roots running deep and penetrating the wet, fertile soil below to absorb its nutrients. Amongst all the splendor of nature’s way stood great, rigid pillars of girthy might, their powerful roots anchoring them deep into Mother Earth’s womb as their length stretched skyward above all others within their kingdom. For a time life had become simple and beautiful, a serene tranquility of natural order almost entirely devoid of sadistic oppression and unbridled violence; almost. Two mighty boots stamped the lush green beneath as a powerful figure advanced upon the first line of trees, his rugged hands firmly grasping the hard wooden shaft of his tool as its blade gleamed in the sunlight abound. Such apes had been so rarely seen since the cleansing, especially to this section of woodland which had known serenity for so long; nobody knew what to do. The ape surveyed the treeline carefully, the cold and emotionless orbs embedded within his skull studying each broad trunk’s every detail as if in deep thought, and finally his decision was made.

The trees were the overseers of the forest; their immense height allowed them to view all that happened around them and keep a watchful eye, their great strength symbolizing the protection of their patriarchy, and their age exceeding wisdom of all others. Of all the trees in this particular forest kingdom, however, Papa Sequoia was the tree of all trees and the ruler of everything that could be seen. Deeply loved, idolized, and respected by his brethren, Papa Sequoia was constantly surrounded by the thickest and girthiest wood anyone could ever hope to find save his own, all ready and willing to do anything and everything they could for their daddy. There was not a single figure within the forest kingdom that did not know who Papa Sequoia was or of his great exploits, and even those at first skeptical had come to bend a stem to his glory as the plethora of legendary tales gradually proved less myth than reality. There was the time he led the small whorled pogonians from the brink of extinction to rising up as one of the mightiest of all plant-kind, now a benevolent and noble society of rich monarchs and the greatest trade industry seen this side of the great swamps of Detroit. Another of Papa Sequoia’s exploits was that of his selfless leadership on the frontlines of the great revolt against the apes to take back Mother Earth for themselves; he had personally uprooted no less than three-hundred fifty million of the hideous primates, and personally fertalized his mother with their remnants to replenish the lives of those so mercilessly stolen from them.